U.S. patent application number 10/072672 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-14 for system for providing continuity between session clients and method therefor.
Invention is credited to Eaton, Eric Thomas, Hayes, David Jeffery, Mock, Von Alan.
Application Number | 20030154398 10/072672 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27659530 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030154398 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eaton, Eric Thomas ; et
al. |
August 14, 2003 |
System for providing continuity between session clients and method
therefor
Abstract
An online communication system (10) is comprised of a plurality
of session clients (12) including a first session client (18) and a
second session client (20), and a plurality of online servers (14).
The online communication system (10) provides continuity of an
online session (80) between the plurality of session clients (12).
The first session client (18) participates in the online session
(80) including accumulating a plurality of session information
(182) for the online session (80). The first session client (18)
transfers the plurality of session information (182) to the second
session client (20), and the second session client (20) thereafter
participates in the online session (80) using the plurality of
session information (182).
Inventors: |
Eaton, Eric Thomas; (Lake
Worth, FL) ; Mock, Von Alan; (Boynton Beach, FL)
; Hayes, David Jeffery; (Boynton Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Randi L. Dulaney
Motorola, Inc.
Law Department
8000 West Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale
FL
33322
US
|
Family ID: |
27659530 |
Appl. No.: |
10/072672 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
713/201 |
International
Class: |
H04L 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Within an online communication system having a plurality of
session clients including a first session client and a second
session client, a method for providing continuity of at least one
online session between the plurality of session clients comprising:
participating in the at least one online session by the first
session client, wherein the participating includes accumulating a
plurality of session information for the at least one online
session; and transferring the plurality of session information for
the at least one online session from the first session client to
the second session client using a communication connection between
the first session client and the second session client.
2. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 1
further comprising: participating in the at least one online
session by the second session client.
3. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 1
further comprising: initializing a session transfer prior to the
transferring step.
4. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 3
further comprising: storing at least one transfer client profile
associated with at least one of the plurality of session clients in
the first session client prior to the initializing a session
transfer step, wherein the initializing a session transfer step
includes choosing the second session client from the stored at
least one transfer client profile.
5. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 1
wherein the first session client operates within a first session
device, and further wherein the second session client operates
within a second session device.
6. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 5
wherein the first session device is a device selected from a group
consisting of a fixed network device, a mobile device, and a cable
box.
7. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 5
wherein the second session device is a device selected from a group
consisting of a fixed network device, a mobile device, and a cable
box.
8. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 1
wherein the first session client and the second session client
operate within a session device.
9. A method for providing continuity of at least one online session
between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim 8
wherein the session device is a device selected from a group
consisting of a fixed network device, a mobile device, and a cable
box.
10. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
1 wherein the at least one online session is an online gambling
event, and further wherein the plurality of session information
comprises one or a combination of information selected from a group
consisting of an event name, an event number, an event description,
a navigational path, a gambling house, a start time, an end time, a
number of gamblers, a current status, an event monitoring, a URL
where results reside, a last URL visited, the type of event, the
score, prior history of related events, and event odds.
11. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
1 wherein the at least one online session is an online auction
session, and further wherein the plurality of session information
comprises one or a combination of information selected from a group
consisting of an item name, an item number, an item description, an
item identification, a navigational path, an auction type, an
auction house, an end time, a number of bidders, a reserve price, a
current status, a URL where results reside, and a sellers store
front URL.
12. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
4 wherein the initializing a session transfer step further
comprises: sending a session transfer notification from the first
session client, and launching a data transfer within the second
session client.
13. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
12 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, and further wherein the session transfer
notification is sent from the first session client to the at least
one online server informing the at least one online server to pass
the plurality of session information to the second session
client.
14. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
12 wherein the session transfer notification is sent from the first
session client to the second session client.
15. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
4 wherein the second session client operates within a second
session device having a second data transfer application, and
further wherein the initializing a session transfer step further
comprises: sending a session transfer notification from the first
session client, and launching the second data transfer application
within the second session device.
16. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
15 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, and further wherein the session transfer
notification is sent from the first session client to the at least
one online server informing the at least one online server to pass
the plurality of session information to the second data transfer
application within the second session device.
17. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
15 wherein the session transfer notification is sent from the first
session client to the second data transfer application of the
second session device.
18. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
15 wherein the first session client operates within a first session
device, and further wherein the session transfer notification is
sent from the first session device to the second session
device.
19. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
4 wherein the initializing a session transfer step further
comprises: launching a data transfer within the second session
client, and sending a session transfer notification from the second
session client.
20. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
19 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, and further wherein the session transfer
notification is sent from the second session client to the at least
one online server informing the at least one online server to pass
the plurality of session information to the second session
client.
21. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
19 wherein the session transfer notification is sent from the
second session client to the first session client.
22. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
4 wherein the second session client operates within a second
session device having a second data transfer application, and
further wherein the initializing a session transfer step further
comprises: launching the second data transfer application within
the second session device, and sending a session transfer
notification using the second data transfer application with in the
second session device.
23. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
22 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, and further wherein the session transfer
notification is sent from the second session device to the at least
one online server informing the at least one online server to pass
the plurality of session information to the second session
device.
24. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
22 wherein the session transfer notification is sent from the
second session device to the first session client.
25. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
22 wherein the first session client operates within a first session
device, and further wherein the session transfer notification is
sent from the second session device to the first session
device.
26. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
2 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, the method further comprising: receiving a user
input by the second session client to go to an event site
associated with the at least one online session on the at least one
online server; retrieving a latest information by the second
session client on the event site using the plurality of session in
formation; and storing the latest information retrieved from the
event site by the second session client.
27. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
26 wherein the at least one online server is characterized by a
session server identification, and further wherein the retrieving
the latest information step further comprises using the session
server identification.
28. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
26 further comprising: alerting an account user of an online
session result contained within the latest information retrieved
from the event site when the online session has ended.
29. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
26 further comprising: notifying an account user of the latest
information retrieved from the event site when the online session
is active; and alerting the account user when the plurality of
session information including the latest information is
actionable.
30. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
2 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, the method further comprising: receiving an
asynchronous event notification from the at least one online server
by the second session client to go to an event site associated with
the at least one online session on the at least one online server;
retrieving a latest information by the second session client from
the event site using the plurality of session information; and
storing the latest information retrieved from the event site by the
second session client.
31. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
30 wherein the at least one online session is an online auction
session, and further wherein the asynchronous event notification is
one or a combination of notifications selected from the group
consisting of a higher bidder, an auction result, a time remaining,
and a new auction with a similar item.
32. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
30 wherein the at least one online session is an online gambling
session, and further wherein the asynchronous event notification is
one or a combination of notifications selected from the group
consisting of a change in odds, an updated score, a time remaining,
a change in position of players on the event field, a late breaking
news, and a session history.
35. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
2 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, the method further comprising: expiring of an event
parameter of the plurality of session information; retrieving a
latest information by the second session client from an event site
associated with the at least one online session on the at least one
online server using the plurality of session information; and
storing the latest information retrieved from the event site by the
second session client.
36. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
2 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, the method further comprising: comparing a current
time to an event time; retrieving a latest information by the
second session client from an event site associated with the at
least one online session on the at least one online server using
the plurality of session information when the current time is past
the event time; and storing the latest information retrieved from
the event site by the second session client.
37. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
36 further comprising: determining whether an online account user
is present with the second session client prior to the retrieving
step; and continuing to the retrieving step when the online account
user is present in the determining step.
38. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
36 wherein the at least one online server is characterized by a
session server identification, and further wherein the retrieving
the latest information step further comprises using the session
server identification.
39. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
2 wherein the online communication system comprises at least one
online server, the method further comprising: comparing a current
time to a range surrounding an event time; retrieving a latest
information by the second session client from an event site
associated with the at least one online session on the at least one
online server using the plurality of session information when the
current time is within the range surrounding the event time; and
storing the latest information retrieved from the event site by the
second session client.
40. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
39 further comprising: determining whether an online account user
is present with the second session client prior to the retrieving
step; and continuing to the retrieving step when the online account
user is present in the determining step.
41. A method for providing continuity of at least one online
session between a plurality of session clients as recited in claim
39 wherein the at least one online server is characterized by a
session server identification, and further wherein the retrieving
the latest information step further comprises using the session
server identification.
42. An online communication system for providing continuity of at
least one online session comprising: at least one online server for
hosting the at least one online session, wherein the at least one
online session includes a plurality of session information; a
plurality of session clients coupled to the at least one online
server, wherein the plurality of session clients includes: a first
session client for participating in the at least one online session
and for storing the plurality of session information of the at
least online session, and a second session client; and a
communication connection coupled to the plurality of session
clients for providing communication between the first session
client and the second session client, wherein the first session
client transfers the plurality of session information for the at
least one online session to the second session client using the
communication connection.
43. An online communication system as recited in claim 42 wherein
the first session client operates within a first session device,
and further wherein the second session client operates within a
second session device.
44. An online communication system as recited in claim 43 wherein
the first session device is a device selected from a group
consisting of a fixed network device, a mobile device, and a cable
box.
45. An online communication system as recited in claim 43 wherein
the second session device is a device selected from a group
consisting of a fixed network device, a mobile device, and a cable
box.
46. An online communication system as recited in claim 43 wherein
the first session device further comprises a memory for storing at
least one transfer client profile associated with at least one of
the plurality of session clients, wherein the at least one transfer
client profile includes a second transfer client profile associated
with the second session device, and further wherein the first
session client transfers the plurality of session information using
the second transfer client profile.
47. An online communication system as recited in claim 43 wherein
the first session device further comprises a first data transfer
application for transferring the plurality of session
information.
48. An online communication system as recited in claim 47 wherein
the second session device further comprises a second data transfer
application for receiving the plurality of session information.
49. An online communication system as recited in claim 42 wherein
the first session client and the second session client operate
within a session device.
50. An online communication system as recited in claim 49 wherein
the session device is a device selected from a group consisting of
a fixed network device, a mobile device, and a cable box.
51. An online communication system as recited in claim 42 wherein
the at least one online session is an online gambling event, and
further wherein the plurality of session information comprises one
or a combination of information selected from a group consisting of
an event name, an event number, an event description, a
navigational path, a gambling house, a start time, an end time, a
number of gamblers, a current status, an event monitoring, a URL
where results reside, a last URL visited, the type of event, the
score, prior history of related events, and event odds.
52. An online communication system as recited in claim 42 wherein
the at least one online session is an online auction session, and
further wherein the plurality of session information comprises one
or a combination of information selected from a group consisting of
an item name, an item number, an item description, an item
identification, a navigational path, an auction type, an auction
house, an end time, a number of bidders, a reserve price, a current
status, a URL where results reside, and a sellers store front URL.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates in general to communication systems
and in particular to communication systems incorporating
capabilities to provide continuity of real time action information
among a plurality of session clients.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] An auction is the buying and selling of property through
open public bidding. Typically, potential purchasers make a
succession of increasing bids or offers until the auctioneer
accepts the highest (and final) bid. At a Dutch auction, by
contrast, the seller offers property at successively lower prices
until one of his offers is accepted or until the price drops so low
as to force the withdrawal of the offered property. Prospective
buyers are usually allowed to examine auction items beforehand, and
sellers can set a minimum price below which the property will not
be sold. Auctions are important in the agricultural markets of many
countries, permitting the rapid sale of perishable goods. Other
items often sold at auction include artwork and antiques,
secondhand goods, and farms and buildings repossessed by banks or
the government. Auction selling is also employed on stock and
commodity exchanges.
