Groupware environment that adaptively tailors open microphone sessions based on participant locality

• US 6,665,707 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Watts, Byron Timothy, Cragun, Brian John, Bates, Cary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US08/773,813
• Time in Patent Office: 2,553 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.34, 395/332, 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 709/204, 709/205, 709/219, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control

Abstract

The mechanisms of the present invention model real life by providing subconversations through several different, yet complimentary, features. One feature is referred to as conversation separation. When enabled by a user, conversation separation is used to create subconversations by identifying groups of users that are speaking with one another. Another user configurable feature is referred to as distance recognition. Distance recognition creates subconversations by considering the logical distance between users within a groupware object. A feature that is related to distance recognition is referred to as “priority conversation.” If enabled, priority conversation maintains a user within a subconversation as the user moves away from the location of the other users so long as the user that is moving away continues to participate in the subconversation.

Claims

1. A computer system, said computer comprising:

a bus;

a central processing unit;

computer system memory, said computer system memory being connected to said central processing unit via said bus; and

a groupware mechanism stored in said computer system memory for execution on said central processing unit, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism controlling what each of said two or more users are able to hear based on distance between said two or more users'"'"' locations within said groupware object.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said groupware mechanism prevents a first user from hearing a second user when said second user is located at a position within said groupware object that is beyond a distance threshold from said second user'"'"'s position within said groupware object.

3. The computer system of claim 2 wherein said groupware mechanism allows said first user to hear said second user even though said second user is located at a position within said groupware object that is beyond a threshold distance from said second user'"'"'s position within said groupware object, so long as said second user continues to participate in a conversation with said first user.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said two or more users are three or more users and wherein a first user'"'"'s ability to hear a second user is changed based upon how often a third user speaks.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein said two or more users are three or more users and wherein a first user is prevented from hearing at least one of said three or more users, said first user being one of said three or more users, said first user being prevented from hearing said at least one of said three or more users because a conversation limit has been exceeded.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein a first user hears a second user at a diminished volume when said second user'"'"'s location within said groupware object approaches a certain distance from said first user'"'"'s position within said groupware object.

7. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism controlling what each of said two or more users are able to hear based on distance between said two or more users'"'"' locations within said groupware object; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

8. The groupware mechanism of claim 7 wherein said groupware mechanism prevents a first user from hearing a second user when said second user is located at a position within said groupware object that is beyond a distance threshold from said second user'"'"'s position within said groupware object.

9. The groupware mechanism of claim 8 wherein said groupware mechanism allows said first user to hear said second user even though said second user is located at a position within said groupware object that is beyond a threshold distance from said second user'"'"'s position within said groupware object, so long as said second user continues to participate in a conversation with said first user.

10. The groupware mechanism of claim 7 wherein said two or more users are three or more users and wherein a first user'"'"'s ability to hear a second user is changed based upon how often a third user speaks.

11. The groupware mechanism of claim 7 wherein said two or more users are three or more users and wherein a first user is prevented from hearing at least one of said three or more users, said first user being one of said three or more users, said first user being prevented from hearing said at least one of said three or more users because a conversation limit has been exceeded.

12. The groupware mechanism of claim 7 wherein a first user hears a second user at a diminished volume when said second user'"'"'s location within said groupware object approaches a certain distance from said first user'"'"'s position within said groupware object.

13. The program product of claim 7 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

14. The program product of claim 7 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

15. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a plurality of users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism maintaining a conversation between at least two users irrespective of distance between said at least two user'"'"'s locations within said groupware object, so long as at least one of said at least two users continues to participate in said conversation; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

16. The program product of claim 15 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

17. The program product of claim 15 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

18. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a first, a second, and a third user to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said first, second, and third users to speak with one another, and wherein said first user'"'"'s ability to hear said second user is changed based upon how often said third user speaks; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

19. The program product of claim 18 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

20. The program product of claim 18 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

21. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a first, a second, and a third user to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said first, second, and third users to speak with one another, and wherein said first user'"'"'s ability to hear said second user is changed because a conversation limit has been exceeded; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

22. The program product of claim 21 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

23. The program product of claim 21 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

24. A computer-implemented method for controlling a conversation between collaborative users that are working on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said computer-implemented method comprising:

monitoring a first position of a first user within said groupware object and a second position of a second user within said groupware object, said first user and said second users each being one of said collaborative users;

calculating a distance between said first position and said second position; and

affecting whether said first user is able to hear said second user based on said distance.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24 wherein said conversation is maintained irrespective of said distance calculated in said calculating step.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 24 further comprising the step of preventing said first user from hearing said second user because a third user is speaking, said third user being one of said collaborative users.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 24 further comprising the step of preventing said first user from hearing a third user because a conversation limit has been exceeded, said third user being one of said collaborative users.

28. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to simultaneously work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism allowing at least one of said two or more users to control whether at least one other user is able to hear them; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

29. The program product of claim 28 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

30. The program product of claim 28 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

31. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by two or more users to work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said two or more users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism allowing at least one of said two or more users to control whether they are able to hear at least one other user; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

32. The program product of claim 31 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

33. The program product of claim 31 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

34. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a plurality of users to simultaneously work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said plurality of users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism being used to create subconversations amongst said plurality of users such that at least one subset of said plurality of users is allowed to engage in a conversation that is separate from that of the remaining users of said plurality of users; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

35. The program product of claim 34 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

36. The program product of claim 34 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.

37. A program product, said program product comprising:

a groupware mechanism, said groupware mechanism being used by a plurality of users to simultaneously work on a groupware object that is a joint work product, said groupware mechanism including communication capability that allows said plurality of users to speak with one another, said groupware mechanism including a mechanism that identifies what users are able to hear said first user, said first user being one of said plurality of users; and

signal bearing media bearing said groupware mechanism.

38. The program product of claim 37 wherein said signal bearing media is communication type media.

39. The program product of claim 37 wherein said signal bearing media is recordable media.