Automatic scheduling and formation of a virtual meeting over a computer network
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
- providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for scheduling a virtual meeting and automatically making the required connections near the time the virtual meeting is scheduled to take place between a meeting host'"'"'s computer and at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer. The virtual meeting is scheduled by sending a meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer over a communication network to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer. The meeting request is stored on the meeting host'"'"'s computer and on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer that accepts the meeting request. A personal information manager component on the meeting host'"'"'s computer and on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer activates a virtual meeting utility component near the time of the virtual meeting based on the time and date of the virtual meeting contained in the virtual meeting request. The virtual meeting is hosted on the meeting host'"'"'s computer and each meeting participant'"'"'s computers joins the virtual meeting automatically using information contained in the virtual meeting request. If an electronic document is specified in the virtual meeting request for collaborative editing during the virtual meeting, the personal information manager component on the meeting host'"'"'s computer activates a document editing application associated with the electronic document and loads the electronic document into the document editing application.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;
retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;
activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and
loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and
receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.
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5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
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interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and
accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.
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6. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to activate the meeting participant virtual meeting utility from the meeting participant meeting reminder. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;
retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;
activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and
loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and
receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.
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10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
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interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and
accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.
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11. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting and includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is a meeting host'"'"'s email address;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
associating the meeting host email address with a network address for the meeting host'"'"'s computer;
registering the meeting host'"'"'s email address together with the associated network address with a directory server, the directory server being connected to the communication network; and
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information editor automatically connecting to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network by;
retrieving the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the scheduled meeting request stored by the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager;
requesting the network address associated with the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the directory server; and
connecting to the meeting host'"'"'s virtual meeting utility using the network address. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.
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14. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.
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15. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participants computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.
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16. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:
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providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specific in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.
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17. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;
retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;
activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and
loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and
receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.
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21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising:
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interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and
accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.
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22. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to activate the meeting participant virtual meeting utility from the meeting participant meeting reminder. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;
retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;
activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and
loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and
receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.
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26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:
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interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and
accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.
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27. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting and including a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is a meeting host'"'"'s email address;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
associating the meeting host email address with a network address for the meeting host'"'"'s computer;
registering the meeting host'"'"'s email address together with the associated network address with a directory server, the directory server being connected to the communication network; and
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information editor automatically connecting to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network by;
retrieving the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the scheduled meeting request stored by the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager;
requesting the network address associated with the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the directory server; and
connecting to the meeting host'"'"'s virtual meeting utility using the network address. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.
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30. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.
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31. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.
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32. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:
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providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.
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33. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
means for providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
means for providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
means for opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the means for opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;
means for retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;
means for activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and
means for loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and
means for receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.
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37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:
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means for interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and
means for accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.
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38. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
means for providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
means for providing an option to activate the meeting participant virtual meeting utility from the meeting participant meeting reminder. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
means for opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the means for opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;
means for retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;
means for activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and
means for loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and
means for receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.
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42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:
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means for interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and
means for accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.
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43. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting and includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is a meeting host'"'"'s email address;
a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for associating the meeting host'"'"'s email address with a network address for the meeting host'"'"'s computer;
means for means for registering the meeting host'"'"'s email address together with the associated network address with a directory server, the directory server being connected to the communication network; and
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information editor automatically connecting to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network by;
retrieving the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the scheduled meeting request stored by the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager;
requesting the network address associated with the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the directory server; and
connecting to the meeting host'"'"'s virtual meeting utility using the network address. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
means for providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.
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46. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and
means for automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.
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47. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
means for providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.
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48. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:
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a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;
means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;
a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;
the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;
means for generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;
means for invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and
means for automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.
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Specification