US6201859B1 — Method and apparatus for controlling participant …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

A method comprising: operating a conference wherein a plurality of end points are interconnected to exchange conference data based at least in part on the holding of an application token by a single token holder; and allowing each end point, independently during the conference, to select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on participant activity in the conferencing environment; wherein only said single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 92 words

A method comprising: operating a conference wherein a plurality of end points are interconnected to exchange conference data based at least in part on the holding of an application token by a single token holder; and allowing each end point, independently during the conference, to select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on participant activity in the conferencing environment; wherein only said single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the conference data received by each end point comprises graphical data.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the conference data received by each end point includes audio data.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 114 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising: operating the conference in a first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode allows participant input at a first end point and participant input at a second end point to change conference data at will; maintaining the conference in the first operating mode until a request is received from a participant to change to a second operating mode; and changing, during the conference, the conference to a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode allows, based on the holding of the application token, participant input at only one of the first end point and the second end point to change the conference data at a time.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 wherein a message is broadcast to each end point when a change in the holder of the application token is made.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the end point monitors the amount of time that the token holder is continuously idle and automatically releases the application token when the token holder has been continuously idle for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 108 words

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: operate a conference wherein a plurality of end points are interconnected to exchange conference data based at least in part on the holding of an application token by a single token holder; and allow each end point, independently during the conference, to select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on end point activity in the conference; wherein only said single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 108 words

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: operate a conference wherein a plurality of end points are interconnected to exchange conference data based at least in part on the holding of an application token by a single token holder; and allow each end point, independently during the conference, to select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on end point activity in the conference; wherein only said single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the conference data received by each end point comprises graphical data.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the conference data received by each end point includes audio data.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 126 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 7 further comprising sequences of instructions, which when executed cause the processor to: operate the conference in a first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode allows participant input at a first end point and participant input at a second end point to change conference data at will; maintain the conference in the first operating mode until a request is received from a participant to change to a second operating mode, said request causing said participant to obtain exclusive holding of the application token; and change, during the conference, the conference to a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode allows, based on the holding of the application token, participant input from the token holder to change the conference data.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 7 further comprising sequences of instructions, which when executed cause the processor to broadcast a message to each end point when a change in the holder of the application token is made.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

The machine-readable medium of claim 7 further comprising sequences of instructions, which when executed cause the processor to monitor the amount of time that the token holder is continuously idle and to automatically release the application token when the token holder has been continuously idle for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 96 words

An apparatus comprising: means for operating a conference wherein a plurality of end points are interconnected to exchange conference data based at least in part on the holding of an application token by a single token holder, wherein only said single token holder may modify shared conference data; and means for allowing each end point, independently during the conference, to select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on participant activity in the conferencing environment.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 96 words

An apparatus comprising: means for operating a conference wherein a plurality of end points are interconnected to exchange conference data based at least in part on the holding of an application token by a single token holder, wherein only said single token holder may modify shared conference data; and means for allowing each end point, independently during the conference, to select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on participant activity in the conferencing environment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the conference data received by each end point comprises graphical data.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the conference data received by each end point includes audio data.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 121 words

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: means for operating the conference in a first operating mode, wherein the first operating mode allows participant input at a first end point and participant input at a second end point to change conference data at will; means for maintaining the conference in the first operating mode until a request is received from a participant to change to a second operating mode, said request causing said participant to obtain exclusive holding of the application token; and means for changing, during the conference, the conference to a second operating mode; wherein the second operating mode allows, based on the holding of the application token, participant input from the token holder to change the conference data.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means to broadcast a message to each end point when a change in the holder of the application token is made.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means to monitor the amount of time that the token holder is continuously idle and to automatically release the application token when the token holder has been continuously idle for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 141 words

A conferencing system comprising: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor to cause the conferencing system to operate in a conferencing environment as one of a plurality of end points, wherein participant input to the conferencing system causes the conferencing system to receive conferencing data from another end point based on the participant input and further wherein the processor allows a user of the computer system, during the conference, to independently select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on participant activity in the conferencing environment; and an output device coupled to the processor to output conference data; wherein there is only a single token holder, and only such single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 141 words

A conferencing system comprising: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor to cause the conferencing system to operate in a conferencing environment as one of a plurality of end points, wherein participant input to the conferencing system causes the conferencing system to receive conferencing data from another end point based on the participant input and further wherein the processor allows a user of the computer system, during the conference, to independently select a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of the application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, said automatic acquisition based at least in part on participant activity in the conferencing environment; and an output device coupled to the processor to output conference data; wherein there is only a single token holder, and only such single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The conferencing system of claim 19 wherein the conferencing data is graphical data.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 13 words

The conferencing system of claim 19 wherein the conferencing data is audio data.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 70 words

The conferencing system of claim 19 , wherein the processor initiates the conference in a first operating mode which allows the conferencing system to change conference data at will, and wherein the processor is capable of subsequently changing the conference, during the conference, to a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode allows the conferencing system to change the conference data based on actions of the single token holder.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The conferencing system of claim 19 wherein a message is broadcast to each end point when a change in the holder of the application token is made.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 41 words

The conferencing system of claim 19 wherein the amount of time that the token holder is continuously idle is monitored and the application token is automatically released when the token holder has been continuously idle for a predetermined period of time.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 132 words

A conferencing environment comprising: a network communications device; and a plurality of conferencing systems coupled to the network communications device and interconnected to share conference data, each conferencing system having at least one input device and at least one output device; wherein each of the plurality of conferencing systems individually determine, during a conference, another conferencing system from which to receive conference data; wherein each conferencing system independently determines, during the conference, a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of an application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, wherein said automatic acquisition based at least in part on activity of the plurality of conferencing systems during the conference; and wherein there is only a single token holder, and only such single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 132 words

A conferencing environment comprising: a network communications device; and a plurality of conferencing systems coupled to the network communications device and interconnected to share conference data, each conferencing system having at least one input device and at least one output device; wherein each of the plurality of conferencing systems individually determine, during a conference, another conferencing system from which to receive conference data; wherein each conferencing system independently determines, during the conference, a combination of automatic or manual acquiring of an application token and automatic or manual releasing of the application token, wherein said automatic acquisition based at least in part on activity of the plurality of conferencing systems during the conference; and wherein there is only a single token holder, and only such single token holder may modify shared conference data.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 wherein the network communications device is a local area network.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 wherein the network communications device is the Internet.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 13 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 wherein the conferencing data is graphical data.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 13 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 wherein the conferencing data is audio data.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 95 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 , further comprising: wherein a first conferencing system of the plurality of conferencing systems initiates a conference in a first operating mode; wherein the first operating mode allows each conferencing system to change conference data at will; wherein the first conferencing system is configured to subsequently change the conference, during the conference, to a second operating mode without mediating said mode change; and wherein the second operating mode allows, based on the holding by a token holder of an application token, only said token holder to change conference data.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 27 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 wherein a message is broadcast to each end point when a change in the holder of the application token is made.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 41 words

The conferencing environment of claim 25 wherein the amount of time that the token holder is continuously idle is monitored and the application token is automatically released when the token holder has been continuously idle for a predetermined period of time.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-03-12	2004-09-11	2005-03-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-03-12	2008-09-11	2009-03-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-03-12	2012-09-11	2013-03-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for controlling participant input in a conferencing environment

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