WO2012007015A1

WO2012007015A1 - Communication method and system

Info

Publication number: WO2012007015A1
Application number: PCT/EG2010/000047
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cherif Atia Algreatly
Original assignee: Cherif Atia Algreatly
Priority date: 2010-07-10
Filing date: 2010-12-29
Publication date: 2012-01-19

Abstract

A communication system that connects user who are performing a similar task on the computer display to exchange information between each other wherein said communication system is comprised of; a plurality of client computer system's running a client program, a server computer system running a server program, and a communication system running a communication program whereas said client computer systems provide the names of the current active computer applications on said client computer systems to said server computer system that manages said communication program to connect between said client computer systems that are providing the same name of current active computer application.

Description

Communication Method and System

Technical Field The present invention relates to the field of Internet applications and social network innovations.

Background Art Many people prefer to communicate with each other when they have the same interest. However, there are certain moments during the day where many people in different locations are simultaneously having the same interest but there is no universal system that connects those people with each other at these certain moments. For example, when a plurality of people are simultaneously browsing the same Web site page on their computers, at these moments, those people are having the same interest but there is no available system that connects them to each other to communicate about the content of this Wes page. This can be also applied to a plurality of people simultaneously working on the same computer application on their computers. At these moments, those people are having the same interest but there is no available system that connects them with each other to chat about their experience with this computer application.

Generally, this problem does not only occur when using the computer for Internet or desktop applications but it also occurs when using the television, radio, mobile phones, or the like. For example, if a plurality of people at different locations are simultaneously watching the same TV show, at these moments, those people are having the same interest but there is no available system to connect them to each other to talk together about this TV show. Also if a plurality of people at different locations are simultaneously listening to the same radio program, at these moments, those people are having the same interest but there is no available system to connect them to each other to talk together about this radio program.

If a plurality of people are simultaneously dialing the same phone number of a public service or the like, at these moments, those people are having the same hiterest but there is no available system to connect them to each other to talk together about this public service or the like. Overall, there is a need for a universal system that connects people with each other at the moments they are having the same interest or performing the same activity while they are simultaneously using the computer, television, radio, mobile phone, or the like.

Description of Invention

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention of communication method and system comprising of; a plurality of client computer systems ^; 1 10' running a client program , a server computer system ' 120' running a server program, and a communication system ' 130' running a communication program. The client computer systems are connected to the server computer system where each client program provides the server computer system with the name of the current active application on its client computer system. The server computer system receives these names and manages the communication program to connect the client computer systems that are simultaneously sending the same name of current active application.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of client computer systems are a number of computers, the server computer system is one or more computer or one or more of client computers, the current active application is a Web site page or a desktop computer application, and the communication system is an Internet connection, network connection, or the like while the communication program is a text chat program, a voice chat program, a video conference program, or the like.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of client computer systems are a number of mobile phones, the server computer system is one or more computer, or one or more of the client computer systems, the current active application is a mobile phone application, and the

communication system is an Internet connection, phone connection, or the like, where the communication program is an instant messaging program, a text chat program, a voice chat program, a video conference program, a phone calling program, or the like. In one embodiment of the present invention, each one of the client computer systems is incorporated within a television, the server computer system is one or more computer, or one or more client computer systems, the current active application is a program, show, movie, song, or the like presented on the television screen, and the communication system is an internet connection, phone connection, or the like whereas the communication program is an instant messaging program, a text chat program, a voice chat program, a , video conference program, a phone calling program, or the like.

In another embodiment of the present invention, each one of the client computer systems is incorporated within a radio, the server computer system is one or more computer, or one or more client computer systems, the current active application is a radio program, news, song, or the like, and the communication system is an internet connection, phone connection, or the like whereas the communication program is an instant messaging program, a text chat program, a voice chat program, a video conference program, a phone calling program, or the like.

Generally, the present invention provides the users with various innovative features. For example, when the current active application is an Internet search engine such as Google search or Yahoo search, and the client computer systems are computers or mobile phones then the server program connects the users that are simultaneously searching for the same keywords on the Internet search engine. This can be achieved by two methods; the first method is to provide the server system with the keystrokes that the user types on the keyboard while the Internet search engine is the current active computer application on the user's computer display or mobile phone display. The second method is to provide the server system with the URL in the address bar of the Internet search engine after typing the search keyw ords in the search box of the Internet search engine and clicking the "enter^" button. In this case, the URL in the address bar includes the search keywords that the user typed.

Generally, the server program receives the user's keystrokes of the first method, or the URL of the address bar of the second method then analyzes this data to get the search keywords then connects the users who are simultaneously searching for the same keywords on the Internet search engine. It is also possible to connect users who are simultaneously searching for the same keywords in different search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, or Ask search engines or the like. To enable connecting the users who are searching for similar keywords, in one embodiment of the present invention, the client program rearranges the search keywords alphabetically and sends them in this order to the server program to speed reaching the client computers that are sending the same search keywords regardless the original arrangement of these search keywords. For example, when typing two words such as "Pyramids Egypt" in the search box and pressing "enter" then the client computer program rearranges these two words into "Egypt Pyramids" before sending them to the server computer program.

Another innovative feature for connecting users who are simultaneously achieving a similar task or performing a similar activity is to enable the user to specify more information about the other user who will be connected with him/her. For example, the user may request that the other user to have a certain age, gender, education, profession, location, or the like to be connected with him/her. This can be achieved by enabling each user to create his/her own profile that includes his/her age, gender, education, profession, location, or the like where this information is stored in a database on the server computer system to enable the users to select each other according to this certain information or criteria.

It is important to note that, for each different computer application, the user may select different users to get connected with him/her. For example, the user may prefer to be connected to another user who his/her profession is an "engineer" while they are both simultaneously working on a CAD software application, while the same user may prefer to be connected to another user who his/her profession in a "phy sician" while they are both simultaneously browsing a specific medical Wes site. This possibility ensures that the user is connected to the right person that suits the computer application that s/he is working on it or the Web site that s/he is browsing it. One more innovative feature of the present invention is to provide the user with a marking tool that enables him/her to draw on his/her computer display where this drawing immediately appears on the other user's computer display. This feature is important when a user needs to point out a title, text, picture, icon, menu, or the like on other user's computer display while they are both simultaneously working on the same computer application or

simultaneously browsing the same Web site page. This feature is simply achieved since the two users are simultaneously having the same graphical user interface of the same computer application or the same Web site page on their computer displays. In other words, the present invention copies the drawing on the user's computer display to be pasted on the other user's computer display.

Another advantage of the present invention is enabling the users to get connected with each other for free when they are simultaneously visiting or browsing the same Web site that requires membership fees such as dating sites, employment sites, language exchange sites, or the like. This feature is also simply achieved since the present invention connects the users who are simultaneously visiting or browsing the same Web site page regardless they have or not a membership account with this Web site.

As mentioned previously, the current active application can be a desktop computer application where the users get connected together while they are simultaneously working on the same computer application to exchange knowledge and experience related to this computer application. This applies on various computer applications such as gaming applications, Adobe software applications, Microsoft software applications, Autodesk software applications, or the like

Another innovative feature of the present invention is enabling the users to recognize a specific user when s/^'he is online. This specific user can be an owner of a Web site that the users are simultaneously visiting it, an owner of a video that the users are simultaneously watching it, or the like. This can be achieved by giving this specific user, when s/he is online, an ownership indication such as a unique color, icon, or the like that appears with his/her screen name on the other users computer displays. That requires this owner of the Web site, video, or the like to provide the administrator of the server program with a verification regarding his/her ownership in order to enable the administrator to add this ownership indication to the screen name of this user.

In this case, the server program will include a database associates certain Web sites or Web sites pages with certain owners or screen names. However, the owner can be any person or employee that is authorized from the Web site < to chat or talk with the Web site visitors to answer their questions, or to convince them with the Web site products, services, or contents. This person only needs to be online to communication with those Web site visitors. In other words, this person doesn't need to make the Wes site that s/he is representing as a current active computer application on his/he computer display to be connected to the Web site visitors. Moreover, the present invention enables sending messages to the users' mobile phones or emails informing them that the authorized person of the Web site is online so they can visit the Web site to chat or talk with him/her if they need so.

Sending a message to the user^'s mobile phone can be extended to inform him/her that other users or a certain number of users or users with certain rating are simultaneously visiting a specific Web site or working on a specific computer application so the user can open this Web site or computer application to joint or chat w ith those users. This message is generated according to the user's request that s/he provides to the server program of the present invention including the URL of the Web site or the name of the computer application associated with the details or criteria of the other users that the message will be generated accordingly.

Generally, the user of the present invention may find a great number of other users who are simultaneously visiting the same Web site page or working on the same computer application. To enable the user to mange this great number of other users the present invention provides some helpful features. For example, the user can arrange the screen names of the other users according to certain criteria such as; the nearest locations to the user's location, the rating of the other users, or the like. Generally, the users of the present invention rate each other after each chat, where each user's rating is the result of the accumulated ratings that the other users gave him/her.

It is also important to note that the server program collects and saves information related to the users when they visit Web sites or work on computer applications. For example, the collected or saved information includes the names of these Web sites or computer applications, and the total hours that the users spent on these Web sites and computer applications over a period of time. Such information can be utilized as criteria for connecting users to each other, for example, a user may request to get connected with other users who spent more time than others in the last month/year browsing certain Web sites or working on certain computer applications. Such criteria are helpful to find out which users have more knowledge or experience related to certain Web sites or software applications. Generally, the server program saves this information in a database that enables data mining for statistical, marketing, or other purposes.

Based on the collecting data of the server program, the present invention enables each user to send a conditional message to other user where this conditional message appears on the other user's computer display when s/he brows a certain Web site or opens a certain computer application, or perform a certain action. This certain action can be a variety of options such as exceeding a specific number of hours browsing the Internet or working on a specific computer application. For example, a parent can send a conditional message to his/her kid informing him/her to stop playing on a computer game because s/he exceeded a specific number of hours on this computer game. In this case, this conditional message will only appear on the kid's computer display if s/he exceeded this specific number of hours playing on this computer game that the parent specified in his/her conditional message.

A major advantage of the present invention is enabling the server program to save the text chat that is sent between the users in a database associated with the URL of the Web site they visited it, or the computer application they worked on it. This way the user can search this database for certain information or statistics. This feature is important for the Web site owner who needs to know what the visitors of his/her Web site said about the Web site products, services, or contents. In this case, the owner of the Web site can choose from this text whatever s/he finds it suitable to be presented on the Web site as comments or testimonials from the Web site visitors after taking their permission regarding these comments or testimonials.

Overall, the present invention provides the users with a helpful graphical user interface that enables them to interact with each other in a simple and fast manner. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a profile form 140 that the user fills it out to provide his/her personal information to the present invention. As shown in the figure, this profile form is comprised of a user's profile 150 and application names 160. The user's profile includes the user's screen name, location, education, profession, interest, language, gender, age, and any other information that can be shown to the other users, or used as filtration criteria for connecting users to each other. The application names include the names of the computer applications, the URLs of the Web sites, mobile phone applications, TV shows, Radio programs, or the like that the user would like to use the present invention with them.

FIG. 3 illustrate a filtration form 170 that the user fills it out to choose the application name 180, and the other user's information 190 that are utilized as minimum filtering criteria to get connected with the other users when opening this application. The "Save" button 200 enables the user to save the provided information, while the "Add" button 210 enables the user to add a new application with its minimum filtering criteria, where each different application may have different filtering criteria according to the user's needs or preference. FIG. ,4 illustrates an example of a filtration form filled out by the user.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer display 220 of a first user browsing a Web site page where a second user, a third user, and a fourth user are

simultaneously browsing the same website page using different computers. As shown in the figure, each one of the first, second, third, and fourth users has his/her unique screen name presented in a private chat room. In other words, the screen name # 1 is assigned to the first user, the screen name #2 is assigned to the second user, the screen name #3 is assigned to the third user, and the screen name #4 is assigned to the fourth user. As shown in the figure of the first user's computer display; the private chat room 230 is assigned to the chat between the first and second users, the private chat room 240 is assigned to the chat between the first and third users, and the private chat room 250 is assigned to the chat between the first and fourth users.

Once the first user wanted to send a text message to one of the second user, third user, or fourth user s/he doubles click on the first chat room, second chat room, or third private chat room where a text box appears on the computer display to enable the first user to type his/her text message and press "enter" on the computer keyboard to send this text message. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a text box 260 appears on the computer display of the first user when s/he doubled click on the private chat room of the fourth user where the first user can then type a text message and send it to the fourth user. FIG. 7 illustrates the computer display 270 of the second user where the private chat room 280 is assigned to the chat between the second and first users, the private, chat room 290 is assigned to the chat between the second and third users, and the private chat room 300 is assigned to the chat between the second and fourth users. FIG. 8 illustrates a text box 3 10 that opened on the second user's computer display when s/he doubled click on the private chat room of the third user where the second user can then type a text message and send it to the third user.

FIGS. 9 illustrates the computer display of the first user when the fourth user closes the Web site page on his/her computer display where the private chat room between the first user and the fourth user disappeared on the computer display of the first user. Also FIG. 10 illustrates the computer display of the second user when the fourth user closes the Web site page on his/her computer display where the private chat room between the second user and the fourth user disappeared on the computer display of the second user. Generally, the screen names of two users appear to each other when they both have the same name of current active computer application or the same name of current opened computer application. Once one user closes this computer application on his/her computer display then his/her screen name disappears from the other user's computer display.

