COMMUNICATION AND EXCHANGE OF GROUP-RELATED INFORMATION USING A CENTRAL SERVER
First Claim
1. A method of managing group information stored on a central server, the method comprising:
- examining a communication received from a device;
determining whether a type of the communication is a broadcast message, an event message, a query message, or an update message;
storing the communication in a database on the central server if the communication is a broadcast message or an event message;
responding to the communication if the communication is a query message; and
updating the database in the central server if the communication is an update message;
wherein a portion of the group information from the server is displayed in real-time in a minimally intrusive manner on a device and in a manner that does not interfere with normal use of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a service for sharing, managing, and storing group-related information using existing technology relating to mobile devices, TVs, server computers, and distributed networks. Users in a defined group, such a family, can use devices, such as smart phones or tablets, to get updates from other users or to send information about themselves. The information can be displayed on authorized devices, some of which are generally used to display information, such as TVs. The content type of the communication is determined. The communication is stored in a database on the central server if the communication is a broadcast message or an event message. If the communication is a query message, the central sever responds to the message. If it is an update message, the database in the central server is updated. The group information is displayed in real-time on one or more devices and is combined in one place.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of managing group information stored on a central server, the method comprising:
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examining a communication received from a device; determining whether a type of the communication is a broadcast message, an event message, a query message, or an update message; storing the communication in a database on the central server if the communication is a broadcast message or an event message; responding to the communication if the communication is a query message; and updating the database in the central server if the communication is an update message; wherein a portion of the group information from the server is displayed in real-time in a minimally intrusive manner on a device and in a manner that does not interfere with normal use of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing group information on a device, the method comprising:
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examining a communication received from a server; determining whether a type of the communication is a broadcast message or a query response, wherein the communication may be a calendaring event, location information, or a bulletin board item; and storing the communication in a device database. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for facilitating group information communication and management, the system comprising:
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a group server having a database and a group information server application set, wherein combined group information is stored in the database; and a plurality of devices, wherein one or more of the devices displays a group-information ticker and has a group information client application set, wherein the group-information ticker displays a portion of group information and does not interfere with the normal use of a device; wherein interactions among group members are integrated with a primary function of the device and provide minimally intrusive notifications of activity. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of disseminating group information in a distributed network, the method comprising:
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transmitting a communication from a first device, wherein the communication is either sent by a user of the device or is automatically sent by the device; receiving the communication at a central server; updating a database on the central server; transmitting the communication from the central server to a second device; displaying the communication on the second device in real-time in a minimally intrusive manner that does not interfere with the normal use of the second device and enabling interaction; and displaying the communication on other registered devices in the distributed network. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification