Point-to-point computer network communication utility utilizing dynamically assigned network protocol addresses

• US 6,131,121 A
• Filed: 09/25/1996
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Straight Path IP Group, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NetSpeak Corporation (IDT Corporation)
• Inventors: Mattaway, Shane D., Strickland, Craig B., Hutton, Glenn W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/719,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/259, 370/351-357, 379/212, 379/221, 379/222, 379/89, 379/90, 379/93-100, 379/88, 395/200.54, 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0083 Formatting with frames or packets; Protocol or part of protocol for error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 : Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 : Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 : User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 : for text messaging, e.g. SMS or e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A communication utility for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between processes over a computer network includes apparatus for querying a server as to the network protocol address of another client process, and apparatus for directly establishing a communication link with the client process upon receipt of the network protocol address from the server. In one embodiment, the utility includes a sophisticated user interface having features similar to typical telephony hardware but implementing greater flexibility with software.

Claims

1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process and connecting to other processes and a server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a program code embodied in the medium comprising:

a. program code for transmitting an E-mail signal from the first process to the server process over the computer network, the E-mail signal containing a first network protocol address assigned to the first process upon connection to the computer network;

b. program code for receiving a second network protocol address from the second process over the computer network, the second network protocol address assigned to the second process upon connection to the computer network; and

c. program code, responsive to the second network protocol address, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.

2. In a first computer process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and an mail server process, a method of establishing a point-to-point communication between the first and second processes comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting an E-mail signal to the server process over the computer network, the E-mail signal containing a first network protocol address assigned to the first process upon connection to the computer network;

b. receiving a second network protocol address from the second process over the computer network, the second network protocol address assigned to the second process upon connection to the computer network; and

c. establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network, in response to receiving the second network protocol address.

3. A computer program product for use with a computer system capable of executing a first process and communicating with other processes, a directory server process and a mail server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer program code embodied in the medium, the program code comprising:

A. program code configured to determine the currently assigned network protocol address of the first process upon connection to the computer network;

B. program code configured to establish a communication connection with the directory server process once the assigned network protocol of the first process is known;

C. program code configured to forward the assigned network protocol address of the first process to the directory server process upon establishing a communication connection with the directory server process; and

D. program code configured to establish a point-to-point communication with another process over the computer network.

4. The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the program code configured to establish a point-to-point communication further comprises:

D.1 program code configured to transmit, from the first process to the directory server process, a query as to whether a second process is connected to the computer network; and

D.2 program code configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the directory server process, when the second process is connected to the computer network.

5. The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the program code configured to establish a point-to-point communication further comprises:

D.1 program code configured to transmit an E-mail message containing a network protocol address from the first process to the mail server process over the computer network;

D.2 program code configured to receive a second network protocol address from a second process over the computer network.

6. A computer program product for use with a computer system capable of executing a first process and connecting to other processes and a server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied in the medium comprising:

A. program code configured to, following connection of the first process to the computer network, forward to the server process a network protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network;

B. program code configured to query the address server as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;

C. program code configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the address server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

D. program code configured to respond to the network protocol address of the second process, establish a point-to-point communication link with the second process over the computer network.

7. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

A. program code configured to, following connection of a first process to a computer network, forward to a server process a network protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network;

B. program code configured to query the server process as to whether a second process is connected to the computer network;

C. program code configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the server process, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

D. program code, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, and configured to establish a point-to-point communication connection with the second process over the computer network.

8. An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system executing a first process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and a directory database server process, the apparatus comprising:

A. program logic configured to, following connection of the first process to the computer network forward to the address server a network, protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network;

B. program logic configured to query the address server as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;

C. program logic configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the address server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

D. program logic configured to, in response to the network protocol address of the second process, establish a point-to-point communication link with the second process over the computer network.

9. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

a. program code configured to access a directory database, the database having a network protocol address for a selected plurality of processes having on-line status with respect to the computer network, the network protocol address of each respective process forwarded to the database following connection to the computer network; and

b. program code responsive to one of the network protocol addresses and configured to establish a point-to-point communication link from the first process to the second process over the computer network.

10. In a first computer process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and an address server, a method of establishing a point-to-point communication between the first and second processes comprising the steps of:

a. accessing a directory database, the database having a network protocol address for a selected plurality of processes having on-line status with respect to the computer network, the network protocol address of each respective process forwarded to the database following connection to the computer network; and

b. in response to one of the network protocol addresses, establish a point-to-point communication link from the first process to the second process over the computer network.

11. An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process connectable over a computer network to a second process and a directory database server process, the apparatus comprising:

a. program logic configured to access a directory database, the database having a network protocol address for a selected plurality of processes having on-line status with respect to the computer network, the network protocol address of each respective process forwarded to the database following connection to the computer network; and

b. program logic responsive to one of the network protocol addresses and configured to establish a point-to-point communication link from the first process to the second process over the computer network.

12. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

program code for transmitting to a server process, a network protocol address received by a first process following connection to a computer network;

program code for transmitting, to the server process, a query as to whether a second process is connected to the computer network;

program code for receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the server process, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

program code, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.

13. In a first computer process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and an address server, a method of establishing a point-to-point communication between the first and second processes comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting to the server a network protocol address received by the first process following connection to the computer network;

b. transmitting, to the server, a query as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;

c. receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

d. program code, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.

14. An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process and operatively connectable to a second process and a server process over a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

program logic configured to transmit to the server a network protocol address received by the first process following connection to the computer network;

program logic configured to transmit, to the server, a query as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;

program logic configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

program logic, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, and configured to establish a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.