Multiplex communications – Special services – Conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-14
2001-02-13
Ton, Dang (Department: 2732)
Multiplex communications
Special services
Conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188676
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to point-to-point calling and multi-point calling (conferencing), and more specifically to such calling and conferencing that is combined with one another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current trends in computing suggest that computers are becoming networked to one another on a greater and greater scale. For example, computers that previously were connected to other computers in the same building over a local-area network (LAN) are now commonly connected to other computers all over the world over a wide-area network (WAN), an intranet, or the Internet. The rising prominence of the Internet in fact presages a future where all computers are able to connect with one another over a single vast global network.
With this rise in connectivity has come a proliferation of standards governing point-to-point calling, and multi-point calling (conferencing). Point-to-point calling enables a user at one computer to communicate with a user at another computer, where both computers are connected to one another over a network such as the Internet. A point-to-point call only permits two users to communicate with each other; if one of these users wishes to communicate with a third user at a different computer, the user would first have to disconnect the present point-to-point call and establish a new point-to-point call.
Multi-point calling is better known as conferencing. Conferencing enables a plurality of users at their respective computers to communicate with one another, where all the computers are connected to each other over a network such as the Internet. A multi-point call or conference usually allows new users to join an existing conference without having to first terminate the conference. With both point-to-point and multi-point calls, the communications may be data—e.g., text, graphics, and/or files—or multimedia, such as audio and/or video.
A standard for point-to-point calling known within the art is H.323. H.323 calling permits multimedia communication such as audio and/or video communication between the users at two different computers commonly connected H.323 calling is occasionally said to govern multimedia conferencing between two computers; however, this nomenclature is inaccurate in that the H.323 standard generally only permits point-to-point calling, and not true multi-point calling (as those of ordinary skill within the art know, the H.323 standard does permit point-to-point call if a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) is present, which is typically an additional server computer). Further description regarding the H.323 standard is described at the Internet web site http://www.imtc-org/imtc/i/standard/itu/i_h323.htm, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A standard for multi-point calling known within the art is T.120. T.120 conferencing permits data communication among users at different computers commonly connected (e.g., text, graphics, and/or files). T.120 conferencing, besides data sharing, also permits document conferencing, specifying the efficient and reliable distribution of files and graphical information in real time in a multi-point call (conference). Further description regarding the T.120 standard is described at the Internet web site http://www.imtc.org/imtc/i/standard/itu/i_t120.htm, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A disadvantage with the proliferation of standards governing multi-point and point-to-point calls is that unsophisticated users may become confused at the prospect of two or more concurrent calls with the same computer. For example, a user may participate in a T.120 conference to share computer files with other users, or exchange typed textual messages with them (commonly known as “chatting”) Concurrently, the user may also initiate an H.323 call with one of these users, to communicate in a multimedia manner (e.g., audio-only, or both audio and video). The user, therefore, may become confused by the fact that he or she has to initiate two separate calls: a T.120 conference to share computer files and exchange typed textual messages, and an H.323 call to communicate in a multimedia manner. The concept of communicating with the same user by two different concurrent calls, as is possible by the proliferation of standards governing such multi-point and point-to-point calls, is therefore unintuitive at best to such users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed by the present invention, which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The invention describes combined conferencing and calling, relative to a computerized system having at least two nodes. One node initiates both a conference and a call with another node, such that to the users at these nodes, initiation of the call between the nodes does not appear as separate from initiation of the conference between the nodes.
For example, a first node may initiate both a T.120 conference and an H.323 call with a second node. To the user at each of the first and the second node, however, initiation of the H.323 call appears imperceptible from initiation of the T.120 conference. That is, the users see the initiation of both the call and the conference as a single call or conference, and thus are less apt to become confused. In other words, the invention makes the initiation of both a call and a conference more intuitive to users. This is an advantage of the invention.
The present invention describes systems, nodes, methods, and computer-readable media of varying scope. In addition to the aspects and advantages of the present invention described here, further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by reading the detailed description that follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5680392 (1997-10-01), Semaan
patent: 5754775 (1998-05-01), Adamson et al.
patent: 5841976 (1998-11-01), Tai et al.
patent: 5867494 (1999-02-01), Krishnaswamy et al.
patent: 5909431 (1999-06-01), Kuthyar et al.
“H.323 Overview”, H.323 ITU Standards, http://www.imtc.org/imtc/i/standard/itu/i-h323.htm, pp. 1-4 (Printed Oct. 7, 1997).
“T.120 Overview”, T.120 Standard, http://www.itmc.org/imtc/i/standard/itu/i-t120.htm, pp. 1-7 (printed Oct. 7, 1997).
Microsoft Corporation
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
Ton Dang
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