Event scheduling

In one aspect, the invention is a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon. The instructions when executed by the processor, cause that processor to schedule a network-based media event; and to invite an attendee to attend the network-based media event. Other aspects of the invention includes a process and a method.

BACKGROUND

The Internet allows for the exchange of data and ideas between people in different geographic locations. Further, the Internet is becoming a valuable business communication tool in that it allows people to communicate via online discussion groups and meetings.

It is often cumbersome to schedule and conduct an online meeting. For example, whenever an individual intends to hold an online meeting, the proposed attendees for the meeting must be manually notified. Additionally, once the meeting is initiated, the attendees must manually connect to and log into the proper meeting. This may result in, among other things, missed meetings and attendees who choose not to attend due to the hassles associated with accessing the online meting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a method includes scheduling a presenting network-based media event.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. A broadcast time, a broadcast date, and a broadcast type may be defined for the media event. Further, one or more options may be defined for the media event, such as an interactive poll, and a slideshow presentation.

A slideshow presentation may be uploaded, and one or more slides of the slideshow presentation may be converted into a standard image file format, such as: a bitmap (BMP) format, a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) format, a graphic image format (GIF), a tagged image file format (TIFF), and an encapsulated postscript (EPS) format.

The interactive poll may be configured, and one or more attendees may be specified to participate in a poll for the network-based media event.

The method may include inviting an attendee to attend the network-based media event. Attendees may be invited by sending an email invitation to an attendee, or generating a pop-up invitation on an attendee computer.

The method may include registering an attendee for the network-based media event. Attendees may be registered by assigning a password to an attendee, collecting information from an attendee, and transferring an applet to an attendee computer. Alternatively, there may be an automatic attendee registration based on a centralized authorization system like LDAP, etc.

The method may include reminding an attendee to attend the network-based media event. The attendee may be reminded by sending an email reminder to the attendee or generating a pop-up reminder on an attendee computer.

The method may include executing the network-based media event. A browser may be launched on an attendee computer at a predefined time, and this browser may be launched by an applet resident on the attendee computer.

A connection may be established between an attendee computer and a remote server. A data stream broadcast by the remote server may be accessed by the attendee with the browser. This data stream may be an encoded data stream that needs to be decoded.

A connection may be established between a remote server and a host computer, a host telecommunication device, or a host videoconferencing device.

A data stream may be broadcast from a remote server to one or more attendee computers. A file representative of a slideshow slide or a poll question may be embedded into the data stream. For example, instructions to advance a slide on the presentation may be embedded inside the stream to ensure that slides are synchronized with audio and/or video.

Poll data representative of an attendee response to the poll question may be transmitted from an attendee computer to the remote server. The poll data may be stored on the remote server. The data stream may be an audio stream, a video stream, or an audio/video stream, which may be encoded prior to being broadcast.

The above-described processes may also be implemented as a sequence of instructions executed by a processor.

The invention can provide one or more of the following advantages. The network-based media event may be scheduled. By designating a list of attendees, automatic notification can occur. Further, initiation of the media event may be automated on both the host's computer and the attendee's computer. In addition, the invention provides the ability to view a presentation and to interact with the presenter in a a number of ways, for example, polls, question & answer (Q&A), and the like. Furthermore, the invention enables various methods of communication to be synchronized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a media event manager10that allows a host12to manage and orchestrate network-based media events, such as audio conferences, video conferences, and audio/video conferences is shown. These media events may be attended by various attendees14,16,18,20, and22using electronic devices that are coupled together via a distributed network24(e.g., the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, or some other form of network). Host12typically participates in the media event using a host device26, such as a computer, a telecommunication device, or a video conferencing device, for example). Further, attendees14,16,18,20, and22typically participate in the media event via computers (e.g., computers28), telecommunication devices (e.g., cell phones30and32) or handheld personal digital devices (e.g., personal digital assistants34and36).

Media event manager10typically resides on and is executed by a server38that is also connected to network24. The instruction sets and subroutines of media event manager10are typically stored on a storage device40connected to server38. Storage device40may be, for example, a hard disk drive, a tape drive, an optical drive, a RAID array, a random access memory (RAM), or a read-only memory (ROM).

An administrator42typically accesses and administers media event manager10through a desktop application44(e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™, Netscape Navigator™, or a specialized interface, not shown) running on a computer46that is also connected to the network22.

Media event manager10includes five processes: a scheduling process48, an invitation process50, a registration process52, a reminder process54, and an execution process56. Host12uses scheduling process48to schedule the media event, and invitation process50to invite the attendees designated by the host. Attendees register their intent to attend using registration process52. Some time before the media event, a reminder process54sends out a reminder to the attendees and, around the time of the media event, the execution process56establishes the required connections and broadcasts the appropriate data streams. The operation of each of these processes48,50,52,54, and56is discussed below in greater detail.

Referring also toFIGS. 2 and 3, scheduling process48allows host12to schedule a media event. Typically, host12accesses scheduling process48through a desktop application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer™, Netscape Navigator™, or a specialized interface, not shown) running on host device26.

When scheduling a media event, host12configures the media event using a scheduling configuration screen100rendered by scheduling process48. With scheduling configuration screen100, host12can define150a broadcast date102, and define152a broadcast time104for the media event. Host12can also define154a broadcast type106for the media event, such as whether the event is an audio-based event, a video-based event, or an audio/video-based event.

Additionally, host12may also select one of more options108to be included in the media event. Examples of these options include interactive polls110, question and answer (Q&A)111, slideshows112and whiteboard113.

In the event that host12chooses156to include a slideshow in the media event they are hosting, scheduling process48uploads158the slideshow presentation to server38and converts160the slideshow presentation from a slideshow format (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint™ format) to a standard image file format, such as: a bitmap (BMP) format, a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) format, a graphic image format (GIF), a tagged image file format (TIFF), and an encapsulated postscript (EPS) format. The power point presentation and converted pictures may be secured so that they are inaccessible to users until a presenter makes them accessible.

If host12chooses162to include an interactive poll in the media event, scheduling process48allows the user to configure 164the interactive poll, which includes defining the questions to be asked, and defining the answer selections for each question.

Scheduling process48allows host12to specify166a list of attendees114to be invited to the media event. The list of attendees typically includes one or more email addresses116,118,120, and122, for example. Scheduling process48may also allow a presenter to select an open event which will be available to anyone that connects, for example, the event may be advertised on a website.

Referring toFIG. 4, invitation process50may invite the attendees (as designated by host12) to attend the media event by sending200an email invitation (not shown) to the attendee. This email invitation may include a hyperlink that directs the attendee to a web site that allows the attendee to register for the media event. Alternatively, a pop-up window-based invitation (not shown) may be generated202on the attendee's computer (e.g., computer28). This pop-up invitation may be generated through the use of an applet (e.g., a cookie) that is transferred to the attendee's computer.

When responding to an invitation, the attendee registers for the media event using a registration process52. Registration process52typically collects204, from the attendee, personal information (e.g., first name, last name, middle initial, employer, and telephone number, for example). Typically, the user identifier is the attendee's email address and the registration process will assign206the attendee a password. Alternatively, a password may be assigned prior to registration, when an invitation is sent. In addition, a global password may be assigned that is good for any user having access to it, for example, in group meetings.

An applet, such as a cookie, may be transferred208to the attendee's computer. This applet typically includes information concerning the media event (e.g., date, time, and type), and information about the attendee, including their user identifier and their password, thus allowing for an automated login to the media event.

