Apparatus and method for enhanced synchronization using an IMS server

• US 20060041687A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Beyda, William J., Caspi, Rami
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a system for synchronizing participant copies of presentation data during a collaboration session. A presenter/server controlling the session sends synchronization commands when a change in state of the presentation data occurs. The synchronization commands can be received by a mobile communication device and then forwarded to the participant computer system where it is used to synchronize the copy of the presentation data with the presenter/server.

Claims

1. A system for a collaboration session, said session involving presentation data, said session involving a plurality of participants, said system comprising:

a presenter/server presenting said presentation data, said presenter/server configured to send synchronization commands, said synchronization commands representative of a change in state of said presentation data at said presenter/sever; and

a synchronization destination for each of some of said participants, each said synchronization destination having a local copy of said presentation data, wherein said synchronization commands enable synchronization of the local copy of said presentation data with the presentation data at said presenter/server.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a mobile communication device coupled to each said synchronization destination, said mobile communication device acting to forward synchronization commands originating from said presenter/server to the synchronization destination to which it is coupled.

3. A system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a mobile application server configured to communicate with said presenter/server, said mobile application server forwarding synchronization commands originating from said presenter/server to each said mobile communication device.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein said synchronization commands are received by said mobile communication device through its data channel.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein said synchronization commands are received by said mobile communication device through its signaling channel.

6. A system according to claim 2 wherein said synchronization commands are sent through a data network.

7. A system according to claim 3 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

8. A system according to claim 3 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

9. A system according to claim 2 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein said synchronization destination includes at least one of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a PDA and a cellular telephone with browsing capability.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said presenter/server runs a collaboration application which configures and manages said collaboration session.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said presenter/server runs a secondary application for sending synchronization commands.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said presenter/server is further configured to receive synchronization feedback from participants, said synchronization feedback representative of inputs from said participants

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein said synchronization destination has mobile communication capability.

15. A system according to claim 14 further comprising:

a mobile application server configured to communicate with said presenter/server, said mobile application server forwarding synchronization commands originating from said presenter/server to each said synchronization destination.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein said synchronization commands are received by said synchronization destination using the data channel associated with its mobile communication capability.

17. A system according to claim 14 wherein said synchronization commands are received by said synchronization destination using the signaling channel associated with its mobile communication capability.

18. A system according to claim 14 wherein said synchronization commands are sent through a data network.

19. A system according to claim 15 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said synchronization destination through its mobile communication capability.

20. A system according to claim 15 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

21. A system according to claim 14 wherein said mobile communication capability includes at least one of a cellular capability, radio frequency capability and a satellite capability.

22. A system according to claim 14 wherein said synchronization destination includes a computing device capability.

23. A method during a collaboration session for synchronizing copies of a presentation data, said presentation data changing state at a presenter/server of said collaboration session, said copies locally available at synchronization destinations belonging to participants of said collaboration session, the method comprising:

sending from said presenter/server a plurality of synchronization commands, said synchronization commands representing a change of state in said presentation data at said presenter/server; and

utilizing said synchronization commands, synchronizing the state of said copies of said presentation data to match that of the presentation data at the presenter/server.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

sending said copies to said synchronization destinations prior to commencement of said collaboration session.

25. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

said presenter/sever establishing said collaboration session with said participants.

26. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

forwarding said synchronization commands to a mobile communication device.

27. A method according to claim 26 including:

sending said synchronization commands from said presenter/sever to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization commands from said mobile application server to said mobile communication device.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

30. A method according to claim 26 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.

31. A method according to claim 23 wherein said synchronization destination includes at least one of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a PDA and a cellular telephone with browsing capability.

32. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

receiving at said presenter/server at least one synchronization feedback, said synchronization feedback representing inputs by said participants.

33. A method according to claim 32 further comprising:

receiving said synchronization feedback from a mobile communication device.

34. A method according to claim 33 including:

sending said synchronization feedback from said mobile communication device to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization feedback from said mobile application server to said presenter/server.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

36. A method according to claim 34 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

37. A method according to claim 33 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.

38. A method according to claim 33 further comprising:

forwarding said synchronization commands to said synchronization destination, said synchronization destination having mobile communication capability.