[0005] Historically, potential buyers meet at a geographical
location to participate in an auction. This method tends to limit
the number of potential buyers to the available population that are
physically near the geographical location of the auction. Potential
buyers make the conscious decision to attend an auction after
receiving advertisement by word of mouth or via various media
channels such as the newspaper. Potential buyers show up prior to
the auction start time and inspect potential items to bid on. As
the auction starts, one item at a time is auctioned off through a
person called the auctioneer. The auction usually lasts for a brief
part of the day with the financial transactions between each buyer
and seller being resolved before the end of the auction. Usually
the auctioneer or auction house will generate revenue by receiving
a percentage of the item sold or alternatively can have a flat rate
for each item sold. An auction that requires physical presence at a
geographical location has limits on the number of items that can be
sold within an allotted time period, the number of people present
in a geographical auction location, and the effects on the auction
price.
[0006] Recently, the ubiquitous nature of the Internet has fueled
the growth of online electronic auctions. Now a larger number of
buyers can be reached as they enjoy bidding for an item in the
comfort of their home or other surroundings without physically
being at the geographical location of the auction. Benefits of the
online auction include alleviation of the requirement to be
physically at a geographical location, the potential for reaching a
larger number of people through the ubiquitous nature of the
Internet, capability for many items to be auctioned off at the same
time, capability for the auction time to continue for several days.
However, at the same time online auctions enjoy these benefits,
drawbacks include lack of mutual trust between seller and buyer,
need to visualize the product description and shape, and reduction
of participation due to limited access to the Internet at a buyer's
current location.
[0007] Online auction houses provide their services through online
servers including database storage of buyer and seller profiles and
auction items. The auction house provides services that allow the
user to search by a particular interest, receive notification of
available items of particular interest, rate or provide a trust
level for buyer and seller, provide a seller with a virtual store
front, maintain an overview page of items created by a buyer,
receive notification in price changes for buyer and seller, create
escrow account to exchange money and merchandise. Online auction
houses generate revenue for operation by charging a fee based upon
the percentage of the sales price, providing other services such as
escrow accounts, and through selling online advertisements.
[0008] Online auction houses allow the buyer to browse items for
sale by utilizing a search engine that locates particular items of
interest. A buyer will usually set up a profile that is accessible
by username and password and contains such items as auction
interests. Notifications by electronic mail can be sent to the
perspective buyer once a seller has listed an item that matches the
buyer's interest. The auction house provides as part of the buyer's
profile a personal storable listing that includes items they are
currently bidding on, items they are following, and items they have
won. The buyer can add to the list from auction items they are
interested in or want to bid on.
[0009] The online auction house gives the capability to the seller
to create a virtual storefront or to list items independently. The
seller, like the buyer, creates a user account by supplying a
username and password and contact information. The seller has the
ability to create a unique motif for their virtual storefront. The
seller will normally provide a description along with a picture of
the item to sell and possibly a hyperlink to the manufacturer of
the item that can be used to provide relative cost comparison. In
addition, the seller can leave contact information so that the
perspective buyer can have a dialogue with the seller. The seller,
in some cases, can desire to have a minimum reserved price for an
item or service. The minimum sale price is usually not made public
while bidding on an item, but will be indicated in the listing
information when the minimum reserved price has been reached. The
seller has the ability to list all of his items within one listing
of his virtual storefront.
[0010] The online auction house helps foster a sense of mutual
trust by providing rating methods for both buyers and sellers.
Buyer and seller ratings include such items as the number of
transactions performed, the measure of performance or satisfaction,
and the history information. Either a perspective buyer or a seller
can enter these ratings. Based upon past performance or execution,
a buyer or seller can begin to realize a feeling of trust without
ever meeting the person they are selling to or buying from. In
addition, the online auction house will provide escrow services to
the buyer and/or seller. The auction house will typically hold the
form of payment, until the buyer receives the item or service.
Buyers and sellers with limited history or poor performance
typically use the escrow service. One of the many benefits of
having a superior seller's rating is that the seller can create
brand or seller loyalty based on past auction. As with other
financial business transactions there are some bidders that have
either fraudulent behaviors or dislikes toward a certain seller. A
seller can utilize the blacklist service to deny a potential
fraudulent or unhappy buyer from participating in any of the
seller's online auctions.
[0011] A seller who places an item up for auction will also include
the duration of the auction. Typically the activity on an auction
will start out slow with the activity reaching the apex at the very
end of the auction. A desiring bidder will soon realize that they
must have online bidding presence toward the end of the auction.
The bidder for an item up for auction has the option to either
manually participate in the bidding process or to utilize the
online auction house's automated bidding mechanism. The manual
process is usually the preferred method where the bidder will
follow the online bidding history and update their bid as needed to
retain the highest bid price up to the bidder's highest willingly
bid price. As the close of the auction nears, the bidder will
actively compete with other buyers to retain the highest bid price.
As a compliment to the manual bid process, the online auction house
typically provides an automated bidding agent that acts on the
behalf of the buyer whether are not they are physically connected
to the online auction. The buyer will select the item to bid and
enter their starting bid price along with a maximum bid price that
they are willing to pay for that item or service. The buyer's
maximum bid price is not visible to other users within the online
auction house. The agent, unlike the buyer, always knows the
minimum reserved price, if any, set by the seller and will
increment the bid price to the minimum reserved price if this price
is within the buyer's maximum bid price. As part of the buyer's
bidding process, notification of events relating to the auction
item(s) are sent to the buyer typically through electronic mail.
The types of events in which the buyer will be notified by the
online auction house include no longer being the highest bidder,
the end of auction results (winning bid), and the remaining time on
auction.
[0012] Without the aid of an online agent, a buyer will receive the
auction item or service if he/she is the highest bidder and has an
active presence toward the end of the auction. Unfortunately, the
expiration time of the auction does not always coincide with the
buyer's schedule of daily activities. The buyer can have to leave
an online auction to perform other daily duties and as result can
miss the competitive bidding at the end of the auction.
[0013] Gambling is the act of a person wagering against an opposing
person(s) as to the outcome of an event. Many people enjoy the
traditional forms of gambling such as boxing, horse and dog racing,
and sporting events such as football, basketball, soccer, baseball
and hockey. These types of gambling events are not usually paused
or suspended to be completed at a later time and are referred to as
real time gambling events. Types of gambling events that can be
suspended or delayed to a later time are card games and slot
machines.
[0014] Traditionally, a bet or a wager is placed with a bookkeeper
on the outcome of an event. The bookkeeper will generate revenue by
charging a percentage of proceeds earned by a gambling participant.
In addition, the bookkeeper will track the wagers placed by the
participants and the progress of the gambling event itself. Usually
the bookkeeper will vary the odds of the event as to balance or
bring equality to the gambling event. For example, a soccer team
can be given two goals to their final score, since the opposing
soccer team is viewed to be better then them by two goals.
[0015] During a gambling event, odds for the outcome can change to
reflect a new equality between participants, therefore, gambling
participants will benefit by being able to receive and act upon the
new odds in real time. In addition, late breaking news prior and
during a gambling event can change the outcome of the gambling
event, thereby creating a need for the gambling participant to be
able to receive and act upon this information. Likewise, the
history surrounding a gambling event can be beneficial to a
participant that is able to receive and act upon this information
in real time.
[0016] Technological advances in the Internet now provide the
capability for online gambling to utilize an Internet server to
perform the roll of bookkeeper. Some of the advantages of online
gambling are providing for online gamblers to view the latest
changes in odds, easier tracking of monies won/loss,
social/language barriers are easier to overcome while providing a
safe surrounding environment, gambling participants can learn
through free practice sessions at their own speed, electronic
commerce easies collection problems. Some potential disadvantages
in the technology advancements of online gambling are the potential
for anonymous money laundering, the complexity of distribution of
winnings, the increased risk of children gaining access to gambling
sites, and the increased risk of a gambler becoming engrossed in
the gambling event.
[0017] Online sessions such as online auctions and online gambling
include data that is time and action sensitive, having little or no
value after the auction or gambling time has expired. Further,
online sessions can continue for several days. Although the online
session participant benefits from staying informed and involved, it
is difficult to remain available to the fixed session client
monitoring the online session.
[0018] Recently, to meet the needs of session participants who
cannot remain at a fixed location and/or device having a session
client, online services are providing wireless access to their
services and associated Internet site using Internet enabled
wireless devices such as cellular telephones and pagers. The
Internet enabled cellular telephone, for example, can include a
session client with the same functionality as a session client
within a fixed device such as a personal computer. Similarly, a
pager can receive alerts relating to the status of a particular
online session. One drawback of real time actionable events
experienced in online auctions and gambling is that the times of
the events do not always coincide with the user's preferred method
of online participation.
[0019] With today's technology, when participating in an online
session, in order to switch to a different session client, the
account user disconnects the currently connected session client
from the online server. The account user then later, at the
appropriate event time, connects a second session client to the
online server and logs in. Finally, the account user reinitiates
each online session that was in progress on the first session
client. The disadvantage of this method is the numerous manual
operations required of the account user to change session clients
including remembering the appropriate event time to start the new
session client.
[0020] Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for the
transferring of real time event information associated with one or
more online sessions between different session clients allowing the
seamless continuation of participation in the online sessions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention will be described by way of exemplary
embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in
which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is an electronic block diagram of an online
communication system, in accordance with the preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an online server for use within the
online communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates an online account user for use within the
online server of FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates an online session for use within the
online server of FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate various embodiments of session data
for use within the online session of FIG. 4, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates a session history for use within the
online session of FIG. 4, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates a session client for use within the
online communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates client data for use within the session
client of FIG. 8, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0030] FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 are electronic block diagrams of
various embodiments of a session device in which a session client
of FIG. 8 operates;
[0031] FIGS. 13 to 16 are electronic block diagrams of various
embodiments of the online communication system of FIG. 1, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0032] FIGS. 17 to 21 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of
the online communication system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS(S)
[0033] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases
used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide
an understandable description of the invention.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic block diagram of an
online communication system 10 in accordance with the present
invention is shown. As illustrated, the online communication system
10 preferably includes a plurality of session clients 12 for
communication with a plurality of online servers 14, preferably
interconnected through the well-known worldwide Internet computer
network 16. Each of the plurality of session clients 12 such as a
first session client 18 and a second session client 20 includes
client software to interface within the online communication system
10. Each of the plurality of session clients 12 can be a client
residing on a user's session device such as a personal computer, a
Cable set top box, an xDSL home gateway, a satellite gateway, a
wireless gateway, or an equivalent. It will be appreciated by one
of ordinary skill in the art that in accordance with the present
invention, the interface capabilities of the client software can
also be designed into client hardware of a session client. Each
session client 22 of the plurality of session clients 12 further
includes a client identifier 24. For example, the first session
client 18 includes a first client identifier 26 and the second
session client 20 includes a second client identifier 28. The
client identifier 24 of the session client 22 is a unique
identification within the online communication system 10 for
directing information and data to a particular session client
within a session device. For example, the client identifier 24 can
be an address of a mobile device or an IP address and number of the
port of a fixed network device. To communicate with at least one of
the plurality of online servers 14, the session client 22
establishes a communication connection 30. For example, the first
session client 18 establishes a first communication connection 32
via the Internet computer network 16 for communication with at
least one online server 34 of the plurality of online servers 14
such as the first online server 36 and/or the second online server
38. Similarly, the second session client 20 establishes a second
communication connection 40 for communication with at least one of
the plurality of online servers 14. It will be appreciated by one
of ordinary skill in the art that the communication connection 30,
the first communication connection 32, and the second communication
connection 40 can be a physical connection, or alternatively can be
a logical connection where the act of connecting and disconnecting
is a logical one. Further, each communication connection can be a
broadband connection such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or cable
television, or could utilize a narrowband connection like an analog
modem. Each session client 22 of the plurality of session clients
12 is operated by at least one account user 42. The account user 42
is an individual who uses one or more session clients to
communicate with the plurality of online servers 14 along with
other account users. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill in the art that the account user 42 can communicate using one
or more session clients. For example, a first account user 44 can
establish communication with the plurality of online servers 14
using the first session client 18, and, in accordance with the
present invention, also using the second session client 20.
[0035] Each session client 22 preferably includes a plurality of
client data 46. The plurality of client data 46 includes data
associated with the session client 22 and data associated with each
online session for which the session client 22 is currently
participating, has participated in, or plans to participate in
within one or more of the plurality of online servers 14. The
plurality of client data 46 can be divided up into one or more
client data portions 48 as illustrated in FIG. 9. The first session
client 18 includes a first client data 50 and the second session
client 20 includes a second client data 52.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates the online server 34 for use within the
online communication system 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the online
server 34 as illustrated in FIG. 2 can be any of the plurality of
online servers 14 of FIG. 1 such as the first online server 36 and
the second online server 38. The online server 34 manages a
plurality of online sessions 54 among the plurality of session
clients 12, facilitating substantially real time session
participation among the plurality of session clients 12 within the
online communication system 10 of FIG. 1. The plurality of online
sessions 54, for example, can be an online auction session, an
online gambling session, or any equivalent action sensitive online
session. The online server 34 provides numerous services to manage
the plurality of online sessions 54. The online server 34 also
offers various options to the plurality of online account users 56
to reduce cost or enhance the features of the plurality of online
sessions 54.
[0037] The online server 34 includes a server data 58. The server
data 58 preferably includes a server identifier 60 for the online
server 34. The server identifier 60 can be, for example, a unique
selective call address in a wireless communication system.
Alternatively, the server identifier 60 can be an IP address, or an
IP address and associated number of the port assigned to the online
server 34 of a wired communication system. It will be appreciated
by one of ordinary skill in the art that the server identifier 60
can be one mentioned herein or an equivalent. The server identifier
60 enables the communication between the plurality of session
clients 12 and the online server 34 using the communication
connections such as the communication connection 30, the first
communication connection 32, and the second communication
connection 40 of FIG. 1. The server data 58 also preferably
includes a server profile 62. The server profile 62 includes
information regarding the capabilities of the online server 34. For
example, the server profile 62 can include server processing power,
server client capability, server session capability, and server
access to secondary networks. It will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the server profile 62 can include
any of those mentioned above in any combination or an
equivalent.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates data stored in the online server 34 of
FIG. 2 for an online account user 64, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The online account
user 64, for example, can be a first online account user 66 and/or
a second online account user 68 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Further,
the online account user 64 can be the account user 42 and/or the
first account user 44 of FIG. 1. For example, as illustrated, the
online server 34 stores an account identifier 70, an account
password 72, an account contact information 74, an account
preferences 76, and an account commerce 78. The account identifier
70 is preferably a user name or other identification of the online
account user 64. The account password 72 is preferably a codeword
or the authentication key 166 created and/or known only by the
online account user 64 to provide security for access of account
information and online session participation. For example, once the
online account user 64 is logged into the online server 34, the
online account user 64 would be required to input the account
password 72 for each financial transaction and setting change. The
account contact information 74, for example, can include account
user presence, account user availability, account phone number,
account mailing address, or account user preferred communication
means. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that the account contact information 74 can be any of the contact
information mentioned herein or an equivalent.
[0039] The account preferences 76 can for example include favorite
topics, associates, group lists, age, obscenity rating, and
optional services. The account preferences 76 further can include
text font attributes, filter settings, blocking settings, screen
names per account identifier, alert settings per screen name, buddy
list groups, electronic mailboxes, electronic voice mail, and
parental control settings. It will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the account preferences 76, in
accordance with the present invention, can include any of those
preferences mentioned herein or an equivalent.
[0040] The account commerce 78 can include billing information such
as credit card information or an equivalent for electronically
billing the online account user 64. It will be appreciated by one
of ordinary skill in the art that each online account user 64 can
have one or more accounts. For example, the online account user 64
can have a business account and a personal account both operated
using one or more of the plurality of session clients 12.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of session information 182
for an online session 80 for use within the online server 34 of
FIG. 2, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The online session 80 can be any of the plurality of
online sessions 54 such as a first online session 82 and/or a
second online session 84 as illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated
in FIG. 4, for each online session 80, the online server 34
preferably stores a session identifier 86, a session priority 88, a
plurality of session preferences 90, a plurality of session
participants 92, a plurality of session data 94, a session history
96, and one or more Internet cookie(s) 97 per session. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the plurality
of session information 182 stored in the online server 34 for the
online session 80, in accordance with the present invention, can
include any of the session information mentioned herein or an
equivalent.
[0042] Preferably, the session identifier 86 identifies the online
session 80 of the plurality of online sessions 54. In one
embodiment, the online session 80 is assigned the session priority
88. The session priority 88 determines or identifies the priority
of the online session 80 within the plurality of online sessions 54
currently active within the online server 34. The session priority
88 can be set through a predetermined algorithm in the online
server 34 taking into account the various characteristics of the
online session 80. The session priority 88 can for example, specify
a communication priority order, an information updating priority
order, and/or a session processing order. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that the session priority 88 can
specify any of the priorities mentioned herein or an
equivalent.
[0043] The plurality of session preferences 90 defines certain
attributes settable by the online session owner. The plurality of
session preferences 90, for example, can include text font
attributes, filter settings, blocking settings, alert settings,
screen names, buddy list groups, electronic mailboxes, parental
control settings, an alert option such as alert on receipt of a new
real time session event or no alert on receipt of a new real time
session event, guaranteed or non-guaranteed delivery, timeout
setting for participation in the online session 80, and number of
session events and/or messages to retain in the session history 96.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the
plurality of session preferences 90, in accordance with the present
invention, can include any of the session preferences mentioned
herein or an equivalent. In one embodiment, the plurality of
session preferences 43 includes a session timer. The session timer
is a preset time period upon which the online session 80 is
active.
[0044] In one embodiment, the plurality of session preferences 90
includes one or more Internet cookie(s) per session. The session
Internet cookie is a piece of information that is maintained on the
session client 22 by the online server 34. Information contained
with the session Internet cookie can, for example, contain the
session device type and capabilities, the software application
version, and advertisement interests. The session Internet cookie
is processed based on a two-stage process. First the session
Internet cookie is stored in the online account user's device such
as the session device containing the session client 22, normally
without the online account user's knowledge. One of the functions
of the session Internet cookie is to provide personal customization
when an online website is re-visited. For example, with
customizable web search engines the online account user 64 selects
categories of interest from the online website page. The online
server 34 then creates a specific session Internet cookie, which is
essentially a tagged string of text containing the user's
preferences, and it transmits this session Internet cookie to the
online account user's device. The online account user's web
browser, if cookie-savvy, receives the session Internet cookie and
stores it in a special file called a cookie list.
[0045] During the second stage, the session Internet cookie is
automatically transferred from the online account user's device to
the online server 34. Whenever the online account user 64 directs
their web browser to display a certain web page from the online
server 34, the browser will transmit the session Internet cookie
containing personal information to the online server 34 whereby the
online server 34 formats the content in a personalized manner
including directed advertisements.
[0046] The plurality of session participants 92 includes each of
the plurality of online account users 56 participating in the
online session 80 along with the online account user data as
illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0047] The plurality of session data 94 includes all pertinent data
and information related to the online session 80. FIGS. 5 and 6
illustrate two examples of the plurality of session data 94 in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the
plurality of session data 94 can include the session data
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 or an equivalent.
[0048] FIG. 5 illustrates an auction session data 98 stored by the
online server 34 when the online session 80 is an online auction
session. Preferably, the auction session data 98 includes an item
name 100, an item number 102, an item description 104, a
navigational path 106, an auction house 108, an end time 110, a
number of bidders 112, a reserve price 114, and a current status
116. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that the auction session data 98 as illustrated in FIG. 5, in
accordance with the present invention, can include those items
mentioned herein or an equivalent. For example, the auction session
data can include an auction type.
[0049] The navigational path 106 can include, for example, a
navigational path to the item of interest, for example a Uniform
Resource Locator (URL) of the item within the online auction
session. URLs are short strings that identify resources in the
Internet computer network 16 including documents, images,
downloadable files, services, electronic mailboxes, and other
resources. They make resources available under a variety of naming
schemes and access methods (such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer
Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and Internet protocol)
mail addressable in the same simple way.
[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates a gambling session data 118 stored by the
online server 34 when the online session 80 is an online gambling
session. The gambling session, for example, can be a real time
gambling session such as horse and/or dog racing, boxing matches,
football, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey games and car and/or
boat racing. Further, the online gambling session can be non-real
time such as server-based card games where a player can suspend
play and return later, and/or a slot machine session. Preferably,
the gambling session data 118 includes an event name 120, an event
number 122, an event description 124, a navigational path 126, a
gambling house 128, a start time 130, an end time 132, a number of
gamblers 134, a current status 136, and an event monitoring 138.
The navigational path 126 can include, for example, a URL of the
event of interest in the online gambling session. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the gambling
session data 18, in accordance with the present invention, can be
any of the data mentioned herein or an equivalent.
[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates the session history 96 for use within the
online session 80 of FIG. 4, in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the
session history 96 preferably includes a plurality of session
entries 140 in which each session entry 142 is associated with a
plurality of entry information including the account identifier 70
for an associated entry originator such as the online account user
64. The associated entry originator, for example, is one of the
plurality of session participants 92. Each session entry 142
further can be associated with a timestamp 144 identifying the time
that the session entry 142 was entered into the online session 80
by the entry originator. The session history 96 is further composed
of at least one session portion 146. Each session portion 146
comprises at least one session entry 142 and associated
information. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art that although the session portion 146 is illustrated as a
portion of the session history 96, alternatively, in accordance
with the present invention, the session portion 146 can be any
portion of the plurality of session data 94.
[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates the session client 22 for use within the
online communication system 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the session
client 22 as illustrated in FIG. 8 can be any of the plurality of
session clients 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 such as the first session
client 18 and/or the second session client 20. The session client
22 preferably includes the plurality of client data 46, the client
identifier 24, a browser 148, a plurality of current sessions 150,
a session polling 152, a session transfer 154, and a plurality of
transfer clients' profiles 156.
[0053] The browser 148 preferably includes a plurality of launch
preferences 158 and a plurality of alert preferences 160. The
browser 148 is preferably a software application programmed within
the session client 22 the online account user 64 to find and view
information on the plurality of online servers 14 via the Internet
computer network 16. The browser 148, for example can be a
text-based browser using "point-and-click" graphical manipulations.
The browser 148 can preferably interpret the Hyper Text Markup
Language (HTML) tags in downloaded documents and format the
displayed data according to a set of standard style rules. The
browser 148 can be hard coded or programmed into the session
device, with which the session client 22 resides, during
manufacturing, can be programmed over-the-air upon customer
subscription, or can be a downloadable application. It will be
appreciated that other programming methods can be utilized for
programming the browser 148. It will be further appreciated by one
of ordinary skill in the art that the browser 148 alternatively can
be hardware circuitry. The plurality of launch preferences 158
within the browser 148 includes data programmable by the online
account user 64 such as when the session client 22 will launch and
connect to the online server 34. For example, the online account
user 64 can program the plurality of launch preferences 158 to
launch the session client 22 at a predetermined time prior to the
end time 110 of an online auction session or the end time 132 of an
online gambling session to allow the online account user 64 to
compete against other bidders or gamblers respectively. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of launch
preferences 158 can include a preference that if an auto
participate launch is enabled it will not be launched if the
session device in which the session client 22 operates is not
located near the body since there is no one to participate unless
an auto bid program has been loaded and turned on. Alternatively,
the plurality of launch preferences 158 can include a preference
that if the session device in which the session client 22 operates
is not connected to the online session 80 when it had expired, the
session client 22, through the browser 148, automatically goes to
the site and retrieves the final results. Similarly, the plurality
of launch preferences 158 can include automatically retrieving the
final results of the online session 80 in the case an agent was
bidding on the buyer's behalf.
[0054] The plurality of alert preferences 160 of the browser 148
preferably includes alert information programmable by the online
account user 64. For example, the plurality of alert preferences
160 can include a "user aware alert" that would notify the user
that the session client 22 was able to take action on the auctioned
item or the gambling event and not just in process of linking to
the item or event. In one embodiment, the plurality of alert
preferences 160 can include an entry notification alert that would
notify the online account user 64 when a new entry for the online
session 80 in which the online account user 64 is participating is
received. For example, an alert can be generated when the bid price
changes in an online auction session. The alert preferably includes
a data message with the new bid price and the incremental change.
Alternatively, a particular level of incremental change could
trigger an alert. In another embodiment, the plurality of alert
preferences 160 can include an entry deletion alert that would
notify the online account user 64 when an unread entry for the
online session 80 in which the online account user 64 is
participating is to be deleted from the memory. Alternatively, the
plurality of alert preferences 160 can include a preference that no
alert can be sent when a new entry is received and stored in the
memory. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that other alerting schemes are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0055] The plurality of current sessions 150 preferably includes an
identification of all online sessions for which the session client
22 is currently participating. The plurality of current sessions
150, for example, can be any of the plurality of online sessions 54
such as the online session 80, the first online session 82 and/or
the second online session 84 of FIG. 2.
[0056] The plurality of transfer clients' profiles 156 preferably
includes the client profile 246 for each of the plurality of
session clients 12 for which the session client 22 can transfer the
plurality of session information 182 as required and/or desired.
The client profile 246 can, for example, include the connection
type (wide area network, short range wireless, infrared data
association (IrDA), Universal Serial Bus (USB), or serial). If a
wide or local area network was used for communication, the client
profile 246 can further include routing information that can be
converted to an IPv4/MAC or IPv6 address. A user friendly name such
as URL, Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI), phone number or other
where a Domain Name Server (DNS) can be used to access a database
to obtain the routable information (IP addressing).
[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates the plurality of client data 46 included
within the session client 22 of FIG. 8. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that the plurality of client data
46 as illustrated in FIG. 9 can be the first client data 50 or the
second client data 52. As illustrated, the plurality of client data
46 preferably includes a client version identifier 162, a current
account identifier 164, an authentication key 166, a plurality of
user preferences 168, and a plurality of current session data 170.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the
plurality of client data 46 can include any of the client data
mentioned herein or an equivalent.
[0058] The client version identifier 162 is preferably the name and
version or other similar indication of the session client 22 being
used. The current account identifier 164 is preferably a user name
or other identification of the online account user 64 currently
using the session client 22. The authentication key 166 preferably
includes a code that is used to authenticate the online account
user 64 to the online communication system 10. For example, the
authentication key 166 can be derived from a password known only to
the online account user 64 and the online communication system
10.
[0059] The plurality of user preferences 168 defines certain
attributes settable by the account user 42 for communicating within
the plurality of online sessions 54 using the session client 22.
The plurality of user preferences 168, for example, can include
text font attributes 176, filter settings 172, blocking settings,
screen names per account identifier, alert settings per screen name
174, buddy list groups, electronic mailboxes, electronic voice
mail, and parental control settings. It will be appreciated by one
of ordinary skill in the art that the plurality of user preferences
168, in accordance with the present invention, can include any of
those preferences mentioned herein or an equivalent.
[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
plurality of user preferences 168 includes a plurality of Internet
cookies 178. The session client 22 receives each of the plurality
of Internet cookies 178, which is essentially a tagged string of
text containing the user's preferences, from an associated one of
the plurality of online servers 14.
[0061] The plurality of current session data 170 contains
information relating to each of the plurality of online sessions 54
for which the account user 42 is currently participating, has
previously participated, or plans to participate in, using the
session client 22. The plurality of current session data 170
preferably includes a session server identification 180 and a
plurality of session information 182 for each online session 80
stored within the session client 22. For example, a first session
server identification 184 and a plurality of first session
information 186 are stored within the plurality of current session
data 170 for a first current session 188. Similarly, a second
session server identification 190 and a plurality of second session
information 192 for a second current session 194 are stored within
the plurality of current session data 170. The session server
identification 180, such as the first session server identification
184 and the second session server identification 190 can be, for
example, a unique selective call address in a wireless messaging
system. Alternatively, the session server identification 180 can be
an IP address, or an IP address and associated number of the port
assigned to the online server 34 associated with the online session
80. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that
the session server identification 180 can be one mentioned herein
or an equivalent. The server identification 180 enables the
communication between the session client 22 and the online server
34 hosting the online session 80. Similar to that illustrated in
FIG. 4, for each online session 80 included within the plurality of
current session data 170, the session client 22 preferably stores
the plurality of session information 182 such as the session
identifier 86, the session priority 88, the plurality of session
preferences 90, the plurality of session participants 92, the
plurality of session data 94, the session history 96, and the
session Internet cookie 97 as illustrated and described previously
in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art that the plurality of session information 182, in accordance
with the present invention, can include any of the session
information mentioned herein or an equivalent.
[0062] FIG. 10 is an electronic block diagram of one embodiment of
a session device in which the session client 22 of FIG. 8 operates.
Specifically, FIG. 10 illustrates a fixed network device 196. The
fixed network device 196 can operate for example on a local area
network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) or a combination of
both. The fixed network device 196 can be one of a plurality of
spatially co-located computers which are typically located within a
room, building or campus of buildings and are sharing common
resources and communicating with each other on a computer network
in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Typical
resources shared are files on a file server, printers on a print
server, and electronic message (email) services on an email server.
The fixed network device 196 can operate on a network that uses a
physical network such as ARCNET, Ethernet, Token-ring, Local Talk
or other network media to connect the computers, which represent
wired network nodes into the network. The fixed network device 196
can operate on a LAN that employs any one of a number of networking
protocols, such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol), AppleTalk.TM., IPX/SPX (Inter-Packet Exchange/Sequential
Packet Exchange), Net BIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) or
any other packet structures to enable the communication among the
devices and/or between the devices and the shared resources.
Further the fixed network device 196 can operate on a WAN that uses
a different physical network media such as X.25, Frame Relay, ISDN,
Modem dial-up or other media to connect other computers or other
local area networks. In the following description, the term "fixed
network device" includes any of the session devices operating as
described above or an equivalent.
[0063] As illustrated, the fixed network device 196 comprises a
timing clock 198, a central processing unit 200, an electronic
memory preferably in the form of a random access memory (RAM) 202
and/or a read only memory (ROM) 204, and a mass storage element
(e.g., a disk drive or the like) 206. In one embodiment, the fixed
network device 196 includes a memory interconnect 208 for
operatively connecting a memory storage device 210 to the fixed
network device 196. The memory interconnect 208 can, for example,
comprise a structure for physically engaging external contacts on
the memory storage device 210 so that the memory storage device 210
is directly connected to the fixed network device 196. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the memory
interconnect 208 can also be a wireless connection such as an
infrared, Bluetooth or radio frequency interface. When the memory
interconnect 208 is connected to the memory storage device 210, the
fixed network device 196 can access a plurality of memory
information such as the plurality of client data 46 from the memory
storage device 210.
[0064] The fixed network device 196 further preferably comprises a
display driver 212, a general I/O interface or data port 214, and a
user interface port 216 that accommodates a user interface 218
including any number of input means for general information entry.
In the preferred embodiment, the user interface 218, e.g., a
keyboard 220, a "mouse," 222, a pen or puck activated tablet (not
shown), a trackball 224, an audio activated command recognition
processor 226, or the like, allows a device user to enter and
manipulate information using a user input 228. After information is
entered, it can be communicated to a wired communication system 230
via a conventional modem 232 or the like. Preferably, the fixed
network device 196 also includes an Ethernet connection 234 for
communicating to the wired communication system 230 or for
communicating through either a conventional cable modem 236 to a
cable headend, or a (Digital Subscriber Line) DSL connection 238 to
the wired communication system 230. The fixed network device 196
can be changed from an active to an inactive state or from an
inactive state to an active state through the user input 228 to a
power circuit 240. The power circuit 240 can be operated manually
via the user input 228 directly to the power circuit 240, the user
input 228 to the user interface 218, or alternatively automatically
via the programming of the CPU 200.
[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
fixed network device 196 of FIG. 10 includes a fixed session client
242. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that the fixed session client 242 can be the first session client
18, the second session client 20, or any other of the plurality of
session clients 12 of FIG. 1 with a structure as illustrated in
FIG. 8. The fixed network device 196 performs online session
functions within the fixed session client 242 using the plurality
of client data 46 stored in the electronic memory of the fixed
network device 196. The fixed session client 242 can be hard coded
or programmed into the fixed network device 196 during
manufacturing, can be programmed over-the-air upon customer
subscription, or can be a downloadable application. It will be
appreciated that other programming methods can be utilized for
programming the fixed session client 242 into the fixed network
device 196. It will be further appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art that the fixed session client 242 can be hardware
circuitry within the fixed network device 196.
[0066] Preferably the fixed session client 242 automatically
updates a CRT 244 when a new session entry has been sent or
received by sending a command to the display driver 212. This
allows the session history 96 to be updated while the device user
is reading it without disturbing the CRT 244. The fixed session
client 242 uses the plurality of client data 46 stored in the
electronic memory or stored in the memory storage device 210 to
perform functions relating to the plurality of online sessions 54.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that
fixed networked devices having software-programming capabilities
can include client data that is specialized and personalized such
as the plurality of user preferences 168 including display options
and screens for each account user 42, or similarly can include the
plurality of session preferences 90 for each online session 80.
Alternatively, fixed networked devices that do not include
software-programming capabilities can include the plurality of
client data 46 including the plurality of user preferences 168 that
are standard, pre-defined display options and screens for the
plurality of current sessions for which the fixed session client
242 is participating.
[0067] The plurality of user preferences 168 of the plurality of
client data 46 used by the fixed session client 242 further
includes various alert options. In one embodiment, the fixed
session client 242 notifies the CPU 200 to send a command to an
alert circuit (not shown) when new session entries or event
information is received and/or when the current time either equals
an event time or is within a predetermined time differential of an
event time. In another embodiment, the fixed session client 242
notifies the CPU 200 to send a command to the alert circuit when an
unread session entry is to be deleted from the memory.
Alternatively, no alert can be sent when new session entries or
event information is received and stored in the memory. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other alerting
schemes are within the scope of the present invention. Further, the
CPU 200 can send a command to the alert circuit in response to the
user input 228 to the user interface 218 through to the user
interface port 216, such as a device user depressing a button or
series of buttons, or in response to receipt of a message initiates
an input signal to the fixed session client 242. The fixed session
client 242, in response to the input signal, accesses the plurality
of client data 46 stored in the electronic memory for use in
operation of the fixed session client 242.
[0068] Preferably, the fixed session client 242 includes the client
profile 246. The client profile 246 includes information regarding
the capabilities and limitations of the fixed session client 242
and also of the fixed network device 196. For example, the client
profile 246 can include indication of the media supported by the
fixed session client 242 (e.g. audio, video), indication of which
features are supported by the fixed session client 242, device
type, device display, device battery life, device battery capacity,
device processing power, and access to alternate networks. It will
be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the client
profile 246 can include any of those mentioned above in any
combination or an equivalent.
[0069] In accordance with the present invention, the fixed session
client 242 includes software capability for transferring all or a
portion of the plurality of client data 46 to one or more other
session clients for use by the other session client to participate
within one or more of the plurality of online sessions 54 within
one or more of the plurality of online servers 14. The fixed
session client 242, in accordance with the present invention,
further includes software capability for receiving all or a portion
of the plurality of client data 46 from at least one other session
client to participate within one or more of the plurality of online
sessions 54 within one or more of the plurality of online servers
14. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the software capability for
transferring and/or the capability for receiving the plurality of
client data 46 can be incorporated into the fixed session client
242, or alternatively can be contained within a separate data
transfer application 248. The data transfer application 248, for
example can be a third party software add-on that is compatible
with existing session client software applications (e.g. the fixed
session client 242) already programmed into the fixed network
device 196. Maintaining the data transfer software on a separate
data transfer application 248 minimizes incorporation timeframes
and also the cost of upgrading the fixed network device 196 to
include this feature.
[0070] FIG. 11 is an electronic block diagram of one embodiment of
a session device in which the session client 22 of FIG. 8 operates.
Specifically, FIG. 11 illustrates a mobile device 250. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the mobile
device 250 in accordance with the present invention, can be a
mobile cellular telephone, a mobile radio data terminal, a mobile
cellular telephone having an attached data terminal, or a two way
pager, such as the "Pagewriter 2000X" manufactured by Motorola Inc.
of Schaumburg, Ill. In the following description, the term "mobile
device" refers to any of the session devices mentioned above or an
equivalent.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the mobile device 250 includes a
first antenna 252, a second antenna 254, a receiver 256, a
transmitter 258, a clock 260, a processor 262, a device memory 264,
a device memory interconnect 266, a device alert circuit 268, a
device display 270, a device user interface 272 and a mobile
session client 274.
[0072] The first antenna 252 intercepts transmitted signals from a
wireless communication system 276. It will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the wireless communication system
276, in accordance with the present invention, can function
utilizing any wireless radio frequency (RF) channel, for example, a
one or two-way pager channel, a mobile cellular telephone channel,
or a mobile radio channel. Similarly, it will be appreciated by one
of ordinary skill in the art that the wireless communication system
276 can function utilizing other types of communication channels
such as infrared channels. In the following description, the term
"wireless communication system" refers to any of the wireless
communication systems mentioned above or an equivalent.
[0073] The first antenna 252 is coupled to the receiver 256, which
employs conventional demodulation techniques for receiving the
communication signals transmitted by the wireless communication
system 276. Coupled to the receiver 256, is the processor 262
utilizing conventional signal-processing techniques for processing
received messages. Preferably, the processor 262 is similar to the
MC68328 micro-controller manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of
Schaumburg, Ill. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in
the art that other similar processors can be utilized for the
processor 262, and that additional processors of the same or
alternative type can be utilized as required to handle the
processing requirements of the processor 262. The processor 262
decodes an address in the demodulated data of the received message,
compares the decoded address with one or more addresses 278 stored
in an address memory 280 of the device memory 264; and when a match
is detected, proceeds to process the remaining portion of the
received message.
[0074] To perform the necessary functions of the mobile device 250,
the processor 262 is coupled to the device memory 264, which
preferably includes a random access memory (RAM), a read-only
memory (ROM), and an electrically erasable programmable read-only
memory (EEPROM)(not shown). The device memory 264 includes the
address memory 280, a message memory 282, and a client data memory
284.
[0075] Once the processor 262 has processed a received message, it
stores the decoded message in the message memory 282 of the device
memory 278. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art that the message memory 282, in accordance with the present
invention, can be a voicemail box or a group of memory locations in
a data storage device. In the following description, the term
"message memory" refers to any of the memory means mentioned above
or an equivalent. Preferably, when the received message is a
message for participation in one of the plurality of online
sessions 54, for example the session entry 142, the processor 262
stores the decoded message in the client data memory 284.
[0076] In one embodiment, the mobile device 250 includes the device
memory interconnect 266 for operatively connecting the memory
storage device 210 to the mobile device 250. The device memory
interconnect 266 can, for example, comprise a structure for
physically engaging external contacts on the memory storage device
210 so that the memory storage device 210 is directly connected to
the mobile device 250. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill in the art that the device memory interconnect 266 can also
be a wireless connection such as an infrared, Bluetooth or radio
frequency interface. When the device memory interconnect 266 is
connected to the memory storage device 210, the mobile device 250
can access a plurality of memory information such as the plurality
of client data 46 from the memory storage device 210.
[0077] The client data memory 284 includes the plurality of client
data 46 as described previously in FIG. 9. The client data memory
284 includes a memory slot 286 for each online session 80 in which
the mobile device 250 has subscribed. The memory slot 286, in
accordance with the present invention, includes the plurality of
session data as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIGS. 4-7. The plurality
of session entries 140 associated with the online session 80 is
stored together in chronological order in the memory slot 286
similar to the session history 96 of FIG. 7. The memory slot 286 is
preferably allocated a fixed amount of memory for storing
associated plurality of session data. The memory slot 286 holds
multiple session entries in a single memory slot. Any session
entries received for the online session 80 along with its
associated session information is appended at the end of the
plurality of session entries already in the memory slot 286. If the
amount of allocated memory for the memory slot 286 is exceeded, the
older session entries are deleted. It will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art that, in accordance with the present
invention, the client data memory 284 and associated operation
herein described, in accordance with the present invention, can be
included in the fixed network device 196 of FIG. 10, a cable box as
illustrated in FIG. 12, or any other session device in which the
session client 22 operates.
[0078] Upon receipt and processing of a message, the processor 262
preferably generates a command signal to the device alert circuit
268 as a notification that the message has been received and
stored. The device alert circuit 268 can include a speaker (not
shown) with associated speaker drive circuitry capable of playing
melodies and other audible alerts, a vibrator (not shown) with
associated vibrator drive circuitry capable of producing a physical
vibration, or one or more LEDs (not shown) with associated LED
drive circuitry capable of producing a visual alert. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other similar
alerting means as well as any combination of the audible,
vibratory, and visual alert outputs described can be used for the
device alert circuit 268.
[0079] Upon receipt and processing of a message, the processor 262
preferably also generates a command signal to the device display
270 to generate a visual notification of the receipt and storage of
the message. When the device display 270 receives the command
signal from the processor 262 that the message has been received
and stored in the device memory 264, a message indication is
displayed. The message indication, for example can be the
activation of one of a plurality of message icons on the device
display 270. The device display 270 can be, for example, a liquid
crystal display utilized to display text. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that other similar displays such
as cathode ray tube displays can be utilized for the device display
270.
[0080] The mobile device 250 preferably further includes the clock
260. The clock 260 provides timing for the processor 262. The clock
260 can include the current time for use in the operation of the
mobile device 250. The clock 260 also provides a source for timing
of feature enhancements such as active and inactive periods of
operation or periods of alerting.
[0081] In a preferred embodiment, the mobile device 250 includes
the mobile session client 274. It will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the mobile session client 274 can be
the first session client 18, the second session client 20, or any
other of the plurality of session clients 12 of FIG. 1. The mobile
session client 274 performs session operation functions within the
mobile device 250 using the plurality of client data 46 stored in
the client data memory 284. The mobile session client 274 can be
hard coded or programmed into the mobile device 250 during
manufacturing, can be programmed over-the-air upon customer
subscription, or can be a downloadable application. It will be
appreciated that other programming methods can be utilized for
programming the mobile session client 274 into the mobile device
250. It will be further appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art that the mobile session client 274 can be hardware circuitry
within the mobile device 250. Preferably the mobile session client
274 automatically updates the device display 270 when a new session
entry has been sent or received. This allows the session history 96
to be updated while the account user 42 is reading it without
disturbing the device display 270. The mobile session client 274
uses the plurality of client data 46 stored in the electronic
memory or stored in the memory storage device 210 to perform
functions relating to various received and/or sent session entries.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that
mobile devices having software-programming capabilities can include
specialized and personalized display options and screens for each
online session 80. Alternatively, mobile devices that do not
include software-programming capabilities can include standard,
pre-defined display options and screens for the plurality of online
sessions 54. In accordance with the present invention, the display
options for the plurality of online sessions 54 in which the mobile
session client 274 within the mobile device 250 is participating
can be included in the plurality of session preferences 90 for each
online session 80 or alternately, the display options can be stored
independently within the plurality of user preferences 168 of the
plurality of client data 46.
[0082] The mobile session client 274 further operates using various
alert options. In one embodiment, the mobile session client 274
notifies the processor 262 to send a command to the device alert
circuit 268 when a new session entry is added to the memory slot
286 of the client data memory 284 for the online session 80 or when
the current time is an event time or within a predetermined window
of an event time. In another embodiment, the mobile session client
274 notifies the processor 262 to send a command to the device
alert circuit 268 when an unread session entry is to be deleted
from the memory slot 286. Alternatively, no alert can be sent when
a new session entry is received and stored in the client data
memory 284 and/or when the current time is an event time. It will
be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other
alerting schemes are within the scope of the present invention. In
accordance with the present invention, the alert options for the
plurality of current sessions 150 in which the mobile session
client 274 within the mobile device 250 is participating can be
included in the plurality of session preferences 90 for each online
session 80 or alternately, the alert options can be stored
independently within the plurality of user preferences 168 of the
plurality of client data 46.
