Frame for communicating expressive information for meetings

• US 6,966,035 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bertagnolli, Kathleen Vivian, Suess, Carol Sue Hidy, Valison, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roswell, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/955,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/752, 715/753, 715/764, 715/765, 715/781
• US Class Current: 715/753
• 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 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A murmur frame for a participant to communicate expressive information with other participants in a meeting includes a personal information section that contains a name of the participant, one or more icons indicating inputs and reactions of the participant related to a subject matter or other aspects of the meeting, and one or more annotation banners containing comments or questions of the participant. The input may include pictorial, textual, and audible inputs. The murmur frame is subdivided into sub-areas each dedicated to a specific aspect of the meeting. The choice of a sub-area in which an icon is displayed is significant. The murmur frame containing the expressive information may be transmitted to the other participants through a computer network system to advance communication for the meeting.

Claims

1. A frame for one or more participants to communicate expressive information with other participants in a meeting, the frame comprising:

sub-areas each dedicated to a specific aspect of the meeting, wherein the sub-areas are not distinct frames within a larger frame, and wherein displaying an icon in a first sub-area conveys a different expressive information from displaying the icon in a second sub-area, and

wherein the frame containing the expressive information is transmitted to the other participants through a computer network system to advance communication for the meeting.

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame singularly represents multiple participants at one of multiple sites.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises:

a personal information section, wherein the personal information section contains a name and a still or video picture of the participants;

one or more icons, indicating inputs and reactions of the participant related to a subject matter or other aspects of the meeting, wherein the inputs include pictorial and textual inputs; and

one or more annotation banners containing comments or questions of the participant.

4. The frame of claim 3, wherein the inputs further include audible input.

5. The frame of claim 3, further comprising a callout box for status comments.

6. The frame of claim 3, wherein the one or more icons have a default fade rate.

7. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame is color coded, and wherein different color represents different expressive information.

8. The frame of claim 1, wherein the frame and lines around the frame change in size, shape, color, and style to convey the expressive information.

9. The frame of claim 1, further comprising predefined standard annotations that can be selected from a menu, wherein the predefined standard annotations are configurable.

10. A computer network system for communicating expressive information for meetings, the computer network system comprising:

a plurality of computers that include display devices and audio output devices;

a plurality of frames positioned on the display devices, wherein each frame comprises;

sub-areas each dedicated to a specific aspect of the meeting, wherein the sub-areas are not distinct frames within a larger frame, and wherein displaying an icon in a first sub-area conveys a different expressive information from displaying the icon in a second sub-area; and

a network that transmits the plurality of frames, whereby multiple participants can communicate the expressive information through the plurality of frames.

11. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein the inputs further include audible input.

12. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein each frame further comprises:

a personal information section, wherein the personal information section contains a name of a participant;

one or more icons, indicating inputs or reactions of the participant related to a subject matter or other aspects of the meeting, wherein the inputs include pictorial and textual input; and

one or more annotation banners containing comments or questions of the participant,

wherein the icon indicating reactions of the participant has a default fade rate.

13. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of frames are color coded, and wherein different color represents different expressive information.

14. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of frames and lines around the frames change in size, shape, color, and style to convey expression.

15. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of the frames are listed on the display devices and can be selectively enlarged.

16. The computer network system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of frames can be personalized by the multiple participants.

17. The computer network system of claim 10, further comprising predefined standard annotations that can be selected from a menu, wherein the predefined standard annotations are configurable.

18. A computer readable medium providing instruction for communicating expressive information for meetings, the instructions comprising:

communicating personal information that includes names of multiple participants through frames;

subdividing each frame into sub-areas, wherein each sub-area is dedicated to a specific aspect of a meeting, wherein the sub-areas are not distinct frames within a larger frame, and wherein displaying an icon in a first sub-area conveys a different expressive information from displaying the icon in a second sub-area;

communicating inputs and reactions of the multiple participants to a subject matter and other aspects of the meeting through the frames;

communicating comments or questions of the multiple participants in one or more annotation banners through the frames; and

communicating miscellaneous input from the multiple participants through the frames.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for communicating personal information that includes still or video pictures of the multiple participants through the frames.