Abstract: Computer method and apparatus for communicating information between a plurality of client computers by means of a communications network. A data server computer coupled to the network communicates data from the data server computer to one or more of a plurality of client computers in response to a request for data by a client computer in the form of a hypertext transfer protocol update request. The data server computer sends the data made available from the data server computer in response to a data update request from one of the plurality of client computers to said data server computer. A communications server computer coupled to the communications network for communicating the fact that the data on the server has been updated by communicating a client to client message from the client computer that updated the data on the data server computer to other client computers thereby prompting said other client computers to request updated data from the data server computer.

Abstract: A store of interfaced software objects are distributed between a server computer and multiple client computers to support an object oriented application communication environment that provides communication between software applications on each client computer. The application communication environment may include a central shared object store of interfaced software objects that operate on a server computer and communicate with one or more software applications on the server computer. A local shared object store of interfaced software objects operates on each client computer and communicates with the central shared object store and one or more software applications on that client computer. Changes to interfaced software objects in the local shared object stores may be automatically propagated to the interfaced software objects in the central shared object store.

Abstract: A text discussion script data structure is stored on a computer-readable medium in association with a real-time computer discussion. The text discussion script data structure is specified by an author to guide a real-time, multi-user, text discussion or “chat.” The text discussion script includes one or more successive scenes having roles for each of one or more discussion participants. For each scene and role, the author provides instructions and background information that guide the discussion participants, but do not provide the explicit text of the real-time discussion. Accordingly, the text discussion script is adapted to guide real-time computer discussions or chats in a scalable, replicable way, while allowing participants to generate the actual discussion dialog. The text discussion script data structure may be specified by markup language tags that, together, form a markup language tag schema.