(12) United States Patent
`Ogdon et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`US006598075B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING
`MULTIPLE NETWORKS TO PROVIDE A
`PRESENTATION
`
`5,590,127 A 12/1996 Bales et al. ............... .. 370/260
`5,594,495 A
`1/1997 Palmer et al. .............. .. 348/17
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`(75) IIIVGIIIOI‘SZ Robert H. OgdOIl, Littleton, CO (US);
`Frank E. Johnson, Aurora, IL (US)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`0723731
`
`12/2002
`
`.......... .. H04N/7/14
`
`Assignee: InterCaH’ Inc‘,
`
`W0
`
`WO 97/32251
`
`9/1997
`
`
`
`. . . . . . . . . . .. ..
`
`G06F/11/00
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 305 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 09/675,527
`.
`_
`(22) Flled'
`
`Sep' 29’ 2000
`Related US Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/052,862, ?led on Mar.
`31, 1998.
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/041,770, ?led on Mar. 31,
`1997.
`
`7
`(51) Int. Cl. .............................................. .. G06F 15/16
`.
`.
`(52) U..S. Cl. ...................... .. 709/204, 709/227, 345/330
`(58) Fleld of Search ............................... .. 709/204, 224,
`709/227; 345/330
`
`(56)
`
`_
`References Clted
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1987 Boergljr et a1‘ 1 """"""" " 358/86
`4’65O’929 A
`2515;: Z; a '
`2
`371/32
`6/1995 Gregg et a1 '
`5’422’893 A
`348/15
`54737363 A 12/1995 Ng et aL
`395/154
`5:473j744 A 12/1995 Allen et a1_
`395/650
`5,473,772 A 12/1995 Halliwell et a1, _
`5,473,773 A 12/1995 Aman et al. .............. .. 395/650
`5,491,797 A
`2/1996 Thompson et al
`395/200-03
`55267037 A
`6/1996 cortlens ct a1~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ 348/15
`2%??068 A
`9/1996 Asodet a1‘
`""""""" " 370/62
`5557?; 2
`15:3 dine et a ' """"" "573632312
`5,563,878 A 10/1996 Blakeley et al. ..
`.... .. 370/60
`5,568,183 A 10/1996 Cortjens et al. ............ .. 348/15
`
`W0
`
`~~~~~~~~~ " GO6F/15/OO
`5/1998
`WO 98/21664
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Anonymous, “Putting the Magic in Multimedia”; Computer
`Design; v30, n12, p. 31.
`Adjeroh et al.; “Synchronization Mechanisms for Distrib
`uted Multimedia Presentation Systems”; IEEE, pp. 30—37.
`US. patent application Ser. No. 09/624,902, Johnson, ?led
`Jul. 25, 2000.
`
`_
`_
`Primary Examiner—Kr1sna L1m
`(74) Attorney, Agent, Or Firm—Sheridan ROSS PC.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A resenta?on S Stem is disclosed for distributin a erfor
`P
`y
`g P
`mance of a presentation synchronously to a plurality of
`Client nodes on a network Such as the Internet' The presem
`tation system distributes presentation content data to a
`plurality of network server nodes, and during a performance
`of the presentation, the client nodes receiving the presenta
`tion determine a particular variation of data presentation to
`retrieve from the network server nodes. In particular, the
`retrieval of presentation data depends upon the transmission
`characteristics of the network such as data transmission rate.
`Thus, if a low transmission data rate is detected at a ?rst
`client node, presentation elements of a reduced siZe can be
`retrieved. Alternatively, if a higher transmission rate is
`detected at a second client node, presentation elements of
`greater siZe (and corresponding enhanced quality of
`presentation) can be retrieved. Thus, within a single
`performance, client network nodes with varying available
`network bandwidths can be utilized for synchronously and
`simultaneously performing the presentation.
`
`17 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`nus/warm SDFWARE 11%
`
`slsnamrr
`man]
`111
`
`v
`
`i
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 1
`
`

`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1/1997 Palm6r et a1. ............ .. 395/330
`5,594,859 A
`‘61/133; ¥aStl)1_m1:let€1-l-
`2724237115) 2
`-- 342g 185;‘
`/
`“5 1° 8 e a‘
`7
`7
`/
`5,684,918 A 11/1997 Abecassls ...... ..
`386/83
`5,758,257 A
`5/1998 HerZ et a1.
`455/2
`5,759,101 A
`6/1998 Von Kohorn .............. .. 463/40
`.
`5,768,508 A
`6/1998 Elkeland
`.
`5,774,698 A
`6/1998 OlnOWlch ................. .. 370/366
`5,805,165 A
`9/1998 Thorne, III et a1. ...... .. 345/348
`5,822,525 A 10/1998 Tafoya et a1.
