Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Input/output addressing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-13
2004-08-03
Nguyen, Cao (Kevin) (Department: 2173)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Input/output addressing
C709S203000, C709S204000, C709S206000, C711S164000, C713S152000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06772229
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to communication and collaboration tools that allow groups to share information across time and space using computer and other communication channels. The inventive method may be incorporated into the design of products such as groupware software and communications services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional approach to the design of communication and collaboration products, especially of groupware, is a centripetal method, i.e., group members are required to go to a central area in order to retrieve and exchange data and information. For example, in the Internet, group members need to converge on a server in order to communicate and collaborate.
The previous approaches taken in this field can be categorized in two different product groups:
(1) Centripetal method: Examples of the use of this method include: IBM's Lotus Notes and Domino; Microsoft's Exchange and NetMeeting; Netscape's Virtual Office by Concentric; Radnet's Webshare; Novell's GroupWise; Thuridion's Crew; IntraACTIVE's In Tandem; Linkstar's HotOffice; Changepoint's Involv; Internet Media Inc.'s 3-2-1 Intranet; and others. All of these products require group members to remember to go to a central area (a server) in order to retrieve and exchange data and information. This centripetal design leads producers to develop products by increasing the speed of connection and facilitating access to the central site of communication and collaboration. Using the client-server infrastructure, products are either proprietary servers, enhanced software clients, or both.
(2) Narrowcasting method: This method is exemplified in the following products: PointCast's Client and Server; Marimba's Castanet; Progressive Network's Real Clients and Servers; Microsoft's NetShow; Netscape's Browser and Media Server; Wayfarer's INCISA; and all listserve products. All of these products use the narrowcasting model of one-to-many communication. Group members (many) have to remember to “tune-in” or attend the narrowcasted content served by a central site (one), without knowing whether or not new or relevant information is there.
Both the centripetal and narrowcasting approaches suffer from the disadvantage that group members have to report and remember to report to a central area for communication and collaboration. While they have not failed as models, they have failed to anticipate problems associated with the information age, such as information glut and competition for attention. Prior art methods assume that value is added by improving the way group members go about retrieving information that updates at a central location. Collaborative value is stored in the central repository. Group members still must actively go to the central resource to get any information or value from the group. For example, in the Internet, a group member would need to remember to log into a server for a videoconferencing appointment at a designated time. It would be an improvement to such a system for appointments and reminders for appointments to be “pushed” to the group member's awareness via e-mail with a Web hyperlink to the videoconference, via a narrowcast of the appointment, or other technologies that drive the information outward to the group member.
In the digital era, the computer has increasingly become a substitute for physical presence and interaction. Designers, however, have focused on providing cheaper and quicker access and offering additional functionality such as manipulation of the data and information sought. In the attempt to mimic human interaction such as congregating in a town hall for a meeting (a centripetal method) via electronic means, the power of the electronic medium to conduct the meeting outside of the town hall has been ignored.
General Definitions
A “computer” refers to any apparatus that is capable of accepting a structured input, processing the structured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results of the processing as output. Examples of a computer include: a computer; a general-purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; a mini-computer; a workstation; a microcomputer; a server; an interactive television; a hybrid combination of a computer and an interactive television; and such devices as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and telephone systems that include microbrowsers. A computer can have a single processor or multiple processors, which can operate in parallel and/or not in parallel. A computer also refers to two or more computers connected together via a network for transmitting or receiving information between the computers. An example of such a computer includes a distributed computer system for processing information via computers linked by a network.
A “computer-readable medium” refers to any storage device used for storing data accessible by a computer. Examples of a computer-readable medium include: a magnetic hard disk; a floppy disk; an optical disk, like a CD-ROM or a DVD; a magnetic tape; a memory chip; and a carrier wave used to carry computer-readable electronic data, such as those used in transmitting and receiving e-mail or in accessing a network.
“Software” refers to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examples of software include: software; code segments; instructions; computer programs; and programmed logic.
A “computer system” refers to a system having a computer, where the computer comprises a computer-readable medium embodying software to operate the computer.
A “network” refers to a number of computers and associated devices that are connected by communication facilities. A network involves permanent connections, like cables, or temporary connections, like those made through telephone or other communication links. Examples of a network include: an internet, such as the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide area network (WAN); a cable network; a wireless network; a telephone network; and a combination of networks, such as an internet and an intranet.
An “information storage device” refers to an article of manufacture used to store information. An information storage device has different forms, for example, paper form and electronic form. In paper form, the information storage device includes paper printed with the information. In electronic form, the information storage device includes a computer-readable medium storing the information as software, for example, as data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, referred to in some of its aspects as a Centrifugal Communication and Collaboration Method (CCCM), reverses the established centralized design of communication and collaboration products, especially of groupware software. CCCM “pushes” out to participants in a distributed application the data and information contained in a conceptual or actual central area. This conceptual or actual central area may be located in a distinct location, or it may be distributed among computer apparatus located at the participants' sites. The centrifugal flow of CCCM is distinct from the current centripetal design of such products, and provides numerous advantages.
A centrifugal arrangement improves the ability of groups of participants to communicate, collaborate, exchange information, and to generally participate in distributed applications because of its focus on the individual participants rather than a central meeting site. CCCM creates value in interactive group-oriented software applications by distributing the accumulated group knowledge and activity to the individual participants, rather than forcing the participants to go to the central source of data and information where the wealth of the group is stored. Previous applications focused on better, cheaper, and faster ways to bring participants together in a central location. CCCM focuses on using the interactive capabilities of networks to maintain value among the participants, not only at a central repository of information and data.
The active,
Achacoso Theodore B.
Silby D. Wayne
Basom Blair
Gluck Jeffrey W.
Gollin Michael A.
GroupServe, Inc.
Nguyen Cao (Kevin)
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