Virtual workplace intercommunication tool
First Claim
1. A system for enabling a user to determine the status of other users and to identify and use communications procedures for contacting the other users based on the status of the other users, the system comprising:
- a plurality of communications devices, each communications device being associated with a respective user, wherein each communications device is operable for the associated user to self assign one of at least first, second, and third user statuses during a contemporaneous time, and is further operable for the associated user to self assign communications procedures respectively for each of the at least first, second, and third user statuses, the communications procedures for the respective at least first, second, and third user statuses are available for other users to use in order to contact the associated user depending upon which one of the at least first, second, and third user statuses is assigned to the associated user, wherein each communications device is operable for displaying to the associated user the user status of each of the other users, and is further operable to display to the associated user the available communications procedures for contacting each of the other users; and
a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) communications network operable with the communications devices for providing continuous communications connectivity of the users with one another through the Internet;
wherein the communication device associated with a user is operable with the HFC communications network and the communications devices associated with the other users for enabling the user to select a communications procedure from the available communications procedures associated with another user and then establish a communications connection with the another user using the selected communications procedure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and associated method for enabling a user to determine the status of other users and to identify communications procedures for contacting the other users based on the status of the other users. The system includes a plurality of communications devices each associated with a user. Each of the communications devices is operable for the associated user to self assign a user status and communications procedures for contacting the associated user as a function of the user status. Each of the communications devices associated with a user is operable for displaying the user status of the other users. A hybrid fiber coax (HFC) communications network is operable with the communications device for providing continuous communications connectivity of a plurality of users with one another through an Internet. Each of the communications devices associated with a user is operable for displaying the communications procedures associated with the other users for contacting the other users. The communication device associated with a user is operable with the HFC communications network and the communication device associated with another user for enabling the user to select a communication method from the communication methods associated with the another user and then establish a communication connection with the another user based on the selected communications procedure.
392 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for enabling a user to determine the status of other users and to identify and use communications procedures for contacting the other users based on the status of the other users, the system comprising:
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a plurality of communications devices, each communications device being associated with a respective user, wherein each communications device is operable for the associated user to self assign one of at least first, second, and third user statuses during a contemporaneous time, and is further operable for the associated user to self assign communications procedures respectively for each of the at least first, second, and third user statuses, the communications procedures for the respective at least first, second, and third user statuses are available for other users to use in order to contact the associated user depending upon which one of the at least first, second, and third user statuses is assigned to the associated user, wherein each communications device is operable for displaying to the associated user the user status of each of the other users, and is further operable to display to the associated user the available communications procedures for contacting each of the other users; and
a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) communications network operable with the communications devices for providing continuous communications connectivity of the users with one another through the Internet;
wherein the communication device associated with a user is operable with the HFC communications network and the communications devices associated with the other users for enabling the user to select a communications procedure from the available communications procedures associated with another user and then establish a communications connection with the another user using the selected communications procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
the communications connection includes a telephone connection.
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3. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the communications connection includes a facsimile communications connection.
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4. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the communications connection includes a paging communications connection.
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5. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the communications connection includes a video conferencing communications connection.
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6. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the communications connection includes an electronic mail communications connection.
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7. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the communications connection includes an instant messaging communications connection.
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8. A method for enabling a user to determine the status of other users and to identify and use communications procedures for contacting the other users based on the status of the other users, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of communications devices with each communications device being associated with a respective user;
providing a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) communications network operable with the communications devices for providing continuous communications connectivity of the users with one another through the Internet;
using a communications device for the associated user to self assign one of at least first, second, and third user statuses during a contemporaneous time, and for the associated user to self assign communications procedures respectively for each of the at least first, second, and third user statuses, the communications procedures for the respective at least first, second, and third user statuses are available for other users to use in order to contact the associated user depending upon which one of the at least first, second, and third user statuses is assigned to the associated user;
displaying on the communications device for the associated user the user status of each of the other users, and the available communications procedures for contacting each of the other users;
using the communication device associated with a user to select a communications procedure from the available communications procedures associated with another user; and
using the communication device associated with the user, the HFC communications network, and the communication device associated with the another user to establish a communication connection between the user and the another user the selected communications procedure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
the communications connection is a telephone connection.
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10. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the communications connection is a facsimile communications connection.
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11. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the communications connection is a video conferencing communications connection.
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12. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the communications connection is an electronic mail communications connection.
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13. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the communications connection is an instant messaging communications connection.
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14. The method of claim 8 wherein:
the communications connection is a paging communications connection.
Specification