MULTIPARTY COMMUNICATIONS AND METHODS THAT UTILIZE MULTIPLE MODES OF COMMUNICATION

• US 20150304608A1
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shindig, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shindig, Inc.
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/155 involving storage of or access to video conference sessions tracking arrangements for later retrieval of a computer conference content or participants activities H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

Improved methods, systems, and devices for managing communications are provided. A user device may display all ongoing communications so that a user can visualize the communications network or some subset thereof (e.g., a subgroup or group of users). A system may maintain the user device in an instant ready-on mode of communication with the other user devices. A user may then initiate communications with a subgroup (e.g., a pair) or group without initiating a new connection. Accordingly, a user can simultaneously and fluidly communicate at the subgroup level, at the group level, or at the inter-group level. Moreover, users can function as independent actors that can freely form and leave subgroups as well as groups.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A method for facilitating dynamic communications amongst multiple users, the method comprising:

maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between a selected user and a first plurality of other users;

providing a first communication from at least one other user of a first group to the selected user, the first group comprising a first subset of the first plurality of other users;

providing a second communication from at least one other user of a second group to the selected user, the second group comprising a second subset of the first plurality of other users; and

providing a third communication from the selected user that can be directed to at least one other user of the first plurality of other users.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

upgrading the mode of communication between the selected user and at least one other user of the first plurality of other users to an active mode of communication in response to the at least one other user receiving the third communication.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

maintaining an intermediate mode of communication between the selected user and the plurality of other users within the first group.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

maintaining an intermediate mode of communication between the selected user and the plurality of other users within the second group.

56. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

maintaining an intermediate mode of communication between the selected user and the plurality of other users within the second group.

57. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

providing live video communications to the selected user, the live video communications comprising facial expressions corresponding to a plurality of other users within the first group.

58. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

providing presence information to the selected user, the presence information corresponding to a plurality of other users within the first group.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the presence information comprises the availability of a plurality of other users within the first group.

60. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

providing live video communications to the selected user, the live video communications comprising facial expressions corresponding to a plurality of other users within the second group.

61. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

providing presence information to the selected user, the presence information corresponding to a plurality of other users within the second group.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the presence information comprises the availability of a plurality of other users within the second group.

63. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between the selected user and a second plurality of other users.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

providing a fourth communication from the selected user that can be directed to at least one other user of the second plurality of other users.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

upgrading the mode of communication between the selected user and at least one other user of the second plurality of other users to an active mode of communication in response to the at least one other user receiving the fourth communication.

66. A system for facilitating dynamic communications amongst multiple users, the system comprising:

a selected user device;

a plurality of additional user devices maintained in an instant ready-on mode of communication with the selected user device; and

a server operative to;

receive a first communication from at least one additional user device of a first group directed to the selected user device, the first group being a first subset of the plurality of additional user devices;

receive a second communication from at least one additional user device of a second group directed to the selected user device, the second group being a second subset of the plurality of additional user devices; and

receive a third communication from the selected user device that can be directed to at least one additional user device of the plurality of additional user devices.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein:

the plurality of additional user devices are associated with a plurality of additional users; and

the server is operative to receive live video communications directed to the selected user device, the live video communications comprising facial expressions of a plurality of additional users within the first group.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein:

the plurality of additional user devices are associated with a plurality of additional users; and

the server is operative to receive presence information directed to the selected user device, the presence information corresponding to a plurality of additional users within the first group.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the presence information comprises the availability of a plurality of additional users within the first group.

70. The system of claim 66, wherein:

the plurality of additional users devices are associated with a plurality of additional users; and

the server is operative to receive live video communications directed to the selected user device, the live video communications comprising facial expressions of a plurality of additional users within the second group.

71. The system of claim 66, wherein:

the plurality of additional user devices are associated with a plurality of additional users; and

the server is operative to receive presence information directed to the selected user device, the presence information corresponding to a plurality of additional users within the second group.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the presence information comprises the availability of a plurality of additional users within the second group.

73. A method for facilitating dynamic communications amongst multiple users, the method comprising:

maintaining an instant ready-on mode of communication between a selected user and a plurality of other users, the plurality of other users comprising at least a first group and a second group;

receiving a request from the selected user to join the first group;

granting the request; and

upgrading the mode of communication between the selected user and the first group of other users to at least one of an intermediate mode of communication and an active mode of communication.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

providing live video communications to the selected user prior to receiving the request, the live video communications comprising facial expressions of a plurality of other users within the first group.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

providing presence information to the selected user, the presence information corresponding to a plurality of other users within the first group.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the presence information comprises the availability of a plurality of other users within the first group.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein the mode of communication between the selected user and the plurality of other users within second group is an intermediate mode of communication.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the mode of communication between the selected user and the plurality of other users within the second group is an active mode of communication.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein granting the request merges the first group and the second group, creating a third group.