Method and apparatus for providing group interaction via communications networks

• US 7,478,129 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helen Jeanne Chemtob
• Original Assignee: Helen Jeanne Chemtob
• Inventors: Chemtob, Helen Jeanne
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOUDHURY, AZIZUL Q
• Application Number:
  US11/518,879
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

Improvements to a system for enhancing the quality of group interaction, group activities, and group environments over computer networks. New features include the capacity for participants to form subgroups within a larger group, as well as to move about a virtual environment, interacting with other participants they come across in the environment as desired. Unique methods for creating and distributing structured group programs for use on the system, for playing computerized board games or card games on the system, and for building virtual social environments using the system are also disclosed. The system creates improved virtual environments for high-tech business meetings, on-line classrooms, conferences, group counseling sessions, internet trade shows, and private meeting places where family and friends can spend quality time together.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating interpersonal communications over a computer network, comprising:

a plurality of computers, each computer having a memory, a processor storing and retrieving instructions from the memory, and a network interface operably connecting the processor to a communications medium;

a communications module receiving content from an originating computer and transmitting said content to at least one target computer, with each of the computers being able to function as both an originating computer and a target computer;

a graphical communication flow module integrated with the communications module and providing to each of the computers a graphical representation of a group of networked computers, said graphical communication flow module graphically depicting communication flows showing the originating and target computer users corresponding to each content transmission by the communications module, and having means to graphically depict the communication flows in a manner perceptible to users of all the computers connected to a virtual group; and

wherein the graphical communications flow module has at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by an originator to target all computer users connected to the group of networked computers who are participating in a virtual meeting of the virtual group;

b) means to graphically depict the intended target of each communication flow occurring between computer users participating in a group meeting;

c) means to graphically depict more than one type of communication occurring between users participating in a group meeting;

d) means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between computer users participating in the group meeting;

e) means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary;

f) means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users participating in the group meeting; and

g) means to select at least one type of graphical display of communication flows during the group meeting.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computers are client computers, and the system further comprises a server computer that manages the communications module and the graphical communication flow module.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein there is no separate server computer, and the computers manage the communications module and the graphical communication flow module on a peer-to-peer basis.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target includes:

a first graphical representation that the originator can select to indicate the desire to transmit the hidden communications flow;

a second graphical representation that the originator can select to indicate the intended target of the hidden communications flow;

a third graphical representation that the intended target can select to indicate the desire to receive the hidden communications flow.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein:

the first graphical representation is a whisper button controlled by the originator;

the second graphical representation is an identity place box for the intended target;

the third graphical representation is a whisper button controlled by the intended target;

the whisper buttons and identity place boxes are selected by “

clicking”

on them;

once a hidden communications flow is initiated, it can be reciprocal, with either party able to both transmit and receive messages; and

each party has a “

clear”

button that they can “

click”

to end the hidden communications flow.

6. The system according to claim 1, including:

means for enabling two or more members of the virtual group to temporarily form a subgroup, wherein members of the subgroup communicate only within the subgroup, while still being able to perceive graphical representations of other members of the virtual group.

7. The system according to claim 6, including:

an announcement function that allows any member of the virtual group that can be perceived by everyone in the virtual group, even if they are in a subgroup; and

an eavesdrop function that allows any member of the virtual group that is not a member of a subgroup to perceive communications within the subgroup, if a member of the subgroup allows it.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

communications flows may be graphically depicted by displays selected from the group comprising;

a) text-column displays;

b) text-row displays;

c) text-grid displays; and

d) full graphic displays.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a shared presentation window integrated with said communication and graphical communication flow modules, wherein a presentation can be viewed by computer users connected to the virtual group while the system is simultaneously transmitting and displaying communication flows, wherein the shared presentation window has at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to access a shared document;

b) means to access a virtual chalkboard;

c) means to access a video presentation;

d) means to access an internet website;

e) means to access on-line assessment measures;

f) means to access an on-line workbook;

g) means to access on-line within group ratings module;

h) means to access group prompts; and

i) means to access feedback response module.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a virtual meeting room module, integrated with the communications and graphical communications flow module, that enables participants in a group meeting to communicate with other people outside of the virtual group by at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to communicate with client computers networked throughout the entire system while continuing to participate in the ongoing virtual meeting;

b) means to access email while continuing to participate in the interaction matrix and view shared presentation materials;

c) means to interact with outsiders through a virtual office door while continuing to participate in the ongoing virtual meeting; and

d) means to access telephone and fax communications while continuing to participate in the ongoing virtual meeting.

11. The system according to claim 1, including:

means for enabling users to play a game represented in a simultaneous access window, while the users communicate in an interaction matrix.

12. The system according to claim 1, including:

means for enabling users to play a game in a first window, while communicating in a second window;

wherein the movements of the participants are depicted to show which participants are engaging in activities in the game as the activities are occurring in real-time.

13. The system according to claim 1, including:

means for enabling users to play a game represented in a central area of a display, while the users are graphically represented surrounding the central area, and the users can use the system to communicate while playing the game.

14. A method for providing a web site residing on a host computer and providing a structured communications environment for a plurality of client computers, said method comprising the steps of:

graphically displaying a plurality of virtual meeting rooms, a given virtual meeting room being simultaneously accessible to selected ones of the client computers;

displaying within each virtual meeting room a representation of the client computers accessing said corresponding virtual meeting room;

receiving content from an originating computer and transmitting said content to at least one target computer, with each of the computers being able to function as both an originating computer and a target computer;

providing to each of the computers a graphical representation of a group of networked computers, graphically depicting communication flows showing the originating and target computer users corresponding to each content transmission by the communications module, and having means to graphically depict the communication flows in a manner perceptible to users of all the computers connected to a virtual group; and

wherein the graphical depiction of communication flows is facilitated by at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by an originator to target all computer users connected to the group of networked computers who are participating in a virtual meeting of the virtual group;

b) means to graphically depict the intended target of each communication flow occurring between computer users participating in a group meeting;

c) means to graphically depict more than one type of communication occurring between users participating in a group meeting;

d) means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between computer users participating in the group meeting;

e) means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary;

f) means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users participating in the group meeting; and

g) means to select at least one type of graphical display of communication flows during the group meeting.

