Connecting synchronous communication devices to a network system such as the internet

Abstract

Abstract According to the present invention, provided is a manner of connecting two parties to an synchronous communication session, such as an Internet videophone session, wherein the parties do not have to plan to hold the session in advance. When, for example, Internet user A desires to talk with user B across the Internet, user A dials up his or her local server A for an IP connection, and issues to server A a request for a connection with user B. Server A accesses a storage area that server A manages. In the storage area are prepared a record for each user. The record stores a user name, a corresponding server name, a user's phone number, and the IP connection state of a user. Upon receipt of a connection request that includes a user name of user B, server A refers to a corresponding record based on the user name and searches for server B, which manages user B, and the phone number of user B. Server A sends the connection request to server B. Since servers A and B are constantly connected together, server B can immediately respond to a request from server A. Server B examines a pertinent record in the storage area, and determines whether or not user B currently has an IP connection. If user B does not currently have an IP connection, server B dials up user B to make an IP connection. Server B then notifies server A that an IP connection to user B has been completed. Server A thereafter notifies user A that an IP connection has been completed. For users A and B the IP connection becomes transparent, i.e., they share the use of an application, and they are enabled to talk across the Internet.

Inventors

• 👤 Katsuya Ishikawa

Bibliographic Details