Method and apparatus for providing group interaction via communications networks

• US 7,124,164 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen J. Chemtob
• Original Assignee: Helen J. Chemtob
• Inventors: Chemtob, Helen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOUDHURY, AZIZUL Q
• Application Number:
  US09/836,512
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control

Abstract

A system for communicating between members of a group is disclosed which includes a communications interface transmitting at least one of voice, video and text communications from an originating member to at least one destination member within a virtual group. The graphical communication flow module graphically depicts to each member of the virtual group the originator and target of different types of communication (text, voice or iconic) occurring simultaneously within the virtual group. The simultaneous access window allows virtual group members to engage in “real-life” group activities (like viewing a video, reviewing a document, or participating in training exercises) while at the same time transmitting, receiving, and viewing communications occurring between computer users connected to the virtual group. This system of providing group interaction over networks has unique and important applications to virtual group counseling, virtual office meetings, and group communications in the form of chat rooms over the Internet.

Claims

1. A server for communicating content between a group of networked client computers over a communications medium and displaying communications flows identifying a content originator an a content receiver, said server comprising:

a memory;

a processor storing and retrieving instructions from said memory;

a network interface operably connecting said processor to the communications medium;

a communications module receiving content from an originating computer and transmitting said content to at least one target computer;

a graphical communication flow module integrated with said communications module and providing to each of the client computers a graphical representation of a group of networked computers, said graphical communication flow module graphically depicting communication flows showing the originating and target computer users corresponding to each content transmission by said communications interface, and having means to graphically depict the intended target of a communication flow in a manner visible to users of all the computers connected to a virtual group;

wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by an originator to target all computer users connected to the group of networked computers who are participating a virtual meeting of the virtual group;

wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between computer users participating in the group meeting;

wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary;

wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users participating in the group meeting.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein said communications module transmits content selected from the group comprising voice, video and text.

3. The server according to claim 2, further comprising:

a voice communications monitor having a plurality of voice communication flags, one said flag corresponding to each client computer, only one said flag being active at any given time;

said communications module verifying a status of said plurality of voice communication flags in response to a voice content transmission request for a given client computer, and activating said corresponding voice communication flag if none of said voice communication flags is active, said communications interface processing voice content transmission requests only from a client computer whose corresponding voice communication flag is active;

a voice communication flag reset module for resetting said voice communication flags; and

a timer module that triggers said flag reset module to reset said voice communications flags after a predetermined time interval, wherein said timer module includes a timer over-ride function for re-starting said predetermined time interval.

4. The server according to claim 1, comprising:

a virtual meeting room module providing at least one of open membership virtual meeting rooms and restricted membership meeting rooms, access to said restricted membership meeting rooms being limited to select ones of the client computers;

a communications interface being integrated with said virtual meeting room module, facilitating communications between client computers networked throughout an entire system with those client computers accessing a specific said virtual meeting room; and

an email module providing email communications to client computer users connected to said virtual meeting room while simultaneously displaying said graphical communication flows occurring within said virtual meeting room.

5. The server according to claim 4, comprising:

a virtual chalkboard viewable to client computers accessing a given virtual meeting room; and

a graphical editor facilitating drawing on said virtual chalkboard by client computers accessing said given virtual meeting room;

wherein the virtual chalkboard is integrated with the communications, feedback and graphical communication flow modules such that the virtual chalkboard may be utilized while simultaneously transmitting, receiving and viewing communication flows.

6. The server according to claim 4, comprising:

a scheduler containing a directory of discussions occurring in said virtual meeting rooms, said scheduler managing registration for said discussions.

7. The server according to claim 1, wherein said graphical communication flow module graphically depicts each client computer user participating in the virtual group via computer using at least one of a dynamic video image received from said client computer and a still image.

8. The server according to claim 1, further comprising:

a library of feedback responses including at least one of text and graphic icons and sound clips;

a feedback communications module communicating feedback responses to said graphical communication flow module, such that transmission of a feedback response from an originating client to a target client is visible to all of the client computer users connected to the virtual group, said originating client providing feedback to the target client by selecting a feedback response from said library of feedback responses and sending said selected feedback response using said feedback communications module, said feedback communications module being integrated with said communications module, making it possible to transmit feedback responses simultaneously while other audiovisual and text messages are being transmitted via the communications module; and

a feedback response editor for creating feedback responses and storing said custom feedback responses in said feedback response library, said response editor having the capacity to be utilized at the same time that the communications module and the graphical communication flow module are in operation.

9. The server according to claim 1, wherein said graphical communication flow module depicts communication flows by varying visual characteristics of a graphic identifying the originating client and the target client, and the type of communication being transmitted.

10. The server according to claim 1, comprising:

a shared documents window providing shared viewing access to one of a document and a video presentation, said shared documents window being integrated with said communications module and said graphical communication flow module such that a shared document may be viewed while simultaneously transmitting and receiving content and viewing communication flow s.

