Point-to-point computer network communication utility utilizing dynamically assigned network protocol addresses
DC CAFC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process and connecting to other processes and a server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a program code embodied in the medium comprising:
- a. program code for transmitting an E-mail signal from the first process to the server process over the computer network, the E-mail signal containing a first network protocol address assigned to the first process upon connection to the computer network;
b. program code for receiving a second network protocol address from the second process over the computer network, the second network protocol address assigned to the second process upon connection to the computer network; and
c. program code, responsive to the second network protocol address, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.
10 Assignments
Litigations
8 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication utility for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between processes over a computer network includes apparatus for querying a server as to the network protocol address of another client process, and apparatus for directly establishing a communication link with the client process upon receipt of the network protocol address from the server. In one embodiment, the utility includes a sophisticated user interface having features similar to typical telephony hardware but implementing greater flexibility with software.
465 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process and connecting to other processes and a server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a program code embodied in the medium comprising:
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a. program code for transmitting an E-mail signal from the first process to the server process over the computer network, the E-mail signal containing a first network protocol address assigned to the first process upon connection to the computer network; b. program code for receiving a second network protocol address from the second process over the computer network, the second network protocol address assigned to the second process upon connection to the computer network; and c. program code, responsive to the second network protocol address, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.
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2. In a first computer process operatively coupled over a computer network to a second process and an mail server process, a method of establishing a point-to-point communication between the first and second processes comprising the steps of:
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a. transmitting an E-mail signal to the server process over the computer network, the E-mail signal containing a first network protocol address assigned to the first process upon connection to the computer network; b. receiving a second network protocol address from the second process over the computer network, the second network protocol address assigned to the second process upon connection to the computer network; and c. establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network, in response to receiving the second network protocol address.
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3. A computer program product for use with a computer system capable of executing a first process and communicating with other processes, a directory server process and a mail server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer program code embodied in the medium, the program code comprising:
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A. program code configured to determine the currently assigned network protocol address of the first process upon connection to the computer network; B. program code configured to establish a communication connection with the directory server process once the assigned network protocol of the first process is known; C. program code configured to forward the assigned network protocol address of the first process to the directory server process upon establishing a communication connection with the directory server process; and D. program code configured to establish a point-to-point communication with another process over the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A computer program product for use with a computer system capable of executing a first process and connecting to other processes and a server process over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code means embodied in the medium comprising:
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A. program code configured to, following connection of the first process to the computer network, forward to the server process a network protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network; B. program code configured to query the address server as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network; C. program code configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the address server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and D. program code configured to respond to the network protocol address of the second process, establish a point-to-point communication link with the second process over the computer network.
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7. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:
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A. program code configured to, following connection of a first process to a computer network, forward to a server process a network protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network; B. program code configured to query the server process as to whether a second process is connected to the computer network; C. program code configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the server process, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and D. program code, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, and configured to establish a point-to-point communication connection with the second process over the computer network.
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8. An apparatus 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 directory database server process, the apparatus comprising:
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A. program logic configured to, following connection of the first process to the computer network forward to the address server a network, protocol address at which the first process is connected to the computer network; B. program logic configured to query the address server as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network; C. program logic configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the address server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and D. program logic configured to, in response to the network protocol address of the second process, establish a point-to-point communication link with the second process over the computer network.
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9. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:
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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.
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10. 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:
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a. accessing 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. in response to one of the network protocol addresses, establish a point-to-point communication link from the first process to the second process over the computer network.
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11. An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process connectable over a computer network to a second process and a directory database server process, the apparatus comprising:
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a. program logic 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 logic 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.
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12. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:
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program code for transmitting to a server process, a network protocol address received by a first process following connection to a computer network; program code for transmitting, to the server process, a query as to whether a second process is connected to the computer network; program code for receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the server process, 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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13. 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:
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a. transmitting to the server a network protocol address received by the first process following connection to the computer network; b. transmitting, to the server, a query as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network; c. receiving a network protocol address of the second process from the server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and d. 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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14. An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing a first process and operatively connectable to a second process and a server process over a computer network, the apparatus comprising:
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program logic configured to transmit to the server a network protocol address received by the first process following connection to the computer network; program logic configured to transmit, to the server, a query as to whether the second process is connected to the computer network; program logic configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the server, when the second process is connected to the computer network; and program logic, responsive to the network protocol address of the second process, and configured to establish a point-to-point communication link between the first process and the second process over the computer network.
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeStraight Path IP Group, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
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Original AssigneeNetSpeak Corporation (IDT Corporation)
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InventorsMattaway, Shane D., Strickland, Craig B., Hutton, Glenn W.
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Primary Examiner(s)Patel, Ajit
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Application NumberUS08/719,554Time in Patent Office1,476 DaysField of Search370/260, 370/259, 370/351-357, 379/212, 379/221, 379/222, 379/89, 379/90, 379/93-100, 379/88, 395/200.54, 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.34, 395/200.35, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229US Class Current709/227CPC Class CodesH04L 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 formatsH04L 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 protocolsH04L 67/14 Session management for real...H04L 67/306 User profilesH04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of th...H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptatio...H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link ...View All
