Method and apparatus to allow users and representatives to conduct simultaneous voice and joint browsing sessions

• US 6,754,693 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhathena, Firdaus, Honoré, Francis A., Roberts, Pasha
• Primary Examiner(s): CALDWELL, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US09/919,568
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217-219, 709/204-205, 709/203, 709/208, 379/308-309, 379/265-1-2
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6429 Terminal adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described whereby Internet content is coordinated with audio communications, such that two or more parties can view the same media content on the Internet while also simultaneously communicating over a traditional telephony network or by using voice over network implementations. The visual interaction is achieved by having a user computer display shared content that corresponds to a second computer'"'"'s display, such that both parties will be viewing a copy containing the same content on each of their browsers. The visual interaction further provides a method for allowing either of the parties to update the visual content of their browsers.

Claims

1. In a representative computer, a method of providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer having a browser for reading files and the representative computer controlled by a representative, wherein a server is in communication with the user and representative computers, the method comprising:

establishing a link from the server computer to the representative computer, the link enabling communication between the representative computer and the server;

generating a service view that includes a representation of a user view from the user computer by periodically polling the server to request a portion of shared data relating to the user view from the server;

receiving inputs for changing the portion of shared data to alter the representation of the user view on the representative computer;

detecting a change to the portion of shared data and transmitting the change in the representation of the user view within the portion of shared data from the representative computer to the server to change the portion of shared data on the server.

2. In a server computer, a method for providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer having a browser for reading files and a representative computer controlled by a representative, wherein the server is in communication with the user and representative computers, the method comprising:

establishing a first link to the user computer for communication between the user computer and the server;

establishing a second link to the representative computer for communication between the representative computer and the server;

establishing a portion of shared data shared by the user computer and by the representative computer, the shared data relating to a user view on the user computer, the user view generated from data received from the representative computer, wherein establishing a portion of shared data further includes;

a) receiving a form represented by an array of objects from the representative computer;

b) transmitting the array of objects to the user computer;

c) receiving an altered array of objects from the user computer, where the user computer has selectively manipulated the array; and

d) transmitting the altered array of objects to the representative computer where the representative is capable of generating a representative view including the form;

receiving an input from the user computer to change the portion of shared data in order to alter the user view; and

transmitting the input to the representative computer to be used by the representative computer to alter the representative view.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

receiving altered shared data from the representative computer to be used by the user computer to alter the user view; and

transmitting the altered shared data to the user computer.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the network is a TCP/IP network and wherein the step of establishing a first link to the user computer further comprises the step of providing a web page including a selectable object for requesting a telephone call.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the network includes a plurality of representative computers and the step of establishing a second link further comprises using an attribute of the user computer to determine which representative computer of the plurality with which to establish the second link.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the server is a web server and the method of establishing a link to the user computer further comprises the step of providing a user applet to the user computer, the user applet to periodically poll the shared data stored on the user computer, the user applet also to periodically poll the shared data on the server, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the user computer changes to the shared data on the user computer detected by the user applet; and

providing to the user computer changes to the shared data on the server in response to detection by the user applet; and

wherein the method of establishing a link to the representative computer includes providing a service applet to the representative computer, the service applet to periodically poll the shared data on the representative computer, the service applet also to periodically poll the shared data on the server;

receiving from the representative computer changes to the shared data on the representative computer detected by the service applet; and

providing to the representative computer changes to the shared data on the server in response to detection by the service applet, whereby the user applet and the service applet detect changes to the shared data in the user computer, server and representative computer so that the shared data reflects any changes made on either the user computer or the representative computer.

7. A server in a system for communicating visually across a network, comprising:

means for establishing a first link to the user computer for communication between the user computer and the server;

means for establishing a second link to the representative computer for communication between the representative computer and the server;

means for establishing a portion of shared data shared by the user computer and by the representative computer, the shared data relating to a user view on the user computer, the user view generated from data received from the representative computer, wherein the means for establishing a portion of shared data further includes;

a) means for receiving a form represented by an array of objects from the representative computer;

b) means for transmitting the array of objects to the user computer;

c) means for receiving an altered array of objects from the user computer, where the user computer has selectively manipulated the array; and

d) means for transmitting the altered array of objects to the representative computer where the representative is capable of generating a representative view including the form;

means for receiving an input from the user computer to change the portion of shared data in order to alter the user view; and

means for transmitting the input to the representative computer to be used by the representative computer to alter the representative view.

8. The server of claim 7 further comprising:

means for receiving altered shared data from the representative computer to be used by the user computer to alter the user view; and

means for transmitting the altered shared data to the user computer.

9. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a computer system having a coupling of a memory, a processor, and at least one communications interface, provides a method for providing visual interaction across a network between a remote user computer having a browser for reading files and a representative computer controlled by a representative by performing the operations of:

establishing a first link to the user computer for communication between the user computer and the server;

establishing a second link to the representative computer for communication between the representative computer and the server;

establishing a portion of shared data shared by the user computer and by the representative computer, the shared data relating to a user view on the user computer, the user view generated from data received from the representative computer, wherein establishing a portion of shared data further includes;

a) receiving a form represented by an array of objects from the representative computer;

b) transmitting the array of objects to the user computer;

c) receiving an altered array of objects from the user computer, where the user computer has selectively manipulated the array; and

d) transmitting the altered array of objects to the representative computer where the representative is capable of generating a representative view including the form;

receiving an input from the user computer to change the portion of shared data in order to alter the user view; and

transmitting the input to the representative computer to be used by the representative computer to alter the representative view.