`.
`5,828,837 A 10/1998 Elkeland
`.
`5,828,839 A 10/1998 Moncrelff
`5,848,396 A 12/1998
`5,864,682 A
`1/1999 Porter et a1. .............. .. 709/231
`.
`5,867,494 A
`2/1999 Knshnaswamy et a1.
`.. 370/352
`.
`5,897,622 A
`4/1999 Bhnn et a1.
`705/26
`5,928,330 A
`7/1999 GoetZ et a1. ..
`.. 709/231
`5,929,848 A
`7/1999 Albukerk et al
`345/326
`.
`5,944,791 A
`8/1999 Scherpbler
`709/218
`.
`5,948,065 A
`9/1999 Ellert et a1.
`709/226
`5,956,716 A
`9/1999 Kenner et al.
`707/10
`5,956,729 A
`9/1999 GoetZ et a1.
`.. 707/104
`5,999,525 A 12/1999 Krishnaswamy et a1.
`370/352
`
`6,035,336 A * 3/2000 Lu et a1. ................... .. 709/232
`6,049,835 A
`4/2000
`. 709/245
`6,061,738 A
`5/2000
`_ 709/245
`6,108,687 A
`8/2000 Craig ....................... .. 709/203
`6,108,704 A * 8/2000 Hutton e161. ............. .. 709/227
`
`. 709/229
`
`6,119,164 A
`
`9/2000 Basche ........ ..
`.
`. 709/204
`6,151,619 A * 11/2000 Rlddle ......... ..
`709/224
`6,161,137 A 12/2000 Ogdon et a1. ..
`345/749
`6,166,735 A * 12/2000 Dom et a1.
`.
`. 709/229
`6,173,326 B1
`1/2001 Colhns ........... ..
`709/204
`6,195,684 B1 * 2/2001 Watanabe et a1. .
`707/501
`6,199,076 B1
`3/2001 Logan et a1.
`. 709/208
`6,199,104 B1
`3/2001 Delph
`_
`_
`_
`. 709/231
`6,205,485 B1
`3/2001 Klklnls ..... ..
`6,226,681 B1
`5/2001 Koga et a1. ............... .. 709/236
`6,286,034 B1
`9/2001 Sato et a1. ................ .. 709/204
`_
`6,408,336 B1
`6/2002 Schnelder et a1.
`709/229
`.
`6,442,598 B1
`8/2002 Wnght et a1. ............. .. 709/217
`.
`6,484,196 B1 * 11/2002 Maunlle ................... .. 709/206
`.
`12/2002 SuZukl ........... ..
`. 709/231
`6,493,763 B1
`6/2001 Peterson et a1. .......... .. 709/219
`2001/0003828 A1
`2OO1/OO52OO9 A1 120001 D .
`t
`1
`709024
`6”‘ e a‘ """"""" "
`
`* clted by exarnlner
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 of7
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`SHOWAUDIO PRESENTATION :
`
`<t=AUDIOARCHIVAL DATA
`
`ACCOUNTING SYSTEM 159
`~i BILLING
`|
`REPORTING \158
`154/
`
`OPERATIONS CENTER 5_8
`, AUDIOSYSTEM ggq
`"""""""" "* AUDIO
`P236
`_ AUDIO
`AUDIO
`{CLIENT
`SERvER " PLAYER T’
`‘
`E
`j ‘
`22D 5
`228
`
`PHONE BRIDGE
`
`:
`
`v
`
`I
`PHONE
`BR|DGES(S) y 100
`
`L
`‘421W
`70
`COMMUNICATION
`NETWORK
`
`----------- --
`RESOURCE FILE
`& L
`
`CONTROL
`_______
`I
`
`I
`240/
`
`SHOWCONTROL
`pRT_A_-5g_____SROIIII_SSIIEII_IIIETIRTR__
`<= cIIEIIT
`RESP0IISE==>
`'RESPONSE DATA
`SUMMARY IIRTA
`
`B
`é
`
`SCRIPT
`REQHE‘S? ________
`SCRIPTS \
`.AUDIENCE
`I MEMBER ID'S
`‘
`
`I
`
`*
`92
`3E:
`LEADERSTATIONISI _
`LEADER
`SOFTWARE
`
`”“94
`
`' (S) 248- A
`I
`I
`5 l'l if
`JWEBSERVERID'S;
`‘A “‘ * SE53?
`SCRIPT ID'S
`I I
`SHOW
`SCHEDULER
`29.4.
`
`SYSTEM
`301
`'NTERNALLEADER
`SW‘ONQ ‘jgHVSCHEDULE
`
`L.____—_______
`
`CLIENT PRESENTATION
`SoETwARETsII 88
`
`SUBORDINATE
`HOSTS
`i)
`I
`J
`.
`
`<--
`
`f70
`
`SHOW SCHEDULE
`INITIAL cIIEIITSITE PHONE
`FROMPHONEBRIDGHSHQQ
`DATA ~47
`SHOWCONNECHON
`H w NTROL
`PRESIIOW DATA; CLIENT SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD; SHOW
`PRES O CO
`m TIME, DATE; II0ST ID, CONIENTWEBSERVERURLS=>
`140
`REGISTRATION
`<
`— ¢-IRITIAIcIIENT NODEVIDEOSHOW CONNECTION
`_I_45
`
`LOBBY SYSTEM
`
`I
`I
`
`INVITATION SIIBSYSTEIII
`11_2
`RESERVATIONSUBSYSTEM
`‘ M
`CONTENTMANAGER 1_04_
`
`_
`.J ,
`LEADERANDCLIENT VIMNTERNET
`SOFTWARE
`> OR MAIL
`DOWNLOADAND SOHWARE
`I
`CL'EQISSPEPJORT QLIENT SUPPORT : T0 TELEPHONE NETWORK 74;
`COMMUNICATION PPHONEBRIDGEIOO
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 0f 7
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`<:INITIAL CLIENT SITE PHONE CONNECTION TO PRESHOW CONTROL LEAOERIINTRA - AUDIENCE AUDIO COMMUNICATION
`
`\SHOWAUDIOANDINTERCLIENTCOMMUNICATIONE>54/~ CUENTSHE
`
`74
`
`56 F\ CLIENT NODE
`; CLIENT REPRESENTA
`- > TIONSOFTWARE
`
`; ----------------------- --
`
`-
`
`ENEIIKTIIG
`CLIENTS
`
`JAPANESE
`SPEAKING
`CLIENTS
`
`g
`I
`i
`i
`;
`
`(—96a
`CONENWEBSERVER
`
`ALIVEIEEINISIEE
`
`I
`i
`:
`'\ 96b
`
`INTERNET SHOWDATA
`NEENEIEENEIEQR
`SHOW DATA
`I
`---- --
`
`&
`T
`: NETWORK 78
`BROWSER ——
`
`1
`: CUENTSITEISI :
`2;“
`". """""""""""""""""""""" "E
`l
`
`PHONE 02 <
`
`'
`
`CONTENT WEBSERVER
`
`‘ """""""" "I k 54
`“96a
`II (
`_; ---------------------------------------- --: CLIENTSITEIS)
`
`—
`
`ALTERNATE CONTENT WEBSERVERIS) ,qééb ------- -'
`
`CONTENT WEBSERVER
`
`"'
`?g‘???
`> CLIENTSITEIS) *
`,< ------------------------------------------ ~-=
`,
`'
`/\
`J
`A?‘
`54
`L6 ----------------------------------------- ——-i
`\J
`_ CLIENTSITEIS)
`<------'-
`,
`
`y
`
`.
`
`CONTENTWEBSERVER
`
`5 96b ALTERNATECONTENT ‘ """"""""""" "'
`5
`\, WEBSERVER(S)
`I+ ------------------------
`:
`
`‘
`
`-------------------------------------- a»
`
`CLIENTRESPONSE
`
`CUENTSHHS) +~
`
`5
`i
`
`;
`ALTERNATE CONTENT
`WALL
`E WEBSERVER(S) * ____________ _-
`
`Sit
`
`.. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - - - - _ - _ - - _ - _ . . _ _
`
`_ _ _ - - - - - - - - - _ _ _ _ - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ - - _ - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
`
`/
`
`H CLIENT RESPONSEC
`WEBSERVER * _____ -5,
`
`S
`
`SECURE CORPORATE INTRANET .252
`
`I
`
`I
`
`V
`
`L- PRESHOW DATA
`
`CLIENT RESPONSE
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`Sheet 3 0f 7
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`@ F'G-2A
`404
`i
`408“
`IIILOAJHW‘IIIIIISENTIAHIN‘IAHHAHIHSII‘ES
`THE HOST 200 USES THEPREsENTATION PERFORMANCE
`N
`.
`PRESENTATION FROM THECONTENT NAE
`G R 104
`
`THE LEADER(SI AND CLIENTS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
`
`416 j
`
`412 w
`
`v
`
`THE PRESHOW CONTROL 136 ACCEPTS ANETWORK TO
`gNTERNET ANOIOR TELEPHONY 74 CONNECTION
`YA CAND DATE CLIENT FOR THE PRESENTATION.
`
`=
`
`EACH LEADER LOGS ONTO THE HOST 2OOAsAsHOw
`LEADERFORCONTROLLING BOTH THEVIDEOAND
`AUDIO COMPONENTS OF THE PRESENTATION
`
`IS THECONNECTION VIA
`70
`CONNECTION OR A
`
`74 CONNECTION.
