Patent ID: 6226686
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for facilitating communications among a plurality of host computers over a network to implement a shared, interactive application, comprising the steps of:(1) receiving a create message from one of the plurality of host computers, wherein said create message specifies a message group to be created;(2) receiving join messages from a first subset of the plurality of host computers, wherein each of said join messages specifies said message group;(3) receiving host messages from a second subset of said first subset of the plurality of host computers belonging to said message group, wherein each of said messages contains a payload portion and a portion that is used to identify said message group;(4) aggregating said payload portions of said host messages received from said second subset of the plurality of host computers to create an aggregated payload;(5) forming an aggregated message using said aggregated payload; and(6) transmitting said aggregated message to said first subset of the plurality of host computers belonging to said message group;wherein said aggregated message keeps the shared, interactive application operating consistently on each of said first subset of the plurality of host computers.