65373 U,S, PTO
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`I 1I1f11 1111/ ifill ifill filII IIlfl 1111 1111
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`Docket
`Number
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`INVENTOR(s)/APPLICANT(s)
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`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION COVER SHEET
`Thi~3/1~/'~? request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT under 37
`CFR 1. 53 (b) (2) •
`..... -
`3654-1-PROV Type a plus 'Q~
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`cs:Ii·r
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`sign (+)
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`0\
`U1
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`C
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`LAST NAME
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`FIRST NAME
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`MIDDLE INITIAL
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`RESIDENCE (CITY AND EITHER STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY)
`
`Ogdon
`Johnson
`
`Robert
`Frank
`
`H
`E
`
`3 Golden Eagle Lane, Uttleton, Colorado 80127
`157 North Buckingham Drive, Aurora, Illinois 60506
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`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters max)
`
`"METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A PRESENTATION ON A NETWORK"
`
`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`David F. Zinger
`Sheridan Ross P.C.
`1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 3500
`Denver, Colorado 80203
`COUNTRY I United States of America
`STATE I Colorado
`I ZIP CODE
`I 80203
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (check all that apply)
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`I
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`x Specification
`r--
`Drawing(s)
`X
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`Numberof Pages
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`Number of Sheets
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`52
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`18
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`I
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check all that apply)
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`X
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`Small Entity Statement
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`Other (specify)
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`X
`r--
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`A check or money order is enclosed to cover the filing fees
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`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge
`filing fees and credit Deposit Account Number:
`
`I
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`19-1970
`
`PROVISIONAL
`FILING FEE
`AMOUNT ($)
`
`$75,00
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`The invention was made by an agency of the United States Government or under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.
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`H
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`o
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`No.
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`Yes, the name of the u.S. Government agency and the Government contract
`number are:
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`( / ; " I7c ...
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`BY:-7~~'~~) ~--~~~~'_/_--'~~9------
`avid F. zinger
`Registration No.2,
`1700 Lincoln Street
`suite 3500
`Denver, Colorado
`(303~63-9700
`?:;?~
`Date: ~
`
`80203
`
`"EXPRESS MAll" MAILING LABEL NUMBER:
`DATE OF DEPOSIT: March 31, 1997
`
`IB914067572 US
`
`IS BEING
`I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PAPER OR FEE
`DEPOSITED WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE "EXPRESS
`MAll POST OFFICE TO ADDRESSEE" SERVICE UNDER 37 CFR 1.10
`ON THE DATE
`INDICATED ABOVE AND
`IS ADDRESSED TO THE
`~~~j~~ANT C~OMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS, WASHINGTON, D.C.
`
`TYPED OR PR= ~ R.C. WOOOSOME
`
`SIGNATURE: ~
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 1
`
`

`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING
`A PRESENTATION ON A NETWORK
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`The present invention relates to synchronously providing
`
`a multimedia presentation on one or more communication
`
`networks to a plurality of geographically scattered users at
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`individual user network nodes;
`
`in particular, the present
`
`invention synchronizes the presentation of a plurality of
`
`10
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`versions of a presentation to the network nodes, wherein each
`
`user network node adaptively selects segments from among the
`
`presentation versions according to network performance.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`Interactive
`
`or
`
`live
`
`presentations
`
`via
`
`a
`
`telecommunications network (i.e., "telepresentations" such as
`
`teleconferences etc.) are becoming a viable alternative to
`
`face-to-face meetings due to the greater cost effectiveness of
`
`such telepresentations. However, there is still substantial
`
`20
`
`expense in conducting such a telepresentation, particularly
`
`when the presentation members (i.e., presentation leaders and
`
`audience 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
`
`25
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`transmission
`
`lines
`
`for connecting
`
`the
`
`telepresentation
`
`members.
`
`Thus, due to the expense of provisioning and
`
`maintaining such networked conferencing systems, corporations
`
`typically have only a small number of such conferencing
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 2
`
`

`
`systems 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
`
`5
`
`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
`
`10
`
`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
`
`15
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`telephony and Internet network connections found in most
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`offices and many homes.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present
`
`invention
`
`is
`
`a
`
`network presentation
`
`20
`
`distribution system for providing a presentation, via one or
`
`more communication networks, to a plurality of presentation
`
`members.
`
`That is,
`
`the present
`
`invention distributes a
`
`presentation synchronously to presentation members via the one
`
`or more communication networks, wherein a communication
`
`25
`
`network is defined as both the physical components and the
`
`communication protocol(s) utilized on the network components
`
`2
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 3
`
`

