System for real-time communication between plural users

• US 7,152,093 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pragmatus AV LLC (Pragmatus, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Collaboration Properties Incorporated
• Inventors: Lantz, Keith A., Lauwers, J. Chris, Burns, Emmett R., Burnett, Gerald J., Ludwig, Lester F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REILLY, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/721,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system for real-time, communication between a plurality of separated users comprising at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users and having an associated display, at least one communication network to which at least first and second users can connect by logging in at their respective communication devices. Further included are at least one service record for the first and second logged in users, the at least one service record including user identification information and an associated location where each user is logged in. Computer software also is provided for causing display of a user identifier for at least the second user on the display of at least the first user'"'"'s communication device, and generating a signal in response to a user selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier. Further, there is collaboration initiation software that functions to cause the retrieving of necessary addressing information of the second user, and to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and thereby to enable real-time communication, including video images of at least one user and real-time text messages to be displayed on the display of at least one user.

Claims

1. A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising

(a) at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users and each having an associated display and at least one associated client program;

(b) at least one communication network to which at least first and second users can connect by logging in using their respective communication devices;

(c) at least one service record for the first and second logged in users, each service record including user identification information and an associated location of at least one client program associated with the communication device where at least one user logged in;

(d) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the first user;

(e) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the second user

(f) computer software for

(i) causing display of a user identifier for at least the second user in a personalized list including a graphical icon representing at least one user on the display of at least the first user'"'"'s communication device, and

(ii) generating a signal in response to a first user selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier; and

(g) collaboration initiation software that functions

(i) to cause the retrieving of necessary addressing information of the second user, and

(ii) to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and thereby

(iii) to enable real-time communication including at least real-time text messages to be displayed on the display of at least one user,

wherein the system is configured to indicate to the first user whether another user is not logged in and

wherein the system is further configured to register the service capabilities for each user and to establish communications between the users based on the registered service capabilities.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one communication device is a wireless device.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising at least one wide area network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow the first user to:

(a) select a new user from among a plurality of potential users; and

(b) add that new user to an existing communication.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to:

(a) detect an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user;

(b) notify the first user of the attempt; and

(c) allow the first user to establish a communication with the third user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system is configured to cause an indication of the attempt to initiate communications to appear automatically on a user'"'"'s display.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the system is configured to

(a) allow the first user to send a non-real time communication to the second user.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication to the first user of whether another user is not logged in occurs if no service record is found for the other user.

38. The system of claim 1, wherein the location includes address information.

42. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least first and second communications networks, each including at least one service server, each service server having at least the service records of the first and second user replicated thereon.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to enable

(a) real time communication including video to be displayed on the display of at least one user;

and

(b) a user capable of receiving and displaying video communications to block incoming video communications while still displaying text communications.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow a user to indicate a want to receive requests for communication.

8. A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising

(a) at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users, at least one device being wireless and each device having an associated display and at least one associated client program;

(b) at least one communication network at least part of which is a wide area network to which at least first and second users can connect by logging in using their respective communication devices;

(c) at least one service record for the first and second logged in users, each service record including user identification information and an associated location of at least one client program associated with the communication device where at least one user logged in;

(d) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the first user;

(e) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the second user;

(f) computer software for

(i) causing display of a user identifier for at least the second user on the display of at least the first user'"'"'s communication device, and

(ii) generating a signal in response to a user selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier; and

(g) collaboration initiation software that functions

(i) to cause the retrieving of necessary addressing information of the second user, and

(ii) to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and thereby

(iii) to enable real-time communication displayed on the display of the first and second users

wherein the system is further configured to register the service capabilities for each user and to establish communication between the users based on the registered service capabilities.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is configured to allow communications including real-time text displayed on the displays associated with the first and second users.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the user identifier is in a personalized list.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the personalized list includes at least one graphical icon representing a user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to indicate to a user whether another user is not logged in.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is configured to allow the first user to:

(a) select a new user from among a plurality of potential users; and

(b) add that new user to an existing communication.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a user is selected by clicking on an icon.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is configured to:

(a) detect an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user;

(b) notify the first user of the attempt; and

(c) allow the first user to establish a communication with the third user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is configured to cause an indication of the attempt to initiate communications to appear automatically on a user'"'"'s display.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is configured to

(a) allow the first user to send a non-real time communication to the second user.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is configured to allow communications including video images of at least one participant.

35. The system of claim 12, wherein the indication to the first user of whether another user is not logged in occurs if no service record is found for the other user.

39. The system of claim 8, wherein the location includes address information.

45. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least first and second communications networks, each including at least one service server, each service server having at least the service records of the first and second user replicated thereon.

46. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is configured to enable

(a) real time communications including both video and typed characters to be displayed on the display of at least one user;

and

(b) a user capable of receiving and displaying video communications to block incoming video communications while still displaying typed character communications.

19. A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising

(a) at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users and each having an associated display and at least one associated client program;

(b) at least a first and a second communication network each including at least one service server, separate from the communication devices, and to which at least first and second users can connect respectively by using their respective communication devices;

(c) at least one service record for the first and second connected users, each service record including user identification information and an associated location of at least one client program associated with the communication device that the users used to connect to the networks, each service record being replicated on at least one service server in each of the first and second networks;

(d) computer software for

(i) causing display of a user identifier for at least the second user on the display of at least the first user'"'"'s communication device, and

(ii) generating a signal in response to a first user selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier; and

(e) collaboration initiation software that functions

(i) to cause, in response to the signal, the retrieving of necessary addressing information of the second user, and

(ii) to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users through at least their respective communication networks, and thereby

(iii) to notify the second user of the communication from the first user and the first user'"'"'s identity to enable communication displayed on the display of the first and second users

wherein the system is further configured to register the service capabilities for each user and to establish communications between the users based on the registered service capabilities.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is configured to allow communications including real-time text displayed on the displays associated with the first and second users.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the user identifier is displayed in a list that includes graphical representations of users and is scrollable.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is configured to indicate to a user whether another user is not connected to a network.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is configured to allow communications including video images of at least two participants.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one communication device is a wireless device.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising at least one wide area network.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is configured to allow the first user to:

(a) select a new user from among a plurality of potential users; and

(b) add that new user to an existing communication.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured to:

(a) detect an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user;

(b) notify the first user of the attempt; and

(c) allow the first user to establish a communication with the third user.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the system is configured to cause an indication of the attempt to initiate communications to appear automatically on a user'"'"'s display.

36. The system of claim 22, wherein the indication to the first user of whether another user is not logged in occurs if no service record is found for the other user.

40. The system of claim 19, wherein the location includes address information.

47. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured to enable

(a) real time communications including both video and typed characters to be displayed on the display of at least one user;

and

(b) a user capable of receiving and displaying video communications to block incoming video communications while still displaying typed character communications.

29. A system for real-time communication between a plurality of separated users, comprising

(a) at least one communication device for use by each of the plurality of users, at least one device being a wireless device and each device having an associated display and at least one associated client program;

(b) at least one communication network to which at least first and second users can connect by logging in using their respective communication devices;

(c) at least one service record for the first and second logged in users, each service record including user identification information and an associated location of at least one client program associated with the communication device where at least one user logged in;

(d) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the first user;

(e) a plurality of service servers, separate from each other and the communication devices, each replicating and having stored thereon at least one service record for the second user;

(f) computer software for

(i) causing display of a user identifier for at least the second user in a personalized list including at least one graphical icon representing a user on the display of at least the first user'"'"'s communication device, and

(ii) generating a signal in response to a first user selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier; and

(g) collaboration initiation software that functions

(i) to cause the retrieving of necessary addressing information of the second user, and

(ii) to cause the establishing of a connection between the first and second users, and thereby

(iii) to enable real-time communication including real-time text displayed on the display of the first and second users

wherein the system is configured to indicate to a user whether another user is not logged in and

wherein the system is further configured to register the service capabilities for each user and to establish communications between the users based on the registered service capabilities.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the system is configured to allow the first user to:

(a) select a new user from among a plurality of potential users; and

(b) add that new user to an existing communication.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the system is configured to:

(a) detect an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user;

(b) notify the first user of the attempt; and

(c) allow the first user to establish a communication with the third user.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the system is configured to cause an indication of the attempt to initiate communications to appear automatically on a user'"'"'s display.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the system is configured to allow communications including video images of at least one participant.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the indication to the first user whether another user is not logged in occurs if no service record is found for the other user.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the location includes address information.

48. The system of claim 32, wherein the system is configured to enable

(a) real time communications including both video and typed characters to be displayed on the display of at least one user;

and

(b) a user capable of receiving and displaying video communications to block incoming video communications while still displaying typed character communications.

49. The system of claim 29, wherein the system is configured to allow a user to indicate a want to receive requests for communication.