Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-30
2001-04-03
Vu, Viet D. (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
C709S206000, C709S219000, C709S241000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212548
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of messaging systems and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates, in one aspect, to methods and systems for maintaining multiple simultaneous asynchronous text (or other) conversations. Still more particularly, aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for establishing and maintaining multiple simultaneous asynchronous message sessions between overlapping or non-overlapping sets of users in data communications contexts, such as Internet chat sessions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Internet and many on-line information services provide electronic mail (e-mail), conferencing and chat services, and the ability to access remote computers for sending and retrieving files. E-mail, perhaps the most widely used of Internet and on-line service applications, has an (often desirable) inherent “off-line” time delay characteristic.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) or, simply “chat” provides informal communications among users of data network facilities. Chat allows two or more users to converse by exchanging text messages, typically through a “channel” or virtual “chat room” maintained on one or more chat servers and accessed via an on-line service or using general purpose chat “client” software executing at a user terminal, workstation or personal computer. Only chat “participants” connected (typically through a telephone line modem) to the on-line service or other chat environment provided by one or more chat servers, can take part in the chat. Chat room “conversations” are displayed as text in a chat room window on a participant's display screen, usually accompanied by a list of chat participants. The text displayed at a participant's terminal usually includes a history of the conversation from the time that the viewing participant joined the chat room. Entering particular chat rooms is typically effected using a list or menu of currently available chat rooms. Exiting a chat room is usually as simple as closing the chat window. Extensions of the basic chat model of communications permit use of voice (or other audio), video and other message content.
Chat Rooms (including private chat rooms, described below) are established on chat servers in advance of text conversations, and allow many users to communicate via messages. Any user may elect to join a chat room (become a participant), subject to prior subscription or registration procedures imposed by the on-line service provider or operator of the chat server(s). Many versions of chat client software, with varying functionality and communications protocols, are widely available on the Internet for download. Participants in a chat room receive all messages sent to the chat room and can decide to contribute input messages according to personal preference.
Private chat rooms are set up by a participant seeking to have private text communications with a selected one or more other participants in an existing chat. Toward this end, the initiating participant typically sends a “query” or similar message to another participant with whom the initiating participant wishes to privately communicate. A recipient of this query agrees to take part in a private chat with the initiating user by responding to the message. Others may be added in similar fashion. The server provides a separate chat room or channel not accessible by anyone not invited by those in the established private chat room.
Instant Messaging (IM) allows a user to launch a message to another user. Variants of IM permit a notice to be sent to others (e.g., those on a “buddy list” ) when a particular user logs on to a server, even without joining a chat or other two-or-more-person conversation. Users announce their availability to receive messages by electing options or submitting system parameters in advance. The sender of an instant message determines who will receive the message.
While the foregoing and other features of e-mail, chat and instant messaging have proven very useful in a number of contexts, these systems suffer from a number of real time limitations. For example, current chat environments limit users to participation in only one multiple-party (three or more participant) real-time chat room at a time. Users may participate in more than one conversation in real time, if these are two-way conversations. Likewise, a user may pursue multiple conversations (strings of messages) with multiple users, but only over an elapsed time period using multiple windows for conversation events, participation, and display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Limitations of the prior art are overcome and a technical advance is made in accordance with the present invention described in illustrative embodiments herein.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a user maintains multiple simultaneous real-time chat sessions with a plurality of other participants using a single client residing on a personal computer, workstation or terminal (collectively, “terminal”). Advantageously, each of the conversations is presented in a separate window on the terminal, and the user can select a window for text input in the usual way.
In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, a technique for labeling and addressing messages is introduced and applied in a data network with a technique for presenting conversation events, messages, and history. These and other features of illustrative embodiments permit dynamic creation of multiple simultaneous asynchronous conversations, each among multiple users, in a distributed manner—all in real time. Participants in component conversations may change over the life of the conversation and the conversations will include overlapping sets of users.
Participants send messages in the context of a particular conversation. In accordance with an illustrative system embodiment, these conversations and communications events (e.g., adding a participant, removing a participant) among multiple users are tracked in a completely distributed manner and in real time. The conversation data, including events, messages, and history, is presented to the user in an organizational structure that uniquely identifies the conversation.
While participants in several simultaneous real-time conversations may be overlapping to various extents, in one class of embodiments the set of messages sent to participants in one or more of the conversations is mutually exclusive of the set of messages sent to participants in one or more other conversations. A useful illustrative example is a session including a negotiation between two (or more) principal negotiators, each of whom has background advisors. The respective advisors take part in “whisper conversations” with their principal(s) that cannot be observed (“heard”) by the opposing negotiator or opposing advisors, or even others on the same side of the negotiation. Side conversations, e.g., between opposing advisors seeking to resolve underlying technical or procedural points, can be pursued under the observation of other advisors and/or principals in separate chat windows. Advantageously, advisors on the same side can selectively pursue such side conversations as well.
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DeSimone Antonio
Hohne Elizabeth A.
Sundar Rangamani
Thiagarajan Vishwanathan
Vishwanathan Kumar K.
AT & T Corp
Ryan William
Vu Viet D.
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