Real time communications system

• US 8,601,066 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Windy City Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Windy City Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Marks, Daniel L
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US11/510,473
• Time in Patent Office: 2,658 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• 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 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks

Abstract

A method of communicating via an Internet network, the method including: connecting, responsive to receiving from each of a plurality of computers a login name and a password corresponding to a respective user identity, a computer system to each of said plurality of computers; determining, by the computer system, which one or ones of the plurality of computers can communicate communications with at least one other of the plurality of computers; receiving, by the computer system, at least some of the communications in real time via the Internet network; and providing, by the computer system to at least one of the plurality of computers, a member-associated image and member identity information corresponding to one of the user identities.

Claims

1. Apparatus to distribute communication over an Internet network, the apparatus including:

a controller computer system, comprising a computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, the controller computer system in communication with the participator computers, wherein;

the controller computer system computer receives communications from the participator computers and carries out the steps of arbitrating, in accordance with predefined rules including a test for an authenticated user identity, to determine which ones of the participator computers can communicate communications in real time over the Internet network, and, wherein when one of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the one of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image, providing a member-associated image and respective member identity information to at least some of the participator computers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the member-associated image and the member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

77. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller computer system determines whether a first of the user identities is censored from access to the member-associated image corresponding to a second user identity;

and

if the first identity is censored, not allow access to the member-associated image; and

if the first user identity is not censored, allow access to the member-associated image.

2. A method of communicating via an Internet network by using a computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, the method including:

affording some of the information to a first of the participator computers via the Internet network, responsive to an authenticated first user identity; and

affording some of the information to a second of the participator computers via the Internet network, responsive to an authenticated second user identity;

determining, by the computer system, which one or ones of the participator computers can communicate communications with at least one other of the participator computers;

receiving, by the computer system, at least some of the communications in real time via the Internet network; and

, wherein when the first of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the first of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image, providing, by the computer system to at least one of the participator computers, a member-associated image and member identity information corresponding to one of the user identities.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

4. The method of claim 2, further including censoring an unwanted communication from at least one of the user identities, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

5. The method of claim 4, further including:

determining whether a first of the user identities is censored from access to the member-associated image corresponding to a second user identity;

if the first identity is censored, not allowing access to the member-associated image; and

if the first user identity is not censored, allowing access to the member-associated image.

6. The method of claim 2, further including:

communicating, via the computer system, an asynchronous message from one of the participator computers to another of the participator computers, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving includes receiving chat communications corresponding to a chat group.

8. The method of claim 3, further including providing a private communications channel to at least some of the participator computers.

10. The method of claim 3, further including providing data representing video to at least some of the participator computers.

11. The method of claim 3, further including providing data representing sound to at least some of the participator computers.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein at least some of the communications include data representing text or ASCII.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein at least some of the communications are communicated out-of-band.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein at least some of the communications include data representing multimedia, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

15. A communications system to distribute communication over an Internet network, the system including:

a computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, the controller computer system in communication with each of the participator computers, responsive to a respective authenticated user identity, wherein the computer system;

determines which of the participator computers can communicate communications with an other of the participator computers, wherein at least some of the communications are in real time via the Internet network and at least some of the communications are communications to be de-multiplexed, and wherein when one of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the one of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image, provides a member-associated image and member identity information corresponding to one of the user identities to at least some of the participator computers.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system censors an unwanted communication from a member.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system:

determines whether a first of the user identities is censored from access to a member-associated image corresponding to a second of the user identities;

if the first user identity is censored, does not allow access to the member-associated image; and

if the first user identity is not censored, allows access to the member-associated image.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system is programmed to facilitate communication of an asynchronous message received from one of the participator computers to another of the participator computers.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system distributes said at least some of the communications among a chat group.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system is programmed to facilitate a private communication channel to at least some of the participator computers.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the member-associated image and the member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system provides data representing video to at least some of the participator computers.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system provides data representing video and sound to at least some of the participator computers.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein at least some of the communications include data representing text or ASCII.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer system is programmed to facilitate out-of-band communication.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein at least some of the communications include multimedia data.

28. A method of communicating via an Internet network by using a computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, the method including:

affording some of the information to a first of the participator computers via the Internet network, responsive to an authenticated first user identity; and

affording some of the information to a second of the participator computers via the Internet network, responsive to an authenticated second user identity,

wherein when the first of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the first of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image,

providing, by the computer system, a first of the user identities access to a member-associated image and to member identity information respectively corresponding to another user identity;

determining, by the computer system, whether the first of the user identities and the second of the user identities are able to form a group in which members can communicate; and

if the first and the second user identities are able to form the group, forming the group so as to allow sending communications and receiving communications from another of the members in real time and via the Internet network, wherein at least some of the communications are communications to be de-multiplexed.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the communications includes data representing sound, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the communications includes data representing video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the communications includes data representing sound and video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

32. The method of claim 28, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity; and

wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

33. The method of claim 29, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

34. The method of claim 30, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

35. The method of claim 31, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

36. A method of communicating via an Internet network by using a computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, the method including:

affording some of the information to a first of the participator computers via the Internet network, responsive to an authenticated first user identity; and

affording some of the information to a second of the participator computers via the Internet network, responsive to an authenticated second user identity;

determining, with the computer system, whether a first of the user identities and a second of the user identities are able to form a group in which members can communicate;

determining, with the computer system, whether the first user identity is censored from access to a member-associated image and member identity information respectively corresponding to another user identity;

if the first user identity is censored, not allowing access to the member-associated image;

if the first user identity is not censored, when the first of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the first of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image, allowing access to the member-associated image; and

if the first and the second user identities are able to form the group, forming the group so as to allow sending communications and receiving communications from another of the members in real time via the Internet network, wherein at least some of the communications are communications to be de-multiplexed and at least some of the communications include data representing at least one of a pointer, video, audio, graphic, and multimedia.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data include data representing sound, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the data include data representing video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