Typically, at a predefined amount of time prior to the start time of the media event, a reminder process54will send reminders to the attendees designated by the host12. These reminders may remind registered attendees to attend the media event, or remind unregistered attendees to register for the media event. The timing and frequency of the reminder(s) may be fixed by the administrator42or may be adjustable by the host12. In a fashion similar to inviting attendees, when reminder process54reminds attendees, an email reminder (not shown) may be sent210to the attendees or a pop-up reminder (not shown) may be generated212on the attendee's computer.

Referring toFIG. 5, execution process56executes the media event. As stated above, at the time of registration, an applet (typically a cookie) is passed to the computer of the attendee, such that this cookie includes information concerning the attendee and the media event that the attendee registered for. Accordingly, at a predefined time prior to the media event (e.g., five minutes), a browsing program may be launched250by the applet resident on the attendee's computer. This browsing program may be any program capable of accessing the media event, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer™, Netscape Navigator™, or Real Networks Real Player™, for example.

A connection may be automatically established252between the attendee's computer (e.g., computer28) and the server38. Depending on the type of network connection maintained by the attendee, this may involve establishing a dialup connection to the Internet through an ISP (i.e., Internet service provider). Once connected to server38, the attendee's computer will log into the media event by transmitting the relevant information (i.e., user name, user password, event time, date, and type, for example) to server38.

Further, in the event that the attendee is accessing the media event via a handheld device (e.g., cellular phone30or personal digital assistants34), a cellular data network connection is established prior to logging into server38. Further, if a cellular phone is used by an attendee, depending on the particular model of cellular telephone, that attendee may only have access to the voice portion of the media event.

In addition to the connection required by the attendee(s), a connection is also established254between host device26and server38. When host12schedules the media event, an applet (e.g., a cookie) is passed to the host device to allow for automated connection of host device26to network24and server38. As discussed above, host device26may be one of several devices such as: a computer, a cellular telephone, or a video conferencing system, and the manner in which a connection is established between the device26and server38varies depending on the type of device. If the device is a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant, a cellular Internet connection is established through an ISP that connects the device to server38. Alternatively, if the device is a video conferencing device, a connection to server38is established through an ISDN (i.e., Integrated Services Digital Network) connection that connects the video conferencing device to a video conferencing backbone. Further, if host device26is a computer, the type of connection varies depending on the type of network connection (i.e., permanent or dial-up) between host device26and network24.

During the media event, a data signal58is transmitted from the host device26to server38. The format of this data signal58varies depending on the type of host device and the type of media event. For example, if host device26is a cellular telephone, the data signal58is a digitized voice signal. Alternatively, if host device26is a computer or video conferencing device, the data signal typically includes both video and audio components.

If the host device26is a computer, data signal58may be encoded256prior to being transmitted to server38. Typical encoding schemes include MPEG (i.e., Moving Picture Experts Group) encoding, AVI (i.e., Audio Video Interleaved) encoding, and RM (i.e., Real Networks™) encoding, for example.

Once data signal58is received by server38, data stream60is generated and broadcast258to the attendees. In the event that data signal58is already encoded (i.e., data signal58was sent by a host device that is a computer), data signal58is broadcast as a data stream60across network24. Alternatively, if data signal58is not encoded or is encoded in a non-standard format, data signal58will be encoded260into a standard format (e.g., MPEG, AVI, and RM) prior to be broadcast as data stream60. Depending on the type of media event, data stream60may be an audio stream, a video stream, or an audio/video stream. Data stream60may also carry a data channel that instructs a presentation to advance slides and display polls.

Referring toFIG. 6, attendees typically use browser300to access262data stream60broadcast by server38. Typically, browser300includes multiple data fields302,304that allow for the attendee to simultaneously view both a video broadcast (as shown in field304) and a slideshow presentation (as shown in field302) or a poll question (not shown).

Typically, browser300also includes a play button306that displays the media event, a pause button308that pause the displaying of the media event, and a scroll bar310that shows the current completion level of the media event with respect to the overall length of the media event. If the media event is live, the length is undetermined and there is no progress bar. Browser300typically includes the decoders required to decode264data stream60.

