Abstract: A method for supporting multi-party collaboration over a computer network involves receiving messages at a server from a plurality of client computers in communication via the network and having common content displayed on an associated display area. The messages include cursor movement information and client content input by a user of at least one of the client computers and the method involves producing output messages corresponding to the cursor movement information and client content, causing the server to transmit the output messages that include client content to each of the plurality of client computers, including the client computer that generated the client content. The method further involves causing the server to transmit output messages that include cursor movement information to at least client computers other than the client computer that generated the cursor movement to facilitate display of a pointer on the respective client computers.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications between client computers and a server in a computer network are described. A described method includes receiving, at the server from at least first one of the clients, input messages containing user input of information representing cursor movements on the first client, information identifying a content entry position with respect to the meeting content displayed on the first client, or information identifying content input by a user of the first client for display at the content entry position; transmitting output messages that include information representing either of the content entry position or the content input by the user to each of the clients; and transmitting output messages that represent said cursor movements to ones of the clients to which all output messages that include information representing either of the content entry position or the content input by the user have been transmitted.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications between client computers and a server in a computer network are described. A described method includes receiving, at the server from at least first one of the clients, input messages containing user input of information representing cursor movements on the first client, information identifying a content entry position with respect to the meeting content displayed on the first client, or information identifying content input by a user of the first client for display at the content entry position; transmitting output messages that include information representing either of the content entry position or the content input by the user to each of the clients; and transmitting output messages that represent said cursor movements to ones of the clients to which all output messages that include information representing either of the content entry position or the content input by the user have been transmitted.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a method and apparatus for moving game piece images displayed on a first client computer in communication with a server in a computer network are disclosed. The method involves causing at least one game piece image to be displayed on a display area of the first client computer, the game piece image having an image area and an image boundary enclosing the image area. The method also involves receiving a cursor movement signal representing a cursor movement produced in response to user input received from a pointing device in communication with the first client computer, and determining whether a current position of the cursor is within the image boundary associated with the game piece image.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a system for supporting multiple-party communications on a client computer in communication with a server in a computer network is disclosed. The system includes a client processor circuit operably configured to transmit a first cursor message to the server to elicit a first pointer message from the server, the first cursor message representing a change in a position of a first cursor associated with the client computer in response to user input received from a user of the client computer. The system also includes a server processor circuit operably configured to receive the first cursor message from the client computer, transmit the first pointer message to the client computer in response to the first cursor message, the first pointer message representing the change in the position of the first cursor provided by the first cursor message.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for supporting multiple-party communications between a plurality of client computers in communication with a server are disclosed. A client processor circuit receives at least one of a user input signal, and a function invocation signal representing a function invocation, and produces and transmits to the server a message having a message type associated with one of a plurality of pre-defined combinations of the user input signal and the function invocation signal. A server processor circuit receives the message from the client computer, produces an output message representing the user input provided by the message, determines a message type associated with the message, and transmits the output message to each of the client computers when the input message is associated with a persistent message type, and ones of the client computers that meet a criterion when the input message is associated with a non-persistent message type.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a method and apparatus for intercepting a multiple-party communication between a plurality of client computers in communication with a server in a computer network is disclosed. The method involves receiving an input message at the server, the message representing user input received at one of the plurality of client computers, producing an output message representing the user input provided by the input message. The method further involves authorizing a designated client computer that is not part of the multiple-party communication to communicate with the server to cause the server to transmit output messages to the designated client computer, and transmitting the output message to each of the plurality of client computers and to the designated client computer.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a method and apparatus for publishing content created during a previous communication hosted by a server are disclosed. The content is represented by a first plurality of saved messages saved in a persistent memory on the server, the server being in communication with a computer network. The method involves receiving a request from a first computer in the computer network to view the content, the request including an identifier identifying the first plurality of saved messages. The method further involves reading the first plurality of saved messages associated with the identifier from the persistent memory, producing first output messages representing the content in respective saved messages in the first plurality of saved messages, and transmitting the first output messages to the first computer.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods related to multiple-party communications conducted between client computers in a computer network. For example, a method and apparatus for supporting multiple-party communications in a computer network including a first server, at least a first client computer in communication with the first server, and a second server are disclosed. The method involves receiving a first input message at the first server, the first input message representing user input received at the first client computer. The method further involves producing a first output message representing the user input provided by the first input message, and transmitting the first output message to the first client computer and to the second server.