Convenient system, method, and software for online computer users to summon offline computer users
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a first computerized system having a first network communications device, the method comprising:
- operating the first computerized system to try to initiate communications between the first network communications device and a network communications device associated with a second computerized system; and
after failing to initiate communications between the first and second network communications devices, operating the first computerized system to communicate a message to a second communications device associated with the second computerized system.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Computers are commonly connected in networks which allow interactive communications between two or more computer users. Occasionally, one user tries unsuccessfully to interactively communicate with another user who is unavailable for interactive communications. Accordingly, the inventor devised a system, method, and software to summon the unavailable user through an alternative communications device, for example, a pager, associated with the unavailable user.
45 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a first computerized system having a first network communications device, the method comprising:
-
operating the first computerized system to try to initiate communications between the first network communications device and a network communications device associated with a second computerized system; and
after failing to initiate communications between the first and second network communications devices, operating the first computerized system to communicate a message to a second communications device associated with the second computerized system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
wherein trying to communicate the message includes searching a database for information identifying the second computerized system and the second communications device;
wherein the first and second network communications device include respective first and second modems and the second communications device includes a pager; and
wherein trying to communicate the message to the second communications device associated with the second computerized system includes transmitting information identifying the second communications device to a paging service.
-
-
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communications device is associated with a user who is associated with the second computerized system.
-
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the message indicates an online multi-player gaming opportunity or an online virtual-reality opportunity.
-
5. A method of operating a first computerized system having a first modem, the method comprising:
-
operating the first computerized system to try to initiate communications between the first modem and a second modem coupled to a second computerized system; and
after failing to initiate communications between the first and second modems, operating the first computerized system to try to communicate a message via the first modem to a pager associated with the second computerized system. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of operating a first computerized system having a first modem, the method comprising:
-
operating the first computerized system to try to initiate communications between the first modem and a second modem coupled to a second computerized system;
after trying unsuccessfully to initiate communications, searching a database for information identifying a second computerized system and a number associated with a pager that is associated with a user of the second computerized system; and
operating the first computerized system to try to communicate a message via the first modem to the pager associated with the second computerized system, including transmitting information identifying the pager to a paging service. - View Dependent Claims (11, 16)
-
-
12. A computerized system comprising:
-
a processor;
a network communications device coupled to the processor for communicating with one or more other computerized systems; and
a computer-readable storage medium which comprises instructions for;
operating the computerized system to sense a failure to establish communications between the first network communications device and a second network communications device associated with a second computerized system; and
operating the computerized system to try to communicate a message to a second communications device associated with the second computerized system, after sensing the failure. - View Dependent Claims (13)
wherein the message indicates an online multi-player gaming opportunity or an online virtual-reality opportunity; and
wherein the computer-readable storage medium further includes instructions for searching a database for access information associated with the second communications device, before trying to communicate the message to the second communications device.
-
-
14. A machine-readable medium comprising machine-executable instructions for:
-
operating a computer system to sense a failure to establish communications between a network communications device within the computer system and a first network communications device associated with another computer system; and
operating the computer system to try to communicate a message based on the failure to a second communications device associated with the other computer system, after sensing the failure. - View Dependent Claims (15)
searching a database for access information associated with the second communications device, before trying to communicate the message to the second communications device associated with the computerized system.
-
Specification