Patent•
Providing an aggregate reachability status
19 Jan 2007-
TL;DR: In this article, a customizable mechanism is provided for determining and reporting the overall reachability of a user based on the current statuses of a variety of network elements associated with the user, such as devices or applications that a user may use to communicate with others.
Abstract: A customizable mechanism is provided for determining and reporting the overall reachability of a user based on the current statuses of a variety of network elements associated with the user, such as devices or applications that a user may use to communicate with others. The system can evaluate customizable reachability rules to determine an overall reachability status for the user. The system provides for distribution of reachability status and presence statuses of network elements to authorized subscribers.
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Patent•
03 Apr 2009
TL;DR: Improved systems and methods for navigating and interacting in virtual communication environments are described in this paper, which provide a framework that includes one or more virtual areas and supports real-time communications between the communicants.
Abstract: Improved systems and methods for navigating and interacting in virtual communication environments are described. At least some of these systems and methods provide a framework that includes one or more virtual areas and supports realtime communications between the communicants. At least some of these systems and methods provide an interface that includes navigation controls that enable a user to navigate virtual areas and interaction controls that enable the user to interact with other communicants in the one or more virtual areas.
328 citations
Patent•
22 Dec 2006TL;DR: In this paper, a status of a user in a social network is sent to a receiver over a channel, which is selected based on a membership in the social network, a preference of the recipient, or a media format of the status.
Abstract: A device, system, and method are directed towards sending a status of a user in a social network to a recipient. In one embodiment, a status of the user is received over a channel. The channel may include an application protocol. The recipient is selected based on a membership in the social network, a preference of the recipient, or a media format of the status. Another channel is selected based on information about a mode of communication between the recipient and the user and/or another member related to the user in the social network. The status may be modified based on social network information, preferences of a recipient, receiving device information, channel information, or the like. The status is forwarded to the recipient over the other channel. Forwarding may comprise unicasting, multicasting, and/or delaying sending the status until the other channel is available.
145 citations
Patent•
01 Nov 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, a spatial layout of zones of a virtual area in a network communication environment is presented, where a user can have a respective presence in each of one or more of the zones.
Abstract: A spatial layout of zones of a virtual area in a network communication environment is displayed. A user can have a respective presence in each of one or more of the zones. Navigation controls and interaction controls are presented. The navigation controls enable the user to specify where to establish a presence in the virtual area. The interaction controls enable the user to manage interactions with one or more other communicants in the network communication environment. A respective presence of the user is established in each of one or more of the zones on response to input received via the navigation controls. Respective graphical representations of the communicants are depicted in each of the zones where the communicants respectively have presence.
139 citations
Patent•
16 Oct 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a virtual area specification that includes a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real time data stream types in terms of positions in the virtual area.
Abstract: Switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area is described. In one aspect, the switching involves storing a virtual area specification. The virtual area specification includes a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area. Real-time data stream connections are established between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types. The real-time data stream connections are established based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area.
139 citations
Patent•
30 Jul 2013
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe systems and methods for context-based virtual area creation, which provide a quick and easy way for users to wrap virtual areas around contexts of interest.
Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for context based virtual area creation are described. Some examples provide a quick and easy way for users to wrap virtual areas around contexts of interest. Examples of such contexts may be defined in terms of one or more of content, people, and real-world location. The virtual areas support realtime communications between communicants (e.g., one or more of text chat, voice, video, application sharing, and file sharing) and provide a persistent historical repository for interactions in the virtual area. Summaries of activities and other events in virtual areas typically are published in realtime so that other communicants can readily obtain a quick summary of the activities occurring in a particular context and decide whether or not to join or otherwise participate in those activities.
75 citations
References
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Patent•
19 Mar 2002TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a presence system capable of monitoring state information derived from a plurality of sources over any number of disparate networks and provide different views of presence for different subscribers to allow the user to control delivery and use of presence information.
Abstract: The present invention provides a presence system capable of monitoring state information derived from a plurality of sources over any number of disparate networks. The state information bears on the presence or availability of the user and may take many forms. Based on a profile provided by the user, the presence system evaluates the state information from one or more sources to create presence information to deliver to subscribers. The profile can define different categories of subscribers for which different presence information is provided. Based on available state information, the presence system can provide different views of presence for different subscribers to allow the user to control delivery and use of presence information. Accordingly, different subscribers may receive different presence information based on the same state information.
321 citations
Patent•
29 Oct 2001TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a system, method and network for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices, where each multicast address identifies a group of multicast devices among the plurality of devices, and the multicast messages include presence information about the group of devices.
Abstract: The present invention is a system, method and network ( 110 ) for multicast distribution of presence information to a plurality of communication devices ( 102, 104, 106, 108 ). A contact list ( 122, 124, 126, 128 ), associated with each communication device, identifies one or more of the other communication devices. The network provides one or more multicast addresses based on the contact lists of the communication devices to the plurality of communication devices. The network also sends multicast messages identified by the one or more multicast addresses to the plurality of communication devices. Each multicast address identifies a group of multicast devices among the plurality of communication devices, and the multicast messages include presence information about the group of multicast devices. A portion of the plurality of communication devices receives the multicast messages identified by the one or more multicast addresses and extracts the presence information about the group of multicast devices from the multicast messages.
281 citations
Patent•
17 Sep 2003TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a presence system capable of efficiently controlling the delivery of presence information for select individuals to a subscriber, even if the subscriber has numerous individuals identified in a contacts list.
Abstract: The present invention provides a presence system capable of efficiently controlling the delivery of presence information for select individuals to a subscriber. Even if the subscriber has numerous individuals identified in a contacts list, only presence information for those individuals in an active list is provided to the subscriber. The active list can be relatively static or configured to change based on time and date, monitored events, availability of the subscriber, or other predefined criteria. The user can readily add or remove individuals from the active list in addition to selecting an inactive individual to monitor on an instantaneous basis, for a select period of time, until a successful communication occurs between the subscriber and selected individual, or until monitoring is no longer desired. The user can also issue one-time queries of typical or more detailed presence information about specific individuals.
244 citations
Patent•
[...]
TL;DR: In this article, a global data store is synchronized with real-time communication data, such as presence, status, unread messages, and unread notifications, from each application/provider.
Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking real-time communication data within a single contact tracking application for diverse communication providers and applications. A global data store is synchronized with real-time communication data, such as presence, status, unread messages, and unread notifications, from each application/provider. Real-time communication data for contacts dynamically determined to be recent contacts is retrieved from the data store, based on properties such as a most recent communication time, a communication count, and the like. Real-time communication data corresponding to contacts identified as pinned contacts for which display of real-time communication data is preferred, also may be retrieved. A user interface is generated for displaying the one or more recent and/or pinned contacts, which may vary in size based on the number of contacts identified as pinned contacts, from which a contact may be selected for real-time conversation or e-mail.
227 citations
Patent•
25 Jul 2002
TL;DR: In this article, a conference establishment server coordinates the scheduling of a conference call, which includes a list of participants and may include an indication of the resources necessary and any rules for the conference call.
Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100), a conference establishment server coordinates the scheduling of a conference call. The server receives request for conference calls (202). The request includes a list of participants and may include an indication of the resources necessary and any rules for the conference call. The request may indicate critical resources or participants that are required for the call. Based on the request, the server determines a conference time and notifies participants of the time (204, 206, 210). Prior to conference time, participants are reminded of the time and automatically connected to the call. The server may check the status of users on the telecommunications network to determine availability. If a critical participant or resource is unavailable at conference time, the conference may be cancelled with notification to the participants.
227 citations