Method and apparatus for sending and receiving lightweight messages

• US 6,351,271 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Interval Research Corporation
• Inventors: Hindus, Debby, Burns, Colin, Mainwaring, Scott D., Mogensen, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/169,750
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/10, 707/11, 707/12, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/335, 345/753, 345/751, 345/759, 345/744, 345/853
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• 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: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/157 defining a virtual conference space and using avatars or agents computer conference optimisation or adaptation H04L12/1827
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

The present invention teaches methods and apparatus for social interaction allowing users to communicate at their leisure (asynchronously or “semi-synchronously”) by providing simple, flexible access to a persistent, shared space. For example, an electronic communication system according to one embodiment provides a shared persistent data space to a plurality of clients. This system comprises a server and at least two input/display units (IDUS) which clients use to access shared persistent data in the form of group boards. The group boards store discrete notes in a group database made accessible to all members of the group. In order to allow clients to select a desired group, each IDU includes an input detection space operable to receive user input indicative of a request to access a specific group. The input detection space can take on many forms such as electromechanical buttons, touch or pressure sensitive devices, a digital inking device, a token input device (tokens each have some identification in the form of circuitry or such), or a voice command device. In order to allow clients to enter data into the board group database, each IDU includes a note data input device. Like the input detection space, a wide variety of note data input devices are contemplated. For example, a touch, stylus or pressure sensitive device would be suitable. A scanning device also works well, creating a unique persistent space wherein users can exchange discrete note messages of a variety of forms such as handwritten notes and photographs.

Claims

1. An electronic communication system capable of providing a shared persistent data space to a plurality of clients of the electronic communication system, the electronic communication system comprising:

a server including a persistent storage mechanism storing a first group board database;

a first input/display unit (IDU) bi-directionally coupled with the server, the first IDU including;

a first display screen;

a first input detection space operable to receive user input indicative of a request to access a specific group;

a first note data input device operable to receive input data generated by a user of the first IDU; and

a first data processing device operable to process received input data and transmit the received input data to the server, the first data processing device further operable to control the first display screen and the first input detection space,

wherein when a user indicates through the first input detection device a desire to access the first group, the first IDU establishes a communication link with the server and requests access to the first group, in response the server downloads content as needed from the first group database to the first IDU and the first IDU represents the content from the first group database upon the display screen, data later input into the first IDU is transmitted to the server and the server updates the first group database to reflect data input at the first IDU; and

a second input/display unit (IDU) bi-directionally coupled with the server, the second IDU including;

a second display screen;

a second input detection space operable to receive user input indicative of a request to access a specific group;

a second data input device operable to receive input data generated by a user of the second IDU; and

a second data processing device operable to process received input data and transmit the received input data to the server, the second data processing device further operable to control the second display screen and the second input detection space,

wherein when a user indicates through the second input detection device a desire to access the second group, the second IDU establishes a communication link with the server and requests access to the second group, in response the server downloads content as needed from the second group database to the second IDU and the second IDU represents the content from the second group database upon the display screen, data later input into the second IDU is transmitted to the server and the server updates the second group database to reflect data input at the second IDU.

2. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the server is a virtual server having its processing functions distributed across the first and second IDUs.

3. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 further including a bi-directional data communications medium, wherein the server is a remote central server coupled with the first and second IDUs via the bi-directional data communications medium.

4. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first input detection space includes an electromechanical button operable to request access to the first group.

5. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 4 wherein the electromechanical button provides a visual indication of the nature of the first group.

6. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 4 wherein the electromechanical button has a feedback mechanism operable to indicate whether the group content has changed since the group was last displayed on the IDU.

7. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first input detection space includes an array of electromechanical buttons each corresponding to a certain group, each electromechanical button providing a visual indication of the nature of its certain group, each electromechanical button having a feedback mechanism operable to indicate whether the associated group had been modified since it was last displayed on the IDU.

8. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first input detection space includes a touch screen overlay.

9. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first input detection space includes a digital inking device.

10. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 9 wherein the first input detection space further includes a handwriting recognition engine operable to interpret text data entered through the digital inking device to determine whether a group identifier has been entered therein.

11. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first input detection space includes a voice controlled mechanism for recognizing vocalized requests for group access.

12. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first input detection space includes a keypad for manual entry of group identifiers.

13. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device includes a touch sensitive input device.

14. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 13 wherein the touch sensitive input device is a pressure sensitive input device.

15. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device includes a stylus sensitive input device.

16. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device includes a keyboard-input device.

17. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device includes a digital inking device.

18. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device includes a scanning device.

19. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device includes a video camera.

20. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first group database includes a plurality of notes, each note being a data input contribution made by a user of an IDU intended for the first group database.

21. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 20 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is a text note.

22. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 20 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is a digital ink note.

23. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 20 wherein a one of the plurality of notes includes a recording.

24. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 23 wherein the recording is a video recording.

25. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 23 wherein the recording is an audio recording.

26. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 20 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is a scanned image.

27. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first note data input device is a scanning input device.

32. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 27 wherein the first group database includes a plurality of notes, each note being a data input contribution made by a user of an IDU intended for the first group database.

33. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 32 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is a text note.

34. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 32 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is an ink note.

35. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 32 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is an audio note.

36. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 32 wherein a one of the plurality of notes is a scanned image.

37. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 32 wherein the first token further includes a user identifier indicating the owner of the first token.

38. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 37 wherein the first input detection space is further operable to determine the user identifier of the first token when disposed within the first input detection space.

39. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 38 wherein the first group database includes a list of member users.

40. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 39 wherein the first IDU is only provided content from the first group database when the user identifier of the token placed within the first input detection space identifies a user present on the list of member users.

41. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 38 wherein the first token provides an indication of a nature of the first group database associated with the first token.

42. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first token is shaped to indicate the nature of the first group database associated with the first token.

43. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first token displays an illustration indicative of the nature of the first group database associated with the first token.

28. An electronic communication system capable of providing a shared persistent data space to a plurality of clients of the electronic communication system, the electronic communication system comprising:

a server computer system including a persistent storage mechanism storing a first group board database;

a transmission medium;

first and second tokens each having a first group identifier indicating an association with the first group database stored on the persistent storage mechanism;

a first input/display unit (IDU) bi-directionally coupled with the server computer system via the transmission medium, the first IDU including;

a first display screen;

a first input detection space arranged to receive at least one token, the first input detection space operable to determine a specific group associated with a specific token disposed within the first input detection space;

a first note data input device operable to receive input data generated by a user of the first IDU; and

a first data processing device operable to process received input data and transmit the received input data to the server computer system via the transmission medium, the first data processing device further operable to control the first display screen and the first input detection space,

wherein when either the first or second token is disposed within the first input detection space, the first IDU establishes a communication link with the server computer system and requests access to the first group, in response the server computer system downloads content as needed from the first group database to the first IDU and the first IDU represents the content from the first group database upon the display screen, data later input into the first IDU is transmitted to the server computer system and the server computer system updates the first group database to reflect data input at the first IDU; and

a second IDU bi-directionally coupled with the server computer system via the transmission medium, the second IDU including;

a second display screen;

a second input detection space arranged to receive at least one token, the second input detection space operable to determine a specific group associated with a specific token disposed within the second input detection space;

a second data input device operable to receive input data generated by a user of the second IDU; and

a second data processing device operable to process received input data and transmit the received input data to the server computer system via the transmission medium, the second data processing device further operable to control the second display screen and the second input detection space,

wherein when either the first or second token is disposed within the second input detection space, the second IDU establishes a communication link with the server computer system and requests access to the first group, in response the server computer system downloads content as needed from the first group database to the second IDU and the second IDU represents the content from the first group database upon the second display screen, data later input into the second IDU is transmitted to the server computer system and the server computer system updates the first group database to reflect data input at the second IDU.

29. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28, the first group database being one of a plurality of group databases stored on the persistent storage mechanism of the server computer system.

30. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 29 further comprising a plurality of tokens each having a group identifier indicating an association with a one of the plurality of group databases stored on the persistent storage mechanism.

31. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 30 wherein the placement of a one of the plurality of tokens within the first input detection space results in the first IDU representing content from the group database associated with the one of the plurality of tokens upon the first display screen.

44. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first token includes a feedback device operable to indicate whether the content of the first group database has changed since last displayed on the IDU.

45. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first token is magnetic.

46. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first token has a Velcro backing.

47. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first input detection space is metallic in order to receive magnetic tokens.

48. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first input detection space includes slots arranged to receive the tokens.

49. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first input detection space can simultaneously receive and detect multiple tokens.

50. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first note data input device is a touch sensitive overlay covering the first display screen.

51. An electronic communication system as recited in claim 28 wherein the first note data input device is a keyboard.

52. A computer implemented method for providing a shared persistent data space to a plurality of input/display units (IDUs), the method comprising:

receiving a token within a detection space of an IDU;

determining a group associated with the token;

providing the IDU content from a group database belonging to the group associated with the token;

displaying at the IDU a representation of the content from the group database;

receiving input data at the IDU intended to be added to the content from the group database; and

updating the group database to reflect the received input data.

53. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 further including the step of providing indicative feedback to a user of an IDU whenever content of the shared persistent data space has changed.

54. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 further including the step of allowing a user to adjust the displayed position of a note associated with a displayed group.

55. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 further including the step of allowing a user to delete a note associated with a displayed group.

56. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 further including the step of allowing a user to mark a note so that it may not be deleted.

57. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 further including the step of allowing a user to zoom in on a particular displayed note thereby increasing the magnification level of the particular displayed note.

58. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52, wherein the step of determining a group associated with the token includes the acts of:

sensing a group identifier within the token received at the detection space of the IDU;

transmitting the group identifier to a server computer system, the transmission via a bi-directional communications medium; and

receiving the group identifier at the server computer system and accessing the indicated group database stored in persistent memory on the server computer system.

59. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 wherein the step of providing the IDU content from a group database belonging to the group associated with the token includes the act of, after accessing a group database associated with the determined group, transmitting content from the group database to the IDU.

60. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 wherein the step of receiving input data at the IDU includes the act of scanning in a document.

61. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 60 wherein the set of scannable documents includes photographs and handwritten notes.

62. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 60 wherein the group database consists of notes that each represent a document generated by the step of receiving input data through the act of scanning in a document.

63. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 wherein the step of receiving input data at the IDU intended to be added to the content from the group database includes the act of writing with digital ink on a digitizing device.

64. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 63 wherein the inked data includes text and drawings.

65. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 wherein the step of receiving input data at the IDU intended to be added to the content from the group database includes the act of receiving binary signals from a keyboard or keyboard-like input device.

66. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 wherein the step of receiving input data at the IDU intended to be added to the content from the group database includes the act of receiving a communication from a separate computer system.

67. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 66 wherein the separate computer system is located remotely with respect to the IDU.

68. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 52 further including the step of providing indicative LED feedback to a user of an IDU whenever content of the shared persistent data space has changed.

69. A computer implemented method for maintaining an electronic database and providing access to a client of the electronic database, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

providing a input/display unit (IDU) to a user of the electronic database, the IDU including a display screen, a scanning device, and a note control input device;

receiving through the scanning device a plurality of discrete notes, each discrete note being the result of a single scanning operation;

storing the plurality of discrete notes within the electronic database;

displaying at least one of the plurality of notes upon the display screen; and

allowing the user to interactively manipulate and organize the stored plurality of notes utilizing the IDU.

70. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 69 further including the step of allowing a user to adjust the displayed position of a note associated with a displayed group.

71. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 69 further including the step of allowing a user to delete a note associated with a displayed group.

72. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 69 further including the step of allowing a user to mark a note so that it may not be deleted.

73. A computer implemented method as recited in claim 69 further including the step of allowing a user to zoom in on a particular displayed note thereby increasing the magnification level of the particular displayed note.