Multi-user on-line real-time virtual social networks based upon communities of interest for entertainment, information or e-commerce purposes
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method of interacting in real-time with online users accessible through a computer network, comprising:
- accessing by a first user a first real-time social network comprising a community of members having a specific predetermined common interest, the first real-time social network being within an interactor zone that includes one or a logical collection of related real-time social networks, the first user accessing the first real-time social network using an interactor client application that allows the first user to communicate in real-time with other online users who are members of said first or another one of said real-time social networks;
displaying in real-time to the first user identities of other users who are online at the time and who are members of the first or another one of said real-time social networks within said interactor zone and who choose to be identifiable; and
enabling using the interactor client application real-time interaction by the first user with said selected ones of said other online users.
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Abstract
In a multi-user online real-time network in which users access content associated with a plurality of social networks related by common communities of interest, an interactor client application is embedded in content pages accessed by a user, and the user is provided a list of other users and the content pages in the related social networks that they are accessing. The inteactor client application cooperates with an interactor server application on a network server to enable a user to view the content being accessed by multiple selected ones of the other users, and to interact with the other users online and in real time.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of interacting in real-time with online users accessible through a computer network, comprising:
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accessing by a first user a first real-time social network comprising a community of members having a specific predetermined common interest, the first real-time social network being within an interactor zone that includes one or a logical collection of related real-time social networks, the first user accessing the first real-time social network using an interactor client application that allows the first user to communicate in real-time with other online users who are members of said first or another one of said real-time social networks; displaying in real-time to the first user identities of other users who are online at the time and who are members of the first or another one of said real-time social networks within said interactor zone and who choose to be identifiable; and enabling using the interactor client application real-time interaction by the first user with said selected ones of said other online users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of real-time online interacting with users logged on to social networks in a computer network, the social networks being part of an interactor zone that includes one or a logical collection of related real-time social networks, comprising:
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accessing by a first user a first real-time social network in said interactor zone using an interactor client application that allows the first user to communicate in real-time with other online users who are members of said first or another one of said real-time social networks; displaying in real-time to the first user a list of other users who are online at the time and are accessing social networks within said interactor zone which meet predetermined criteria established by the first user, said displaying comprising displaying content pages being accessed by said other users who choose to be identifiable; selecting by the first user for interaction selected ones of said other users based upon the content of the content pages; and enabling real-time interaction by said client application between said first user and said selected ones of said other users. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer network in which a plurality of online users access real-time social networks within an interactor zone that includes one or a logical collection of related real-time social networks, the computer network including a network user device comprising a processor, and a memory, for storing computer programs for controlling the operation of the network user device to perform the steps of:
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accessing a selected real-time social network by a first user using an associated interactor client application that enables real-time interaction between online users within said interactor zone who are members of one of said social networks; displaying in real-time using the interactor client application a list of other users who are online and are accessing one or more of said social networks; and enabling by the interactor client application online real-time interaction between the first user of said user device and other online users accessing other social networks that are within a predetermine locale of the first social network, including providing identities of users on said list of other users who choose to be identifiable, and communicating the content of content pages accessed by the users to said user device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification