Method for real-time communication between plural users
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method comprising:
- maintaining a first association between a first user and corresponding addressing information of a first communication device used by the first user to log in;
maintaining a second association between a second user and corresponding addressing information of a second communication device used by the second user to log in, wherein the second communication device is separated from the first communication device by a wide area network;
wherein the first and second associations are dynamically changeable by keeping track of client programs at the respective communication devices so that the first and second users, if logged in, can be found no matter where they are located;
presenting a user interface on a display associated with the first communication device, the user interface including at least one of a scrollable list of identifiers of a plurality of users and a dial panel of identifiers for at least a subset of users from the scrollable list, wherein at least one of the scrollable list and the dial panel includes an identifier for the second user;
if the second user is not logged in, indicating to the first user that the second user is not logged in;
allowing the first user to select from the user interface the identifier of the second user;
in response to the first user selecting the identifier of the second user and if the second user is logged in, using the addressing information of the second communication device to allow communication between the first and second users, the communication being established using either a communication type selected by the first user or a default communication type;
detecting an incoming request for communication, from at least a third user, at the first communication device of the first user during an active communication with the second user;
indicating to the first user the third user; and
providing the first user with an option of accepting the incoming request for communication with the third user.
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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. 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 provided, 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 including video images of at least one user and real-time text messages displayed on the display associated with at least one user.
307 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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maintaining a first association between a first user and corresponding addressing information of a first communication device used by the first user to log in; maintaining a second association between a second user and corresponding addressing information of a second communication device used by the second user to log in, wherein the second communication device is separated from the first communication device by a wide area network; wherein the first and second associations are dynamically changeable by keeping track of client programs at the respective communication devices so that the first and second users, if logged in, can be found no matter where they are located; presenting a user interface on a display associated with the first communication device, the user interface including at least one of a scrollable list of identifiers of a plurality of users and a dial panel of identifiers for at least a subset of users from the scrollable list, wherein at least one of the scrollable list and the dial panel includes an identifier for the second user; if the second user is not logged in, indicating to the first user that the second user is not logged in; allowing the first user to select from the user interface the identifier of the second user; in response to the first user selecting the identifier of the second user and if the second user is logged in, using the addressing information of the second communication device to allow communication between the first and second users, the communication being established using either a communication type selected by the first user or a default communication type; detecting an incoming request for communication, from at least a third user, at the first communication device of the first user during an active communication with the second user; indicating to the first user the third user; and providing the first user with an option of accepting the incoming request for communication with the third user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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maintaining a first association between a first user and corresponding addressing information of a first communication device used by the first user to log in, wherein the first communication device is a wireless device; maintaining a second association between a second user and corresponding addressing information of a second communication device used by the second user to log in, wherein the second communication device is separated from the first communication device by a wide area network; wherein the first and second associations are dynamically changeable by keeping track of client programs at the respective communication devices so that the first and second users, if logged in, can be found no matter where they are located; presenting a user interface on a display associated with the first communication device, the user interface including identifiers of a plurality of users including an identifier for the second user, wherein information associated with at least the second user is retrieved from at least one server; allowing the first user to request communication with the second user by selecting the identifier of the second user from the user interface; if the second user is not logged in, indicating to the first user that the second user is not logged in; if the second user is logged in, indicating to the second user that the first user requested communication with the second user including revealing a corresponding identifier for the first user; in response to the first user selecting the identifier of the second user and if the second user is logged in, using the addressing information of the second communication device to allow communication between the first and second users; allowing the first user to select a communication type for the communication between the first and second users; establishing communication between the first and second user using either the communication type selected by the first user or a default communication type; detecting an incoming request for communication, from at least a third user, at the first communication device of the first user during an active communication with the second user; indicating to the first user a corresponding identifier of the third user; and providing the first user with an option of accepting the incoming request for communication with the third user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method comprising:
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maintaining a first association between a first user and corresponding addressing information of a first communication device used by the first user to log in; maintaining a second association between a second user and corresponding addressing information of a second communication device used by the second user to log in, wherein the second communication device is separated from the first communication device by a wide area network; wherein the first and second associations are dynamically changeable by keeping track of client programs at the respective communication devices so that the first and second users, if logged in, can be found no matter where they are located; presenting a user interface on a display associated with the first communication device, the user interface including identifiers of a plurality of users including an identifier for the second user, wherein information associated with at least the second user is retrieved from at least one server; allowing the first user to request communication with the second user by selecting the identifier of the second user; indicating to the second user if the second user is logged in that the first user requested communication with the second user including revealing a corresponding identifier associated with the first user; in response to the first user selecting the identifier of the second user and if the second user is logged in, using the addressing information of the second communication device to allow communication between the first and second users, the communication being established using either a communication type selected by the first user or a default communication type; detecting an incoming request for communication, from at least a third user, at the first communication device of the first user during an active communication with the second user; indicating to the first user a corresponding identifier of the third user; and providing the first user with an option of accepting the incoming request for communication. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method comprising:
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maintaining a first association between a first user and corresponding addressing information of a first communication device used by the first user to log in; maintaining a second association between the first user and corresponding addressing information of a second communication device used by the first user to log in; maintaining a third association between a second user and corresponding addressing information of a third communication device used by the second user to log in, wherein the third communication device separated from the at least one of the communication devices used by the first user to log in by a wide area network; wherein the first, second and third associations are dynamically changeable by keeping track of client programs at the respective communication devices so that the first and second users, if logged in, can be found no matter where they are located; presenting a user interface on a display associated with at least one of the communication devices used by the first user to log in, the user interface including at least one of a scrollable list of identifiers of a plurality of users and a dial panel of identifiers for at least a subset of users from the scrollable list, wherein at least one of the scrollable list and the dial panel includes an identifier for the second user; allowing the first user to select the identifier of the second user; if the second user is not logged in, indicating to the first user that the second user is not logged in; and in response to the first user selecting the identifier of the second user and if the second user is logged in, using the addressing information of the third communication device to allow communication between the first and second users, the communication being established using either a communication type selected by the first user or a default communication type; detecting an incoming request for communication, from at least a third user, at the at least one of the communication devices used by the first user to log in, during an active communication with the second user; indicating to the first user a corresponding identifier of the third user; and providing the first user with an option of accepting the incoming request for communication. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification