US6466969B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Notification subsystem
Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
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Filing: 1999-03-17
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Granted: 2002-10-15
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Expires: 2019-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A communication method and a network is presented comprising at least one server (1) and a plurality of user terminals (3). The user terminals (3) can share information with each other and with the at least one server (1) by means of a network (2), which can be e.g., the internet. A predefined action is associated by a notification server (29) with a notification. The notification is sent to a user terminal (3) and displayed on a screen (38) of the user terminal (3). The predefined action associated with the notification sent to the user terminal (3) is activated automatically by a response to the displayed notification at the user terminal (3), e.g. by clicking on a notification window on the screen (38) of the user terminal (3). A target address can be associated with a notification sent to a user terminal (3). The predefined action is activated addressed to the target address by the clicking on the notification window. Furthermore, a life span information can be associated with a notification to be sent to the user terminal (3). A data base (36) is accessed by the notification server (29) to store notifications in case the user terminal (3) to which a notification is to be sent is not in a logged-in state.
Inventors
- 👤 William Bunney
- 👤 Steve Knox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L61/00; H04L67/00; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network, comprising the steps of: maintaining a user's status of a first user terminal by a first server in the network, wherein the user's status includes available and invisible; collaborating with the first server by a second server in the network to obtain the user's status; delivering a notification from a second user terminal to the first user terminal by the second server in case that the user's status is available; and storing the notification from the second user terminal in a database in case that the user's status is invisible.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network, comprising the steps of: maintaining a user's status of a first user terminal by a first server in the network, wherein the user's status includes available and invisible; collaborating with the first server by a second server in the network to obtain the user's status; delivering a notification from a second user terminal to the first user terminal by the second server in case that the user's status is available; and storing the notification from the second user terminal in a database in case that the user's status is invisible.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network according to claim 1 , wherein the notification is associated with a target address, and a predefined action is activated addressed to the target address by a response of the user to the notification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network according to claim 2 , wherein a life span information is associated with the notification, and a display of the notification on the first user terminal or the activation of the predefined action is prohibited when the life span information has expired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network according to claim 3 , wherein the life span information is a deadline information a time duration information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network according to claim 1 , wherein the notification is stored in the database in case that the first user terminal is not in a logged-in state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communication in a network according to claim 1 , wherein the database is stored in an object-oriented approach.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate in a network according to claim 1 , wherein the notification stored in the database is erased in case that the associated life span information has expired.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A communication network, comprising: a plurality of user terminals; and a plurality of servers, wherein a first server maintains a first user's status of a first user terminal, the first user's status including available and invisible, a second server collaborates the first server to obtain the first user's status, the second server delivers a notification from a second user terminal to the first user terminal in case that the first user's status is available, and a database stores the notification from the second user terminal in case that the first user's status is invisible.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
A communication network, comprising: a plurality of user terminals; and a plurality of servers, wherein a first server maintains a first user's status of a first user terminal, the first user's status including available and invisible, a second server collaborates the first server to obtain the first user's status, the second server delivers a notification from a second user terminal to the first user terminal in case that the first user's status is available, and a database stores the notification from the second user terminal in case that the first user's status is invisible.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A communication network according to claim 8 , wherein the notification is associated with a target address, and a predefined action is activated addressed to the target address by a response of the user to the notification.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A communication network according to claim 9 , wherein a life span information is associated with the notification, and a display of the notification on the first user terminal or the activation of the predefined action is prohibited when the life span information has expired.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication network according to claim 10 , wherein the life span information is a deadline information or a time duration information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communication network according to claim 8 , wherein the notification is stored in the database in case that the first user terminal is not in a logged-in state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A communication network according to claim 8 , wherein the database is stored in an object-oriented approach.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A communication network according to claim 8 , wherein the notification stored in the database is erased in case that the associated life span information has expired.
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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) | 2005-10-14 | 2006-04-15 | 2006-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-14 | 2010-04-15 | 2010-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-14 | 2014-04-15 | 2014-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |