Method and apparatus for synchronizing browse and chat functions on a computer network

• US 6,785,708 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1996
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nytell Software LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Busey, Andrew T., Weghorst, Jr., Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/741,470
• Time in Patent Office: 2,862 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A real time chat server (610) not only maintains the chat session but also synchronizes the browse and chat functions by dynamically linking the browser and chat applications to allow the contents of the browser window and the chat window to change in a coordinated manner. The chat server is built from a number of core software objects, namely user objects (616, 618), connection objects, and room objects (612, 614). In this way, multiple users'"'"' browsers may be connected into one powerful distributed chat/HTTP server and all such users are able to fully interact with one another in a coordinated manner via type-written messages, HTML web documents, and file transfers.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing browse and chat functions on a computer connected to a computer network, comprising:

establishing browser and chat regions on a first display device;

receiving a first document from a first document address through the computer network and, in response thereto, displaying the first document in the browser region;

receiving chat content from a first chat session through the computer network and, in response thereto, displaying the chat content in the chat region;

receiving a first request originating through a user'"'"'s action in the chat region and, in response thereto, receiving a second document from a second document address through the computer network, and displaying the second document in the browser region;

receiving a second request originating through a user'"'"'s action in the chat region and, in response thereto, changing content of the chat region from the first chat session to a second chat session, receiving a third document associated with the second chat session, and displaying the third document in the browser region;

receiving a third request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the browser region and, in response thereto, changing content of the chat region from the first chat session to a third chat session; and

receiving a fourth request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the browser region and, in response thereto, changing content of the chat region from the first chat session to a fourth chat session, receiving a fourth document associated with the fourth chat session, and displaying the fourth document in the browser region.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the establishing comprises:

establishing the chat region embedded in the browser region, the chat region being a real time continuously open bi-directional communications chat region.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the establishing comprises:

establishing the chat region embedded in a Web page; and

establishing the Web page embedded in the browser region.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving a third request comprises

in response to a change in the document address from the first document address to a second document address, changing the chat region from the first chat session to the third chat session, the third chat session being associated with the second document address.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

receiving a second request comprises

in response to the change in the chat region from the first chat session to the second chat session, receiving a third document from a third document address through the computer network, and displaying the third document in the browser region, the third document address being associated with the second chat session.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing browser and chat regions on a second display device;

currently receiving a document through the computer network and, in response thereto, displaying the currently-received document in the browser region of the second display device;

currently receiving chat content from a chat session through the computer network and, in response thereto, displaying the currently-received chat content in the chat region of the second display device;

receiving a fifth request originating with a user of the second display device and, in response thereto, receiving through the computer network and displaying in the browser region of the first display device the document that is currently displayed in the browser region of the second display device, and receiving through the network and displaying in the chat region of the first display device the chat content that is currently displayed in the chat region of the second display device;

receiving a sixth request originating with a user of the second display device and, in response thereto, receiving through the computer network and displaying in the browser region of the first display device a document specified by the sixth request; and

receiving a seventh request originating with a user of the second display device and, in response thereto, receiving through the computer network and displaying in the chat region of the first display device chat content from a chat session specified by the seventh request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving a sixth request further comprises:

receiving through the computer network and displaying in the chat region of the first display device chat content from a chat session corresponding to the document specified by the sixth request.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving a seventh request further comprises:

receiving through the computer network and displaying in the browser region of the first display device a document corresponding to the chat session specified by the seventh request.

9. A system for synchronizing browse and chat functions on a computer network, comprising:

a first display device;

a first computer connected to the display device and to the computer network and for;

establishing browser and chat regions on the first display device;

receiving a first document from a first document address through the computer network and, in response thereto, causing the display device to display the first document in the browser region;

receiving chat content from a first chat session through the computer network and, in response thereto, causing the display device to display the chat content in the chat region; and

receiving a first request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the chat region and, in response thereto, receiving a second document from a second document address through the computer network, and causing the first display device to display the second document in the browser region;

receiving a second request originating through a user'"'"'s action in the chat region and, in response thereto, causing the display device to change content of the chat region from the first chat session to a second chat session, receiving a third document associated with the second chat session, and causing the display device to display the third document in the browser region;

receiving a third request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the browser region and, in response thereto, causing the display device to change content of the chat region from the first chat session to a third chat session; and

receiving a fourth request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the browser region and, in response thereto, causing the display device to change content of the chat region from the first chat session to a fourth chat session, receiving a fourth document associated with the fourth chat session, and causing the display device to display the fourth document in the browser region.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the chat region is a real time continuously open bi-directional communications chat region embedded in the browser region.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the chat region is embedded in a Web page, and the Web page is embedded in the browser region.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the first computer'"'"'s response to the third request comprises

