Abstract:
An application and its associated user interface provide a meeting window for use in organizing and holding meetings using peer-to-peer network facilities. The meeting window offers menu selections for choosing a network over which to hold the meeting and for discovering and inviting meeting participants. The meeting window includes three main panes, one each for managing attendees, for distributing files to attendees, and for streaming presentation materials real-time to attendees. Data streaming is also supported to network devices such as projectors. Control of the presentation may be delegated by the presentation owner to another attendee, and may also be revoked by the presentation owner. The real-time streaming of the presentation may be paused and resumed to accommodate meeting dynamics or real-time changes.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Computers have been used in meetings for some time. Computers have been used to take meeting minutes or notes in real time. It is almost common practice now to use a computer and an attached projector when presenting information to a group at a meeting. Several attempts have been made, with varying success, to address meetings with remote participants. Initially, meeting participants would e-mail documents to all expected attendees for presentation during the meeting. Even when meeting attendees were co-located, distribution of files often required “sneaker-net” sharing with USB memory keys, etc. Presentations were synchronized by the leader&#39;s verbal instructions during a teleconference. Later, products such as Microsoft LiveMeeting allowed the use of presentation synchronization during the meeting and interactive tools such as an electronic white board would allow real-time interaction between users. However, these products are server-based and require a hosted environment for operation.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     A user interface for starting meetings provides users with a simple interactive single-window mechanism for starting meetings, both computer-to-computer network based meetings and simple meetings with co-located attendees. An underlying application receives user input and manages attendee selection, file transfers, and presentations transparent to the user using peer-to-peer networking. A web server or meeting host is not required. Peer-to-peer networking infrastructure develops and manages the sharing and connectivity required to set up the links with meeting attendees and delivers the appropriate data streams to network resources associated with the attendees.  
         [0003]     The meeting window includes three panes, one for selecting and managing users, another for sharing files between users, and a third for presenting data via a streaming service, such as a peer-to-peer network terminal service. A robust set of features for managing attendees, online presentation materials, and network presentation resources are made available through the meeting window menu selections.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a simplified and representative block diagram of a computer network;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a computer that may be connected to the network of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a representation of a computer display meeting initiation icons;  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a representation of a computer display showing attendee invitation selection;  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  is a representation of a computer display showing a meeting window as other file icons;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5   a  is a representation of the computer display of  FIG. 5  showing menu picks for delegating control of a presentation to another attendee;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5   b  is a representation of the computer display of  FIG. 5  showing menu picks for revoking control of a presentation to the other attendee;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5   c  is a representation of the computer display of  FIG. 5  showing menu picks for pausing a presentation;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5   d  is a representation of the computer display of  FIG. 5  showing menu picks for leaving a meeting and saving shared files;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a representation of a computer display showing a “toast” invitation to a meeting;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a representation of a computer display showing a mini-mode version of the meeting window of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a method of starting, holding and ending an on-line meeting. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.  
         [0017]     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.  
         [0018]     Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles are best implemented with or in software programs or instructions and integrated circuits (ICs) such as application specific ICs. It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring the principles and concepts in accordance to the present invention, further discussion of such software and ICs, if any, will be limited to the essentials with respect to the principles and concepts of the preferred embodiments.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  provide a structural basis for the network and computational platforms related to the instant disclosure.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a network  10  that may be used to implement a dynamic software provisioning system. The network  10  may be the Internet, a virtual private network (VPN), or any other network that allows one or more computers, communication devices, databases, etc., to be communicatively connected to each other. The network  10  may be connected to a personal computer  12 , a computer terminal  14 , and a laptop  15  via an Ethernet  16  and a router  18 , and a landline  20 . The Ethernet  16  may be a subnet of a larger Internet Protocol network. Other networked resources, such as a projector  13 , may also be supported via the Ethernet  16  or another data network. On the other hand, the network  10  may be wirelessly connected to a laptop computer  22  and a personal data assistant  24  via a wireless communication station  26  and a wireless link  28 . Similarly, a server  30  may be connected to the network  10  using a communication link  32  and a mainframe  34  may be connected to the network  10  using another communication link  36 . In one embodiment, the server  30  may function as a presentation server for serving presentation data on the network  10 . In another embodiment, the mainframe  34  may function as a broadcast server to make available data to a large number of users, for example, corporate financial results presentations. The network  10  may be useful for supporting peer-to-peer network traffic.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a computing device in the form of a computer  110 . Components of the computer  110  may include, but are not limited to a processing unit  120 , a system memory  130 , and a system bus  121  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  120 . The system bus  121  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.  
         [0022]     The computer  110  may also include a cryptographic unit  125 . Briefly, the cryptographic unit  125  has a calculation function that may be used to verify digital signatures, calculate hashes, digitally sign hash values, and encrypt or decrypt data. The cryptographic unit  125  may also have a protected memory for storing keys and other secret data. In addition, the cryptographic unit  125  may include an RNG (random number generator) which is used to provide random numbers. In other embodiments, the functions of the cryptographic unit may be instantiated in software or firmware and may run via the operating system or on a device.  
         [0023]     Computer  110  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer  110  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computer  110 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.  
         [0024]     The system memory  130  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  131  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . A basic input/output system  133  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  110 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  131 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  120 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 2  illustrates operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 .  
         [0025]     The computer  110  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer&#39;storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 2  illustrates a hard disk drive  141  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  151  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  152 , and an optical disk drive  155  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  156  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid, state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  141  is typically connected to the system bus  121  through a non-removable memory interface such as interface  140 , and magnetic disk drive  151  and optical disk drive  155  are typically connected to the system bus  121  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  150 .  
         [0026]     The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 2 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  110 . In  FIG. 2 , for example, hard disk drive  141  is illustrated as storing operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  134 , application programs  135 , other program modules  136 , and program data  137 . Operating system  144 , application programs  145 , other program modules  146 , and program data  147  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  20  through input devices such as a keyboard  162  and cursor control device  161 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. A camera, such as web camera  163  (webcam), may capture and input pictures of an environment associated with the computer  110 , such as providing pictures of users. The webcam  163  may capture pictures on demand, for example, when instructed by a user, or may take pictures periodically under the control of the computer  110 . Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  120  through an input interface  160  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  191  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  121  via an interface, such as a graphics controller  190 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  197  and printer  196 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  195 .  
         [0027]     The computer  110  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  180 . The remote computer  180  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  110 , although only a memory storage device  181  has been illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 2  include a local area network (LAN)  171  and a wide area network (WAN)  173 , but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.  
         [0028]     When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  110  is connected to the LAN  171  through a network interface or adapter  170 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  110  typically includes a modem  172  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  173 , such as the Internet. The modem  172 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  121  via the input interface  160 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  110 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 2  illustrates remote application programs  185  as residing on memory device  181 .  
         [0029]     The communications connections  170   172  allow the device to communicate with other devices. The communications connections  170   172  are an example of communication media. The communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. A “modulated data signal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Computer readable media may include both storage media and communication media.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts a computer display  200 , such as the display of monitor  191  of  FIG. 2 . A unified activity window or simply, a meeting application window  202  may be used to launch, manage and end meetings or other network-based activities. The meeting application window  202  may have sub-windows and child windows as shown and described below. In one embodiment, a sub window  204  for joining a meeting may include selections for joining a meeting nearby that is in progress, or joining a meeting to which one has already been invited. Another sub window  206  may be used to start a meeting. When the start meeting sub window  206  is activated an additional sub window  208  may be provided for user selection of an appropriate network. For example, the meeting may be hosted on the local subnet, such as an Internet Protocol subnet depicted by subnet  16  of  FIG. 1 . In another embodiment, the user may choose to take advantage of peer-to-peer (ad hoc) network capabilities for discovering and joining networked resources in a private network.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  depicts a computer display  300  similar to or the same as the computer display  200  of  FIG. 3 . After electing to start a meeting and selecting a network, a user may choose to invite participants using meeting window  302 . Using a start meeting sub-window  304 , the user may select individuals from groups identified in a sub-selection window  306 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the user may highlight “Recent Invitees” and an attendee selection window  308  may be displayed from which the user can select one or more invitees. Similarly, sub-selection window  306  may be used to offer names from a buddy list or people who are nearby, for example, who have computers on the same Internet Protocol subnet as the user, on the same ad hoc wireless network. Proximity may even be determined by empirically, for example, using, global positioning system (GPS) data. Icons  310  corresponding to user identity and indicia  312  corresponding to current status, such as those used in instant messaging programs, may be used to indicate participant status and therefore the likelihood of their attending an ad hoc meeting.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  depicts a computer display  400  similar to or the same as computer display  200  of  FIG. 2 . Icons representing files  402   404  may be present on the display  400 . As shown, icon  402  may represent a presentation, for example, a Microsoft PowerPoint™ presentation, while icon  404  may represent a document, for example, a Microsoft Word™ file. A meeting window  406 , the same as or a successor to meeting application window  202  of  FIG. 2 , may include several panes and bars. An attendee pane  408  may include a selection icon  410  and attendee status information. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , the attendee pane  408  shows that attendees Melissa and Jack have joined the meeting, as indicated by the checks in the boxes next to their names. A third invitee Jim is not present as indicated by the arrow in the invited column next to the box for Jim&#39;s name. In another embodiment, status icons  312  and user identity icons  310  such as those shown in  FIG. 4 , may also be present. Activating the selection icon  410  may produce another window such as  FIG. 4  meeting window  302  for selection of additional meeting attendees.  
         [0033]     A sharing pane  412  may include a selection icon  414  and a drag-and-drop icon  416 . Activating the selection icon  414  may produce a normal file selection dialog box for navigating to a folder and selecting one or more files. Similarly, one or more files may be dragged onto the drag-and-drop icon  416 . The effect of file selection or dragging and dropping is to distribute the files to each attendee over a peer-to-peer network connection, according to an underlying file sharing protocol. The files may be physically copied or distributed using a metadata publish/ask model. Files made available by other meeting participants may be shown in the sharing pane  412  by file icons (not depicted). At the conclusion of a meeting the user may select to keep a copy of the shared files or to have the shared files discarded.  
         [0034]     A presentation pane  418  may include a selection icon  420  and a drag-and-drop icon  422 . As discussed in more detail in a co-pending patent application (Attorney Docket number 30835/313456), the presentation pane  418  may be used to launch presentations on networked devices, including the computers of meeting attendees and presentation equipment, for example, computers  12  and  15  and projector  13  of  FIG. 2 . Dragging and dropping a file onto the meeting icon  422  or by opening a file selection dialog using selection icon  420  may be used to present data to attendees by streaming data to their computers or other display devices over the peer-to-peer network.  
         [0035]     A menu bar  424  may include file  426  and control  428  menu selections used for advanced control of the meeting process. A status bar  430  may display a meeting title, as shown, or other information regarding the meeting, for example, current status information such as “distributing files.” The minimize icon  431  may be used to reduce the three pane meeting window  406  to a smaller size, and as discussed more with respect to  FIG. 7 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 5   a  depicts a close-up view of a portion of the computer display  400  of  FIG. 5 . Shown is a menu selection for enabling a remote user to control presentation materials presented by another user. In this exemplary embodiment, the control menu item  428  may be selected to present a drop-down menu  432 . The “give control to” menu item may be selected, activating an additional drop-down or pop-up menu  434  showing the names of current attendees. In this example, control is given to Jack who may then manage all aspects of the presentation as if he had initiated it. Again, in this exemplary embodiment, Jack may retain control until the presentation is finished and closed. Alternately, the original presenter may revoke the control given to Jack. Referring to  FIG. 5   b , the control menu item  428  may be selected, activating the drop-down menu  432  from which the “disable control” menu selection may be made. Jack&#39;s control may be revoked and control of the presentation returned to the original presenter. In general, all peers of the peer-to-peer network in the meeting may be considered generally equal in all respects, with one exception being this ability for the presentation initiator to disable control once granted.  
         [0037]      FIG. 5   c  similarly depicts a close-up view of a portion of the computer display  400  of  FIG. 5 . When streaming presentation materials live to attendees, it may be useful for the presenter to pause a presentation, that is, to temporarily halt the data stream associated with the presentation. For example, the presenter may see an item requiring a change or a discussion may have moved away from the subject of the currently displayed material. The presenter may select menu bar item “Options”  429  to reveal a drop-down box  436  giving the option to pause the presentation. The presenter may then make any desired adjustments or complete the discussion and resume the presentation using the same menu selections. While the presentation is paused, other meeting participants may see either a still-frame image of the presentation or a blank image.  
         [0038]      FIG. 5   d  also depicts a close-up view of a portion of the computer display  400  of  FIG. 5 . At the conclusion of a meeting, or any time when an attendee chooses to leave the meeting, he or she may activate the “File” menu item  426 . A drop-down box  438  provides the attendee with an opportunity to leave the meeting, or leave while retaining a copy of any presentation materials that were transferred during the course of the meeting.  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  depicts a computer display  500 , the same as or similar to computer display  200  of  FIG. 3 . When being invited to a meeting, an invitation in the form of a small window may pop up from an edge of the computer display  500 . The small window is commonly referred to as “toast” because of how it pops out. The toast invitation  502  may be used to identify the meeting organizer and title. The invitee may click on the toast invitation  502  to activate a meeting window, such as meeting window  406  shown in  FIG. 5  and subsequently join the meeting, for example, using the “Join Meeting” icon  204  of  FIG. 3 . After a period, the toast message may disappear. A notification flag, or icon may be substituted on a taskbar or other display real estate for use in joining the meeting after the toast is gone.  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  depicts a computer display  600  representing a display associated with a meeting attendee. In the course of a meeting, an attendee who is not fully engaged in the process may wish to limit his or her participation, perhaps to attend to other activities. By using the minimize icon  431  of  FIG. 5 , the attendee may reduce the meeting window  406  to a monitoring window  602 . The monitoring window  602  may include a presentation pane  604 , for monitoring any presentation materials currently active, a title bar and event notification list  606 , and a maximize bar  608 . The maximize bar may include a maximize icon  610  for use in returning the monitoring window  602  to the full-size meeting window  406 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 8 , an exemplary method of holding an online meeting over a peer-to-peer network is discussed and described. When a computer user has decided to hold a meeting, he or she may activate  702  a meeting window. They may then activate  704  a window for network selection. A variety of network selections may be available. For example, computers, and therefore their associated users, present on a local network such as a local Internet Protocol (IP) subnet may be displayed for selection. The use of an IP subnet for providing a selection of meeting attendees relies on the notion that in many cases the physical topology of a network follows the organization of the people on the network. Alternatively, in one embodiment, network selection may take advantage of “talk-around” capability in wireless network products. Such capability allows nearby users to form their own private networks without regard to a larger network infrastructure, such as wireless access points, backbones and routers.  
         [0042]     When a selection of network is received  706  an attendee selection window may be activated  708 . Attendees may be selected from a variety of groups or lists of individuals. For example, a buddy list used for Instant Messaging (IM) may provide names for selection. Personal, local, and network-based, for example corporate, address books may be used to supply names for selection. Additional selections may be made from persons recently invited to other meetings. After receiving  710  the selection of users, invitations, such as toast messages, may be forwarded to the invitees. As shown in  FIG. 5  pane  408 , invitee status may be displayed  712 , showing those in attendance, those who have not arrived, or those who have declined (not depicted).  
         [0043]     Once the meeting is active, multiple activities may be performed. Often it is desirable to distribute materials to meeting participants. The application associated with the meeting may provide, as discussed above, the capability to receive  714  a selection of whether to share data or files with meeting participants. If the choice is to share files, the ‘yes’ branch of block  714  may be followed. A selection of files for sharing may be received  716  by the application. The selection may be for distribution of files or for streaming of presentation data. Familiar menu pick or drag-and-drop methods are two examples of ways to introduce files for sharing with meeting participants. Once identified, known peer-to-peer network services, such as a file replication service, may be used to distribute  718  the selected data to current participants as well as updating newly added participants. When the selection is to stream presentation data, an appropriate application program may be activated, if needed, and output data associated with the presentation may be distributed  718  to participating computers. In addition, certain network devices such as network accessible projectors may also be designated as targets of the presentation data stream. If additional presentation materials or data files are to be shared, the ‘yes’ branch from block  720  may be followed and the process repeated.  
         [0044]     If no data is shared at block  714 , the ‘no’ branch may be followed to block  722 . Similarly, when no more data is to be shared, the ‘no’ branch from  720  may be followed to block  722 . The meeting may proceed as normal to a conclusion.  
         [0045]     At the conclusion of the meeting (or earlier), participants may leave  722  the meeting. Participants may have the opportunity to save any files that were shared during the meeting process or alternatively to discard those files to limit the possibility of version confusion in the future.  
         [0046]     The meeting application described and its associated user interface bring new features and capabilities to meeting organizers and meeting attendees. The simple organization of the meeting window and special function panes reduce the overhead associated with inviting, attending, sharing files, and presenting live data during a meeting. The use of peer-to-peer network data streaming for presentations greatly simplifies the processes currently available for viewing presentation materials.  
         [0047]     Although the foregoing text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possibly embodiment of the invention because describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the invention.  
         [0048]     Thus, many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.