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:
Dec. 01, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 17, 1995
Robert Kettler, Eindhoven, NL;
Marcellinus J Annegarn, Eindhoven, NL;
U.S. Philips Corporation, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
Method of transmitting signals between communication stations via a network, in which a central control station is adapted to transmit a picture of a virtually real ambience to each connected station. In the picture, connected stations are represented by objects which can be displaced by the user of the corresponding station. Other stations such as information sources are represented by stationary objects in the form of buildings. As soon as objects touch or overlap each other, an actual communication connection (for example a telephone conversation, a database consult, a transaction) is established between the corresponding stations. A 'chat box' application is also provided, with the particular property that the extent of interaction between conversation partners is dependent on the mutual distance between their corresponding objects in the picture.