US6131121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Point-to-point computer network communication utility utilizing dynamically assigned network protocol addresses
Assignee: Straight Path IP Group Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-25
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Granted: 2000-10-10
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Expires: 2016-09-25
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Shane D. Mattaway
- 👤 Glenn W. Hutton
- 👤 Craig B. Strickland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/0078; H04L1/0083; H04L12/00; H04L12/66; H04L41/00; H04L41/22; H04L51/00; H04L51/04; H04L61/00; H04L61/35; H04L61/45; H04L61/4535; H04L61/4547; H04L61/4555; H04L61/50; H04L61/5007; H04L61/5076; H04L65/00; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1069; H04L65/1101; H04L67/00; H04L67/14; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; H04L67/50; H04L67/535; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/168; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/253; H04M1/2535; H04M1/57; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/7243; H04M1/72436; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L12/1818; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L2101/00; H04L2101/60; H04L2101/604; H04L65/1073; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04M1/66; H04M1/663; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4536; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M7/0075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
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: 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.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
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: 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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
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: 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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
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: 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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the program code configured to establish a point-to-point communication further comprises: D.1 program code configured to transmit, from the first process to the directory server process, a query as to whether a second process is connected to the computer network; and D.2 program code configured to receive a network protocol address of the second process from the directory server process, when the second process is connected to the computer network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the program code configured to establish a point-to-point communication further comprises: D.1 program code configured to transmit an E-mail message containing a network protocol address from the first process to the mail server process over the computer network; D.2 program code configured to receive a second network protocol address from a second process over the computer network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
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: 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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
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: 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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising: 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.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising: 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.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
148 words
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: 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.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
148 words
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: 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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave 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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave 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.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
109 words
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. 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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
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. 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.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
116 words
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: 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.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
116 words
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: 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.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising: 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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising: 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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
130 words
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. 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.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
130 words
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. 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.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
139 words
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: 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.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
139 words
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: 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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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-10 | 2004-04-10 | 2004-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-10 | 2008-04-10 | 2008-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2012-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |