US5590128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dial lists for computer-based conferencing systems
Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
•
Granted: 1996-12-31
•
Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract The user of a local computer node (i.e., a caller) selects a remote computer node (i.e., a callee) for a computer conference call from a display containing a directory of possible callees. In one embodiment, the directory is an alphabetical combination of a network list maintained by a network administrator and a personal list for the caller. The user of the caller can access and edit the personal list, but only access the network list. When displayed to the user, the possible callees from the personal list are distinguishable from the possible callees from the network list.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Maloney
- 👤 Robert Schlesinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/414; H04N21/4143; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L12/1822; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/56; H04M3/567; H04M9/00; H04M9/08; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/643; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/147; H04N7/148; H04N7/15; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/16; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04Q; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13003; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13106; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/1324; H04Q2213/13299; H04Q2213/13337; H04Q2213/13389
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A computer-implemented process for computer conferencing, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) initiating the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and the directory is an alphabetized combination of the first and second subdirectories.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A computer-implemented process for computer conferencing, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) initiating the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and the directory is an alphabetized combination of the first and second subdirectories.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the step of presenting the user with an option of selecting a single subdirectory only and a combination of two or more subdirectories.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1, the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 1, wherein: the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit; and the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 5, wherein the possible callees from the personal list are distinguishable in the display from the possible callees from the network list.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program code for computer conferencing, comprising: (a) means for causing a machine to display, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) means for causing the machine to initiate the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and the directory is an alphabetized combination of the first and second subdirectories.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program code for computer conferencing, comprising: (a) means for causing a machine to display, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) means for causing the machine to initiate the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and the directory is an alphabetized combination of the first and second subdirectories.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The storage medium of claim 7, wherein means (a) causes the machine to present the user with an option of selecting a single subdirectory only and a combination of two or more subdirectories.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The storage medium of claim 7, wherein the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The storage medium of claim 7, the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The storage medium of claim 7, wherein: the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit; and the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the possible callees from the personal list are distinguishable in the display from the possible callees from the network list.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer-implemented process for computer conferencing, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) initiating the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and step (a) comprises the step of presenting the user with an option of selecting a single subdirectory only and a combination of two or more subdirectories.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer-implemented process for computer conferencing, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) initiating the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and step (a) comprises the step of presenting the user with an option of selecting a single subdirectory only and a combination of two or more subdirectories.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13, wherein the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13, the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 17, wherein: the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit; and the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 16, wherein the possible callees from the personal list are distinguishable in the display from the possible callees from the network list.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer-implemented process for computer conferencing, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) initiating the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer-implemented process for computer conferencing, comprising the steps of: (a) displaying, to a user of a caller, a directory of possible callees for a computer conference call, wherein: the user selects a callee from the directory of possible callees; and the caller and the selected callee are nodes of a computer network; and (b) initiating the computer conference call from the caller to the selected callee, wherein: the directory of possible callees comprises a first subdirectory of possible callees and a second subdirectory of possible callees different from the first subdirectory; and the second subdirectory is a network list maintained by a network administrator, which the user can only access.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 18, wherein the first subdirectory is a personal list for the caller, which the user can access and edit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 19, wherein the possible callees from the personal list are distinguishable in the display from the possible callees from the network list.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-31 | 2000-07-01 | 2000-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-31 | 2004-07-01 | 2004-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-31 | 2008-07-01 | 2008-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |