US 6,487,600 B1Granted

System and method for supporting multimedia communications upon a dynamically configured member network

OwnerThomas W. Lynchinventor

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Abstract

A dynamically configured user network services a plurality of network members. A metanetwork definition identifies the members of the dynamic manifest network and provides the rules by which the network members establish links among themselves and communicate. Each of the network members employs a client communication device to communicate with another network member according to the metanetwork definition. Another centrally located computer, a network friend, may assist in setting upon and managing the dynamic manifest network via creating and altering the metanetwork definition. At a minimum, each client communication device includes a network interface, a processor and an interface to a coupled computer or to a client. The client communication device may include a voice interface, a display, a disk drive (or other storage), a network interface and other components. The client communication device may take differing forms to provide telephone functions and PC functions along with the communication functions it provides. The network friend has the basic structure of a web server and may facilitate transactions via the Internet and/or the PSTN. A metanetwork definition is setup by an initiating network member. The metanetwork definition defines the dynamic manifest network and how communications will occur within the dynamic manifest network. A local view of the metanetwork is then created for each network member. A respective local view of the metanetwork is then provided to each network member. Each network member then establishes links with other network members and communicates with the other network members according to the local view.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A client communication device that operates within a dynamically configured computer network, the dynamically configured computer network supporting communications among a plurality of network members via a communication network according to a metanetwork definition, the client communication device comprising:

a network interface that couples the client communication device to a communication network;
a processor coupled to the network interface;
a memory coupled to the processor that stores a plurality of software instructions for execution by the processor, the plurality of software instructions cause the client communication device to:
obtain a local view of the metanetwork definition, the local view describing:
a set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate;
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, at least one contact number with which the client communication device may contact the network member;
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, a respective time interval during which the client communication device may communicate with the network member;
and
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, authentication information with which the client communication device may authenticate the network member;
process the local view to determine when and how links may be established with the set of network members of the plurality of network members;
establish a link with another network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members based upon a respective contact number and a respective time interval for the another network member that are contained in the local view;
authenticate the identity of the another network member based upon respective authentication information contained in the local view;
and
exchange electronic information with the another network member across the link.

11 more elements

A method for operating a client communication device within a dynamically configured computer network, the dynamically configured computer network supporting communications among a plurality of network members via a communication network according to a metanetwork definition, the method comprising:

coupling the client communication device to a communication network;
obtaining a local view of the metanetwork definition, the local view describing:
a set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate;
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, at least one contact number with which the client communication device may contact the network member;
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, a respective time interval during which the client communication device may communicate with the network member;
and
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, authentication information with which the client communication device may authenticate the network member;
processing the local view to determine when and how links may be established with the set of network members of the plurality of network members;
establishing a link with another network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members based upon a respective contact number and a respective time interval for the another network member that are contained in the local view;
authenticating the identity of the another network member based upon respective authentication information contained in the local view;
and
exchanging electronic information with the another network member across the link.

9 more elements

A computer readable medium providing storage for software instructions executable by a client communication device within a dynamically configured computer network, the dynamically configured computer network supporting communications among a plurality of network members via a communication network according to a metanetwork definition, the computer readable medium comprising:

a plurality of instructions that, upon execution by the client communication device, cause the client communication device to couple the client communication device to a communication network;
a plurality of instructions that, upon execution by the client communication device, cause the client communication device to obtain a local view of the metanetwork definition, the local view describing:
a set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate;
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, at least one contact number with which the client communication device may contact the network member;
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, a respective time interval during which the client communication device may communicate with the network member;
and
for each network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members with which the client communication device may communicate, authentication information with which the client communication device may authenticate the network member;
a plurality of instructions that, upon execution by the client communication device, cause the client communication device to process the local view to determine when and how links may be established with the set of network members of the plurality of network members;
a plurality of instructions that, upon execution by the client communication device, cause the client communication device to establish a link with another network member of the set of network members of the plurality of network members based upon a respective contact number and a respective time interval for the another network member that are contained in the local view;
a plurality of instructions that, upon execution by the client communication device, cause the client communication device to authenticate the identity of the another network member based upon respective authentication information contained in the local view;
and
a plurality of instructions that, upon execution by the client communication device, cause the client communication device to exchange electronic information with the another network member across the link.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/370,538Filed 9 Aug 1999 · us provisional application
Priority: 12 Sep 1998
Granted: 26 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04L 65/403
Support for services or applications: arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences
H04L 63/105
For controlling access to devices or network resources: multiple levels of security
H04M 7/0054
Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services: where the data service is an electronic mail service
H04M 7/0078
Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol , including next generation networks with a…:…