Telephony interface for virtual communication environments
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- maintaining a persistent virtual area that supports establishment of respective presences of communicants operating respective client network nodes connected to the virtual area even after all network nodes have disconnected from the virtual area;
establishing a presence in the virtual area for a user of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) terminal device; and
administering transmission of data associated with the virtual area to the PSTN terminal device.
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Abstract
A telephony interface for realtime network communications in virtual communication environments allows telephony communicants to interact with other communicants in an immersive communication environment.
124 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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maintaining a persistent virtual area that supports establishment of respective presences of communicants operating respective client network nodes connected to the virtual area even after all network nodes have disconnected from the virtual area; establishing a presence in the virtual area for a user of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) terminal device; and administering transmission of data associated with the virtual area to the PSTN terminal device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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establishing a respective presence in a persistent virtual area for a communicant operating a respective client network node connected to the virtual area; managing establishment of a realtime audio connection between the client network node and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) terminal device in association with the virtual area; establishing a presence in the virtual area for a user of the PSTN terminal device; and administering transmission of audio data associated with the virtual area to the PSTN terminal device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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establishing a presence in a virtual area for a user of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) terminal device based on receipt of a telephone number associated with the virtual area; and administering transmission of data associated with the virtual area to the PSTN terminal device. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification