The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 04, 1996
Marvin M Theimer, Mountain View, CA (US);
Michael J Spreitzer, Tracy, CA (US);
Mark D Weiser, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Richard J Goldstein, San Francisco, CA (US);
Daniel C Swinehart, Palo Alto, CA (US);
William N Schilit, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Roy Want, Mountain View, CA (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention describes a system of multiple devices and multiple users, wherein the identity and location of each device and user may be known to the system. A method is described for establishing media connections between at least a first user and a second user based on the context of the system and the environment of the particular device, computing devices, or users. The system receives a media connection request from the first user, including information indicating the first user preferences for media, and identifies the intended recipient user or users. The location and media devices in proximity to each of the users is determined, and the preset profiles and policies of the users involved are determined. Each user may specify acceptable media connections and contextual attributes. When the contextual attributes and acceptable media connections for each user are consistent, media device communications paths are established.