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. 02, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 26, 2003
Lester F. Ludwig, Hillsborough, CA (US);
J. Chris Lauwers, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Keith A. Lantz, Los Altos, CA (US);
Gerald J. Burnett, Atherton, CA (US);
Emmett R. Burns, Jackson, WY (US);
Lester F. Ludwig, Hillsborough, CA (US);
J. Chris Lauwers, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Keith A. Lantz, Los Altos, CA (US);
Gerald J. Burnett, Atherton, CA (US);
Emmett R. Burns, Jackson, WY (US);
Avistar Communications Corporation, San Mateo, CA (US);
Abstract
A method of real-time communication between a plurality of users each with respective communication devices having associated displays, the method comprising the steps of providing each of the plurality of users with collaboration initiation software at their communication devices and allowing at least first and second users to connect to at least one communication network by logging in at their respective communication devices. Further, the method comprises maintaining service records for at least the first and second logged in users, the service records including user identification information and an associated location where each user is logged in. A display of a user identifier for at least the second user on the display of at least a first user's communication device is provided, thereby allowing the user to select the displayed second user's identifier and retrieve necessary addressing information of the second user so that a connection between the first and second users can be established, thereby enabling real-time communication including video images of at least one user and real-time text messages displayed on the display associated with at least one user.