`
`7
`
`420
`
`5
`
`TELEPHONY
`NETWORK 74
`
`THE CANDIDATE CLIENT FOR THEPRESENTATION
`INPUTSANACOUSTIC LOGIN TO THEPRESHOW
`
`I
`
`.
`
`HHIIIHHIITIHHIIERA
`PRESENTAHONANDCONVERSINGWHHTHE
`COMNUNICATIONSNETWORKTO 450
`\_ IEAOERIs ANDIOROTHERAUDIENCEMEMBERS
`As INA
`DITIONALVOICETRANSMITTED
`TELEPHONECALL.
`
`THE CANDIDATE CLIENT LOGS ON TO THE PRESHOW
`CONTROL I36 WITH A PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED LOGIN.
`
`424 A LOGIN VALID?
`
`THE CANDIDATE CLIENT IS NOW IDENTIFIED ASA
`LEGITIMATE CLIENT THE PRESHOW CONTROL 136
`DOWNLOADS ‘If NOT PERFORMED PREVIOUSLYITHE CLIENT
`PRESENTATIO SOFTWARE 88 AND THE URLS 0 THE
`CONTENT WEBSERVERS 96 AVAILABLE FOR SUPPLYING
`ERSIONS OF) PRESENTATION VIDEO DATA ANDIOR '
`ULTIMEDIA DATA TO THE CLIENT.
`
`440
`
`I
`THE PRESHOW CONTROL 136 TRANSFERS
`THE CLIENTS CLIENT ID, AND NETWORK 70
`(INTERNET) ADDRESS TO THE HOST 200,
`
`LOCIN VALID?
`
`IS THE CLIENT
`LOGGED IN FORA
`VIDEO PRESENTATION
`OF THE SHOW?
`
`464
`O I
`THE PRESHOW CONTROL
`136 WATCHES FOR
`NETWORK 7O CONNECTION
`BY THE CANDIDATE CLIENT
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`Sheet 4 0f 7
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`O
`O
`458
`A
`444 \I
`ATPRESENTATIONPERFORMANCETIME,THEPRESHOWCONTROL \ ATPRESENTATIONTIME,THEPRESHOWCONTROL
`I36COMMUN|CATESWITH THE CLIENT PRESENTATION
`I36REOUESTS THAT CONTROLFORTHE CLIENTS
`SOFTWARE as FORACTIVATINGANETWORK TOCONNECTION
`CALL BE TRANSFERRED BY THE HOST 2OOTO THE
`BETWEEN THECLIENT'SCLIENT NODE56AND THE INTERNAL
`PHONE DRIOOEOONTROI24OEOROONTROLIINO
`WEBSERVERS24BFORCOMMUN|CATINGWITHAHOST200
`THETRANSMISSION OF THEAUDIO PORTION OFTHE
`CONTROLLINGTHEPRESENTATIONPERFORMANCE.
`PRESENTATION.
`
`V
`
`N
`
`448
`THECLIENT PRESENTATION SOFTWAREBBACCESSES THE r/ THEHOSTQOO:
`NETWORK 70 gNTERNET) FOR DOWNLOADING AN INITIAL
`(AI AOTNATES THE LEADER SOFTWARE SOFTWARE
`COLLECTION FONEORMOREVIDEOANDIORMULTIMEDIA
`OIONTIIELEADERsTATIONIsINEOR
`PRESENTATION SEGMENTS FROM ONE OF THE DESIGNATED
`CONTROLLING THE PREOEN A ION PERFORMANCE;
`
`OONTENT WEBSERVERS 96. [TEE DOWNLOADED DATA IS CACHEDONTHECUENTNO 56'
`(BI
`THEPRESENTATIONASACLIENTWOULD.
`
`>
`
`TI
`
`472
`
`V
`
`THE LEADER?): IINLSELECTS THE FIRST UIEXT) COLLECTION OF CORRESPONDING PRESENTATION
`SEGMENTS
`AN FROM THE ONE OR ORE PRESENTATION VERSIONS WHEREIN EACH OF THE
`SEGMENTS
`S CO RESPONDING AUDIO AND VIDEO PORTIONS FOR PRESENTING TO THE CLIENTIS);
`AND (B) TRANSMITS THE IDENTITY OF THE SELECTED COLLECTION TO THE HOST 200.
`
`476 J
`
`V
`IFTHELEADERSTATION92ISEXTERNALTOTHEOPERATIONSCENTERSB,THESECURITY
`I sIIDsYsTEN2OOcIIEOI<sTIIEIEADERINPIITEORNAIIDITN
`
`480A
`
`ISTHEREANOTHER
`COLLECTION OF ONEOR
`MORESEGMENTS
`DETERMINED BYTHE
`LEADERTS)?
`
`490
`
`"
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`494
`REMOVECLIENT‘V
`PRESENTATION
`SOFTWARE88
`FROM EACH
`CLIENTNODE
`56.
`
`500
`I
`THE HOST ZOO ACCESSES THE PRESENTATION SCRIPT FOR THE NEXT LEADER DESIGNATED
`COLLECTION OF CORRESPONDING SEGMENTS OF THE ONE OR MORE PRESENTATION VERSIONS
`CAPABLE OF BEING PRESENTED.
`FIG. 2B
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22 , 2003
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`I
`
`F 504
`THE HOST 200 ACCESSES THE RESOURCE FILE 2T2 FOR RESOLVING VIRTUAL WEBSERVER NAMES
`IN THE ACCESSED COLLECT
`ION, THEREBY PROVIDING ACTUAL CONTENT WEBSERVER 96 NETWORK
`TO ADDRESSES (URLS) HAVING AT LEAST A VIDEO VERSIONIS) FOR THE PRESENTATION.
`
`V
`
`f 508
`
`THE HOST 200 SENDS ONE OR MORE COMMANDS TO THE CLIENT PRESENTATION SOFTWARE 88 AT
`EACH CLIENT NODE 56 INDICATING; IAETHE NEXT COLLECTION OF ONE OR MORE IDEO)
`SEGMENTS FROM ONE OR MORE PRE
`ENTATION VERSIONS FOR PRESENTING AT HE CLIENT NODE;
`AND B) A LIST OF NETWORK 70 ADDRESSE
`S IURLS») OF THE CONTENT WEBSERVER(S) 96 FROM
`WHIC THIS NEXT COLLECTION OF SEGMEN S CA
`BE RETRIEVED.
`
`V
`
`V
`
`EACHCVENTNODEBPREPARES T
`NECESSARYEIFORRECEIPTOFTHSA
`NEXTPRES NTAT'ONCOIIIIANDI I
`FROM THE HOST 209
`___;
`474
`
`516
`
`NOTCACHED ON
`THECLIENTNODE
`
`> FOREACH CLIENTNODE56 THE CLIENT
`PRESENTATION SOFTWARE88DETERMINES
`WHETHER THENEXT COLLECTIONOFSEGMENTS
`FOR PRESENTING ON THE CLIENTNODEIS CACHED
`AT THECLIENTNODEORNOT
`V
`\
`CACHEDONTHE
`CLIENTNODE
`
`_
`
`‘V
`
`r524
`
`THE CLIENT PRESENTATION SOFTWARE 88 ON THE CLIENT NODE 56 USES RECENT NETWORK TU
`(INTERNET DATA TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS TOGETHER WITH THE HOST 200 TRANSMITTED
`UST OF N WORK T0 ADDRESSES (URLS%FOR CONTENT WEBSERVERS 96 TO SELECT:
`A
`A
`g?) A NEXT OLLECTION OF SEGM ENMEI TO BE REQUESTED
`CONTENT WEBSERVER, AND
`FROM THE
`SELECTED CONTENT WEBSE
`R. NOTE THAT THE SELECTED COLL
`E
`CTION OF SEGMENTS FROM THE
`SELECTED WEBSERVER IS EXPECTED TO HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF BEING DEUVERED VIA THE
`NETWORK 70
`(INTERNET) PRIOR TO THE TIME OF PRESENTATION OF THIS COLLECTION OF SEGMENTS
`ONTHECLIEN NODE56.
`
`‘
`
`v
`
`/“ 528
`THE NETWORK TO ADDRESS
`KIRL) OF‘ THE SELECTED CONTENT WEBSERVER 96 AND AN IDENTITY
`OF THE NEXT COLLECTION O SEGMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO THE CLIENT SITE BROWSER 78, AND
`THE BROWSER, IN TURN, SENDS A NETWORK 7D
`IINTERNET) REQUEST TO THE SELECTED
`CONTENT WEBSERVER 96
`FOR THE SELECTED C LLECTION OF SEGMENTS.
`
`FIG. 2C
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`IS THE REQUESTED COLLECTION OF SEGMENTS
`CACHED ON THE CLIENTNODE 56 WI THINA
`DESIRED TIME?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`THE CLIENTPRESENTATION
`SOFTWARE 88 DETERMINES IE
`THERE IS TIME TO TRYAGAIN.
`
`DETERMINE THE NETWORK 70
`TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
`(Ci?LEhETCrlglggg SEGMENTS RECEIVED AT THE
`
`CAN TRYAGAIN
`
`536 I
`
`"
`IS A HOS T 200 IN TERRUPT
`DETECTED REOUESTINGA
`HALT TO THE PRESENTATION
`OF THE CURRENT COLLECTION
`OF SEGMEN TS .7
`
`YES
`
`552 3
`
`NO
`
`FOR EACH CLIENT NODE 56, THE CLIENT PRESENTATION SOFTWARE 88 INSTRUCTS THE
`BROWSER T8 TO PRESENT THE NEXT SEGMENT.
`
`IS THE CLIENT NODE 56 PREPARED FOR
`RECEIVING THE NEXT PRESENTATION
`COMMANDS ?
`
`A
`
`IS THERE ANOTHER SEGMENT
`TO BE PRESENTED ?
`
`FIG. 2D
`
`V
`
`YES /\ NO
`56° N
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 22, 2003
`
`7f07LI.66hS
`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`.m___:_§zwwemzssm25:
`
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`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 9
`
`

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`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`1
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING
`MULTIPLE NETWORKS TO PROVIDE A
`PRESENTATION
`
`The present application is a continuation of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/052,862 ?led Mar. 31, 1998, which
`claims the bene?t of US. patent application Ser. No. 60/041,
`770, ?led Mar. 31, 1997.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a networked presentation
`system for providing a presentation to a plurality of client
`nodes on a communications network such as the Internet,
`and more particularly to a presentation system wherein
`network transmission characteristics are utiliZed in deter
`mining the presentation materials presented at each client
`node during a performance of the presentation.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Interactive or live presentations via a telecommunications
`network (i.e., “telepresentations” such as teleconferences
`etc.) are becoming a viable alternative to face-to-face meet
`ings due to the greater cost effectiveness of such telepre
`sentations. However, there is still substantial eXpense in
`conducting such a telepresentation, particularly when the
`presentation members (i.e., presentation leaders and audi
`ence members) reside at a large number of geographically
`scattered sites. In particular, each of the sites may require
`specialiZed video conferencing systems with high data trans
`mission lines for connecting the telepresentation members.
`Thus, due to the expense of provisioning and maintaining
`such networked conferencing systems, corporations typi
`cally have only a small number of such conferencing sys
`tems at strategically located telepresentation centers for
`conducting such telepresentations. However, there are
`numerous drawbacks to this approach, such as:
`(1.1) The dedicated telepresentation centers are expensive
`to maintain;
`(1.2) Presentation participants are still required to travel
`to these centers; and
`(1.3) Potential members of such a presentation who are
`not able to access such a center are eXcluded from the
`presentation.
`Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a network
`presentation distribution system that alleviates these
`drawbacks, wherein such a system would allow individuals
`to access and/or participate in a presentation using standard
`telephony and Internet network connections found in most
`of?ces and many homes.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is a network presentation distribu
`tion system for providing a presentation, via one or more
`communication networks, to a plurality of presentation
`members simultaneously. That is, the present invention
`distributes a presentation synchronously to presentation
`members via the one or more communication networks,
`wherein a communication network is de?ned as both the
`physical components and the communication protocol(s)
`utiliZed on the network components and wherein the term,
`“presentation members” (also denoted “users”, includes
`both audience members (also denoted “clients”) and pre
`sentation leaders. Moreover, the present invention provides
`interactive and/or real-time presentations to presentation
`members that are geographically scattered when each such
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`member has access to one or more commonly available
`communication networks such as the Internet and a conven
`tional telephony network for telephone-to-telephone voice
`communication. For eXample, the present invention may
`communicate the video portion of a presentation to a user
`site via the Internet (more generally, via any TCP/IP
`network) while a corresponding audio portion may be com
`municated to the user site via a conventional telephony
`network and a conventional telephone at the user site.
`However, other embodiments are also within the scope of
`the present invention. For eXample, both the video and audio
`portions of the presentation may be provided solely by a
`TCP/IP network such as the Internet, assuming that there is
`suf?cient communication bandwidth to synchroniZe presen
`tation transmissions to the presentation members.
`The present invention distributes a presentation
`(synonymously also denoted a “show”) to presentation
`members by a novel distribution of presentation materials
`among network server nodes of a TCP/IP network
`(hereinafter assumed to be the Internet for simplicity). That
`is, due to the typically “bursty” nature of transmissions
`between nodes of such a network, a version of the presen
`tation may be accessed synchronously from different net
`work server nodes, or different versions of the presentation
`may be accessed synchronously from one or more of the
`network server nodes. Thus, in one embodiment, the present
`invention provides for a plurality of at least one of:
`(2.1) One or more network server nodes (each hereinafter
`also denoted synonymously as a “network server,”
`“content webserver”, “content supplying node”, and
`“supplying node”), whereby audience members receive
`presentation materials; and/or
`(2.2) Different versions of the same presentation, acces
`sible from the one or more of the content webservers,
`wherein each version may be for a different group of
`audience members such as a group for Japanese speak
`ing audience members, or audience members affiliated
`with a particular organiZation.
`Note that each of the one or more presentation versions
`includes one or more presentation segments (hereinafter also
`denoted simply “segments”) that provide different portions
`of the presentation. More precisely, subcollections each
`having one or more segments are provided as presentation
`“elements” in that each such subcollection is intended to be
`an indivisible portion of a presentation performance.
`Moreover, each version of a presentation typically has its
`subcollections of segments (i.e, presentation elements)
`ordered according to their presentation sequence. Moreover,
`substantially every segment (or subcollections thereof) in
`one version corresponds with a segment (or subcollections
`thereof) having the same presentation order, in each of the
`other versions. Thus, assuming corresponding segments (or
`subcollections thereof) in different versions have approXi
`mately the same presentation duration, any of the corre
`sponding alternative segments (or subcollections thereof)
`from different versions can be presented as a replacement for
`another such corresponding segment (or subcollection) dur
`ing the presentation. Thus, it is an aspect of the present
`invention to provide corresponding alternative segments (or
`subcollections thereof) having substantially different net
`work transmission requirements so that such corresponding
`alternative segments (or subcollections thereof) can be sub
`stituted for one another depending on the performance of the
`communications network. For eXample, the segments
`(subcollections) of a ?rst version of a presentation may
`require a network transmission rate suf?cient for real time or
`animated video and the segments for another version of the
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 10
`
`

`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`3
`presentation may only require a transmission rate suf?cient
`for graphic slides. Thus, of a set of corresponding segments
`(subcollections), one segment (subcollection) may merely
`be an audio presentation via a telephone, Whereas an alter
`native segment (subcollection) may be a multimedia pre
`sentation element that is a combination of one or more of the
`folloWing types of HTML multimedia data: audio, images,
`animation or video, Wherein such a multimedia element
`plays over a set period of time and can be as simple as a
`single image or as complex as a combination of images,
`audio, animation and video. Furthermore, segments may
`include interactive questions that audience members ansWer
`by, e.g., clicking on their display screens.
`Note that it is also an aspect of the present invention that
`an ordering of prede?ned segments (or subcollections
`thereof) is capable of being presented and archived, and
`subsequently represented. Moreover, such an ordering can
`take into account alternative segments for the presentation.
`Thus, multiple sequentially- ordered scripts can be created
`so that the leader can choose to change scripts in the middle
`of a presentation based on user feedback. Accordingly, a
`presentation leader has the ability to stop presentation of a
`particular script and its current subcollection of segments
`and change to a different subcollection of segments to be
`delivered to the audience. Subsequently, the leader can then
`resume the initial script at any time.
`Accordingly, to take advantage of this novel distribution
`of presentation materials, the present invention coordinates
`and controls computations and presentations at each client
`netWork node for each presentation audience member
`(hereinafter each such netWork node also may be synony
`mously denoted as a “client node,” “user netWork node” or
`simply “user node”) substantially simultaneously. In
`particular, one or more presentation controlling netWork
`connected nodes (each hereinafter also denoted a “host
`node”) is provided for transmitting presentation controlling
`commands to the client nodes so that there is retrieval of the
`presentation segments from one or more versions of the one
`or more netWork content server nodes depending on, for
`example, performance characteristics of netWork transmis
`sions. Thus, it is an aspect of the present invention to
`dynamically and adaptively sWitch betWeen content Web
`servers and/or versions of the presentation according to
`netWork transmission characteristics at each client netWork
`node so that the clients at the client nodes have presented to
`them simultaneously, synchronously and in real time, cor
`responding (in content) segments of the presentation. For
`example, a ?rst client (at a ?rst client node) may experience
`the presentation as an ordered series of presentation
`segments, Wherein the ?rst and second ordered segments are
`presented in full animation, Wherein the ?rst of the ordered
`segments is obtained from a ?rst content Webserver and the
`second segment of the ordered segments is obtained from a
`second content Webserver. Moreover, synchronously With
`the presentation to the ?rst client, a second client (at a
`second client node) may experience the presentation in a
`slide shoW format from a third content Webserver, Wherein
`the initial tWo segments presented are corresponding alter
`native segments to the ?rst and second segments presented
`to the ?rst client. Additionally, a third client may synchro
`nously experience the ?rst segment of the presentation via
`netWork transmissions from the ?rst content Webserver but
`subsequently experience the corresponding slide shoW alter
`native to the second segment from the third content Web
`server due to, for example, netWork transmission sloW
`doWns.
