Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
1996-10-23
2001-09-25
Meky, Moustafa M. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295550
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for getting access to web sites via the Internet by a group of users.
It is known that users can retrieve information from World Wide Web sites (or web sites) via the Internet. The basic current model for retrieving information from web sites is a user initiated information searching. A person uses web browser software to request a web page from web server software to locate the information relating to that web page. Very much like finding desired Internet bulletin boards, the person seeking information actively searches for it. One of the unique features of this model is the notion of “hyper-text,” or links, embedded in web pages that have been retrieved. This feature enables the person in search for information to “navigate” from one web page to another. The tremendous popularity of World Wide Web sites and Internet attests to the effectiveness of this model.
However, with the current model, the information search heavily depends on individual's knowledge, experience, skills, and expertise. Unless a group of people physically gathers around a single PC screen, the information retrieved from web sites is limited to the person who is navigating. If the information retrieved needs to be shared within a group of people, the person who has conducted the information search relays them the web page addresses that contain the information. The group of people then retrieve the information according to the web page addresses. Clearly, such an approach for sharing navigation experience and information among a group of people is slow, inconvenient, inefficient, and prone to errors.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a method and system that can propagate network navigation experience and information among a group of people.
To enable such navigation information propagation, there is a need for a method and apparatus that can set up a communication session among the group of people, who are geographically dispersed, with the features of convenience, efficiency, and flexibility.
The present invention meets this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for creating a session to enable a group of user terminals to share information while a leading user terminal is searching the information via a network. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) defining a session;
(b) sending said session definition to the group of terminals to inquire each of the terminals whether to join the session;
(b) receiving responses from the group of user terminals indicating whether or not to join the session; and
(c) creating a session list including the user terminals that have indicated to join the session.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for creating a session to enable a group of user terminals to share information while a leading user terminal is searching the information via a network. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) defining a session;
(b) receiving session requests from any of the group of user terminals;
(c) sending said session definition to the user terminals that have generated said session requests;
(d) receiving responses indicating whether or not to join the session from the user terminals that have generated said session requests; and
(e) creating a session list including the user terminals that have indicated to join the session.
In still another aspect, the invention provides a method for creating a session to enable a group of user terminals to share information while a leading user terminal is searching the information via a network. The method comprises the steps of:
(a) defining a session and a session list, said session list including the group of user terminals;
(b) receiving source information relating to the information that has been located by the leading terminal;
(c) sending said source information to the group of terminals according to said session list; and
(d) locating the information according to said source information by said group of user terminals.
The present invention also provides corresponding apparatus or system for the respective aspects mentioned above.
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Mosaic+XTV=CoReview, by Abdel Wahab et al, 1995.*
“Internet links via groupware prove vital”, by Sullivan, Kristina, PC Week, v12, n43, PN19(2), Oct. 30, 1995.
Choung Byung-Sun
Gula Robert
Lowe Hauptman Gopstein Gilman & Berner LLP
Meky Moustafa M.
NCR Corporation
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