`
`d
`
`;I
`I
`
`and wherein the term, "presentation members" (also denoted
`
`"users"),
`
`includes both audience members
`
`(also denoted
`
`"clients") and presentation leaders. Moreover, the present
`
`invention provides interactive and/or real-time presentations
`
`5
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`to presentation members that are geographically scattered
`
`when each such member has access to one or more commonly
`
`available communication networks such as the Internet and a
`
`conventional
`
`telephony network for telephone-to-telephone
`
`voice communication. For example, the present invention may
`
`10
`
`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 communicated to the
`
`user site via a conventional
`
`telephony network and a
`
`conventional telephone at the user site. However, other
`
`15
`
`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 sufficient
`
`communication
`
`bandwidth
`
`to
`
`synchronize
`
`presentation
`
`20
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`transmissions to the presentation members.
`
`The present invention distributes a presentation 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
`
`25
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`is, due to the typically "bursty" nature of transmissions
`
`between nodes of such a network, a version of the presentation
`
`3
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 4
`
`

`
`f
`
`, ,
`
`may be accessed synchronously from different network 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
`
`5
`
`provides for a plurality of at least one of:
`
`(2.1)
`
`one or more network server nodes (hereinafter
`
`also denoted "content web servers", "content supplying nodes",
`
`and "supplying nodes"), whereby audience members receive
`
`presentation materials; and/or
`
`10
`
`(2.2)
`
`different versions of the same presentation,
`
`accessible from the one or more of the content web servers.
`
`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
`
`15
`
`the presentation. More precisely, the segments of each
`
`version are typically ordered according to their presentation
`
`sequence. Moreover, substantially every segment in one
`
`version corresponds with
`
`a
`
`segment
`
`(having
`
`the
`
`same
`
`presentation order) in each of the other versions.
`
`Thus,
`
`20
`
`assuming corresponding segments in different versions have
`
`approximately the same presentation duration, any of the
`
`corresponding alternative segments from different versions can
`
`be presented as a replacement for another such corresponding
`
`segment during the presentation. Thus, it is an aspect of the
`
`25
`
`present
`
`invention
`
`to provide corresponding alternative
`
`segments having substantially different network transmission
`
`4
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 5
`
`

`
`I r
`"
`
`requirements so that such corresponding alternative segments
`
`can be substituted for one another depending on
`
`the
`
`performance of the communications network. For example, the
`
`segments of a first version of a presentation may require a
`
`5
`
`network transmission rate sufficient for real time or animated
`
`video and the segments for another version of the presentation
`
`may only require a transmission rate sufficient for graphic
`
`slides.
`
`Accordingly, to take advantage of this novel distribution
`
`10
`
`of presentation materials, the present invention coordinates
`
`and controls computations at a network node
`
`for each
`
`presentation member (hereinafter such network nodes also
`
`denoted as "user network nodes" or simply "user nodes"). That
`
`is, a presentation controlling network node (hereinafter also
`
`15
`
`denoted
`
`a
`
`"host node" )
`
`is provided
`
`for
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`transmitting
`
`presentation controlling commands to the user nodes so that
`
`there is retrieval of the presentation segments from one or
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`more versions of the one or more network content server nodes
`
`depending on, for example, performance characteristics of
`
`20
`
`network transmissions. 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 user or client
`
`network node so that the clients at the client nodes have
`
`25
`
`presented
`
`to
`
`them,
`
`synchronously
`
`and
`
`in
`
`real
`
`time,
`
`corresponding (in content) segments of the presentation. For
`
`5
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 6
`
`

`
`()
`!
`
`example,
`
`a
`
`first client (at a first client node) may
`
`experience
`
`the presentation as an ordered series of
`
`presentation segments, wherein the first and second ordered
`
`segments are presented in full animation, wherein the first of
`
`5
`
`the ordered segments is obtained from a first content web
`
`server and the second segment of the ordered segments is
`
`obtained
`
`from a
`
`second content web server. Moreover,
`
`synchronously with the presentation to the first client, a
`
`second client (at a second client node) may experience the
`
`10
`
`presentation in a slide show format from a third content web
`
`server, wherein
`
`the initial two segments presented are
`
`corresponding alternative segments to the first and second
`
`segments presented to the first client. Additionally, a third
`
`client may synchronously experience the first segment of the
`
`15
`
`presentation via network transmissions from the first content
`
`web server but subsequently experience the corresponding slide
`
`show alternative to the second segment from the third content
`
`web
`
`server due
`
`to,
`
`for example,
`
`network
`
`transmission
`
`slowdowns.
`
`20
`
`It is a further aspect of the present invention to
`
`synchronously provide audio and video portions of
`
`the
`
`presentation through different communication channels
`
`(a
`
`communication channel being a physical signal transport path
`
`together with a particular signal protocol). For example, in
`
`25
`
`one embodiment of the present invention (denoted hereinafter
`
`the "Telephony/Internet embodiment"), the audio portion of the
`
`6
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 7
`
`

`
`presentation is communicated audibly directly to a standard
`
`telephone
`
`using
`
`conventional
`
`voice
`
`grade
`
`telephony
`
`transmissions, and the corresponding video portion of the
`
`presentation is transmitted via the Internet using a modem to
`
`5
`
`interpret the TCP/IP 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
`
`10
`
`of the video presentation provided, the clients have their
`
`presentations
`
`synchronized
`
`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
`
`15
`
`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
`
`20
`
`presentation 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
`
`flow of
`
`the presentation data between
`
`the
`
`presentation members. For example, in the Telephony/Internet
`
`25
`
`embodiment, such a host node, upon receiving the presentation
`
`instructions from a presentation leader indicating the next
`
`7
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 8
`
`

`
`, I
`(
`
`J' •
`
`presentation segment(s) to be,presented, transmits 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
`
`5
`
`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 synchronized.
`
`Moreover, one of the host nodes provides a leader of the
`
`10
`
`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
`
`15
`
`the audio communication during the presentation is routed.
`
`Thus, the presentation leader may enable and disable client
`
`involvement during the presentation.
`
`In another embodiment of the present invention, note that
`
`both the video and audio portions for a presentation may be
`
`20
`
`provided by the Internet. Moreover, the present embodiment
`
`and the Telephony/Internet embodiment above may be intermixed
`
`during a presentation so that some clients may receive the
`
`entire presentation via the Internet, whereas other clients my
`
`receive
`
`the audio portion of
`
`the presentation via
`
`a
`
`25
`
`conventional telephone handset.
`
`8
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 9
`
`

`
`,I
`)
`
`Other features and benefits of the present invention will
`
`become apparent
`
`from
`
`the detailed description and
`
`the
`
`accompanying figures contained hereinafter.
`
`5
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functions supported
`
`by
`
`the present
`
`invention
`
`for both
`
`the
`
`leader of
`
`a
`
`presentation and the audience members of the presentation;
`
`Fig. 2 illustrates that the distribution of a real time
`
`10
`
`or live audio portion of a presentation using one or more
`
`phone bridges;
`
`Fig. 3 is a network diagram illustrating the present
`
`invention with the Internet being used for distributing a
`
`video portion of the presentation and a separate telephony
`
`15
`
`communication channel used for communicating an audio version
`
`of the presentation corresponding with the video portion;
`
`Fig. 4
`
`is a high
`
`level block diagram showing the
`
`communication channels between functional components of the
`
`present invention;
`
`20
`
`Fig. 5 is a diagram of the flow of communications
`
`according to the present invention, wherein the security
`
`features are illustrated;
`
`Figs. 6A and 6B show a . more detailed block diagram of
`
`the functional components of one embodiment of the present
`
`25
`
`invention.
`
`9
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 10
`
`

`
`" )
`
`Figs. 7A - 7D present a flowchart of the steps performed
`
`(by the embodiment of Figs. 6A and 6B)
`
`for presenting a
`
`multimedia presentation to a plurality of clients, each at a
`
`different client node.
`
`5
`
`Fig. 8 is another block diagram of the present invention;
`
`Fig. 9 shows the functional components of the present
`
`invention utilized by a presentation leader and also utilized
`
`in presentation script processing;
`
`Fig. lO shows the functional components of the present
`
`lO
`
`invention utilized by a moderator of a presentation;
`
`Fig. II shows the functional components of the present
`
`invention that are utilized for transmitting messages between
`
`the users of the present invention;
`
`Fig.
`
`l2A
`
`is another block diagram of the present
`
`l5
`
`invention showing
`
`the high
`
`level
`
`functional components
`
`utilized
`
`in collecting response data
`
`from presentation
`
`audience members, wherein the communication sequence between
`
`the functional components is identified by the labeled arrows
`
`l through l4;
`
`20
`
`Fig. l2B is a chart providing the steps performed (steps
`
`through
`
`l4) when
`
`communicating
`
`according
`
`to
`
`the
`
`corresponding communication arrows of Fig. l2A;
`
`Fig. 13 is another block diagram of the present invention
`
`illustrating the communication between functional components
`
`25
`
`for providing a presentation to audience members; and
`
`lO
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 11
`
`

`
`Fig. 14 is another diagram of the functional components
`
`of the present invention for providing a presentation to
`
`audience members.
`
`11
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 12
`
`

`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`Togetherware™
`
`Functional Description Version 2.0
`
`Overview
`
`M.ShowT){, from Broadband Associates, adds the Internet to teleconferencing. enabling companies to
`deliver Jive interactive multimedia presentations to individuals at their desktops in di~parate locations
`around the country and throughout the world.
`
`Based on our software technology called Togetherware™, M.Show enables compelling multimedia. on·
`screen voting, instant voting results and text messaging in com bination with the clear audio of a
`professionalleleconference call. Tosethaware, in combination with Internet standard technolosies.
`coordinates the delivery of multimedia presentation data -. live and recorded audio, graphics, animation
`and rext - under leader control to a dispersed audience. Internet standard technologies include TCP/1P and
`FTP Internet protocols and HTML screen layout TogethtrW<lre works with standard browsers: Netscape
`Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
`
`Togetherware technology was designed to handle the problem of latency inherent in the Internet. The
`internet was not originally designed 8S a broadcast communications medium. As a result, bottlenecks and
`data traffic jams are inovitable, particularly in peak usage times. Togetherware technology integrates a
`number of industry-standard data-types with interactive data coordination capability. This interactive
`coordination is applied to overcoming latency on the Internet lJ1rough variable data depths to llSsure that all
`members ofan M.Show presentation are simultaneously receiving the same presentation, but with possibly
`differing means of expression.
`
`Leader Controlled Features
`
`Multimedia Element
`A Multimedia Element is a eombimltion of one or more of the following types ofHTML multimedia data:
`audio. images, animation or video. A Multimedia Element plays ovot a set period of time and can be B3
`simple as a single image or as complex as a combination of image3, audio, aniPlation and video. Interactive
`questions that audience members answer by clickinJ; on their KTeens are another type of Multimedia
`Element. Prior to the Jive snow, Multimedia Elements arc created to represent and reinforce key concepts
`such 33 a sales rnessa!;e or train ins module. Retention and comprehension jump drlUllatical1y when text or
`narration is supplemented by graphics, animation or video.
`
`M.Show Script
`A Script is a predefined Jist of Mu Itimedia Elements that are played one after the other. Multiple Scripts
`can be created 150 that the leader CM choose to change Scripts in tho middle of a presentation based on user
`feedback. The leader has the ability to stop an M.Show Script and current Multimedia Element and change
`to a different Multimedia Element to be delivered to the audience. The leader can then resume the initial
`Script at any tjm~.
`
`Le$ldcr Directed Web Tour
`The I~der has the ability to direct the audience to any URL address on tho web. Tho leader types in a web
`address through a dialogue boll: on the Leader Interface. This directs each audience member's browser to
`s~h out the location on the web. The audience members have thl! ability to browse freely and sel~ct
`hyperlinks within a web site until the leader directs them to another URL address or returns them to the
`'M.Show location.
`
`12
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 13
`
`