11. A virtual office system, comprising:

a server computer having a nonvolatile storage medium;

a plurality of client computers connected to said server computer via a communications medium;

a graphical interface for displaying data to said client computers;

a virtual floor-plan stored on said nonvolatile storage medium and defining a plurality of virtual offices, said virtual floor-plan being displayed by said graphical interface;

a scheduler storing scheduling information on said nonvolatile storage medium for scheduling said plurality of virtual offices, said scheduling information including a directory identifying a time, meeting identification information, and virtual office information uniquely identifying a given virtual office, said scheduling information being displayed by said graphical interface;

a communications interface module which allows for the simultaneous transmission of audiovisual, text and graphic information between an originating client computer user to at least one destination client computer user connected to the given virtual office;

a graphical communication flow module graphically depicting to each client computer a representation of each participant in a meeting, said graphical communication flow module graphically depicting communication flows to all of the client computers showing the originating and destination client of content transmitted by the communications interface, and having means to graphically depict the intended target of a communication flow in a manner visible to all client computer users connected to a virtual meeting group, having means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended to target all computer users connected to the virtual meeting group, and having means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between client computer users connected to the virtual meeting group; and

a virtual meeting room module providing a simultaneous access window for displaying text or video transmissions to be viewed by all client computer users connected to said virtual meeting group at the same time that communications occurring between client computer users connected to the virtual meeting group can be transmitted, received and viewed via the communication and graphical communication flow modules, such text or video transmissions via the simultaneous access window having the capacity to be manipulated by a selected one of the client computer users connected to the virtual meeting group, such manipulation being possible during the ongoing operation of the communication and graphical communication flow modules.

12. The virtual office system according to claim 11, wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary;

and

wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users connected to the virtual meeting group.

13. The virtual office system according to claim 12, further comprising:

an access control module restricting access to a selected virtual office; and

an access request module for requesting access into said selected virtual office; and

an access entry module which provides a selected one of the client computer users the capacity to allow previously restricted client computer users to enter said virtual group meeting; and

such access modules having the capacity to be utilized while a virtual meeting group is taking place and the communications, graphical communication flow, and shared documents modules are all in operation.

14. A method for conducting on-line training using a server computer connected to a plurality of client computers, comprising:

providing a virtual meeting room on the server computer which is accessible to the client computer users participating in a specific training group;

graphically depicting a representation the virtual meeting room and each of the client computer users accessing and participating in the specific training group taking place in the virtual meeting room;

communicating content from an originating client computer user to at least one target client computer user connected to the specific training group using a messaging interface;

graphically depicting to each of the client computers a communications flow showing the originating and target client computer users of content transmitted by said messaging interface, and having means to graphically depict the intended target of a communication flow in a manner visible to users of all the computers connected to the training group, having means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended to target all of the computer users connected to the training group, and having means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between client computer users connected to the training group;

providing a simultaneous access window for displaying presentation materials to each of the client computers accessing the virtual room; and

facilitating a structured discussion using the messaging system and the presentation materials displayed in the simultaneous access window.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein

a graphical communications flow module has means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary;

and

wherein the graphical communications flow module has means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users in the virtual meeting room.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

providing a presentation materials editor and a memory on the server for editing and storing presentation materials for an on-line training seminar.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

providing a library of feedback responses, wherein an originating client may select a given feedback response and specify a target client, and said messaging interface communicates the feedback response to the target client; and

providing a feedback response editor for creating custom feedback responses.

18. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

providing a resource directory containing literature reviews related to the on-line training topic.

19. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

providing

an on-line workbook containing a series of exercises, said exercises including at least one of individual and group training exercises, wherein the on-line workbook is integrated with a communication module, a feedback module, and the graphical communication flow module, and the on-line workbook may be utilized while simultaneously transmitting, receiving and viewing communication flows.

20. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

providing a list of on-line group prompt statements which are delivered to the group by one of a group leader and a group member to the group using the messaging system, wherein on-line prompts are integrated with a communication module, a feedback module, and the graphical communication flow module, and the on-line prompts may be utilized while simultaneously transmitting, receiving and viewing communication flows.

21. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

providing a graphical ratings module which prompts members for a rating;

providing statistical analysis of the responses;

graphically displaying each member'"'"'s response to the ratings prompt such that each member views the responses of all the members and the results of the statistical analysis.

22. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

providing a diagnostic assessment module prompting members to answer a series of diagnostic questions; and

providing statistical analysis of each member'"'"'s responses to the diagnostic questions.

23. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

tracking a number of messages sent and received by each member, and

tracking a total duration of voice messages transmitted and received by each member;

and providing statistical analysis of each member'"'"'s activity as measured by said number of messages and said total duration of voice messages.

24. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

recording messages and communications flows; and

selectively replaying and redisplaying said messages while simultaneously depicting the communication flows of the training group discussion of selected replayed segments.

25. An internet web site residing on a host and providing a structured communications environment for a plurality of client computers, said internet web site comprising:

a graphical interface displaying a plurality of virtual meeting rooms, a given virtual meeting room being simultaneously accessible to selected ones of the client computers;

a communications interface receiving content from an originating client computer and displaying said content to at least one destination client computer;

said graphical interface displaying within each virtual meeting room a representation of the client computers accessing said corresponding virtual meeting room;

said graphical interface graphically depicting communication flows showing the originating and destination client computer users corresponding to each content transmission by said communications interface, and having means to graphically depict the intended target of a communication flow in a manner visible to users of all the computers users in the virtual meeting room.