When performing the media event, host12uses a browser similar to browser300with a few additional features. Browser300may include a selection tool312that allows a host to choose what to display in data field302, such as a poll question, a slide of a slideshow, whiteboard, Q&A or nothing (i.e., a blank data field). Additionally, a pair of arrow buttons314and316allow host12to move forward and backward through the slideshow presentation, thus varying the display seen by the attendees. In the event that host12chooses to display a poll that includes multiple poll questions, arrow buttons314and316allow the host to toggle between the poll questions. In other embodiments, there may be a separate interface (not shown) to control slides, control polls and monitor a Q&A session. For example, the functions may be split between three different people operating three different browser windows.

In order to ensure that the slides of the slideshow (if applicable) and the poll questions (if applicable) are synchronized with the video and audio portions of data stream60, execution process56embeds266the individual slideshow files (in a standard image file format) and embeds268the individual poll questions into data stream260. Accordingly, by monitoring the image (i.e., slide or poll question) that the host currently has selected for displaying in data field302and embedding that image into the data stream (that includes the audio and/or video portions of the media event), synchronicity between the images and the audio/video portions is ensured.

In some cases, it may be too costly in terms of bandwidth to embed an entire image file within a data stream. In these cases, an instruction to fetch an image is sent in the data stream. The instruction is interpreted by the presentation and the graphic is retrieved from a separate server. In other embodiments, images may be retrieved ahead of the presentation so that there is no propagation delay.

In the event that the host chooses to include one or more poll questions and the attendee responds to the poll questions, poll data62is transmitted270from the attendee's device (e.g., computer, personal digital assistant, or cellular telephone) to server38. This poll data, which is stored272on server38, typically identifies various pieces of information, such as the user's identifier and their response to the opinion question.

While the browser described above is shown to include two data fields, other configurations are possible. For example, the browser may include a third data field that allows the attendees to simultaneously view the video presentation, a poll question, and a slide of a slideshow.

While the system is described above as broadcasting a feature-rich audio/video data stream that includes both poll questions and a slideshow, the richness of the media event received by the attendee is limited by the device with which the attendee is accessing the data stream. For example, if the attendee is accessing the data stream using a cellular telephone incapable of displaying video, the attendee will be limited to an audio-only broadcast.

While the system is described above as being primarily executed on a server, other configuration are possible. For example, through the use of applets (e.g., cookies), events can be triggered on remote computers (e.g., the attendees' computer and handheld devices, and the host device). Therefore, the individual processes described above may actually be executed on multiple computers.

The system and method described herein is not limited to the implementation described above; it may find applicability in any computing or processing environment. The system and method may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of the two. For example, the system and method may be implemented using circuitry, such as one or more of programmable logic (e.g., an ASIC), logic gates, a processor, and a memory.

The system and method may be implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers that each includes a processor and a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements). Each such program may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language to communicate with a computer system and method. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language. The language may be a compiled or an interpreted language.

Each computer program may be stored on an article of manufacture, such as a storage medium (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk, or magnetic diskette) or device (e.g., computer peripheral), that is readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or device is read by the computer to perform the functions of the information framer interface. The system and method may also be implemented as a machine-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where, upon execution, instructions in the computer program cause a machine to operate to perform the functions of the system and method described above.

Implementations of the system and method may be used in a variety of applications. Although the system and method is not limited in this respect, the system and method may be implemented with memory devices in microcontrollers, general-purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction-set computing (RISC), and complex instruction-set computing (CISC), among other electronic components.

Implementations of the system and method may also use integrated circuit blocks referred to as main memory, cache memory, or other types of memory that store electronic instructions to be executed by a microprocessor or store data that may be used in arithmetic operations.

Additionally, implementations of the system and method described above need not be performed by a computer and/or computing device and may be performed manually using standard arithmetic processes and procedures.