Patent ID: 7149775
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: H04L,H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A communications system comprising: a communications network; a multiplicity of communications terminals which are connectable to said communications network and which can be employed by a plurality of users to communicate via said communications network, wherein a given user of said plurality of users is not necessarily identified with a given communications terminal; apparatus for monitoring whether or not a specific user of said plurality of users is connected to said communications network irrespective of which of said multiplicity of communications terminals said specific user is employing; and apparatus for annunciating to at least one seeking user of said plurality of users, currently connected to said communications network via any of said multiplicity of communications terminals, network connection status information relating to at least one other user who is in a set of sought users, said set of sought users being definable by said at least one seeking user, and for providing to said at least one seeking user connection address information relating to said at least one other user when said at least one other user is connected to said communications network.