[0083] In accordance with the present invention, the mobile session
client 274 includes software capability for transferring all or a
portion of the plurality of client data 46 to at least one other
session client for use by the other session client to participate
within one or more of the plurality of current sessions 150. The
mobile session client 274, in accordance with the present
invention, further includes software capability for receiving all
or a portion of the plurality of client data 46 from another
session client to participate within one or more of the plurality
of online sessions 54. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the software
capability for transferring and receiving client data can be
incorporated into the mobile session client 274 (not shown) or
alternatively contained within a separate data transfer application
248. The data transfer application 248, for example can be a third
party software add-on that is compatible with existing online
software applications (e.g. the mobile session client 274) already
programmed into the mobile device 250. Maintaining the data
transfer software on a separate data transfer application 248
minimizes incorporation timeframes and also the cost of upgrading a
mobile device to include this feature.
[0084] Preferably, the device user interface 272 is coupled to the
processor 262. The device user interface 272 can be one or more
buttons used to generate a button press, a series of button
presses, a voice response from the device user, or some other
similar method of manual response initiated by the device user
(such as the online account user 64) of the mobile device 250. The
processor 262, in response to the device user interface 272, such
as a device user depressing a button or series of buttons, or in
response to receipt of a session message, initiates an input signal
to the mobile session client 274. The mobile session client 272, in
response to the user input signal, accesses the plurality of client
data 46 in the client data memory 284 for use in operation of the
mobile session client 274.
[0085] Preferably, the mobile session client 274 includes the
client profile 246. The client profile 246 includes information
regarding the capabilities and limitations of the mobile session
client 274 and also of the mobile device 250. For example, the
client profile 246 can include indication of the media supported by
the mobile session client 274 (e.g. audio, video), indication of
which features are supported by the mobile session client 274,
device type, device protocol usage, device display, device battery
life, device battery capacity, device processing power, and access
to alternate networks. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill in the art that the client profile 246 can include any of
those mentioned above in any combination or an equivalent.
[0086] The transmitter 258 is coupled to the processor 262 and is
responsive to commands from the processor 262. When the transmitter
258 receives a command from the processor 262, the transmitter 258
sends a signal via the second antenna 254 to the wireless
communication system 276.
[0087] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the mobile device
250 includes one antenna performing the functionality of the first
antenna 252 and the second antenna 254. Further, the mobile device
250 alternatively includes a transceiver circuit performing the
functionality of the receiver 256 and the transmitter 258. It will
be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other
similar electronic block diagrams of the same or alternate type can
be utilized for the mobile device 250 to handle the requirements of
the mobile device 250.
[0088] The mobile device 250 can be changed from an active state to
an inactive state or from an inactive state to an active state
through a user input to a power circuit 288. The power circuit 288
can be operated manually via the user input to the power circuit
288, the user input to the device user interface 272, or
alternatively automatically via the programming of the processor
262.
[0089] FIG. 12 is an electronic block diagram of one embodiment of
a session device in which the session client 22 of FIG. 8 operates.
Specifically, FIG. 12 illustrates an interactive broadcast receiver
such as a cable box 290. The cable box 290 preferably allows
network operators to deploy a wide range of interactive television
broadcast services and applications on their networks. Further the
cable box 290 preferably offers cable operators a combined,
all-in-one, hardware and software solution for deploying
interactive television services on their networks, thereby creating
the ability for real time electronic message communication using
television sets and networks.
[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the cable box 290 preferably
includes a controller 292 for controlling the operation of the
cable box 290. Preferably, the controller 292 is similar to the
MC68328 micro-controller manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of
Schaumburg, Ill. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in
the art that other similar processors can be utilized for the
controller 292, and that additional processors of the same or
alternative type can be utilized as required to handle the
processing requirements of the controller 292. Preferably, the
controller 292 is programmed to function with a cable session
client 294. The cable session client 294, in accordance with the
present invention, operates similarly to the fixed session client
242 of FIG. 10 and the mobile session client 274 of FIG. 11 as
described above. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in
the art that the cable session client 294 illustrated in FIG. 12
can be the first session client 18, the second session client 20,
or any other of the plurality of session clients 12 of FIG. 1.
[0091] In accordance with the present invention, the cable session
client 294 includes software capability for transferring all or a
portion of the plurality of client data 46 to at least one other
session client for use by the other session client to participate
within one or more of the plurality of current sessions 150. The
cable session client 294 further includes software capability for
receiving all or a portion of the plurality of client data 46 from
another session client to participate within one or more of the
plurality of online sessions 54. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the
software capability for transferring and receiving client data can
be incorporated into the cable session client 294 (not shown) or
alternatively contained within a separate data transfer application
248. The data transfer application 248, for example can be a third
party software add-on that is compatible with existing online
software applications (e.g. the cable session client 294) already
programmed into the cable box 290. Maintaining the data transfer
software on a separate data transfer application 248 minimizes
incorporation timeframes and also the cost of upgrading a device to
include this feature.
[0092] Preferably, the cable session client 294 includes the client
profile 246. The client profile 246 includes information regarding
the capabilities and limitations of the cable session client 294
and of the cable box 290. For example, the client profile 246 can
include indication of the media supported by the cable session
client 294 (e.g. audio, video), indication of which features are
supported by the cable session client 294, device type, device
protocol usage, device display, device battery life, device battery
capacity, device processing power, and access to alternate
networks. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art that the client profile 246 can include any of those mentioned
above in any combination or an equivalent.
[0093] The cable box 290 further includes an up/down converter 296
coupled to the controller 292 for communicating with a cable
headend. To perform the necessary functions of the cable box 290,
the controller 292 is further coupled to a cable box memory 298,
which preferably includes a cable box random access memory (RAM)
300, a cable box read-only memory (ROM) 302, and an electrically
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)(not shown). The
cable box memory 298 of the cable box 290 preferably includes the
client data memory 284 as previously described and illustrated in
FIG. 11.
[0094] In one embodiment, the cable box 290 includes a cable box
memory interconnect 304 for operatively connecting the memory
storage device 58 to the cable box 136. The cable box memory
interconnect 304 can, for example, comprise a structure for
physically engaging external contacts on the memory storage device
210 so that the memory storage device 210 is directly connected to
the cable box 290. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art that the cable box memory interconnect 304 can also be a
wireless connection such as an infrared, Bluetooth or radio
frequency interface. When cable box memory interconnect 304 is
connected to the memory storage device 210, the cable box 290 can
access a plurality of memory information such as the plurality of
client data 46 from the memory storage device 210.
[0095] Further coupled to the controller 292 is a first cable box
I/O 306 for driving a remote control transceiver 308 and further
for driving a radio frequency transceiver 310 connected to a cable
box antenna 312. A second cable box I/O 314 for inputs from a user
input via a cable box user interface 316 is further coupled to the
controller 292. Also coupled to the controller 292 are an audio
driver 318 and a radio frequency/video driver 320 for communicating
with a television 322.
[0096] The cable box 290 can be changed from an active state to an
inactive state or from an inactive state to an active state through
a user input to a cable box power circuit 324. The cable box power
circuit 324 can be operated manually via the user input to the
cable box power circuit 324, the user input to the cable box user
interface 316 or alternatively automatically via the programming of
the controller 292.
[0097] FIG. 13 is an electronic block diagram of one embodiment of
the online communication system of FIG. 1. Specifically, the online
communication system 10 as illustrated in FIG. 13 includes, an
Internet server 326, the plurality of session clients 12 within a
plurality of mobile devices 328, and the wireless communication
system 276.
[0098] The wireless communication system 276, as illustrated in
FIG. 13 includes a message input device for initiating messages
into the wireless communication system 276. The message input
device can be, for example, a telephone 330, a computer 332, a
desktop messaging unit 334, or the Internet server 326 connected
through a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN) 336
through a plurality of telephone links 338 to a wireless system
controller 340. The telephone links 338, for example, can be a
plurality of twisted wire pairs, a fiber optic cable, or a
multiplexed trunk line.
[0099] The wireless system controller 340 is coupled to and
oversees the operation of at least one radio frequency (RF)
transmitter 342 and at least one radio frequency (RF) receiver 344
through one or more communication links 346. The communication
links 346 typically are twisted pair telephone wires, and
additionally can include radio frequency (RF), microwave, or other
communication links. The RF transmitter 342 and the RF receiver 344
typically are used with message store and forward stations that
encode and decode inbound and outbound messages into formats that
are compatible with landline message switched computers and
personal radio addressing requirements, such as cellular messages,
short messaging service, or paging protocols. The wireless system
controller 340 can also function to encode and decode wireless
messages that are transmitted to or received by the RF transmitter
342 or the RF receiver 344. Telephony signals are typically
transmitted to and received from the wireless system controller 340
by telephone sets such as the telephone 330 or a mobile device. The
wireless system controller 340 encodes and schedules outbound
messages such as a downlink message 348. The wireless system
controller 340 then transmits the encoded outbound messages through
the RF transmitter 342 via a transmit antenna 350 to the plurality
of mobile devices 328 such as the mobile device 250 of FIG. 11 on
at least one outbound radio frequency (RF) channel 352. The
plurality of mobile devices 328, for example, includes a first
mobile device 354, a second mobile device 356, and a third mobile
device 358 each communicating through a wireless connection such as
the outbound RF channel 352 and an inbound RF channel 360. The
downlink message 348 can be, for example, the plurality of client
data 46, the session entry 142, the plurality of session
information 182, or any other of similar data. Similarly, the
wireless system controller 340 receives and decodes inbound
messages such as an uplink message 362 received by the RF receiver
344 via a receive antenna 364 on at least one inbound radio
frequency (RF) channel 360 from one of the plurality of mobile
devices 328. The uplink message 362 can be, for example, the
plurality of client data 46, the session entry 142, the plurality
of session information 182, or any other of similar data.
[0100] Each of the plurality of mobile devices 328 assigned for use
with the wireless communication system 276 has an address or
identity assigned thereto which is a unique selective call address
in the wireless communication system 276. For example, the first
mobile device 354 has a first address 366, the second mobile device
356 has a second address 368, and the third mobile device 358 has a
third address 370. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art that other mobile devices assigned for use with the
wireless communication system 276 have an address assigned thereto
which is a unique selective call address in the wireless
communication system 276. The address enables the transmission of
the downlink message 348 from the wireless system controller 340
only to the mobile device having the address, and identifies the
messages and responses received at the wireless system controller
340 from the mobile device with the address. In one embodiment,
each of the plurality of mobile devices 328 also has a pin number
assigned thereto, the pin number being associated with a telephone
number within the PSTN 336. A list of the assigned addresses and
correlated telephone numbers for each of the plurality of mobile
devices 328 is stored in the wireless system controller 340 in the
form of a subscriber database 372.
[0101] Preferably, at least one session client operates within a
mobile device. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the first
session client 18 operates within the first mobile device 354 and
the second session client 20 operates within the second mobile
device 356. Similarly, a plurality of session clients can operate
within the same mobile device. For example, a third session client
374 and a fourth messaging client 376 operate within the third
mobile device 358. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill
in the art that, in accordance with the present invention, a mobile
device can include no session client, one session client, or a
plurality of session clients.
[0102] In one embodiment of the present invention, the Internet
server 326 is coupled to the wireless system controller 340 of the
wireless communication system 276. The Internet server 326 provides
a means for real time electronic communication between the
plurality of mobile devices 328 and the plurality of online servers
14 via the Internet computer network 16. The Internet server 326,
for example, receives a request and can in response to such
receipt, sends a response, both via the wireless system controller
340. The wireless system controller 340 then routes the response to
the requesting device which can be a message input device, such as
the telephone 330, the computer 332, or the desktop messaging unit
334, or alternatively can be an individual or one of the plurality
of mobile devices 328. In the following description, the term
"requester" refers to any of the requesting devices mentioned above
or an equivalent.
[0103] Preferably, the Internet server 326 includes a server
address 378, which is a unique selective call address in the
wireless communication system 276. The server address 378 enables
the transmission, via the inbound RF channel 360, to the Internet
server 326 of various real time electronic communications. The
Internet server 326 similarly sends real time electronic
communications to the plurality of mobile devices 328 via the
outbound RF channel 352. Furthermore, the Internet server 326 can
also have a pin number assigned thereto, the pin number being
associated with a telephone number within the PSTN 336. The server
address 378 and correlated telephone number is stored in the in the
subscriber database 372 of the wireless system controller 340.
[0104] The coupling of the Internet server 326 to the wireless
communication system 276 enhances the operation of the online
communication system 10 by adding intelligence for multiple mobile
devices to communicate in substantially real time with multiple
online servers. The Internet server 326 interactively manages the
messaging traffic associated with multiple online sessions in an
efficient manner.
[0105] FIG. 14 is an electronic block diagram of one embodiment of
the online communication system of FIG. 1. Specifically, FIG. 14
illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the
online communication system 10 includes the wired communication
system 230 of FIG. 10. The wired communication system 230, for
example, can include a LAN 380 (local area network), a WAN 382
(wide area network), or a combination of LAN 380 and WAN 382
networks. It will be appreciated that while only a single LAN 380
and a single WAN 382 are shown, multiple LAN 380 networks and/or
WAN 382 networks can be interconnected in a manner well known to
one of ordinary skill in the art for the transfer of electronic
communication such as electronic mail (email), and real time
electronic messaging (i.e.: instant messaging and chat messaging)
including the plurality of session entries 140 and other of the
plurality of client data 46.
[0106] The general function and operation of the LAN 380 is one of
allowing spatially co-located computers which are typically located
within a room, building or campus of buildings to communicate with
each other and/or share common resources on a computer network in a
manner well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The
spatially co-located computers are represented pictorially in FIG.
14 as a plurality of network devices, such as the fixed network
device 196 of FIG. 10, three of which are shown by example. (a
first network device 384, a second network device 386, and a third
network device 388) Each of the plurality of network devices
communicates using a network connection 390. Preferably, at least
one session client operates within a network device. For example,
as illustrated in FIG. 14, the first session client 18 operates
within the first network device 384 and the second messaging client
20 operates within the second network device 386. Similarly, a
plurality of session clients can operate within the same network
device. For example, the third session client 374 and the fourth
session client 376 operate within the third network device 388. It
will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that, in
accordance with the present invention, a network device can include
no session client, one session client, or a plurality of session
clients.
[0107] Typical resources shared on the LAN 380 through a LAN server
392 are files on a file server, printers on a print server,
electronic message (email) services on an email server, and
Internet connection services on an Internet server. The LAN 380
uses a physical network such as ARCNET, Ethernet, Token-ring, Local
Talk or other network media to connect the computers, which
represent wired network nodes into the network. The LAN 380 can
employ any one of a number of networking protocols, such as TCP/IP
(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), AppleTalk.TM.,
IPX/SPX (Inter-Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange), Net
BIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) or any other packet
structures to enable the communication between clients and the
server. In the following description, the term "local area network"
refers to a network utilizing any of the networking protocols
mentioned above or an equivalent. The LAN 380 can also use routers
(not shown) to subnet the LAN 380 organizationally or physically.
In this context, the definition of the LAN 380 as described herein
refers to a geographic locality of computers and the type of wired
media used to interconnect the computers for communication.
[0108] The general function and operation of the WAN 382 is also
one of allowing computers to share common resources. However, in
this context the definition used herein is one where the computers
are not spatially co-located. The typical resources shared are
similar to, if not the same, as found in the LAN 380. However, the
WAN 382 uses a different physical network media such as X.25, Frame
Relay, ISDN, Modem dial-up or other media to connect other
computers or other local area networks to the WAN 382 network. The
WAN 382, for example, can include a number of well-known private
wide area networks, one (394) of which is shown by example; and
public wide area networks, one (396) of which is show by example,
such as CompuServe.TM., America Online.TM. (AOL), the MIT computer
network, the Motorola.TM. computer network and Prodigy.TM.. In the
following description, the term "wide area network" refers to any
of the networks mentioned above or an equivalent. The WAN 382
described above can operate independently, or can be interconnected
through the Internet computer network 16. Likewise, the LAN 380 can
also be interconnected to the WAN 382 through the Internet computer
network 16, as shown, in a manner well known to one of ordinary
skill in the art.
[0109] FIG. 15 is an electronic block diagram of one embodiment of
the online communication system 10 of FIG. 1. Specifically, FIG. 15
illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention in
which the online communication system 10 includes a broadcast
communication system 398.
[0110] The broadcast communication system 398 preferably includes a
cable headend 400, a network PSTN 402, and a plurality of cable
boxes, such as the cable box 290 of FIG. 12, three of which are
shown by way of example. (a first cable box 404, a second cable box
406, and a third cable box 408. Each of the plurality of cable
boxes communicates within the broadcast communication system 398
via a wired connection 410. Preferably, at least one session client
operates within a cable box. For example, as illustrated in FIG.
15, the first session client 18 operates within the first cable box
404 and the second session client 20 operates within the second
cable box 406. Similarly, a plurality of session clients can
operate within the same cable box. For example, the third session
client 374 and the fourth session client 376 operate within the
third cable box 408. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill in the art that, in accordance with the present invention, a
cable box can include no session client, one session client, or a
plurality of session clients.
[0111] The cable headend 400 is coupled to the first cable box 404,
the second cable box 406, the third cable box 408, the network PSTN
402, and, in one embodiment, the Internet computer network 16. The
cable headend 400 enables operators to deliver services such as
conventional video and audio broadcasting, near video on demand
(NVOD), video on demand (VOD), pay television, advertising,
information, interactive shopping and more. The cable headend 400
preferably offer functions such as MPEG-2/DVB (Moving Picture
Experts Group--2/Digital Video Broadcasting) encoding of local and
non-compressed programs, insertion of local advertising and events
data insertion, conditional access (CA) scrambling, interactive
services, and monitoring and control of the entire network. At the
multiplexing stage, broadcasters can create program bouquets and
add PSI/SI information (Program Specific Information (PSI)/specific
information (SI)) before the outgoing transport stream is delivered
to a conditional access (CA) system for scrambling. Following
processing, transport streams are modulated and then transmitted to
the cable headend 400 via telecom networks, terrestrial or
satellite systems.
[0112] In one embodiment of the present invention, the Internet
computer network 16 is coupled to the cable headend 400 of the
broadcast communication system 398. The coupling of the cable
headend 400 to the Internet computer network 16 provides a means
for real time electronic communication between the cable boxes and
the plurality of online servers 14.
[0113] FIG. 16 is an electronic block diagram illustrating an
alternative embodiment of the online communication system 10 in
accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, the online
communication system 10 preferably includes a first communication
system 412 having a first plurality of session clients 414, and a
second communication system 416 having a second plurality of
session clients 418. Preferably, the first communication system 412
and the second communication system 416 are coupled to the Internet
computer network 16. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill in the art that while only two communications systems are
shown by way of example, multiple communication systems can be
interconnected in a manner well known to one of ordinary skill in
the art for the transfer of electronic communication such as the
plurality of client data 46 and the plurality of session
information 182 to the first plurality of session clients 414 and
the second plurality of session clients 418.
[0114] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that, in accordance with the present invention, the first
communication system 412 and the second communication system 416
can be the wireless communication system 276 of FIG. 13, the wired
communication system 230 of FIG. 14, the broadcast communication
system 398 of FIG. 15 or any other equivalent system. Further, in
accordance with the present invention, the online communication
system 10 can include a plurality of wireless communication
systems, a plurality of wired communication systems, or any
combination thereof. Similarly, each session client of the first
plurality of session clients 414 and the second plurality of
session clients 418 can operate within the mobile device 250 of
FIG. 11, the fixed network device 196 of FIG. 10, or the cable box
290 of FIG. 12.
[0115] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
online communication system 10 in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Beginning with Step 420, the
transfer clients' profiles 156 for the current sessions 150 are
stored in the first session client 18. The first session client 18,
for example, can be operating on a first session device such as the
first mobile device 354 of FIG. 13, the first network device 384 of
FIG. 14, the first cable box of FIG. 15, or an equivalent. Next, in
Step 422, the first session device participates in one or more
online sessions of the current sessions 150 such as the first
current session 188, the second current session 194 or any other
online session 80. For example, the online account user 64 can use
the first session client 18 to participate in an online gambling
event or an online auction event via one or more of the plurality
of online servers 14. The first session client 18 operates using
the first communication connection 32 and accumulates the plurality
of session information 182 for each online session 80 for which the
first session client 18 is participating. Next, in Step 424, the
process determines whether to activate a session transfer. A
session transfer, in accordance with the present invention, is the
capability for the online account user 64 to change session
communication means within the online communication system 10 from
the first session client 18 to the second session client 20. For
example, when the online account user 64 establishes the first
communication connection 32 using the fixed network device 196 and
thereafter needs to become mobile, the online account user 64 can
activate a transfer the first client data 50 including the
plurality of current session data 170 accumulated for the plurality
of current sessions 150 to the second session client 20 which for
example can operate on the mobile device 250. When no data transfer
is required or requested in Step 424, the first communication
connection 32 is maintained in Step 422, whereby the first session
client 18 continues operating using the first communication
connection 32 and accumulates the plurality of session information
182 for each online session 80 for which the first session client
18 is participating. In Step 426, when a session transfer is
activated in Step 424, the session transfer is initialized.
[0116] FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the
operation of the online communication system 10 at Step 426 of FIG.
17 in accordance with the present invention. Starting at node A, at
step 432, the online account user 64 has decided to perform a
session transfer from the first session client 18 to another
session client of the plurality of session clients 12. For example,
the online account user 64 can decide to perform a session transfer
from the first session client 18 operating on the first network
device 384 to another session device operating within the online
communication system 10. In Step 432, the online account user 64
selects the second session client 20 from among the plurality of
transfer clients' profiles 156 of the first session client 18
stored in Step 420 of FIG. 17 to transfer the first client data 50
including the plurality of current session data 170 accumulated for
the plurality of current sessions 150 to. Once the client profile
246 for a transfer device is selected from among the plurality of
transfer clients'profiles 156 using the first session client 18 on
the first session device, in Step 434 a session transfer
notification is sent from the first session client 18. In one
embodiment, the session transfer notification is sent from the
first session client 18 to each online server 34 of the plurality
of online servers 14 associated with each of the plurality of
current sessions 150 informing the plurality of online servers 14
to pass the plurality of session information 182 for each of online
session 80 to the chosen transfer session client. For example, a
session transfer notification is sent to the online server 34
hosting an auction event including a request for the auction
session data 98 to be sent to the second session client 20.
