Method for real-time communication between plural users

• US 7,206,809 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• 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): Lim; Krisna
• Assistant Examiner(s): REILLY, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/721,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 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 method of real-time communication between a plurality of users each with respective communication devices having associated displays, the method comprising the steps of providing each of the plurality of users with collaboration initiation software at their communication devices and allowing at least first and second users to connect to at least one communication network by logging in at their respective communication devices. Further, the method comprises maintaining service records for at least the first and second logged in users, the service records including user identification information and an associated location where each user is logged in no matter where they are located. A display of a user identifier for at least the second user on the display of at least a first user'"'"'s communication device is caused, thereby allowing the user to select the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier and retrieve necessary addressing information of the second user so that a connection between the first and second users can be established, thereby enabling real-time communication displayed on the display of the first and second users.

Claims

1. A method of real-time communication between a plurality of users each with respective communication devices having associated displays, the method comprising:

registering the service capabilities of at least one of the communications devices associated with at least one user;

allowing a plurality of users to connect to at least one communication network by logging in using their respective communications devices;

in response to a user'"'"'s log in, maintaining a record of user'"'"'s identification information and a record of associated location information for where that user is logged in;

causing display of a user identifier, for at least a second user, in a list on the display of at least a first user'"'"'s communication device;

allowing the first user to select the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier;

in response to the first user'"'"'s selection, retrieving necessary addressing information of the second user;

using the retrieved addressing information to cause establishment of a connection between the first and second users through at least one communication network; and

enabling real-time communication between the first and second users using their respective communication devices based on their registered service capabilities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication includes real-time text displayed on the displays of at least one of the communications devices associated with the first and second users.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one communication device is a wireless device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one communication network is a wide area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one user identifier is at least one graphical icon representing a user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising indicating to a user if another user is not logged in.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising allowing 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.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

(a) notifying the first user of an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user; and

(b) allowing the first user to accept a communication from the third user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification of the second user of the first user'"'"'s to initiate communications appears automatically on a user'"'"'s display.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising

(a) allowing the first user to send an e-mail to the second user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the service capabilities include communication types, the method further comprising:

displaying to the first user a list of potential communication types;

allowing the first user to select a communication type; and

enabling communications of the selected type.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications includes at least one of the group consisting of audio and video images of at least one user.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling of the display of visual communication is based, in part, on the registered capabilities.

37. The method of claim 11, wherein the service capabilities include at least one from the group consisting of video call, snapshot sharing, conference and video file sharing.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information includes the addressing information.

41. The method of claim 11, wherein the location information includes the addressing information.

13. A method of real-time communication between a plurality of users each with respective communication devices having associated displays, the method comprising:

registering the service capabilities of at least one of the communications devices, associated with at least one user;

allowing at least first and second users to connect to at least one communication network by logging in using their respective communication devices;

maintaining a record of each logged-in user'"'"'s identification information and a record of associated location information where that user is logged in;

causing display of a user identifier, for at least the second user, in a list on the display of at least a first user'"'"'s communication device;

allowing the first user to attempt to establish communication by selecting the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier;

retrieving necessary addressing information of the second user;

establishing a connection between the first and second users;

notifying the second user of the first user'"'"'s attempt to establish communication along with an identification of the first user; and

allowing the second user to respond to the notification, thereby establishing real-time communication between the first and second users using their respective communication devices and based on the registered service capabilities.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the list includes at least one graphical icon representing a user.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising indicating to a user if another user is not logged in.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication includes real-time text displayed on the displays of at least one of the communication devices associated with the first and second users.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one communication device is a wireless device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one communication network is a wide area network.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising allowing 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.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

(a) notifying the first user of an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user; and

(b) allowing the first user to accept a communication from the third user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the notification of the second user of the first user'"'"'s attempt to initiate communications appears automatically on a users display.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising

(a) allowing the first user to send an e-mail to the second user.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the service capabilities include communication types, the method further comprising:

displaying to the first user a list of potential communication types;

allowing the first user to select a communication type; and

enabling communications of the selected type.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the communications includes at least one of the group consisting of audio and video images of at least one user.

35. The method of claim 13, wherein the enabling of the display of visual communication is based, in part, on the registered capabilities.

38. The method of claim 23, wherein the service capabilities include at least one from the group consisting of video call, snapshot sharing, conference and video file sharing.

25. A method of real-time communication between a plurality of users each with respective communication devices having associated displays, the method comprising:

registering the service capabilities of at least one of the communications devices, associated with at least one user;

allowing at least first and second users to connect to at least one communication network by logging in using their respective communication devices at least one of which is a wireless device;

maintaining a record of each logged-in user'"'"'s identification information and a record of an associated location where that user is logged in;

causing display of a user identifier, for at least the second user, on the display of at least a first user'"'"'s communication device;

allowing the first user to select the displayed second user'"'"'s identifier;

retrieving necessary addressing information of the second user; and

establishing a connection between the first and second users, thereby enabling real-time communication, based on the registered capabilities, to be displayed on the displays of the first and second users.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the communication includes real-time text displayed on the displays of at least one of the communication devices associated with the first and second users.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the personalized list includes graphical representations of users and is scrollable.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising indicating to a user if another user is not logged in.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising allowing 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.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

(a) notifying the first user of an attempt by a third user to initiate a communication with the first user; and

(b) allowing the first user to accept a communication from the third user.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein an indication of the attempt to initiate communications appears automatically on a user'"'"'s display.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the communications includes at least one of the group consisting of audio and video images of at least one user.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the automatically appearing indication of the attempt to initiate communication includes a notification of the third user'"'"'s identity.

36. The method of claim 25, the service capabilities include communication types, the method further comprising:

displaying to the first user a list of potential communication types;

allowing the first user to select a communication type; and

enabling display of communications of the selected type.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the service capabilities include at least one from the group consisting of video call, snapshot sharing, conference and video file sharing.

42. The method of claim 25, wherein the location information includes the addressing information.