FIG. 1 1 illustrates a computer display 320 of a user where a private chat room 330, a semi-private chat room 340, and a public chat room 350 appear on this computer display. The private chat room enables the user to chat with one user only. The semi-public chat room enables a group of users to chat with each other. The public chat room enables all users to chat with each other. FIG. 12 illustrates a first text box 360 opens on the private chat room, a second text box 370 opens on the semi-public chat room, and a third text box 380 opens on the public chat room when the user doubles click on anyone of the chat rooms. FIG.' 13 illustrates another computer display 390 where one public chat room 400, two semi-public chat rooms 410 and 420, and four private chat rooms 430 to 460 are presented on this computer display in a vertical position. Generally, the number of the private chat rooms and the semi-public chat rooms can be multiple according to the user's needs or preference.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a conditional message 470 that appears on a certain location 480 on the computer display 490 according to a users' certain action that was described previously. FIG. 15 illustrates examples of a, first marking tool 500 in a form or an ellipse, a second marking tool 510 in a form or an arrow, and a third marking tool 520 in a form of a line that appear on a computer display 530. The user can draw such marking tools on his/her computer display to immediately appear on the other user's computer display to point out a text, picture, icon, menu, or the like while they are both browsing the same Web site page or working on the same computer application. Such marking tools can take various shapes, styles, or colors according to the user's needs and preference.

FIG. 16 illustrates a menu that appears on the user's computer display to enable him/her to join chat rooms of different computer applications. As shown in the figure the menu indicates the names of the opened computer applications 540 on the user's computer display where these opened computer applications are not current active computer application, for example, these computer applications can be minimized on the user's computer display. Once the user selects one of these computer applications of this menu then its chat room appears on the computer display where the user can join this chat room. As shown in the figure, the text box 550 enables the user to write a name of other computer application that is not opened on his/her computer display or indicated in this menu to make the chat room of this computer application appears on the user's computer display so s/he can joint it if s/he needs so.

FIG. 17 illustrates a computer display 560 presenting a Web site page 570 in a 3D virtual environment 580 where each user can have his/her own 3D virtual character or avatar inside this 3D virtual environment to chat or interact with other users while browsing this Web site page. This solution is perfect for the users who already browsed or read the content of the Web site page and are more interested in chatting and interacting with other users who are

simultaneously browsing the same Web site page. In this case, decreasing the size of the Web Site page and increasing the area for the chat or the 3D virtual environment on the computer display is better for those users. Moreover, this solution gives the user an ability to see and interact with a big number of avatars that represent a big number of users when navigating in the 3D virtual environment on the computer display.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example for three users or three client computers providing a server computer with the names of the current active computer application on each one of these client computers. As shown in the table, the > second user and the third users are simultaneously browsing the same page of the CNN Web site; accordingly the server program will connect both of them to each other. FIG. 19 illustrates the three client computers providing the server computer with other names of current active computer applications. As shown in the table, first user and the third user are simultaneously working on the same computer application of Microsoft PowerPoint; accordingly, the server program will connect both of them to each other.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example for a collected data on the server computer indicating the total hours that were spent previously on each computer application on the three client computers. This information can be ' utilized as filtering criteria for connecting users to each other. For example, as shown in the figure, the three client computers provided the server computer with the same name of current active computer application of Autodesk CAD application. However, in this case, if the third user requested the server program to connect him/her with other user who spent previously more than 1 ,500 working hours on Autodesk CAD application then the server program will only connect the first user with the third user where the second user only worked 50 hours' on the Autodesk CAD application which is less than the requested hours. Also, if the third user requested the server program to connect him/her with other user who is simultaneously working on Autodesk CAD application and also previously worked on Autodesk 3ds Max

application, in this case the server program will check its database to find out if the first user or/and the third user worked previously on Autodesk 3ds Max application and will connect any one of them who achieves this criteria.

It is important to note that the client program of each client computer system of the present invention gets the name of the current active computer application, and the names of the current opened computer applications from the operating system. The name of the current active computer application enables connecting the users who are simultaneously working on the same computer application or browsing the same Web site page. The names of the current opened computer applications enable the user to join the chat room of each one of these current opened computer applications as described previously. This also applies when using mobile phones, televisions, radios, or the like, where in all such cases there is a computer system integrated within each mobile phone, television, radio, or the like.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The present invention enables connecting users to each other while they are simultaneously using specific means for achieving a similar task by giving them a communication tool to exchange information between them. In one embodiment of the present invention, this specific means is a computer, television, radio, mobile phone, or the like. This similar task is browsing a Web site page on the Internet, working on a desktop application on the computer, watching a show or movie on the television, listening to a program on the radio, dialing a phone number on a mobile phone, or the like. The communication tool can be a text chat system, a voice chat system, a video conference system, a phone calling system, or the like. The information can be in a form of text, sound, pictures, videos, or the like.

Generally, the present invention is comprised of; a plurality of client computer systems running a client program, a server computer system running a server program, and a communication system running a communication program, wherein said plurality of client computer systems are connected to said server computer system sending the name of the current active computer application on each one of said client computer systems wherein said server program manages said communication program to connect between said client computer systems that are sending the same names of current active

applications.

Each one of said client computer systems can be a computer, or can be a computer system incorporated within a mobile phone, television, radio, or the like. The server computer system can be one or more computer, or it can be a computer system incorporated within one or more mobile phones, televisions, radios, or the like. The communication system can be a text chat system, voice chat system, video conference system, telephone communication system, or the like. The same name of the current active application can be the URL of a Web site page or the name of a desktop application when using a computer. It can be a dialed phone number when using a mobile phone. It can be the name of a show, program, movie, or the like when using the television. It can be the name of a program, song, news, or the like when using the radio. The server computer system can also connect the client computer systems according to additional criteria, and not just the name of the current active computer application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a model of the present invention comprised of a plurality of client computers that are simultaneously opening the same computer application and are connected to a server computer that manages a communication system that establishes a connection between them.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a registration form of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a filtration form of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a filtration form filled out by a user.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer display of a first user while s/he and a second user, a third user, and fourth user are simultaneously browsing the same Web site page.

FIG. 6 illustrates a chat room opened on the first user's computer display to chat with the fourth user.

FIG. 7 illustrates the computer display of the second user while s/he is browsing the same Web site page.

FIG. 8 illustrates a chat room opened on the second user's computer display to chat with the third user.

FIGS. 9 and 10 successively illustrate the computer displays of the first user and the second user when the fourth user closes the Web site page on his/her computer display.

FIG. 11 illustrates a private chat room, a semi-pubic chat room, and a public chat room presented on a computer display.

FIG. 12 illustrates opening the private chat room, the semi-pubic chat room, and the public chat room on the computer display.

FIG. 13 illustrates one public chat room, two semi-pubic chat rooms, and four private chat rooms presented in a vertical arrangement on the computer display.

FIG. 14 illustrates a conditional message that can be sent from one user to another to appear on the computer display under a certain condition.

FIG. 15 illustrates a number of marking tools that the user can use to draw on his/her computer display to immediately appear on the other user's computer display. FIG. 16 illustrates a menu including names of computer applications and Web sites that the user can select from them to join a chat room.

FIG. 17 illustrates a chat room in the form of a 3D virtual environment where each user has his/her own avatar to interact with other users who are simultaneously browsing the same Web site page.

FIGS. 18 to 20 illustrate different information sent from three client computers to a server computer.

Claims

1. A communication system that connects users who are performing a similar task on the computer display to exchange information between each other wherein said communication system is comprised of; a plurality of client computer systems running a client program , a server computer system running a server program, and a communication system running a communication program whereas said client computer systems provide the names of the current active computer applications on said client computer systems to said server computer system that manages said communication program to connect between said client computer systems that are providing the same name of current active computer application.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said similar task is browsing the same Web site page on the Internet, working on the same desktop application, or the like.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said similar task is searching for the same keyword in one or more search engine on the Internet.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said names of current active computer applications are names of current opened computer applications.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said computer display is a mobile phone display, a television screen, a radio, or the like.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said communication program is a text chat system, a voice chat system, a video conference system, a phone calling system, or the like.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said information is in the form of text, voice, pictures, videos, or the like.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said server computer systems is one or more computer, or one or more of said client computer systems.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said client computer systems provide said server computer system with additional information than said names of current active computer applications.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein one of said client computer systems provides said server computer system with a drawing to be immediately pasted on other one of said client computer systems.

1 1. The communication system of claim 1 wherein one of said client computer systems provides said server computer system with a message that appears on other one of said client computer systems under a certain condition.

12. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said client program provides said server program with the keystrokes that the user types on the keyboard to indicate the user's search keywords.

13. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said client program provides said serv er program with the URL of the address bar of the Web site of the search engine after pressing the enter button of said search engine to indicate the user's search keywords.

14. The communication system of claim 5 wherein said server computer system is a computer system incorporated within a mobile phone, a television, a radio, or the like, and said client computer systems are computer systems incoiporated within a mobile phone, a television, a radio, or the like.

15. The communication system of claim 5 wherein said similar task is a mobile application on said mobile phone, a show or movie on said television, a program on said radio, or the like.

16. The communication system of claim 1 1 wherein said certain condition is a number of working hours on a computer application, a number of browsing hours on the Internet, or the like.