Abstract: A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a point-to-point communication link between the processing units through the Internet. A first point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of processing units that have an on-line status with respect to the Internet; (b) transmitting a query from a first processing unit to a connection server to determine the on-line status of a second processing unit; and (c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the database using the connection server, in response to the determination of a positive on-line status of the second processing unit, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet.

Abstract: A collaborative multimedia system includes a plurality of notebook processes operatively interconnected over a computer network to a conference server, and, an optional podium process capable of controlling the priority of communications within the conference. The notebook processes are capable of privately communicating with other conference participants in addition to participating in the conference. A sophisticated graphic user interface provides public and private whiteboard areas by which graphic information may be exchanged with other processes in a conference or over separate communication link.

Abstract: A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a point-to-point communication link between the processing units through the Internet. A first point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of processing units that have an on-line status with respect to the Internet; (b) transmitting a query from a first processing unit to a connection server to determine the on-line status of a second processing unit; and (c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the database using the connection server, in response to the determination of a positive on-line status of the second processing unit, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet.

Abstract: A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a point-to-point communication link between the processing units through the Internet. A first point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of processing units that have an on-line status with respect to the Internet; (b) transmitting a query from a first processing unit to a connection server to determine the on-line status of a second processing unit; and (c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the database using the connection server, in response to the determination of a positive on-line status of the second processing unit, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for translating a domain name representing a telephone number into a network protocol address includes a domain name server architecture containing logic responsive to a telephone number domain name, the telephone number domain name representing the country code, area code, exchange, or subscriber number of a subscriber apparatus telephone number. The logic resolves the telephone number domain name into a network protocol address usable in ultimately initiating a communication with the subscriber apparatus on a circuit-switched network. In one embodiment, a hierarchical tree of domain names and subdomain names representing the country codes, area codes and exchange codes of telephone numbers is constructed to assist in the process of resolving domain names to network protocol addresses.

Abstract: A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a point-to-point communication link between the processing units through the Internet. A first point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of processing units that have an on-line status with respect to the Internet; (b) transmitting a.query from a first processing unit to a connection server to determine the on-line status of a second processing unit; and (c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the database using the connection server, in response to the determination of a positive on-line status of the second processing unit, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet.

Abstract: A finite state machine is implemented by encapsulating the portions of a state table, which are associated with each state in a state object. Each state object is instantiated when the associated state is entered and destroyed when the state is exited. Since memory is only allocated at runtime when an object is instantiated and in existence, the amount of memory required to implement the state table is minimized. The state class from which the state object is instantiated can be subclassed. In accordance with normal object-oriented class design, a subclass inherits the state table of its parent class. However, the subclass allows table rows to be added and table rows present in the parent class to be overwritten in the subclass. The state table in each state class includes methods that are called when the class is created and destroyed.

Abstract: A technique for matching Internet telephone calls originating on a packet-switched data network with legacy automatic call distribution centers on a public switched telephone network utilizes a gateway architecture to accommodate disparate network architecture and protocols. The gateway receives a call on an Internet Protocol-based network, placing the call in queue at a gateway port, and places an analogous call over a traditional PSTN line to a legacy call center. The gateway provides the call center with information identifying the port at which the IP based call is queued. The call center is provided with software capable of resolving the identification information into the network protocol address of the gateway and the actual port for establishing a dual communication path, both over a PSTN network, and an Internet protocol address to the caller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling communication between packet-switched data networks and circuit-switched communication networks utilizes the existing domain name system infrastructure of the Internet to resolve traditional PSTN telephone numbers into domain names, and, using one or more domain name servers, locate the network protocol address of a gateway capable of connecting an executing task on the packet-switched data network to the desired terminating apparatus on the circuit switched communication network. Also disclosed is a gateway architecture capable of performing the cross network connections as well as domain name server architecture which stores the segments of a telephone number, such as country code, area code and exchange, in a hierarchical tree configuration.

Abstract: A technique for initiating communications from a web browser to a destination on either a packet-switched data network or a circuit-switched communication network includes a communication utility capable of interacting with a browser utility and responsive to address information obtained from a website for establishing a communication link with the website with the other destination defined by the address information. In one embodiment, the address information may comprise either an Internet protocol address, an E-mail address, or a traditional telephone number. The communication utility further enables sharing of URL data so that once a communication link is established, the parties may examine the same website pages simultaneously while communicating over a point-to-point communication link.

Abstract: A communication protocol for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between client processes over a computer network includes a directory server apparatus for providing current dynamically assigned Internet Protocol addresses of client process currently connected to the computer network. The client processes can be Internet telephony applications each capable of performing a plurality of predefined functions. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, each client process is required to connect to the server apparatus upon initialization and receives a feature definition identifying which of the plurality of functions the client process is authorized to perform. In another aspect of the invention a callee client process verifies the identity of a caller client process with the directory server and is provided with the feature definition of the caller process to prevent the caller client process from communicating with the callee client process in unauthorized manners.

Abstract: A communication protocol for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between computer users over a computer network includes a directory server apparatus for providing the current dynamically assigned Internet Protocol addresses of client processes currently connected to the computer network. The server maintains a list of entries, each entry including the Internet Protocol address of a user currently connected to the network. In response to identification of one of the entries by a requesting client process, the server provides the corresponding Internet Protocol address of the entry to the requesting client process. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the directory server monitors the status of client processes connected to the network via periodic notification from the client processes. The server dynamically modifies the time interval at which client processes notify the server, depending on the demand for server resources.

Abstract: A virtual architecture for enabling direct point-to-point communications between any processes on a network cloud utilizes a process record in which information relevant to the process is stored and propagated through a parent/child hierarchy of connection service processes and information service processes. Process records and information relating to processes are propagated throughout private clouds, public clouds and interconnecting global services to facilitate both activity based network routing and load based network routing without the use of predetermined network routing mechanisms.

Abstract: A communication utility for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between processes over a computer network includes apparatus for querying a server as to the network protocol address of another client process, and apparatus for directly establishing a communication link with the client process upon receipt of the network protocol address from the server. In one embodiment, the utility includes a sophisticated user interface having features similar to typical telephony hardware but implementing greater flexibility with software.

Abstract: A point-to-point Internet protocol exchanges Internet Protocol (IP) addresses between processing units to establish a point-to-point communication link between the processing units through the Internet. A first point-to-point Internet protocol includes the steps of (a) storing in a database a respective IP address of a set of processing units that have an on-line status with respect to the Internet; (b) transmitting a query from a first processing unit to a connection server to determine the on-line status of a second processing unit; and (c) retrieving the IP address of the second unit from the database using the connection server, in response to the determination of a positive on-line status of the second processing unit, for establishing a point-to-point communication link between the first and second processing units through the Internet.

Abstract: A communication utility for establishing real-time, point-to-point communications between processes over a computer network includes apparatus for querying a server as to the network protocol address of another client process, and apparatus for directly establishing a communication link with the client process upon receipt of the network protocol address from the server. In one embodiment, the utility includes a sophisticated user interface having features similar to typical telephony hardware but implementing greater flexibility with software.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution system capable of receiving incoming calls originating on either circuit-switched or packet-switched networks utilizes an automatic call distribution (ACD) server for receiving and routing incoming calls and a control center module for dynamically configuring a plurality of agent processes to which the incoming calls may be transferred. The agent processes, control center and ACD server may be separated geographically, but operatively coupled via a computer network. The incoming calls contain user information which enables calls to be routed by the ACD server according to a plurality of different criteria. A graphic user interface enables a system user to dynamically monitor the status of agent processes and reconfigure both queues and the agent processes associated with a queue in response to call loads and agent resource availability.