39. The method of claim 36, the data include data representing sound and video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

40. The method of claim 36, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity; and

wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

41. The method of claim 37, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

42. The method of claim 38, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

43. The method of claim 39, further including:

storing, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical multimedia; and

based on the authorization, presenting the graphical multimedia at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

44. A system to communicate via an Internet network, the system including:

a controller computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, each of the participator computers communicatively connected to the controller computer system through an Internet network in association with a respective authenticated user identity, wherein the computer system;

determines whether a first of the user identities and a second of the user identities are able to form a group in which members can communicate, determines whether the first user identity is censored from access to a member-associated image and member identity information respectively corresponding to an other user identity,

if the first user identity is censored, not allow access to the member-associated image,

if the first user identity is not censored, when the first of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the first of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image, allow access to the member-associated image, and

if the first and the second user identities are able to form the group, then form the group so as to allow sending communications,

wherein the participator computers corresponding to the user identities of the formed group receive communications from another of the members in real time and via the Internet network, wherein at least some of the communications are communications to be de-multiplexed and at least some of the communications include data representing at least one of a pointer, video, audio, graphic, and multimedia.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the data includes data representing sound, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the data includes data representing video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the data includes data representing sound and video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the other user identity corresponds to the second user identity, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the other user identity corresponds to the second user identity.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the other user identity corresponds to the second user identity.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the other user identity corresponds to the second user identity.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein at least one of the communications includes data representing sound.

69. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

53. An Internet network communication system, the system including:

a controller computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, each of the participator computers communicatively connected to the controller computer system through an Internet network in association with a respective authenticated user identity, wherein the computer system;

provides a first of the user identities access to a member-associated image corresponding to a second of the user identities,

determines whether the first user identity is censored from access to a member-associated image corresponding to another user identity,

if the first user identity is censored, not allow access to the member-associated image,

if the first user identity is not censored, when the participator computer of the first user identity determines a media type is an image, the participator computer of the first user identity further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image, allow access to the member-associated image,

determines whether the first of the user identities and the second of the user identities are able to form a group in which members can communicate, and if the first and the second user identities are able to form the group, form the group, wherein those of the participator computers corresponding to the first and the second user identities are allowed to send communications and receive communications from another of the members of the group in real time and via the Internet network, wherein at least some of the communications include data representing at least one of a pointer, video, audio, graphic, and multimedia.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the data includes data representing video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the data includes data representing sound and video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the computer system is further programmed to:

store, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical data; and

based on the authorization, present the graphical data at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity; and

wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the computer system:

stores, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical data; and

based on the authorization, presents the graphical data at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the computer system:

stores, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical data; and

based on the authorization, presents the graphical data at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the computer system:

stores, for the first user identity, an authorization associated with presentation of graphical data; and

based on the authorization, presents the graphical data at one of the participator computers corresponding to the second user identity.

68. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

78. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

60. Apparatus to communicate via an Internet network, the apparatus including:

a controller computer system including a controller computer and a database which serves as a repository of tokens for other programs to access, thereby affording information to each of a plurality of participator computers which are otherwise independent of each other, each of the participator computers communicatively connected to the controller computer system through an Internet network in association with a respective authenticated user identity,

wherein;

a first of the participator computers is programmed to communicate to the computer system a message including a pointer pointing to a communication that includes data representing a video, a graphic, sound, and multimedia,

the computer system is programmed to communicate the message to a second of the participator computers,

the second computer is programmed to receive the communication originating from the first computer, the communication being sent in real time and via the Internet network, and, wherein when the first of the participator computers determines a media type is an image, the first of the participator computers further determines the media type is internally handleable, and after testing that the media type is a member associated image,

a member-associated image corresponding to one of the user identities is provided to at least some of the participator computers.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the computer system determines whether the pointer is censored, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

63. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the computer system determines whether the data are not censored, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

64. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the pointer produces the communication on demand, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

65. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the communication includes data representing video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

66. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the communication includes the data representing sound, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

67. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the communication includes the data representing sound and video, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

70. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the computer system provides chat communication in real time via the Internet network, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

71. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the computer system allows out-of-band communication to at least one of the participator computers, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

72. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the communication is an asynchronous communication, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

73. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the communication is a synchronous communication, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the communication includes the data representing sound.

75. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the communication includes the data representing video.

76. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the communication includes the data representing sound and video.

79. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the computer system communicates an out-of-band communication to at least one of the participator computers.

80. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the computer system communicates an asynchronous communication to at least one of the participator computers, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

81. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one of said user messages includes a uniform resource locater which produces a message upon demand, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

82. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein at least one of said user messages includes the uniform resource locator, whereby the uniform resource locator commands one of the participator computers corresponding to receiving the communication to locate an additional message and present the additional message, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.

83. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the computer system is further programmed to determine whether receiving of the message is censored, and to cause the receiving of the message if the receiving of the message is not censored, and wherein the member-associated image and corresponding member identity information are provided so as to be displayed next to each other.