Interval Licensing LLC

Interval Research Corporation

Vulcan Patents LLC

Scott D Mainwaring

Debby Hindus

Sean Michael White

Elin Ronby Pedersen

William Gaver

Colin Burns

Jesse Lee Dorogusker

Sigrid G Moeslinger

Oliver Thomas Bayley

Donald C Jackson

Elaine Brechin

Brian J Fogg

Anna E Hagstrom

Steve Guilhamet

Christian Mogensen

An intentional presence system in accordance with the present invention includes a transmitting device at a first physical location that is responsive to a command intentionally initiated by a first individual at the first physical location to develop a presence signal intended for a second individual at a second physical location. The intentional presence system further includes a receiving device located at the second physical location which is receptive to the presence signal and which is operative to generate an indication to the second individual of the first individual's presence with respect to the transmitting device.

Method and apparatus for sending presence messages

A variable bandwidth communication system includes a first and a second communication station, coupled for continuous, bi-directional communication. The first communication station is capable of transmitting at a first and a second bandwidth, and is capable of receiving at a third and a fourth bandwidth. The second communication station is capable of receiving at the first and second bandwidth and is capable of transmitting at the third and fourth bandwidth. The transmitting bandwidth of each station is selectable by the user. The second bandwidth is greater than the first and the fourth bandwidth is greater than the third. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and third bandwidth like the second and fourth bandwidth are about the same. The first communication system can display communication received at the fourth bandwidth at the first bandwidth, and the second communication system can display communications received at the second bandwidth at the third bandwidth.

Variable bandwidth communication systems and methods

The present invention teaches methods and apparatus for social interaction allowing users to communicate at their leisure (asynchronously or &ldquo;semi-synchronously&rdquo;) by providing simple, flexible access to a persistent, shared space. For example, an electronic communication system according to one embodiment provides a shared persistent data space to a plurality of clients. This system comprises a server and at least two input/display units (IDUS) which clients use to access shared persistent data in the form of group boards. The group boards store discrete notes in a group database made accessible to all members of the group. In order to allow clients to select a desired group, each IDU includes an input detection space operable to receive user input indicative of a request to access a specific group. The input detection space can take on many forms such as electromechanical buttons, touch or pressure sensitive devices, a digital inking device, a token input device (tokens each have some identification in the form of circuitry or such), or a voice command device. In order to allow clients to enter data into the board group database, each IDU includes a note data input device. Like the input detection space, a wide variety of note data input devices are contemplated. For example, a touch, stylus or pressure sensitive device would be suitable. A scanning device also works well, creating a unique persistent space wherein users can exchange discrete note messages of a variety of forms such as handwritten notes and photographs.

Method and apparatus for sending and receiving lightweight messages

A variable bandwidth communication system includes a first communication station and a second communication station coupled to the first communication station for continuous, by directional communication. The first communication station is capable of transmitting at a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, and is capable of receiving at a third bandwidth and a fourth bandwidth greater than the third bandwidth. The transmitting bandwidth of the first communication station is selectable by first user. The second communication station is capable of receiving at the first bandwidth and at the second bandwidth and is capable at transmitting at the third bandwidth and the fourth bandwidth. Again, the transmitting bandwidth of the second communication station is selectable by the second user. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first bandwidth and the third bandwidth are about the same, and the second bandwidth and the fourth bandwidth are about the same. The first communication system is capable of displaying communication received at the fourth bandwidth at a first lower bandwidth display level, and the second communication system is capable of displaying communications received at the second bandwidth at a second lower bandwidth display level. In this fashion, two or more users can interact at a variety of threshold levels dependent upon the user's desires for privacy and/or high bandwidth communications.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Scott D Mainwaring