`It is a further aspect of the present invention to synchro
`nously provide audio and video portions of the presentation
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`4
`through different communication channels (a communica
`tion channel being a physical signal transport path together
`With a particular signal protocol). For example, in one
`embodiment of the present invention (denoted hereinafter
`the “Telephony/Internet embodiment”), the audio portion of
`the presentation is communicated audibly directly to a
`standard telephone using conventional voice grade tele
`phony transmissions, and the corresponding video portion of
`the presentation is transmitted via a different netWork such
`as the Internet (more generally referred to herein as a
`“communications network”) using, e.g., a modem to inter
`pret the transmission signals.
`It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide the
`same audio presentation portion to each client, and in this
`manner, maintain the continuity of the presentation betWeen
`clients. Thus, regardless of the version of the video presen
`tation provided, the clients have their presentations synchro
`niZed by at least experiencing simultaneously the same
`audio presentation.
`It is also an aspect of the present invention to alloW
`presentation members to communicate With one another. For
`example, in the Telephony/Internet embodiment, a client
`may communicate With other presentation members
`(including the presentation leader) during the presentation
`via the phone and/or by Internet messaging.
`In providing the above capabilities of the netWork pre
`sentation distribution system of the present invention, one or
`more of the previously mentioned presentation controlling
`netWork nodes (“host nodes”) are utiliZed, Wherein these
`nodes direct the How of the presentation data betWeen the
`presentation members. For example, in the Telephony/
`Internet embodiment, such a host node, upon receiving the
`presentation instructions from a presentation leader indicat
`ing the next presentation segment(s) to be presented, trans
`mits Internet presentation control signals to each of the
`client nodes identifying the next collection of corresponding
`versions of video segments from Which each client node is
`to select a video segment for presenting. Additionally, the
`host node coordinates any accompanying audio portion for
`this segment so that the timing for the presentation of these
`audio and video portions of the segment(s) are synchro
`niZed.
`Moreover, during a presentation a host node provides a
`leader of the presentation With the ability to establish and
`control audience member involvement in the presentation.
`In particular, in the Telephony/Internet embodiment, this
`aspect of the invention is provided by the leader controlling
`the functionality of one or more phone bridges through
`Which all the audio communication during the presentation
`may be routed. Accordingly, at any point the leader can
`speak into a microphone and broadcast his/her live voice to
`the audience members through the phone bridge(s). This live
`voice audio is automatically mixed With any segment audio
`concurrently being provided by the phone bridge(s). The
`leader can control the volume of the segment audio routed
`through the phone bridge(s) via controls at a leader control
`station (or simply “leader station”). When enabled by one of
`the phone bridges, the leader can also control the relative
`volume of his/her microphone. OtherWise the audio presen
`tation portion routed through the phone bridge(s) is balanced
`by the automatic gain control on the phone bridge(s).
`It is also an aspect of the present invention that any
`audience member can “request the microphone,” from the
`leader to speak to the presentation audience. Accordingly,
`the leader has the ability to alloW an audience member to
`speak to the entire audience. The leader can, of course, also
`choose to stop such audience participation at any time. Thus,
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1005, pg. 11
`
`

`
`US 6,598,075 B1
`
`5
`the presentation leader may enable and disable audience
`member involvement during the presentation.
`It is also an aspect of the present invention that Whenever
`an on-screen question is ansWered by audience members, the
`results are automatically collected and can be graphed. The
`leader can choose to display the graphical results to all of the
`audience members. An audience pro?le database may be
`created With the data obtained from each audience member.
`Note that the audience pro?le database is maintained beyond
`any one presentation if such is desired.
`It is yet another aspect of the present invention that in
`parallel With all of the other types of interactions betWeen
`presentation members, teXt messaging betWeen the leader
`and any or all of the audience members is done through a
`messaging WindoW. Further, audience members can send
`private messages to the leader as Well as each other. These
`messages can be read during the presentation Without inter
`rupting the How of the presentation.
`In another embodiment of the present invention, note that
`both the video and audio portions for a presentation may be
`provided by the Internet. Moreover, the present embodiment
`and the Telephony/Internet embodiment discussed above
`may be intermixed during a presentation so that some clients
`may receive the entire presentation via the Internet (more
`generally, via a communications netWork having physical
`transport and protocol(s) for supporting multimedia
`presentations) Whereas other clients may receive the audio
`portion of the presentation via telephony transmissions of
`conventional voice communication through a telephone
`handset.
`Thus, audience members may simultaneously receive a
`coordinated sequence of multimedia data controlled by the
`leader to be displayed, e.g., by an Internet broWser such as
`Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
`Moreover, the present invention supports standard media
`types, e.g., GIF animation, as Well as plug-in components
`