Point-to-point internet protocol

DC CAFC

US 6,108,704 A
Filed: 09/25/1995
Issued: 08/22/2000
Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1995
Status: Expired due to Term

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First Claim

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1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system executing a first process and operatively connectable to a second process and a server over a computer network, the computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having program code embodied in the medium, the program code comprising;

program code for transmitting to the server a network protocol address received by the first process following connection to the computer network;

program code for transmitting, to the server, a query as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;

program code for receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and

program code, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.

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9 Petitions

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Accused Products

Abstract

A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a point-to-point communication link between the processing units through the Internet. A first point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of processing units that have an on-line status with respect to the Internet; (b) transmitting a query from a first processing unit to a connection server to determine the on-line status of a second processing unit; and (c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the database using the connection server, in response to the determination of a positive on-line status of the second processing unit, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet. A second point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) transmitting an E-mail signal, including a first IP address, from a first processing unit; (b) processing the E-mail signal through the Internet to deliver the E-mail signal to a second processing unit; and (c) transmitting a second IP address to the first processing unit for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet.

347 Citations

44 Claims

1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system executing a first process and operatively connectable to a second process and a server over a computer network, the computer program product comprising:
- a computer usable medium having program code embodied in the medium, the program code comprising;
  
  program code for transmitting to the server a network protocol address received by the first process following connection to the computer network;
  
  program code for transmitting, to the server, a query as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;
  
  program code for receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and
  
  program code, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.

2. An apparatus for enabling point-to-point communications between a first and a second process over a computer network, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
  
  a network interface, operatively coupled to the processor, for connecting the apparatus to the computer network;
  
  a memory, operatively coupled to the processor, for storing a network protocol address for selected of a plurality of processes, each network protocol address stored in the memory following connection of a respective process to the computer network;
  
  means, responsive to a query from the first process, for determining the on-line status of the second process and for transmitting a network protocol address of the second process to the first process in response to a positive determination of the on-line status of the second process.
- View Dependent Claims (3)
- - 3. The computer server apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a timer, operatively coupled to the processor, for time stamping the network protocol addresses stored in the memory.

4. A method for enabling point-to-point communication between a first process and a second process over a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
- A. receiving and storing into a computer memory a respective network protocol address for selected of a plurality of processes that have an on-line status with respect to the computer network, each of the network protocol addresses received following connection of the respective process to the computer network;
  
  B. receiving a query from the first process to determine the on-line status of the second process;
  
  C. determining the on-line status of the second process; and
  
  D. transmitting an indication of the on-line status of the second process to the first process over the computer network.
- View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- - 5. The method of claim 4 wherein step C further comprises the steps of:
    - c.1 searching the computer memory for an entry relating the second process; and
      
      c.2 retrieving a network protocol address of the second process in response to a positive determination of the on-line status of the second process.
  - 6. The method of claim 4 wherein step D further comprises the steps of:
    - d.1 transmitting the network protocol address of the second process to the first process when the second process is determined in step C to have a positive on-line status with respect to the computer network.
  - 7. The method of claim 4 wherein step D further comprises the steps of:
    - d.1 generating an off-line message when the second process is determined in step C to have a negative on-line status with respect to the computer network; and
      
      d.2 transmitting the off-line message to the first process.
  - 8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:
    - E. receiving an E-mail signal comprising a first network protocol address from the first process; and
      
      F. transmitting the E-mail signal over the computer network to the second process.
  - 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the E-mail signal further comprises a session number and wherein step F further comprises the step of:
    - f.1 transmitting the session number and network protocol address over the computer network to the second process.

10. In a computer system, a method for establishing a point-to-point communication link from a caller process to a callee process over a computer network, the caller process having a user interface and being operatively connectable to the callee process and a server over the computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
- A. providing a user interface element representing a first communication line;
  
  B. providing a user interface element representing a first callee process; and
  
  C. establishing a point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process, in response to a user associating the element representing the first callee process with the element representing the first communication line.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 11. The method of claim 10 wherein step C further comprises the steps of:
    - c.1 querying the server as to the on-line status of the first callee process process; and
      
      c.2 receiving a network protocol address of the first callee process over the computer network from the server.
  - 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:
    - D. providing an element representing a second communication line.
  - 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
    - E. terminating the point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process, in response to the user disassociating the element representing the first callee process from the element representing the first communication line; and
      
      F. establishing a different point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process, in response to the user associating the element representing the first callee process with the element representing the second communication line.
  - 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
    - D. providing a user interface element representing a second callee process; and
      
      E. establishing a conference point-to-point communication link between the caller process and the first and second callee process, in response to the user associating the element representing the second callee process with the element representing the first communication line.
  - 15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:
    - F. removing the second callee process from the conference point-to-point communication link in response to the user disassociating the element representing the second callee process from the element representing the first communication line.
  - 16. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
    - D. providing a user interface element representing a communication line having a temporarily disabled status; and
      
      E. temporarily disabling a point-to-point communication link between the caller process and the first callee process, in response to the user associating the element representing the first callee process with the element representing the communication line having a temporarily disabled status.
  - 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the element provided in step D represents a communication line on hold status.
  - 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the element provided in step D represents a communication line on mute status.
  - 19. The method of claim 10 wherein the caller process further comprises a visual display and the user interface comprises a graphic user interface.
  - 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the steps of establishing a point-to-point link as described in step C is performed in response to manipulation of the graphic elements on the graphic user interface.

21. A computer program product for use with a computer system comprising:
- a computer usable medium having program code embodied in the medium for establishing a point-to-point communication link from a caller process to a callee process over a computer network, the caller process having a user interface and being operatively connectable to the callee process and a server over the computer network, the medium further comprising;
  
  program code for generating an element representing a first communication line;
  
  program code for generating an element representing a first callee process;
  
  program code, responsive to a user associating the element representing the first callee process with the element representing the first communication line, for establishing a point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- - 22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the program code for establishing a point-to-point communication link further comprises:
    - program code for querying the server as to the on-line status of the first callee process; and
      
      program code for receiving a network protocol address of the first callee process over the computer network from the server.
  - 23. A computer program product of claim 21 further comprising:
    - program code for generating an element representing a second communication line.
  - 24. The computer program product of claim 23 further comprising:
    - program code, responsive to the user disassociating the element representing the first callee process from the element representing the first communication line, for terminating the point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process; and
      
      program code responsive to the user associating the element representing the first callee process with the element presenting the second communication line, for establishing a different point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process.
  - 25. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising:
    - program code for generating an element representing a second callee process; and
      
      program code means, responsive to the user associating the element representing the second callee process with the element representing the first communication line, for establishing a conference communication link between the caller process and the first and second callee process.
  - 26. The computer program product of claim 25 further comprising:
    - program code, responsive to the user disassociating the element representing the second callee process from the element representing the first communication line, for removing the second callee process from the conference communication link.
  - 27. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising:
    - program code for generating an element representing a communication line having a temporarily disabled status; and
      
      program code, responsive association of the element representing the first callee process with the element representing the communication line having a temporarily disabled status, for temporarily disabling the point-to-point communication link between the caller process and the first callee process.
  - 28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the communication line having a temporarily disabled status comprises a communication line on hold status.
  - 29. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein the communication line having a temporarily disabled status comprises a communication line on mute status.
  - 30. A computer program product of claim 21 wherein the computer system further comprises a visual display and the user interface comprises a graphic user interface.
  - 31. The computer program product of claim 30 wherein the element representing the first communication line and the element representing the first callee process are graphic elements and wherein the program code for establishing a point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process further comprises:
    - program code, responsive to manipulation of the graphic elements on the graphic user interface, for establishing the point-to-point communication link from the caller process to the first callee process.

32. A method of locating a process over a computer network comprising the steps of:
- a. maintaining an Internet accessible list having a plurality of selected entries, each entry comprising an identifier and a corresponding Internet protocol address of a process currently connected to the Internet, the Internet Protocol address added to the list following connection of the process to the computer network; and
  
  b. in response to identification of one of the list entries by a requesting process, providing one of the identifier and the corresponding Internet protocol address of the identified entry to the requesting process.

33. A method for locating processes having dynamically assigned network protocol addresses over a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. maintaining, in a computer memory, a network accessible compilation of entries, selected of the entries comprising a network protocol address and a corresponding identifier of a process connected to the computer network, the network protocol address of the corresponding process assigned to the process upon connection to the computer network; and
  
  b. in response to identification of one of the entries by a requesting process providing one of the identifier and the network protocol address to the requesting process.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
- - 34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:
    - c. modifying the compilation of entries.
  - 35. The method of claim 34 wherein step c further comprises:
    - c.1 adding an entry to the compilation upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
  - 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the predetermined event comprises notification by a user process of an assigned network protocol address.
  - 37. The method of claim 34 wherein step c further comprises:
    - c.1 deleting an entry from the compilation upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

38. A computer program product for use with a computer system having a memory and being operatively connectable over a computer network to one or more computer processes, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having program code embodied in the medium the program code comprising:
- a. program code configured to maintain, in the computer memory, a network accessible compilation of entries, selected of the entries comprising a network protocol address and a corresponding identifier of a process connected to the computer network, the network protocol address of the corresponding process assigned to the process upon connection to the computer network; and
  
  b. program code responsive to identification of one of the entries by a requesting process and configured to provide one of the identifier and the network protocol address to the requesting process.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
- - 39. The computer program product of claim 38 further comprising:
    - c. program code configured to modify the compilation of entries.
  - 40. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein program code configured to modify comprises:
    - c.1 program code configured to add an entry to the compilation upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
  - 41. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the predetermined event comprises notification by a process of an assigned network protocol address.
  - 42. The computer program product of claim 38 wherein step c further comprises:
    - c.1 program code configured to delete an entry from the compilation upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

43. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system executing a first process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and a server process, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the program code comprising:
- a. program code configured to access a directory database, the database having a network protocol address for a selected plurality of processes having on-line status with respect to the computer network, the network protocol address of each respective process forwarded to the database following connection to the computer network; and
  
  b. program code responsive to one of the network protocol addresses and configured to establish a point-to-point communication link from the first process to the second process over the computer network.

44. In a first computer process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and an address server, a method of establishing a point-to-point communication between the first and second processes comprising the steps of:
- A. following connection of the first process to the computer network forwarding to the address server a network protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network;
  
  B. querying the address server as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network;
  
  C. receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the address server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and
  
  D. in response to the network protocol address of the second process, establishing a point-to-point communication link with the second process over the computer network.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Straight Path IP Group, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
Original Assignee
NetSpeak Corporation (IDT Corporation)
Inventors
Strickland, Craig B., Mattaway, Shane D., Hutton, Glenn W.
Primary Examiner(s)
Rinehart, Mark H.

Application Number

US08/533,115
Time in Patent Office

1,793 Days
Field of Search

395/200.01, 395/200.02, 395/200.09, 395/200.11, 395/200.15, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.57 , 395/200.58, 395/200.75, 709/204, 709/205, 709/217, 709/218, 709/227, 709/228, 709/235
US Class Current

709/227
CPC Class Codes

H04L 1/0083   Formatting with frames or p...

H04L 12/1818   Conference organisation arr...

H04L 12/2856   Access arrangements, e.g. I...

H04L 2101/604   Address structures or formats

H04L 41/22   comprising specially adapte...

H04L 51/04   Real-time or near real-time...

H04L 61/35   involving non-standard use ...

H04L 61/4535   using an address exchange p...

H04L 61/4547   for personal communications...

H04L 61/4555   Directories for electronic ...

H04L 61/5007   Internet protocol [IP] addr...

H04L 61/5076   Update or notification mech...

H04L 65/1069   Session establishment or de...

H04L 65/1073   Registration or de-registra...

H04L 65/1101   Session protocols

H04L 67/14   Session management for real...

H04L 67/306   User profiles

H04L 67/535   Tracking the activity of th...

H04L 69/16   Implementation or adaptatio...

H04L 69/168   specially adapted for link ...

H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [O...

H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communica...

H04M 1/57 : Arrangements for indicating...

H04M 1/663 : Preventing unauthorised cal...

H04M 1/724 : User interfaces specially a...

H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for ...

H04M 1/72436 : for text messaging, e.g. sh...

H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with tex...

H04M 3/42 : Systems providing special s...

H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/IS...

H04M 7/0075 : Details of addressing, dire...

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Point-to-point internet protocol

First Claim

13 Assignments

Litigations

9 Petitions

Reexamination

Accused Products

Abstract

347 Citations

44 Claims

Specification

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Point-to-point internet protocol

First Claim

13 Assignments

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Litigations

9 Petitions

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Reexamination

Accused Products

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Abstract

347 Citations

44 Claims

Specification

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Use Cases

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