26. The internet web site according to claim 25, wherein:

the graphical interface has means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by the originator to target all computer users in the virtual meeting room; and

the graphical interface has means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one simultaneous communications flow.

27. The internet web site according to claim 26, wherein the graphical interface has means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary.

28. The internet web site according to claim 27, wherein the graphical interface has means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users in the virtual meeting room.

29. The internet web site according to claim 28, wherein said communications interface transmits content selected from the group comprising voice, video and text.

30. The internet web site according to claim 28, further comprising:

a voice communications traffic module providing for each virtual meeting room a plurality of voice communication flags, one said flag corresponding to each client computer, accessing a given virtual room, only one said flag being active in any virtual room at any given time;

said communications interface verifying a status of said plurality of voice communication flags within a given virtual room in response to a voice content transmission request by a client computer, and activating said corresponding voice communication flag if none of said voice communication flags within said given virtual meeting room is active, said communications interface processing voice content transmission requests only from a client computer whose corresponding voice communication flag is active;

a flag reset module for resetting a selected said voice communication flags; and

a timer module triggers said flag reset module to reset said selected voice communications flag after a predetermined time interval;

wherein said timer module includes a timer over-ride function for re-starting said predetermined time interval.

31. The internet web site according to claim 28, wherein:

said graphical interface graphically depicts each client computer using at least one of a dynamic video image received from said client computer and a still image stored on said host.

32. The internet web site according to claim 28, further comprising:

a library of feedback responses stored on the host;

said graphical interface enabling an originating said client computer to choose a selected said feedback response and specify a target client for receipt of the selected feedback response, said graphical interface displaying said feedback response and identifying an originating and target client of the feedback response; and

a feedback response editor residing on said host for creating custom feedback responses, and storing said custom text and custom graphic icons in said library of feedback responses.

33. The internet web site according to claim 28 further comprising:

an email module providing email communications while simultaneously displaying said graphical communication flows.

34. The internet web site according to claim 28, further comprising:

a shared documents window providing shared viewing access to one of a document and a video presentation, said shared documents window being integrated with said graphical interface and said graphical communication flow module such that a shared document may be viewed while simultaneously transmitting and receiving content and viewing communication flows.

35. The internet web site according to claim 28, further comprising:

a virtual chalk board viewable to client computers accessing a given virtual meeting room; and

a graphical editor facilitating drawing on said virtual chalkboard by client computers accessing said given virtual meeting room.

36. The internet web site according to claim 28, further comprising:

a scheduler containing a directory of discussions occurring in said virtual meeting rooms, said scheduler managing registration for said discussions.

37. A method for providing on-line counseling using a server computer connected to a plurality of client computers, comprising the steps of:

storing a roster of authorized participants on the server said roster including identification information specifying authorized client computers;

providing a virtual meeting room on the server computer which is accessible to the authorized client computers;

graphically depicting a representation of the virtual meeting room including a graphical representation of each of the authorized participants accessing the virtual meeting room;

communicating content from an originating client to at least one target client in a counseling group in the virtual meeting room using a messaging interface;

graphically depicting to each of the clients a communications flow showing the originating and target client(s) of content transmitted by said messaging interface, said messaging interface having means to graphically depict the intended target of a communication flow in a manner visible on all the computers of the participants in a virtual meeting room;

storing presentation material on the server;

providing a simultaneous access window for displaying the presentation materials to each of the authorized client computers accessing the virtual meeting room; and

facilitating a structured discussion using the messaging interface and the presentation materials displayed in the simultaneous access window;

wherein the messaging interface has means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by an originator to target all the participants in the virtual meeting room;

wherein the messaging interface has means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one simultaneous communications flow;

wherein the messaging interface has means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary; and

wherein the messaging interface has means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users in the virtual meeting room.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of:

providing a library of feedback responses, wherein a member may provide feedback by sending a feedback response from said library of feedback responses.

39. A memory medium storing software for a communications system, comprising:

a graphical interface for displaying a plurality of virtual meeting rooms, a given virtual meeting room being simultaneously accessible to selected ones of the client computers;

a communications interface for receiving content from an originating client computer and displaying said content to at least one destination client computer;

said graphical interface displaying within each virtual meeting room a representation of the client computers accessing said corresponding virtual meeting room;

said graphical interface graphically depicting communication flows showing the originating and destination client computer users corresponding to each content transmission by said communications interface, and having means to graphically depict the intended target of a communication flow in a manner visible to all computer users in the virtual meeting room;

wherein the graphical interface has means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by an originator to target all computer users in the virtual meeting room;

wherein the graphical interface has means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between client computer users in the virtual meeting room;

wherein the graphical interface has means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary; and

wherein the graphical interface has means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while identities of the originator and the target of the hidden communications flow are transmitted via the graphical interface in a manner perceptible to all users in the virtual meeting room.