Abstract: A messaging application that includes a transmit module configured to progressively transmit time-based media of a message to a recipient as the media is created. The transmit module transmits the message in either a messaging mode where the time-based media of the message is transmitted before a delivery route to the recipient is completely discovered or a call mode where the transmission occurs after providing a notification requesting synchronous communication and receiving a confirmation that the recipient would like to engage in synchronous communication. In response to the notification, the recipient has the option of rendering the incoming message in either a real-time mode as the time-based media of the message is received or a time-shifted mode by rendering the time-based media of the message at an arbitrary later time after it was received.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for simultaneously rendering one or more conversations on a communication device. The method includes receiving at the first communication device media associated with the one or more conversations over a network and defining a set of conversations among the one or more conversations to be simultaneously rendered. The received media associated with the one or more conversations is simultaneously rendered regardless if the received media overlaps or not.

Abstract: An apparatus for reliably transferring media over a network from a sending node to a receiving node. The sending node includes a media ascertaining element configured to ascertain if media to be transmitted from the sending node to the receiving node is either time-sensitive or not time-sensitive. The sending node also includes a transmission element that is configured to (i) transmit the non time-sensitive media from the sending node to the receiving node by adjusting the rate of transmission of the non time-sensitive media at the sending node based on network conditions and (ii) transmit the time-sensitive media from the sending node to the receiving node. The receiving node includes a media loss ascertaining element configured to ascertain at the receiving node if a predetermined acceptable network transmission loss level is met.

Abstract: A communication device capable of participating in a conversation over a network. The communication device includes an encoder to receive and encode media locally created using the communication device and associated with the conversation and a transmitter to transmit over the network the locally created media to one or more participants of the conversation. The communication device also includes a receiver to receive media from the one or more participants of the conversation over the network and a time-shifting buffer to store in a time-based format both the media received over the communication network and the locally created media. The time-shifting buffer enables the communication device to either (i) render the media received over the network in a near real-time mode or (ii) render both the media received over the network and the locally created media in a time-shifted mode by retrieving the stored media from the time-shifting buffer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a node for transmitting data over a network. The node includes a first ascertaining element configured to ascertain the need to transmit one or more data streams from the node to a second node over the network, the one or more data streams including time-based media that is generated either locally or remotely on the network. The node also includes a second ascertaining element configured to ascertain a timeliness preference for reviewing the one or more data streams by one or more recipients respectively. The ascertained timeliness preference for each one of the data streams is either (a) time-sensitive where at least one recipient of the one data stream has indicated an intent to review the one data stream in a near real-time mode as received by the recipient over the network while the time-based media of the one data stream is being generated or (b) less-than time-sensitive.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved media communication device for communicating over a communication network. The communication device includes an encoder, a time-shifting buffer and a transmitter to progressively encode, store in a time-based format, and transmit over the network locally created media created using the communication device. The communication device also includes a receiver and a rendering element to receive and progressively render media received over the network from a remote source. The received media is also stored in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer. By storing media in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer, the received media may be rendered in a near real-time mode and the received and locally created media may be rendered in a time-shifted mode. In various embodiments, the locally created and received media may be streaming media.

Abstract: An improved communication apparatus for transmitting media between a sending node and a receiving node during a conversation. When network bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a full bit rate representation of time-sensitive media, the sending node generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media for the purpose of increasing the ability of the recipient to review the media upon receipt and continue the conversation in the real-time mode when the bandwidth on the network is insufficient to support the transmission of the full bit rate representation. The sending node also transmits media that is ascertained as not time-sensitive only when bandwidth in excess of what is needed for time-sensitive media becomes available.

Abstract: A communication device for consecutively rendering one or more conversations. The device includes a receiver configured to receive at the communication device media associated with the one or more conversations over a network. The one or more conversations include a defined set of conversations to be consecutively rendered in accordance with a defined priority hierarchy. The device also includes a sequencing element, which sequences the received media associated with the defined set of conversations into a sequence order at least partially based on the defined priority hierarchy. A rendering element consecutively renders the received media associated with the defined set of conversations in the sequence order.

Abstract: A method for progressively synchronizing stored copies of indexed media transmitted between nodes on a network. The method includes progressively transmitting available indexed media from a sending node to a receiving node with a packet size and packetization interval sufficient to enable the near real-time rendering of the indexed media, wherein the near real-time rendering of the indexed media provides a recipient with an experience of reviewing the transmitted media live. At the receiving node, the transmitted indexed media is progressively receive and any indexed media that is not already locally stored at the receiving node is noted. The receiving node further continually generates and transmits to the sending node requests as needed for the noted indexed media. In response, the sending node transmits the noted indexed media to the receiving node. Both the sending node and the receiving node store the indexed media.

Abstract: An improved communication method for sending media between a sending node and receiving node during a conversation. When network bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a full bit rate representation of time-sensitive media, then a reduced bit rate representation of the media is transmitted for the purpose of increasing the ability of the recipient to review the media upon receipt and continue the conversation in the real-time mode when the bandwidth on the network is insufficient to support the transmission of the full bit rate representation. Media that is ascertained as not time-sensitive on the other hand is transmitted when bandwidth in excess of what is needed for time-sensitive media becomes available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting voice media over a network where the voice media may be consumed either in a real-time mode or a time-shifted mode. The method comprising transmitting the voice media over the network using a network efficient protocol when either (i) the media is not being consumed in the real-time mode or (ii) the condition on the network is good enough to support the real-time transmission and consumption of the voice media in the real-time mode. Alternatively, the voice media is transmitted using a loss tolerant transmission protocol when the media is being consumed in the real-time mode and the condition on the network is sufficiently poor to prevent the real-time consumption of the voice media in real-time using the network efficient protocol. The apparatus, which may be a communication device or a server, implements the above-described method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting media from a node to one or more recipients over a network using either a network efficient protocol or a loss tolerant protocol. The method includes ascertaining at the node if media available for transmission is or will be consumed in real-time. When the media is or will be consumed in real-time and the condition on the network is not sufficient for the consumption of the media in real-time using the network efficient protocol, then the media is transmitted using the loss tolerant protocol. Alternatively, the media is transmitted using the network efficient protocol when the media is not or will not be consumed in real-time or the condition on the network is sufficient for the consumption of the media in real-time using the network efficient protocol. The apparatus, which may be either a communication device or server, implements the above-describe method.

Abstract: A communication services network is described that enables client communication devices to synchronously or asynchronously communicate with one another or with legacy communication devices through a gateway in either (i) a real-time mode or (ii) a time-shifted mode and (iii) to seamlessly transition between the two modes. As the media of a message is either created or retrieved from memory, the sending client device progressively transmits the media over the network. The network progressively routes the media as it is transmitted to the recipient client device or gateway, which progressively stores the media as it is received. With progressive storage, the recipient has the option of rendering the media as it is received in the real-time mode, rendering the media out of storage in the time-shifted mode, or seamlessly transitioning between the two modes.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the ability of a recipient to review time-sensitive media upon receipt when network conditions are poor. The apparatus includes a media ascertaining element configured to ascertain if media to be sent from a sending node to a receiving node is time-sensitive. A bandwidth-ascertaining element ascertains if there is sufficient bandwidth for transmitting a full bit rate representation of the media at a first bit rate and at a first packetization interval. If the bandwidth is sufficient, a transmitter transmits the full bit rate representation of the media. If the bandwidth is insufficient, then the transmitter generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media.

Abstract: An application for gracefully extending the range and/or capacity of voice communication systems. The application includes a module for the persistent storage of voice media on a communication device as the voice media is created. When the usable bit rate on the network is poor and below that necessary for conducting live communication of the voice media, a transmit module transmits the voice media out of storage at or below the available usable bit rate on the network. Although latency may be introduced, the storage of transmitted media provides the ability to extend the useful range and/or capacity of the network when conditions on the network otherwise make live communication impossible or impractical.

Abstract: A browser enabled communication device capable of conducting conversations, including multiple media types, in either a real-time or a time-shifted mode, with the ability to seamlessly transition between the two modes.

Abstract: A method of enabling communication over a network by maintaining a server on a network and receiving a request at the server from a user of a communication device. In response to the request, a communication application is downloading over the network to the communication device. The communication application enabling the user to participate in a conversation on the communication device in either (i) a real-time mode or (ii) a time-shifted mode and (iii) to seamlessly transition the conversation between the two modes (i) and (ii).

Abstract: A system and method for operating a server on a communication network. The system and method involving the progressive receipt of time-based media at the server as the time-based media is transmitted by a sender over the communication network and the discovery at least a partial delivery route to a recipient of the time-based media as the time-based media is being received. The time-based media is progressively transmitted as the media is available and as the partial delivery route over the communication network to the recipient is discovered.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing data maintained at a plurality of data objects. The method involves assembling source and destination trees, each of the source and destination trees including a root node and one or more dependent nodes associated with source and destination data maintained at the plurality of data objects respectively. After the trees are assembled, a checksum calculation is performed for the nodes of the source tree and the destination tree based on the associated source data and the associated destination data maintained at the plurality of data objects respectively. The destination tree and the destination data are synchronized with the source tree and source data based on the comparison of the checksum calculations of corresponding nodes in the source tree and the destination tree.

Abstract: A system and method for using email addresses, email clients and the existing DNS and email infrastructure for the real-time communication of time-based media.