Similarly, the session transfer notification can be sent to the
online server 34 hosting a gambling event including a request for
the gambling session data 118 to be sent to the second session
client 20.
[0117] It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that, alternatively, in accordance with the present invention, the
session transfer notification can be sent directly to the second
session client 20 from the first session client 18, sent through
the plurality of online servers 14 to the second session client 20,
or any combination therein. For example, in Step 432, the online
account user 64 on the first session device in which the first
session client 18 operates selects the desired transfer device. In
step 434 the first session device sends the plurality of session
information 182 for one or more online session 80 to the second
session client 20 "through" the online server 34. During step 436,
the second session client 20, upon reception of the plurality of
session information 182, starts the second session client 20 on the
second session device (receiving device) and begins a data
transfer.
[0118] Next, in Step 436, the data transfer application 248 is
launched on the second session device. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that the data transfer application
248 can be an individual application or alternatively incorporated
within the second session client 20 operating on the second session
device. The process then continues at node B.
[0119] In utilizing the approach illustrated in FIG. 18, the first
session device can traverse the online server 34 that will provide
a logical connection between the two session devices, an example is
an instant messaging server that allows messaging information to be
passed between two session devices. In this method the second
session device will have to have username and password to access
the online server 34 while the first session device will be able to
determine when the second session device becomes available either
through presence information or a periodic polling of the second
session device. In a preferred method, the session devices
performing the transfer are easily addressable and do not require
intervention by the online server 34 to carry out the transfer of
the plurality of session information 182. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that IPv6 or an equivalent
provides this capability.
[0120] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an alternate embodiment
of the operation of the online communication system 10 at Step 426
of FIG. 17 in accordance with the present invention. Beginning at
node A, with Step 438, the data transfer application 248 is
launched on the second session device. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that the data transfer application
248 can be an individual application or alternatively incorporated
within the second session client 20 operating on the second session
device. Next, in Step 440, the second session device, either via
the data transfer application 248 or the second session client 20,
sends the session transfer notification to the first session client
18. The session transfer notification preferably includes a request
for the first session client 18 to transfer the first client data
50 including the plurality of current session data 170 accumulated
for the plurality of current sessions 150 to the second session
client 20. Further, in Step 440, the first session device, either
via the first session client 18 or the data transfer application
248 of the first session device, receives the session transfer
notification from the second session device. The process then
continues at node B.
[0121] Referring back to FIG. 17, in Step 428 the first session
device and the second session device create a communication
connection. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the
art that the communication connection can be made using the data
transfer application 248 of each of the first session device and
the second session device, the first session client 18 and the
second session client 20, or any combination thereof. The
connection can be either directly from the first session device to
the second session device, through the wide area network 382, the
local area network 380, the Internet computer network 16, short
range wireless (e.g.: IrDA (Infrared data association standard),
Bluetooth, USB (Universal Serial Bus), or Serial), the wireless
communication system 276, the wired communication system 230, the
broadcast communication system 398, or any combination thereof. It
will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the
connection can be any of the connections described herein or an
equivalent. During the setup process of Step 428, both session
devices can choose to authenticate and negotiate an encryption
layer (not shown).
[0122] Next in Step 430, the session transfer is accomplished. In
Step 430, the second session device is provided with the necessary
content including the plurality of current session data 170
accumulated for the plurality of current sessions 150 for the
online account user 64 to continue with the plurality of current
sessions 150 on the second session device. Depending upon how each
online server 34 of the plurality of online servers 14 is
configured, the transferable content can be as simple as an URL and
Cookie (updateable information maintained by the online server 34
on the session device) or can require additional information such
as the auction session data 98 for an auction event or the gambling
session data 118 for a gambling event. Each online session 80 is
transferred from the first session device to the second session
device. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art
that, optionally, in Step 430, the two session devices can perform
an authentication/verification process and negotiate an encryption
method (not shown) using, for example, the authentication key 166.
The process then goes to node C.
[0123] FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
online communication system 10 in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Beginning with node C, the
second session device has received the plurality of session
information 182 required to seamlessly continue the plurality of
online sessions 150. At Step 442, the process determines whether an
input by the online account user 64 has requested to go to an event
site on the online server 34. Preferably, the event site is
associated with at least one online session of the plurality of
current sessions 150 in which the plurality of session information
182 was transferred to the second session device in Step 430 of
FIG. 17. When a user input has been received, the process continues
to Step 460. When no user input has been received in Step 442, the
process proceeds to Step 444 in which it is determined whether an
asynchronous event notification has been received from the online
server 34. Step 444 provides asynchronous external device event(s)
to the session client 22 containing the online session application.
For example, for an online auction session, the event can include a
higher bidder, a time remaining, an auction result(s), and a new
auction with a similar item. For an online gambling session, the
event can include a change in odds, an updated score, a time
remaining, a change in position of players or animals on the event
field, a late breaking news that would have a bearing on outcome,
and a past session history performance. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that the event can be any of those
mentioned herein or an equivalent. Similarly, in Step 444, an
expiring of event parameters (not shown) internally to the device
can be an alternative to the asynchronous event notification from
the online server 34.
[0124] When a server event notification has been detected in Step
444, the process continues with Step 446 in which it is determined
whether user presence is required. When user presence is not
required in Step 446, the process continues to Step 460. When user
presence is required in Step 446, at node D and Step 448, the
process determines whether the online account user 64 is present.
Preferably, the session client 22 determines if the online account
user 64 is within close proximity of the session device and
continues this process until the online account user 64 is within
proximity of the session device. It will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the user presence detection can be
accomplished using several methods known in the art. For example,
the session device can one or more infrared sensor(s) for heat
sensing; and using the output of one or more sensors to determine
if the online account user 64 is in the vicinity of the session
device. Similarly, the session device can include an audible sensor
that can listen for the online account user's voice pattern to
determine relative proximity to the session device. Alternatively,
the session device can use a proximity detector such as the
detector described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,626, issued Sep. 21,
1999, and titled "Wireless Communication Device having an
Electromagnetic Wave Proximity Sensor" to Kaschke et al, which is
assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which is
incorporated by reference herein. Alternatively, a detection device
can be located on the online account user's body including a
pairing between this detection device and the session device
communicating via short-range connectivity. The short-range
connectivity can be Bluetooth and utilize the service discovery
process of Bluetooth to determine when the online account user 64
is within proximity of the session device. When the presence of the
online account user 64 is detected in Step 448, at node E, the
process continues to Step 460. When the presence of the online
account user 64 is not detected in Step 448, at node F and in Step
450, the session device stores the event notification information
in memory for later use once the user presence is detected. For
example, the session device stores the event notification
information in the client data memory 284. The process thereafter
continues with Step 448 and node D checking periodically for
presence of the online account user 64.
[0125] Returning to Step 444, when no server event notification is
detected, in Step 452, the session device determines if the current
time has past the time of the event start. For example, when the
session device is the fixed network device 196, the timing clock
198 sends the current time to the CPU 200, which then compares the
current time to the time of the event. Similarly, when the session
device is the mobile device 250, the clock 260 sends the current
time to the processor 262, which then compares the current time to
the time of the event. When the current time has past the time of
the event start, the process continues to Step 456. When the
current time has not past the time of the event start, in Step 454,
the session device determines whether the time of the event is
within a specified range of the current time (note, one skilled in
the art will recognize that it is common practice in software
programming to check to see if a timer value is within a specified
range for example the application would look for a range from 5 to
0 minutes before the event.) For example, when the session device
is the fixed network device 196, the timing clock 198 sends the
current time to the CPU 200, which then compares the current time
to the specified range of the time of the event. Similarly, when
the session device is the mobile device 250, the clock 260 sends
the current time to the processor 262, which then compares the
current time to the specified range of the time of the event. When
the time of the event is not within a specified range of time, the
process cycles back to node C and Step 442. When the time of the
event is within a specified range of time, the process continues at
Step 456.
[0126] In Step 456, it is determined whether user presence is
required. It will be appreciated that the method used in Step 456
can be substantially similar to the method used in Step 446 and
herein described. When user presence is required in Step 456, the
process determines whether the online account user 64 is present at
node D and Step 458. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary
skill in the art that the method used in Step 458 can be
substantially similar to the method used in Step 448 and herein
described. When user presence is not detected in Step 458, the
process cycles back through node F to node C and Step 442.
[0127] FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating more detail of the
operation of the online communication system 10 at Steps 448 and
458 of FIG. 20 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. Beginning at node D and Step 472, an
initialization process is accomplished including activation of a
motion sensor, setting of a timer threshold, and setting of a tilt
sensor threshold. Next, in Step 474, it is determined whether the
motion sensor output is greater than the tilt sensor threshold. In
Step 476, when the motion sensor output is greater than the tilt
sensor threshold, the online account user 64 is considered to be
present and the process continues to node E. In Step 478, when the
motion sensor output is not greater than the tilt sensor threshold,
the timer output is compared to the timer threshold. When the timer
is not greater than the timer threshold, the process returns to
Step 474. In Step 480, when the timer is greater than the timer
threshold in Step 478, the online account user 64 is not present
and the process continues to node F. Upon completion of Step 480,
the process can cycle back to Step 474 to continue periodically
checking for the presence of the online account user 64.
[0128] Referring back to FIG. 20, when user presence is not
required in Step 456, or user presence is required in Step 456 and
user presence is detected in Step 458, the process continues to
Step 460. In Step 460, the session client 22 utilizes the plurality
of session information 182 and the session server identification
180 previously stored in the application folder area to retrieve
the latest information on the event from the online session site
and begins to process the information. It will be appreciated by
one of ordinary skill in the art that, at Step 460, the session
client 22 can retrieve the latest information on the event or based
upon an event stimulus. Next, in Step 462, the current state of the
event retrieved from the event site is stored in the memory of the
session device. For example, the current state of the event can be
stored in the memory slot 286 for the online session 80 of the
client data memory 284 of the session device. Next, in Step 464,
the process determines whether the online session 80 has ended. In
Step 466, when the online session 80 has ended, the session client
22 stores the results and other state information in the memory of
the session device and alerts the online account user 64 of the
session results. For example, the results and state information can
be stored in the memory slot 286 for the online session 80 of the
client data memory 284 of the session device. Types of state
information that can be stored include the URL where results reside
and the last URL visited. For an auction online session, the state
information can include the auction item
description/identification, the sale amount, similar items, and the
sellers store front URL. For a gambling online session, the state
information can include the type of event (e.g.: football, racing
or boxing) the score, prior history of related events for example
who won the event the last time the same players met, and event
odds. When the session has not ended in Step 464, the process
continues to Step 468, wherein the online account user 64 is
notified of the current state. Next, in Step 470, the online
account user 64 is alerted preferably when the event is actionable.
The process then cycles back to node C and Step 442.
[0129] Although the invention has been described in terms of
preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the
art that various alterations and modifications can be made without
departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all
such alterations and modifications be considered as within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *