Network that provides applications collaboration

• US 6,205,209 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: [24]7.ai, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Markowitz, Robert Edward, Rosen, Kenneth H., Goldberg, Randy G., Salimando, Steven Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/139,228
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 348/15, 348/17, 370/260, 370/265, 379/93.15, 379/93.21, 709/202, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 379/93.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/775 Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7277 Account specifications on parallel communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7833 Session based

Abstract

A collaborative application system initiates a communication session over a network. The collaborative application system receives an identity of a called party and an identity of a collaborative application from a calling party. The calling party participates in the communication session at a first endpoint and the called party participates in the communication session at a second endpoint. Further, the collaborative application system determines a first endpoint type and a second endpoint type and selects a first version of the collaborative application based on the first endpoint type and a second version of the collaborative application based on the second endpoint type. The collaborative application system then retrieves and makes available the first version of the application to the calling party and second version of the application to the called party.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a communication session over a network said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an identity of a called party and an identity of a collaborative application from a calling part, wherein the calling party participates in the communication session at a first endpoint and the called party participates in the communication session at a second endpoint;

(b) determining a first endpoint type and a second endpoint type;

(c) selecting a first version of the collaborative application based on the first endpoint type and a second version of the collaborative application based on the second endpoint type, said first version differing from said second version; and

(d) retrieving and making available the first version of the application to the calling party and the second version of the application to the called party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

executing the first version and the second version.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(e) storing collaborative activity of the called party and the calling party during the communication session.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

determining a cost of the communication session based on at least one billing variable.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the billing variable comprises the first endpoint type and the second endpoint type.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the billing variable comprises a type of the collaborative application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint type is a telephone and the second endpoint type is a computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint type is a personal data assistant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network and an Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first version and the second version are identical.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session comprises a telephone call.

12. A system for providing a communication session over a network, said system comprising:

a network node;

at least two endpoints adapted to be coupled to said network node;

a first database storing two or more versions of a collaborative application; and

a second database storing types of all endpoints adapted to be coupled to said network node;

wherein said network node;

receives an identity of a called party and an identity of a collaborative application from a calling party, wherein the calling party participates in the communication session at a first endpoint and the called party participates in the communication session at a second endpoint;

queries said second database to determine a first endpoint type and a second endpoint type;

queries said first database and retrieves a first version of the collaborative application based on the first endpoint type and a second version of the collaborative application based on the second endpoint type, wherein said first version differs from said second version; and

executes the first version of the application for use by the calling party at the first endpoint and the second version of the application for use by the called party at the second endpoint.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said network node:

stores collaborative activity of the called party and the calling party during the communication session.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said network node:

determines a cost of the communication session based on at least one billing variable.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first endpoint type is a telephone and the second endpoint type is a computer.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network and an Internet.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication session comprises a telephone call.

18. A method of collaborating on an application, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request to establish a communication session from a first user at a first endpoint, said request including an identity of a second user at a second endpoint;

(b) determining a first endpoint type and a second endpoint type;

(c) retrieving first version of the application based on the first endpoint type and a second version of the application based on second endpoint type, said first version differing from said second version;

(d) establishing the communication session between the first user and the second user; and

(e) executing the a first version of the application so that it is available to the first user at the first endpoint and a second version of the application so that it is available to the second user at the second endpoint during the communication session.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said request is received over a telephone call.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said communication session comprises a telephone call between the first user and the second user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said first endpoint type is a telephone and said second endpoint type is a data communication device.