Abstract: A real time chat server (610) not only maintains the chat session but also synchronizes the browse and chat functions by dynamically linking the browser and chat applications to allow the contents of the browser window and the chat window to change in a coordinated manner. The chat server is built from a number of core software objects, namely user objects (616, 618), connection objects, and room objects (612, 614). In this way, multiple users' browsers may be connected into one powerful distributed chat/HTTP server and all such users are able to fully interact with one another in a coordinated manner via type-written messages, HTML web documents, and file transfers. The usefulness of chat is enhanced by embedding the chat functions into the browser window.

Abstract: A real time communications protocol connection is formed over a network communications connection. A markup language instruction is embedded in a message. The message is sent on the real time communications protocol connection.

Abstract: A real time chat server (610) not only maintains the chat session but also synchronizes the browse and chat functions by dynamically linking the browser and chat applications to allow the contents of the browser window and the chat window to change in a coordinated manner. The chat server is built from a number of core software objects, namely user objects (616, 618), connection objects, and room objects (612, 614). In this way, multiple users' browsers may be connected into one powerful distributed chat/HTTP server and all such users are able to fully interact with one another in a coordinated manner via type-written messages, HTML web documents, and file transfers.

Abstract: In a method for real time network chat, TCP/IP connections are established between a plurality of clients and a host. Respective real time communications protocol connections such as telnet or IRC are established over the TCP/IP connections, and a message is sent from one of the clients to at least one of the other clients through the host using the respective real time communications protocol connections therebetween. The message, which includes one or more instructions in a markup language such as html, for example, is parsed in the receiving chat client, which displays the message in accordance with the markup language instructions contained therein. Where the markup language instruction is a hyperlink, the telnet chat client receiving the message from the host communicates the URL associated with the hyperlink to a Web browser under user control, and the Web browser requests and receives the desired Web document.