39. A method according to claim 38 including:

sending said synchronization commands from said presenter/server to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization commands from said mobile application server to said synchronization destination through its mobile communication capability.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication capability of said synchronization destination.

41. A method according to claim 39 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

42. A method according to claim 38 wherein said mobile communication capability includes at least one of a cellular capability and a satellite capability.

43. A method according to claim 23 wherein said synchronization destination includes a computing device capability.

44. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

receiving at said presenter/server at least one synchronization feedback, said synchronization feedback representing inputs by said participants.

45. A method according to claim 44 further comprising:

receiving said synchronization feedback from a mobile communication device.

46. A method according to claim 45 including:

sending said synchronization feedback from said mobile communication device to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization feedback from said mobile application server to said presenter/server.

47. A method according to claim 46 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

48. A method according to claim 46 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

49. A method according to claim 45 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.

50. An apparatus for synchronizing copies of a presentation data, said presentation data changing state at a presenter/server managing a collaboration session, said copies locally available at synchronization destinations belonging to participants of said collaboration session, said apparatus comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed cause:

sending from said presenter/server a plurality of synchronization commands, said synchronization commands representing a change of state in said presentation data at said presenter/server; and

utilizing said synchronization commands, synchronizing the state of said copies of said presentation data to match that of the presentation data at the presenter/server.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50 further causing:

sending said copies to said synchronization destinations prior to commencement of said collaboration session.

52. An apparatus according to claim 50 further causing:

said presenter/sever establishing said collaboration session with said participants.

53. An apparatus according to claim 50 further causing:

forwarding said synchronization commands to a mobile communication device.

54. An apparatus according to claim 53 causing:

sending said synchronization commands from said presenter/sever to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization commands from said mobile application server to said mobile communication device.

55. An apparatus according to claim 54 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

56. An apparatus according to claim 54 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

57. An apparatus according to claim 53 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.

58. An apparatus according to claim 50 wherein said synchronization destination includes at least one of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a PDA and a cellular telephone with browsing capability.

59. An apparatus according to claim 50 further causing:

receiving at said presenter/server at least one synchronization feedback, said synchronization feedback representing inputs by said participants.

60. An apparatus according to claim 59 further causing:

receiving said synchronization feedback from a mobile communication device.

61. An apparatus according to claim 60 causing:

sending said synchronization feedback from said mobile communication device to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization feedback from said mobile application server to said presenter/server.

62. An apparatus according to claim 61 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

63. An apparatus according to claim 61 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

64. An apparatus according to claim 60 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.

65. An apparatus according to claim 60 further causing:

forwarding said synchronization commands to said synchronization destination, said synchronization destination having mobile communication capability.

66. An apparatus according to claim 65 causing:

sending said synchronization commands from said presenter/server to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization commands from said mobile application server to said synchronization destination through its mobile communication capability.

67. An apparatus according to claim 66 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication capability of said synchronization destination.

68. An apparatus according to claim 66 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

69. An apparatus according to claim 65 wherein said mobile communication capability includes at least one of a cellular capability and a satellite capability.

70. An apparatus according to claim 50 wherein said synchronization destination includes a computing device capability.

71. An apparatus according to claim 50 further causing:

receiving at said presenter/server at least one synchronization feedback, said synchronization feedback representing inputs by said participants.

72. An apparatus according to claim 51 further causing:

receiving said synchronization feedback from a mobile communication device.

73. An apparatus according to claim 72 causing:

sending said synchronization feedback from said mobile communication device to a mobile application server; and

forwarding said synchronization feedback from said mobile application server to said presenter/server.

74. An apparatus according to claim 73 wherein said mobile application server is coupled to at least one wireless communication network, said at least one wireless communication network capable of communicating with said mobile communication device.

75. An apparatus according to claim 73 wherein said mobile application server is the IP Multimedia Subsystem server.

76. An apparatus according to claim 69 wherein said mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone and a PDA.