Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-prioritizing a background transfer of teleconference object data is accomplished by moving the background transfer to a highest priority of a transfer queue if part of the background transfer has previously been transferred. If part of the background transfer has not previously been transferred, then the background transfer is moved ahead of a prior entry in the transfer queue if a second background transfer corresponding to the prior entry has not previously transferred a predetermined amount of teleconference data. The predetermined amount of data may be determined as a percentage of a total amount of teleconference object data which is to be transferred, or by an amount of time it will take to complete transferring the teleconference object data.

Abstract: Preventing processor domination of a CPU by background transfers of teleconference object data during an electronic conference is accomplished by monitoring an external time spent by a CPU executing outside a background transfer manager. Transfers of data packets of teleconference object data are performed if the external time is larger than a minimum threshold and smaller than a maximum threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for linking public and private pages in a conferencing system is disclosed. In a computer conferencing system having a plurality of participants coupled by a communication medium, a process for linking public and private pages comprises the steps of: 1) collecting public meeting information generated by any of the plurality of participants, the public meeting information including at least one public page of annotations; 2) collecting private meeting information from a local participant in which the meeting manager is resident, the private meeting information being different from the public meeting information, the private meeting information not accessible to the plurality of conference participants other than the local participant, the private meeting information including at least one private page of annotations; and 3) selectively linking the private page with the public page, the private page being implicitly accessed when the linked public page is explicitly accessed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering missing teleconference object data during an electronic conference starts with a second participant being assigned to provide requested teleconference object data to a first participant. The first participant later determines that the second participant is unavailable. The first participant broadcasts a message to the plurality of participants to determine if another participant has the requested teleconference object data. A third participant replies to the first participant if it has the requested teleconference object data. The first participant assigns the third participant to provide the requested teleconference object data to the first participant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-prioritizing a background transfer of teleconference object data is accomplished by moving the background transfer to a highest priority of a transfer queue if part of the background transfer has previously been transferred. If part of the background transfer has not previously been transferred, then the background transfer is moved ahead of a prior entry in the transfer queue if a second background transfer corresponding to the prior entry has not previously transferred a predetermined amount of teleconference data. The predetermined amount of data may be determined as a percentage of a total amount of teleconference object data which is to be transferred, or by an amount of time it will take to complete transferring the teleconference object data.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for joining participants in a conferencing system. In a computer conferencing system having a plurality of participants coupled by a communication medium, each participant of the plurality of participants having a meeting manager, a process and apparatus is disclosed for joining participants in the conferencing system. This process comprises the steps of: 1) collecting public meeting information generated by any of the plurality of participants, the public meeting information includes zero or more pages of annotations; 2) receiving a connection indication from a joining participant; 3) receiving joining meeting information from the joining participant; 4) comparing the public meeting information with the joining meeting information and generating a set of differences; and 5) selectively sending the set of differences to the joining participant or the plurality of participants or both the joining participant and the plurality of participants.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for lining public and private pages in a conferencing system is disclosed. In a computer conferencing system having a plurality of participants coupled by a communication medium, a process for linking public and private pages comprises the steps of: 1) collecting public meeting information generated by any of the plurality of participants, the public meeting information including at least one public page of annotations; 2) collecting private meeting information from a local participant in which the meeting manager is resident, the private meeting information being different from the public meeting information, the private meeting information not accessible to the plurality of conference participants other than the local participant, the private meeting information including at least one private page of annotations; and 3) selectively linking the private page with the public page, the private page being implicitly accessed when the linked public page is explicitly accessed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communication between agents in an electronic conferencing system is disclosed. In an electronic conferencing system wherein data is shared between a plurality of participants during an electronic conference, a method is disclosed for transferring large object data blocks among the participants during the electronic conference comprising the following steps: a) receiving an asynchronous request for large object data; b) placing the request in a request queue; c) receiving an asynchronous request for reprioritization of the request queue; d) determining a transport medium capability; e) partitioning the large object data into data blocks, a size of the data blocks being variable and corresponding to the capability of the transport medium; f) transferring the requested large object data to each of the participants via the transport medium; and g) removing the request from the request queue upon completion of the step of sending the requested large object data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for communication between agents in an electronic conferencing system. In an electronic conferencing system wherein data is shared between a plurality of participants during an electronic conference, a method is disclosed for maintaining consistency of the data among the participants during the electronic conference.

Abstract: A pedotopography apparatus which measures the shape of a foot by producing a moire fringe pattern representative of the underside of the foot, capturing and storing an image of the moire fringe pattern in an image storage buffer, analyzing the image to locate at least two points of interest on the foot and computing information corresponding to the distance between the two points. In the preferred embodiment the captured image is processed by Sobel convolution to enhance edges in the image. Both an apparatus and a method of processing are disclosed.

Abstract: Preventing processor domination of a CPU by background transfers of teleconference object data during an electronic conference is accomplished by monitoring an external time spent by a CPU executing outside a background transfer manager. Transfers of data packets of teleconference object data are performed if the external time is larger than a minimum threshold and smaller than a maximum threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for data communication between agents, such as those in an electronic conferencing system. In an electronic conferencing a system wherein data is shared between a plurality of participants during an electronic conference users, a method is disclosed for maintaining consistency of the data among the participants during the electronic conference users.