15. The method for providing a web site residing on a host computer and providing a structured communications environment for a plurality of client computers according to claim 14, including the step of:

enabling visitors to the web site to interact with other visitors to the web site by at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to enter into a virtual meeting room with other participants;

b) means to interact with other participants in a chat room;

c) means to create virtual environments;

d) means to interact and move about a selected virtual environment;

e) means to participate in on-line group activities; and

f) means to participate in on-line structured group programs.

16. A memory medium storing software for facilitating interpersonal communications over a computer network, comprising:

a communications module receiving content from an originating computer and transmitting said content to at least one target computer, with each of the computers being able to function as both an originating computer and a target computer;

a graphical communication flow module integrated with the communications module and providing to each of the computers a graphical representation of a group of networked computers, said graphical communication flow module graphically depicting communication flows showing the originating and target computer users corresponding to each content transmission by the communications module, and having means to graphically depict the communication flows in a manner perceptible to users of all the computers connected to a virtual group; and

wherein the graphical communications flow module has at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to graphically depict that a communications flow is intended by an originator to target all computer users connected to the group of networked computers who are participating in a virtual meeting of the virtual group;

b) means to graphically depict the intended target of each communication flow occurring between computer users participating in a group meeting;

c) means to graphically depict more than one type of communication occurring between users participating in a group meeting;

d) means to graphically depict the originators and targets of more than one communications flow occurring simultaneously between computer users participating in the group meeting;

e) means to enable the originating users to graphically distinguish between communications flows that they intend to be primary and communications flows that they intend to be secondary;

f) means to enable an originator to transmit a hidden communications flow to only one target, while indicating the originator and target of the hidden communications flow in a manner perceptible to all users participating in the group meeting; and

g) means to select at least one type of graphical display of communication flows during the group meeting.

17. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, further comprising:

a virtual meeting room module providing a shared presentation window, integrated with said communication and graphical communication flow modules, that enables the materials being presented to be viewed by computer users connected to the virtual group while simultaneously transmitting and displaying communication flows, wherein the shared presentation window has at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to access a shared document;

b) means to access a virtual chalkboard;

c) means to access a video presentation; and

d) means to access an internet website;

e) means to access on-line assessment measures;

f) means to access an on-line workbook;

g) means to access on-line within group ratings module; and

h) means to access group prompts; and

i) means to access feedback response module.

18. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, further comprising:

a virtual meeting room module which is integrated with the communications and graphical communications flow module which enables participants in a group meeting to communicate with other people outside of the virtual group by at least one means selected from the group comprising;

a) means to communicate with client computers networked throughout the entire system while continuing to participate in the ongoing group virtual meeting;

b) means to access email while continuing to participate in the interaction matrix and view shared presentation materials;

c) means to interact with outsiders through a virtual office door while continuing to participate in the ongoing virtual meeting; and

d) means to access telephone and fax communications while continuing to participate in the ongoing virtual meeting.

19. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, including:

a virtual environment building module that enables users to construct a desired virtual environment by integrating a graphical interface module, a virtual room module, the communications module and the graphical communications flow module;

said virtual environment builder module enables users to select a virtual floor plan from a plurality of virtual floor plans, and to select virtual furniture and equipment for each room in the selected virtual environment floor plan;

wherein the graphical interface module can display virtual rooms in the selected floor plan, and the selected virtual furniture and equipment for each room, and each of the rooms is simultaneously accessible to a plurality of client computers;

a communications interface module that can receive content from an originating client computer and display said content to at least one destination client computer;

said graphical interface module being able to display within each virtual room a representation of the client computers accessing said corresponding virtual meeting room;

said graphical interface module being able to graphically depict communication flows showing the originating and destination client computer users corresponding to each content transmission by said communications interface, and being able to graphically depict the communication flows in a manner visible to all the computers users in the virtual room.

20. The memory medium storing software according to claim 19, wherein:

users have graphical representations indicating their position in the selected virtual floor plan, and they may move around within the floor plan.

21. The memory medium storing software according to claim 19, wherein:

the virtual environment builder module enables users to set up interaction hot spots in the selected virtual floor plan, with users in each of the hot spots forming a subgroup that communicates via an interaction matrix.

22. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, including means for enabling users to play a game, said means being selected from the group comprising:

a) means for enabling the users to play a game represented in a simultaneous access window, while the users communicate in an interaction matrix;

b) means for enabling the users to play a game in a first window, while communicating in a second window, and for depicting the movements of the participants to show which participants are engaging in activities on the game board as they are occurring in real-time; and

c) means for enabling the users to play a game represented in a central area of a display, while the users are graphically represented surrounding the central area, and the users can use the system to communicate while playing the game.

23. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, including:

a module for creating structured group programs that can be distributed for use over multiple computer systems, wherein the software has at least one means selected from the group comprising;

means for creating and recording structured group programs;

means for accessing and delivering content materials specific to the subject of a structured program;

means for presentation of the content materials so that they can be viewed simultaneously by a group of users participating in the structured program;

means for the users to communicate about and practice the skills presented in the structured program; and

means to assess progress in learning the skills.

24. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, wherein the software is stored and made available on a tangible medium.

25. The memory medium storing software according to claim 16, wherein the software is made available for download over a network.