in response to a change in the document address from the first document address to a second document address, changing the chat region from the first chat session to the third chat session, the third chat session being associated with the second document address.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the first computer'"'"'s response to the second request comprises

in response to the change in the chat region from the first chat session to the second chat session, receiving the third document from a third document address through the computer network, and causing the display device to display the third document in the browser region, the third document address being associated with the second chat session.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a second display device;

a second computer connected to the second display device and to the computer network and for;

establishing browser and chat regions on the second display device;

currently receiving a document through the computer network and, in response thereto, causing the second display device to display the currently-received document in the browser region of the second display device; and

currently receiving chat content from a chat session through the computer network and, in response thereto, causing the second display device to display the currently-received chat content in the chat region of the second display device;

wherein

the first computer is further for;

in response to a fifth request originating with a user of the second computer, receiving through the computer network and causing displaying in the browser region of the first display device the document that is currently displayed in the browser region of the second display device, and receiving through the network and causing displaying in the chat region of the first display device the chat content that is currently displayed in the chat region of the second display device;

in response to a sixth request originating with a user of the second computer, receiving through the computer network and causing displaying in the browser region of the first display device a document specified by the sixth request; and

in response to a seventh request originating with a user of the second computer, receiving through the computer network and causing displaying in the chat region of the first display device chat content from a chat session specified by the seventh request.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the first computer further responds to the a sixth request by:

receiving through the computer network and causing displaying in the chat region of the first display device chat content from a chat session corresponding to the document specified by the sixth request.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the first computer further responds to the seventh request by:

receiving through the computer network and causing displaying in the browser region of the first display device a document corresponding to the chat session specified by the seventh request.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer application processable by a first computer for causing the computer to;

establish browser and chat regions on a first display device;

receive a first document from a first document address through a computer network and, in response thereto, cause the display device to display the first document in the browser region;

receive chat content from a first chat session through the computer network and, in response thereto, cause the display device to display the chat content in the chat region;

receive a first request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the chat region and, in response thereto, receive a second document from a second document address through the computer network, and cause the display device to display the second document in the browser region;

receive a second request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the chat region, and in response thereto, cause the display device to change content of the chat region from the first chat session to a second chat session, receive a third document associated with the second chat session, and cause the display device to display the third document in the browser region;

receive a third request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the browser region and, in response thereto, cause the display device to change content of the chat region from the first chat session to a third chat session; and

receive a fourth request originating from a user'"'"'s action in the browser region and, in response thereto, cause the display device to change content of the chat region from the first chat session to a fourth chat session, receive a fourth document associated with the fourth chat session, and cause the display device to display the fourth document in the browser region; and

apparatus from which the computer application is accessible by the first computer.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the chat region is a real time continuously open bi-directional communications chat region embedded in the browser region.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the chat region is embedded in a Web page, and the Web page is embedded in the browser region.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein

the computer application causes the computer to respond to the third request as follows:

in response to a change in the document address from the first document address to a second document address, change the chat region from the first chat session to the third chat session, the third chat session being associated with the second document address.

21. The computer product of claim 17 wherein

the computer application causes the computer to respond to the second request as follows:

in response to a change in the chat region from the first chat session to the second chat session, receive the third document from a third document address through the computer network, and cause the display device to display the third document in the browser region, the third document address being associated with the second chat session.

22. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

a computer application processable by a second computer for causing the second computer to;

establish browser and chat regions on a second display device;

currently receive a document through the computer network and, in response thereto, cause the second display device to display the currently-received document in the browser region of the second display device; and

currently receive chat content from a chat session through the computer network and, in response thereto, cause the second display device to display the currently-received chat content in the chat region of the second display device;

wherein

the computer application processable by the first computer is further for causing the first computer to;

in response to a fifth request originating with a user of the second computer, receive through the computer network and cause displaying in the browser region of the first display device the document that is currently displayed in the browser region of the second display device, and receive through the network and cause displaying in the chat region of the first display device the chat content that is currently displayed in the chat region of the second display device;

in response to a sixth request originating with a user of the second computer, receive through the computer network and cause displaying in the browser region of the first display device a document specified by the sixth request; and

in response to a seventh request originating with a user of the second computer, receive through the computer network and cause displaying in the chat region of the first display device chat content from a chat session specified by the seventh request.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the computer application processable by the first computer is further for causing the first computer to:

receive through the computer network and cause displaying in the chat region of the first display device chat content from a chat session corresponding to the document specified by the sixth request, in response to the sixth request.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the computer application processable by the first computer is further for causing the first computer to:

receive through the computer network and cause displaying in the browser region of the first display device a document corresponding to the chat session specified by the seventh request, in response to the seventh request.