`
`Leader Live Yoke
`At any point the leader can speak into his microphone and broadcast his live voice to the audience through
`the phone bridge. This live voice audio is automatically mixed with Imy Multimedia Element audio. The
`leader CM control the volum~ ofthe Multimedia Element audio through a control 00 the Leador Interface.
`When enabled by the bridge, the leader tm1 also control the relative volwne of his microphone. Otherwise
`the system is balanced by the automatic gain control on the phone bridge.
`
`Audi:nce Uve Voice Cootrol
`Any audience member can "request the microphone," from the leader to speak to the group. The loader
`passes the mijr;e using the Leader Interface and enables the audience member to speak live to all of the
`other audience members in the group. The Leader can choose to stop the Audience Live Voice at any time.
`
`View the Audience
`The Leader Interface enables the leader to view a map (or other graphic background) and a screen thai
`generates the names lind locations of aU audience members who have signed on to participate in an
`M.ShoVf.
`
`Audience Feedback Results
`Whenever an onscreen question is answered by audience members the results Me automatically tollected
`and can be graphed. The leader can choose to display the results graph to all of the audience members for
`their personal infonnatioo. An audience profile database is created with the data from each audience
`member. The audience profile database is maintained from one M.Show to anotllcr.
`
`l\-1ej!jsgin2
`In parallel with all of the other types of Leader Content, text mes5a~ing between the leader and any or all
`of the audience memben is dont: 1hrough a Messaging wmdow. Audience members clln send private
`messages to the leader as well as each other. These messages can be read during the presentation without
`interrupting the flow of the presentation.
`
`Audience Experience
`
`Presentation Receptioo (Leader Controlled)
`Audience members simult.aneously receive a coordinated sequence of multimedia data controlled by the
`leader to be displayed by their Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. Siandard web
`mc:dia types, GIF animation for e"ample, as well as alternate plug-ins such as JaV/J and Shockwave clln be
`used to play back the data (audio. images, animation and video) in real time. Pre-recorded audio i~
`delivered through the telephone bridge lI11d coordinated with a sequence of images viewed through the
`browser [0 create a complete multimedia experience. Several variations of content can be delivered bosed
`on the currenr bandwidth available B.l1d the client's server affiliation. For example. the language (English,
`Fr~~ch. Japanese) used on an HTML page can be specified for a subgroup of audience members and
`desIgnated for delivery via a particular server to that subgroup.
`
`View the Leader and Audience
`The Client rnterfa~ allows each audience mem~r to view a map (or other ;raphic backsround) dispJ/lying
`the names ~d locatIons of all the members of tbe audience participating in a given M.Show including the
`leader. ThiS allows group members to more clenrly identify One another 4nd creates a senlse of communjty.
`
`13
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 14
`
`

`
`Audience Feedback Mouse Click.! and Grapb
`When the leader presents a question screen, audience members answer by simply clitking on the screen
`with their mouse. The question may be presented in text, or the presenter may ask a question about an
`ima&e (an illustration of the human heMt, for example) and ask the audience members to respond by
`clicking on an area of the image. The results m: tallied and displayed in a graph to the group. The
`individual responses are stored in a profile database.
`
`Audience Live Voice
`An audience member can request the mike from the leader at any time during the presentation. The leader
`detennines if and when to pass the mike to the audience member and lets that person speak to the entire
`group. The TogetherwMe System controls the telephone bridse and opens up the pbone port assigned to
`that user which allows the audience member to talk directly to the entire audience: If the phone bridge has
`the capacity. Tosetherware also allows clients to request that the phone bridge create a private virtual
`conference table.
`
`Me.ssagin~
`Any audience member can send messages to any other member of the group including the leader in parallel
`with any other activity r'uring an M.Show. A message window overlays the browser window when active.
`The M.Show menu bar will display a flashing envelope when a message is received during an M.Show.
`Clicking on the flashing envelope brings up the Message: window.
`
`Distributed Process Model
`
`The client/server architecture described in this distributed process model forms the framework oCthe
`Togetherware system (:see Figure 3). Because the model relies on common data types and connectivity
`standards, the different components of the TogetherwlU"(l technology can be distributed through the Internet
`and lntranets. Togetherware allows the leader '0 control sending a Multimedia Element. live voice.
`audience live voice, or audience feedback resulti to each member of the audience at the 5ame time. The
`audience member views the loader presentation and cmI give feedback When requtSted by the leader with
`mouse clicks or live voice. In addition, lIudience members can send messages to the leader, any other
`audience member, or any subgroup of the audience.
`
`The leader's stations are connected to the Togetherware M.Show Host either through the Internet, or
`directly using a 28.8 or ISDN dial-up phone connection. The M.Show Host amplifies the leader's scope of
`control using unicast protocols to simultaneously transmit commands to a large group of clients_ There
`may be one Or more control input points (leader stations) per show. The leader station tasks can be divided
`to create moderator. presenter, and show-control stations. These stations may be co-located or
`geosraphically dispersed.
`
`the Host. the master control for the Togetherware System, coordinates the presentation cL::livery to
`orchestrate each audience member'S experience. The expected multimedia sequence is defmed by a script.
`to ~ read by the Host at the time that the M.Show is started by the leader. The data for an M.Show can be
`located on web scrverz distributed throughout the Internet or IntrMels. The Script identifieS the location of
`Multimedia Element! by the use of vi nUll I server names. The Host uses a tile (Resource file) containing
`the net addresses and type! of all the serv¢rs used in the show to resolve the virtual server names and
`determine which server each client group should use.
`I
`Whc.ri the u!cr logs on. the multimedia data described in the Script (which mHy contain FTP commands for
`the Host to use) is sent to each participant's computer system and cached. When the leader clicks on the
`NEXT button of the Leader interface, the Host sendJs one or more commands based on the M.Show &eript
`and Resource file to every Client in that M.Show. Each Client sends the script-d~fined URL to its browser.
`The browser then requests ~how data either from the assigned web server or from local datz! storage in a
`locati~lO specified by the URL.
`
`14
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 15
`
`

`
`When:the audience votes, and if the Script speGifies a display fonnat, the resulting data is graphed at the
`Host and sent to a web $trver for final delivery to each audience member's browser. The individual
`audie~ce member responses are stored in a profile database or group-lever summaries. After the Show, thi5
`expane~d profile database is available to leaders for reporting and future show invitations.
`
`When \the leader chooses (0 open the mike for a user, the specialized Bridge Client controb the Phone
`Bridoc to open the audio port for that audience member. The number of open mikes lUld the open duration
`are co~trol1ed interactively by the leader. If the Phone Bridge has subconfl!rence capabilities, the Host will
`allow ~lients to request private audio subgroups (virtual conference tables). Ira subgroup ask' for the
`generdl conference microphone, the Bridge Client handles switching in and out of private subsroups. If the
`Multimedia Element in the script includes audio, the Host controls the Audio System and the Bridge Client
`to deliyer pre-recorded audio to the audience coordinated with the images being disphlyed in the audience
`brow~r.
`The M~Show Client software, under a megabyte in size, is temporarily loaded onto the computer of each
`audience member prior to the show and is removed after the show is over. Messages and business cards
`exchanged during the show, are saved by request when the leader or audience member closes the M.Show
`appJi~tion.
`The data used during the show and cached by the M.Show Client software is deleted at tho end of the &how
`along with the Client software. For those who participate regularly in M.Shows, a version of the Client
`software is avaiJable. that can be fell on the an audience member'S computer system from show to show.
`Because the Client software is thin and lives only temporarily in the audience member's system, it does
`not normally require approval from the audience member's MIS department. The Client software wor'" in
`conjunction with a Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer browser. but it can be customized to work
`with any URL processing a OPE or OLE enabled application.
`
`The Togetherware distributed real time cliene/server archilecture enable3live group control and the
`interactive features of M.Show, Because it uses the Internet or lntranets and a phone bridge as its data and
`voice ~sport vehicles, this To~etherware distributed process model makes it easy to set-up and Tun
`shows 10m any location. The components are:
`
`• 10 Operations Center (housing the Host, Audio System, Bridge Control Client,
`optJonal supporting Leader stations, and optional web servers
`Pr~Show Control (Invitation, Registration, and Lobby systems)
`•
`• Web Site for scheduled software download and client support
`B~'k Office systems for reporting and billing
`•
`• We Servers dispem:d throughout the Internet or Intranets
`• Th Leader and Client software appljcations on the leader's desktop
`• Th4 Content Manager or data distribution and verification control process
`• Th1 CHent software application and browser on each audience member's desktop
`
`The Operations Center
`
`The Togetherware Operations Center was built for the purpose of guaranteeing and securing the production
`of M.Shows. The Operations Center is an implementation of Togetherware that combines hardware
`components with the :>oftware components ofTogetherwaTe to deliver M.Shows. Togetherware includes
`Back Omce software components thar maintain billing and usage logs for the business of running the
`Operations Cenkr.
`
`15
`
`CISCO Exhibit 1006, pg. 16
`
`

`
`The Operations Center houses the Togetherware Host(s). Web Servers, Audio System(s), supporting
`Leader stations, and specialized clients. The Audio System consists of an Audio Player (controlled by the
`leader via the Host) and an Audio Server where prerecorded audio is stored. A Spe<:il[izcd Togetherware
`cUent. the Audio Clicm, is used to phly prerecorded audio and pipe it to the phone bridge. Another
`specialized Togetberware client. the Bridge Control Client., is used to control port switching on the phone
`bridge which enables dynamic control oflive audio from and within the audience.
`
`Operationl Center· Host
`The Togetherwarc Host manages group control, messaging, pass the mik", log onllog off. profile database,
`polling with fe