Patent ID: 6772335
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
A method for dynamically controlling multiple channels of data in a multi-user collaborative system having a central server connected to a plurality of client workstations over a network, comprising the steps of:displaying at each client workstation a view on a room object stored in an object database on the central server, the room object being associated with a first channel stored in the object database; providing, at each client workstation, visual identification of each user object located in a virtual room, each pair of user objects located in the virtual room having associated therewith a whisper channel; initiating, at a first client workstation, broadcast of data to each user object located in the virtual room by selecting a first interface element displayed at the first client workstation, the first interface element being associated with the room object and directing data to the first channel; and interrupting, at the first client workstation, broadcast of data transmitted over the first channel by selecting a second interface element displayed at the first client workstation, the second interface element being associated with a user object at a second client workstation, said interrupting step initiating broadcast of data at the first client workstation to the whisper channel associated with the user object at the second client workstation.