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Phoning into virtual communication environments

  • US 9,813,463 B2
  • Filed: 04/10/2015
  • Issued: 11/07/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
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 network nodes connected to the virtual area, wherein the virtual area comprises multiple zones each of which supports establishment of a respective presence for one or more communicants and is associated with a respective call-in telephone number;

    establishing a presence in the virtual area for a user of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) terminal device, wherein the establishing comprises receiving a particular one of the call-in telephone numbers in connection with a call from the PSTN terminal device and establishing the presence for the user in the respective one of the zones associated with the particular call-in telephone number; and

    administering transmission of data associated with the virtual area to the PSTN terminal device.

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