Chapter 3: Online Help & the Members
`
`67
`
`On the other hand,in the little Oregon town whereI live, there are
`no strangers. People stop on thestreet and say hello, swap somegossip
`and perhapsoffer advice.
`America Online is more like my little Oregon community. I spent
`years on otherservices and neverfelt like I belonged. I never got mail, I
`never contributed to a message board, and I never knew wheretofind
`help.It waslike a big city to me and I was alwaysanxiousto leave. At
`AOLI’m walking the street in a small town on a sunny day and every-
`one is smiling. Thefirst day I arrived at AOL,I gota letter from Steve
`Case. People like Kathy4648 go out of their wayto offer assistance. This
`is my kindof place. I’m at homehere.
`
`Guides
`Guides are members chosen by AOLto serveasreal-time assistants.
`Guidesare like Members Helping Members, except there’s no waiting.
`Have a question? Ask a Guide.
`I recall an art gallery in Amsterdam. There were a numberof
`Rembrandts there, hanging on the walljust like any other picture. No
`glass cases or protective Lexan—just those radiant Rembrandts, eman-
`cipated and free. A gentleman in uniform stood near. He wasn’t a
`guard; the uniform wasn’t that severe. He was a guide. He was a
`volunteer. He got to spend his days in a room full of the Rembrandts he
`loved andat the sametimesharehis interest with other people. He
`explained the Rembrandts to us in a fatherly way, exhibiting a
`proprietorial regard for his fellow countryman’slegacy.
`Which is precisely what AOL’s Guides are. They’re membersjust
`like the rest of us—experienced members, with particularly helpful
`online personalities—but membersall the same. They remain politely
`in the background, leaving us to our own explorations, silent unless
`spokento. If we need help, however, Guidesare always nearby, ready
`with friendly advice and information.If you have a question—any
`question at all—about AOL,its servicesorits policies, ask a Guide.
`Like the guide in Amsterdam, you can identify Guides by their
`appearance:their screen names have the word “Guide”in them.If
`Figure 3-9’s Kathy4648 was to be a Guide(she should be), she would
`probably be “Guide Kathy,” or something like that.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`062
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 62
`
`062
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 62
`
`

`

`68
`
` The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`Figure 3-11: A stop
`by the Lobby for
`some help from
`Guide MO,
`
`:)
`
`I'll check for you when I ast off ah, at. 5 and email you
`
`x
`in bold.
`
`tiaigetting out ostrich feather:::::
`:
`: Nononononong!!!
`+ eDICKLE, TICKLE:: 5:3
`: ¢rgiggling::
`: Hey Cantonil!
`get ay
`: Hiya NyteMaire :)
`: Hiya MO :)
`+ Maire!!i{ —{)()()(1()(i<€—————____—- Thee are hug:
`+
`€C(( {Count} })7}33) **
`Nyte (}(} (PCC CFO COCR
`(({Vix}}}}
`+
`+ How are you Nyte?
`: Getting crazy, and you? ;)
`: Pretty good Nyte :)
`Anybody know of a utility to convert JPEG to TIFF?
`Let me check the libraries for you, T :) I always use Photoshop
`: <--trying to type while holding ice pack on face.
`:)
`a
`: ACK Kate, what happened?
`> Kate :( Dentist??
`: Is the iee pack inside or ourside the paper bag?
`: Lthr, had 3 hours of oral and sinus surgery yesterday.
`They say I should be able to eat again next Friday.
`Alchemy would probably be the converter to use, MajorTom...
`7 Ouch! Katel! ()()0)00}0)0)
`
`* to make it better.,...wae The asterisk s
`awww Kate.
`:
`;:
`? <--needs to go to dentist for Kates new diet
`: Vix, works real well... lost just under five SSaa in 2 days.
`* Perfect ...that would put me just where I want
`to be, Kate :)
`MajerTom - I ‘m aorry - I don't ses what you nead offhand,
`though I know wa must have it here :/ <«€—— Chagrin.
`T'll check later and email you, if that's any help.
`Thanks Guide. Appreciate it, I have a Plus. Can't run Fhotoshey)
`Ok -
`ft just wrete a note to myself -
`i
`
`is
`
`Figure 3-11 is a little hard to follow if you're not used to AOL’s so-
`called “chat rooms.” Though chat rooms are discussed in Chapter 12
`(“People Connection”), a little explanation seems in order here as well.
`Twenty-one people werein the room whenI visited. Many were just
`watching (lurkers), but others seemedto be old friends. The room was
`full of “smileys” (turn your head counterclockwise 90 degrees and:)
`becomesa smile) and hugs. Smileys are discussed in Chapter 13,
`“Clubs & Interests,” and Chapter 20, “Ten Best.” The entire illustration
`is a “chat log” (see your File menu for the Logging command).
`Chat rooms can be intimidating to thefirst-time visitor. Don’t be shy.
`Jump right in with a Hello, look for the Guide’s name, and ask your
`question. More important, note that I received one immediate answer
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`063
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 63
`
`063
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 63
`
`

`

`Chapter 3: Online Help & the Members
`
`69
`
`to my question (from GWRepSteve, a member) and another the next
`day from Guide MO.I gotjust what I needed (Alchemy worked per-
`fectly, andit’s available online), and it only took 10 minutes.
`Guides are on duty from 9 A.M. until 6 a.m. (Eastern time), 7 days a
`week, 365 days a year. Tofind a Guide, choose Lobby from the Go To
`menu, type Command-L, or select the People Connection icon from the
`Departments screen. If you need a Guide quickly, use the keyword:
`GuidePager.
`
`Members
`All of this talk about Guides and Members Helping Members might
`give you the impression that membersplaya significant part in the
`operation of AOL, and you’re right. Members are much morethan
`AOL's source of income: they’re contributors (mostof the files in the
`data libraries discussed in Chapter 5, “Computing,” are submitted by
`members), they're assistants, and, of course, they are the heart of the
`online community.
`Since members play such an important role at AOL, it behooves us
`to spend a few pages discussing them: howto find them, the member
`profile and how to be a better memberyourself.
`
`The MemberDirectory
`America Online offers you the opportunity to post a voluntary member
`profile. ThoughI'll talk aboutprofiles in a moment, the operative term
`in the previoussentenceis “voluntary.” America Online values the
`individual’s privacy, and if you wish to remain secludedin the online
`community, you may do so. Those members who have completed a
`profile are listed in the MemberDirectory.
`You can search for a memberbyreal name, screen nameorprofile.
`You might see a screen name online and wonder whois behindit:
`Search the directory. You might wonderif a friend is signed up with
`AOL:Search the directory.
`One ofthe more interesting things you can do with the directory is
`to search for people with interests similar to yours. Once you've found
`them, you can send them mail (I discuss electronic mail in Chapter4)
`and, perhaps, strike up a friendship.It’s all part of the electronic
`community.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`064
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 64
`
`064
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 64
`
`

`

`70
`
`
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`IL, for instance, enjoy the beauty of mystate.I live just 13 miles from
`the Mount Hood National Forest, where hundreds of square miles of
`virgin forest, lakes, trails and meadowsawait the explorer. Thinking I
`might find someoneto share myinterest, I search the MemberDirec-
`tory for members in my locality by using Oregon as mycriterion
`(Figure 3-12).
`
`Figure 3-19; Much
`to my delight, 256
`MemberServices
`other Oregonians
`altiel-tmt Rete a
`have posted their
`profiles, I'll send Send Instant Message*I
`
`them some mail
`Geta Member's Profile
`#6
`:
`Locate a MemberOnline 2F
`and see if they
`Personal Choices
`want to explore
`the forest
`someday.
`
`the Member Cirecto
`fT) About
`Edit 3 How to Search the Member (irectory
`= the Neaher Directory
`
`| Create or fodl fy Your Profile
`i
`Delete Your Prope
`
`:
`
`Qon Meber
`
`Type words that describe what you are-+
`“biking and swimming” or “Holl
`yyetd, CA." Click Help & Info for more instructions.
`
`tema 1-20 of 256 matching entries.
`=
`untsss you Know me bhelter,
`PATTERSON
`scOTT 503
`SCOTT H,
`Katherine, RPLS
`ROY EVYERNAR
`NIKE
`Henry Abe!
`
`Actually, Figure 3-12 is misleading. My search for “Oregon” omitted
`those members whousedthe state’s two-character abbreviation (“OR”)
`in their profiles. It also didn’t include those members whohaveelected
`to omit their profiles. My guessis that there are thousands of AOL
`members from Oregon, many morethan pictured in Figure 3-12.
`To access the Members Directory, choose Members Directory from the
`Members menu, then double-click Search the Members Directory option.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`065 |
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 65
`
`065
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 65
`
`

`

`Chapter 3: Online Help & the Members
`
`71
`
`MemberProfiles
`As I mentioned a moment ago, memberprofiles are optional. If you
`elect not to complete a profile, your name won't show up in searches
`like the one described above.
`If that’s your preference, you cut yourself out of a numberof oppor-
`tunities to becomeinvolvedin the online community.If you elect to
`posta profile (or if you're already posted a profile and wantto editit),
`AOLprovides a couple of ways for you to doso.
`Look again at the menupictured in Figure 3-12. Note that one of the
`options listed there is “Edit Your Online Profile.” While this is one way
`to get the job done, a better way is to go through MemberServices.
`You've got to be signed onin either case, but MemberServicesis free
`and choosing Edit Your Online Profile from the Members menuis not.
`Moreover, the MemberServicesrouteoffers a few options that aren’t
`available from the Members menu. Youcan also use the keyword:
`Profile. Both routes pass throughthe free curtain.
`Once you chooseeither one of these methods, you'll see the window
`pictured at the bottom of Figure 3-3, Note the button labeled Accounts
`& Billing. Click it and follow the path identified in Figure 3-13.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`066
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 66
`
`066
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 66
`
`

`

`72
`
`
`
`Figure 3-13; You
`can access your
`member profile by
`using the keyword:
`Profile; by
`choosing Edit Your
`Online Profile from
`the Members
`menu; or by using
`Member Services
`(keyword: Help).
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`Biltin
`Information
`giriliag Wein:
`Members* @&Help
`2s
`
`Ontine Suppart
`
`Pi Current Month's Bll ling Summary
`> Request Detail Billing Info
`4 Change Your Personal Password
`
`Keyword: Profile
`
`Your MemberProfile
`
`oea8
`| Ms |ete dA mtirte tel OO
`& Create/Modify Your Nember Profile
`> Delete Your lember Profile
`S Display Your Member Profile
`
`The profile inquiry consists of four screens, each with a few questions
`about you. Take your time answeringthese(it’s free, after all), and soon
`you'll havea profile as sterling and poetic as mine (Figure 3-14).
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`067
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 67
`
`067
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 67
`
`

`

`Figure 3-14:
`MajorTom’s profile
`reveals all of my
`secrets.
`
`Deadlines mean always having to say you're sorry, =a
`
`MajorTom
`Screen Name:
`TOM LICHTY
`Member Name:
`GRESHAM, OR USA
`Location:
`05/18/44
`Birthdate:
`Male
`Sex:
`Narital Status: Married
`Computers:
`366/39 clone, Mac Plus
`Hobbies:
`Home/Family, Literature, Music, Travel, Online
`communities, Motorcycles
`Occupation:
`Writer
`Quote:
`
`Moving On
`We've come a long waysince the heavy-metal band tookthestageat
`the beginningof this chapter. I hope your journey has been confidence-
`building for you. America Online offers more help—and morekinds of
`help—than any softwareI’ve known.It's online,it’s off-line,it’s Jay
`Levitt and the Customer Relations Department,it’s Members Helping
`Members,and it’s Guides. Everyone at AOL—members included—
`helps someoneelse soonerorlater. That’s comforting. Not only is AOL
`a community,it's a considerate community, where no one remains a
`strangerfor long.
`And now’s the time to become a memberof that community. The
`best wayto do thatis to send electronic mail to someone. Mail is the
`heart of the AOL community, and we'll explore it thoroughlyin the
`next chapter.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`068
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 68
`
`068
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 68
`
`

`

` The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`069
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 69 _
`
`069
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 69
`
`

`

`People
`
`Connection P.Connec-
`
`:
`
`tion is the real-time headquarters of AOL.This is not the homeof
`message boards and e-mail: communicationhereis as immediate as a
`telephone conversation. Unlike telephone conversations, however, with
`People Connection any numberof people can be involved. There’s
`nevera long-distancetoll to pay, and half the people youtalk to are
`strangers—butneverfor long.
`People Connectionis the heart of the AOL community.It is here you
`make the enduringfriendships that keep you coming back,dayafter
`day. Here, in a “diner,” you can order a short stack and a cup ofcoffee,
`andtalk over the weekend ahead. You canalso sip a brew in a “pub”
`after a long day on the job. There are “events” here as well, where you
`can interview eminent guests and hobnob with luminaries.
`Doesn’t that sound like a community to you? This isn’t couch-potato
`entertainment, this is interactive telecommunication—where imagina-
`tion andparticipation are contagious and the concept of community
`reachesits most eloquent expression.
`It sure beats reruns.
`
`Proving that AOLers doexistin reallife, a photo of seven membersat the Las Vegas
`AOLgatheringin January 1994. Top row (L to R): Trevayne, NealnJanet(2 people).
`Bottom row (Lto R): WaterLily, CaNurse, Vrroom, Kunphuzed.
`This photo (along with thousandsof others) appearsin the Gallery, a feature of
`People Connection. To get to People Connection,click the People Connection button
`in the Main Menu window.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`070 |
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 70
`
`070
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 70
`
`

`

`252
`
`
`The Lobby
`Unlike the other departments we’ve explored,a visit to People Connec-
`tion requires first passing through the “Lobby.” The Lobbyis one of
`AOL’s so-called chat rooms, where real people communicate in real
`time. No messagesareleft here. There are nofiles to download.
`America Online’s Lobbyis similar to the lobby of a hotel: it’s an area
`people pass through, often on their way to someotherdestination.
`Every so often, people bump into an acquaintance,or just sit there a
`momentto rest.
`
`Entering the Lobby
`To begin our People Connection adventure, choose People Connection
`from the Departmentscreen, choose Lobby from the Go To menu,use
`the keyword Lobby, or press Command-L. No matter which method
`you use, you will soon find yourself in the Lobby (see Figure 12-1).
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`071
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 71
`
`071
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 71
`
`

`

`Figure 19-1: The |
`Lobby screen
`seems empty just
`after | enter.
`
`|
`
`|
`
`Bye:
`
`Note that the chat room windowpictured in Figure 12-1 says that
`you are in Lobby B. When I entered the Lobby, AOL routed me to
`_ LobbyB. This happens whenever traffic on the system is heavy. When
`the main Lobbyreachescapacity (roomsare consideredfilled when
`they contain 23 members), AOLplaces people in the secondary lobby—
`LobbyA.It too musthavefilled by the time I arrived, so I got placed in
`LobbyB. Notethat it was also approaching capacity, so newarrivals
`were aboutto be routed into yet another lobby. This isn’t uncommon.
`There are often a dozen or more lobbies in operation at any onetime.
`America Online will run outof letters in the alphabetif this keeps up.
`People in a room can see whenothers enter it by watchingthe text at
`the top of the window following the word “Hi.” Since mineisthefirst
`nameonthelist, I was the most recent arrival. Departing members’
`namesappear after the word “Bye.”I just got here; no onehasleft since
`arrived.
`Finally, note that there is no text in the main (conversation) portion
`of the window other than the announcementtelling me where I am.
`The only true conversation appearing here occurs after my arrival, and
`I have just walked in the door. That situation changes the momentI
`speak (see Figure 12-2).
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`072 |
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 72
`
`072
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 72
`
`

`

`954
`
`[Peal
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`
`
`Figure 12-2: No ER
`People Connection - Lobby B
`matter how shy
`DAMAGESS 19, Pianomad64, Brooks 7
`
`
`you're feeling, say
`Michael387, BobM74e056
`hello when you
`enter a room.
`
`=: Hi Vall
`
`MajorTom
`
`
`
`
`
`aeParental Control
`
`PC Studio
`
`
`
`Center Stage
`
`Lookagain at Figure 12-2. This lobby is active today. People are
`rushing throughit with hardly a pause. Bythe time I’vesaid hello, ina
`matter of seconds, three more people have arrived andsix haveleft.
`America Online’s lobbies are somethinglike a hotel lobby just after a
`large meeting haslet out: people are scurrying everywhere. (This is
`particularly true during periods of heavy usage. The session pictured
`occurred on a Sunday morning. America Onlineis almost always busy
`on the weekends.)
`Secondslater, a conversation has begun (see Figure 12-3).
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`073
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 73
`
`073
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 73
`
`

`

`Figure 19-3: Catchy
`screen names
`
`[ay
`
`come in handy
`when youfirst
`
`Hichael387, BobN?48056
`
`
`
`=< Hi Y'all
`HajorTom
`Pianomas64 : Hi Tom. Cute name. Are you real ly?
`MajorTom:
`: No, not real iy.
`| used to be a traffic reporter
`and thal was
`the name | used on the air.
`Brooks 7
`+: Ground control to Major Tom....,
`MajorTom
`: You got it Brooks. From the Bowie song.
`
`enter a room. ORMAGE6S 19, Pianomad64, Brooks 7
`
`Center Stage
`
`Parental Control
`
`Though I became immediately involved in a conversation, don’t feel
`obligated to do so yourself. It’s perfectly all right to say hello, then just
`watch for a while.In fact, I recommendit: it gives you a chance to
`adaptto the paceof the conversation—to get to know whois in the
`room and whatthey’re like. Lobbies are goodfor this. They’re lobbies,
`afterall. It’s perfectly natural for people to sit in a lobby and watch
`other people.
`
`Guides
`To carry my hotel lobby analogya bit further, you might find a “con-
`cierge” there—a Guide—to answer your questions.Likea real-life hotel
`concierge, AOL’s Guides are chosen for their knowledgeof theterritory
`andtheir friendly personalities. Watch the conversation for a while. No
`doubt you'll soon see someonewith the word “Guide”in his or her
`screen name. Morelikely, a Guide will welcome youto the room.
`Take a momentto lookback at Figure 3-11. Do you see the Guide
`there? She welcomed me the momentI walked into the room and went
`out of her wayto be of assistance. This is the way all Guides tend to be.
`Guides are on duty from 9 A.M.to 6 A.M. (Eastern time), seven days a
`week. Since I already discussed them in Chapter 3, “Online Help & the
`Members,” I won’t go over their function again. But if you wouldlike
`to review that section, turn back to that chapter (see page 67).
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`074
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 74
`
`074
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 74
`
`

`

`
`
`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`Exploring Other Public Rooms
`As is the case with hotel lobbies, you won’t wantto stay in AOL’s
`lobbies indefinitely. Lots of other rooms await you, where conversa-
`tions are more focused andresidents less transitory. These rooms can
`be great fun; all you haveto dois find the one that suits you best.
`
`The Event Rooms Guide
`Room exploration should not be done randomly. The method I recom-
`mendis to become familiar with the event rooms before you enter
`them. To dothis, click the PC Studioicon.It’s the “spotlight” icon
`pictured in Figure 12-3. The PC Studio windowopens with its selection
`of options. Double-click What’s Happening This Week, then double-
`click Event Rooms Guide (see Figure 12-4).
`
`Figure 12-4:
`Become familiar
`with the Event
`Rooms Guide
`before you spend
`time in People
`Connection.
`
`|
`| ~-
`> Guide Poger
`/© Center Stage & Box Office
`
`|
`
`Happening This Week
`s
`[
`D Event Rooms Schedule
`© Gone Rooms Schedule
`© The Auditorium’s Box Office
`
`© Event Rooms 5-2
`
`i Event Library
`}0 Special Events n Hew Rooms
`[ieae
`|
`
`[2 Srl ine Shortii==EventRoomsGuide=]
`© Event Rooms C-E
`© Event Rooms F-H
`jo Event Rooms H-A
`
`Manyof the rooms available on AOLat any particular momentare
`spontaneously created by members. While spontaneous rooms can
`sometimes be entertaining and fun, they lack the focus found in the
`regularly scheduled event rooms. Event roomsare populated by hosts
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`075
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 75
`
`075
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 75
`
`

`

`Chapter 12: People Connection MM Q57
`
`and regulars—people who have developed an online camaraderie and
`whose patteris familiar and neighborly. Hosts keep the conversation
`on track andoffer a familiar “face” to anyone whovisits. Hosts and
`regulars aren’t cliquish, however; you're never madeto feel unwel-
`come in one of AOL’s event rooms.At this writing, 33 event rooms are
`listed (a numberthat’s sure to change), ranging from the BestLil
`Chathouseto Parents R US (see Figure 12-5). Shall we drop in on one?
`
`Figure 12-5: Thirty-
`three event rooms
`are scheduled this
`week. Double-click @ s
`any one for a
`description.
`
`PR, Wides
`Fale oP
`"a
`Med. 94
`
`Sun. 7:30
`me
`05 p+
`
`Hook: Sun. 9 p-B
`the Flirt's
`Bh
`Tues. 10:00 p.m.
`. 10 pom
`fh The Forest:
`obby Shop: Wed
`Hl
`Bh The Hobby
`ight ly 10:30pe
`
`fh nilitery & =
`
`One ofmy favorites is the Authors Cafe, which meets every Satur-
`day at 1 p.m.(Eastern time). You never know who'll turn up—familiar
`writers visit it regularly. America Online is a favorite haunt for writers,
`partly because of the Writers’ Club (keyword: Writers) and partly
`becauseof its unique chat roomssuch as the Authors Cafe. The morn-
`ing I visited, Tom Clancy dropped by, unscheduled and unannounced.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`076
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 76
`
`076
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 76
`
`

`

`The Official AOL Tour Guide
`
`The log of his appearance appears below. Typical of a chat room,
`smileys and shorthand abound. The symbol:) is a smile and :( is a
`frown (turn your head 90 degrees counterclockwise); and “LOL” means
`“laughing out loud.” These can be modified with semicolons (winks) or
`D’s (open-mouth smiles).
`
`Hi Tom!! :)
`Good morning, Gumby
`and Rosey
`Hey Tom..... you should think aboutjoining usat the
`Allentown Bash!
`
`when’s the party?
`We've got about 100 onliners comingto the Bash... it’s
`gonna bea blast! :)
`August21-23.... in Allentown PA!
`busy then—doing something with Johns Hopkins
`their summercampfor kids with cancer
`Got any new books close to being released, Tom???
`<— showinga prospective customerthe service :D
`sorry, Rosey, no. I just came to terms with Putnam for #7,
`which I now haveto write :(
`Hiya Prospective Customer..;D
`Mornin’ Tom :D
`
`D P Gumby:
`Tom Clancy:
`Tom Clancy:
`D P Gumby:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`D P Gumby:
`
`D P Gumby:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`Tom Clancy:
`ROSEY DAWN:
`
`Data Dump3:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`
`Gleeful:
`
`Data Dump3:
`D P Gumby:
`ROSEY DAWN:
`
`:)
`I'll befirst in line for it, Tom!
`Oh well, anticipation makesit even better!
`hello, Dump
`Tom Clancy:
`lol Tom...you sold it and you haven’t writtenit yet?? :D
`Gleeful:
`that’s normal
`Tom Clancy:
`ROSEY DAWN: Heck, Glee—I’d *buy*it too — just knowing Tomis going
`to write it
`
`Tom Clancy:
`
`the advance moneyis theliterary equivalent of a gun to
`the head
`
`Gleeful: Tom...doesn’t that put a lot of pressure on you tho???
`I think, based on past performance...we can assumeit'll be
`D P Gumby:
`a good investmenton behalf of the publisher
`pressure....what do you think?
`they pay you $XM,and youhaveto deliver a product,
`from inside your head, that’s worth $XM
`
`Tom Clancy:
`Tom Clancy:
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`077
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 77
`
`077
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 77
`
`

`

`Chapter 12: People Connection
`
`De
`
`259
`
`ROSEY DAWN:
`
`D P Gumby:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`Gleeful:
`
`What's in your head, Tom, is worth at least SXXXXX
`Or more! :)
`thanks, ma’am,I’d like to think so
`awww Tom...You'll bejust fine...just ask us..we know..D
`Sheesh Tom,I would hate to run around w/aprice on
`Data Dump3:
`my head....let alone in it!!! ;D
`don’t worry,all writers are scaredatthis stage
`we’re SUPPOSEDtobe insecure, but not as badly as
`actors are
`
`Tom Clancy:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`
`D P Gumby:
`
`That’s a good point, Tom.. i do a lot of theater.. andit’s
`awfully frightening sometimes!!
`I speak a lot, and I alwaysgetstagefright
`Tom Clancy:
`they say the best of them do, Tom...
`D P Gumby:
`there’s no dishonorin it, it happened to Olivier, too
`Tom Clancy:
`it’s a thoroughly crummy wayto earnaliving, but you do
`Tom Clancy:
`it because you loveit, and because you haveto doit
`Have to Tom??
`
`Gleeful:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`Rich OO:
`
`Gleeful:
`
`yeah, it’s my mission in life, it’s what I do
`Moneyis a great motivator.:)
`Tom...do you give a lot of talks??
`quite a few, yes
`Tom Clancy:
`Rich OO:
`Tom..I always drawablank til the speech is over,,,] have
`no idea whatI've said.
`:)
`Are books usually the subject or something else, Tom?
`me, too, Rich
`Glee, I just get up there and ramble
`All my speaking money goes to my kids’ school
`Goodplace for it to go.;D
`Will you run for President, Tom????
`You have my vote, Tom!
`Rosey, do I LOOK that STUPID?????
`See ya'll later!! I have an apptto keep..;D
`Tom..it was nice to meet you..:D
`<— off to jumpoutofan airplane. :D
`don’t forget the chute, pal
`Time for meto run... see y’all later! Take care, Tom!
`
`Gleeful:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`Tom Clancy:
`Tom Clancy:
`Gleeful:
`
`ROSEY DAWN:
`
`GATEWAY:
`
`Tom Clancy:
`Gleeful:
`
`Gleeful:
`
`AFC Doug:
`Tom Clancy:
`D P Gumby:
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`078 |,
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 78
`
`078
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 78
`
`

`

`260
`
`| Pa The Official AOLTour Guide
`
`The Event RoomsSchedule
`The Event Rooms Scheduleis posted in the PC Studio along with the
`Event Rooms Guide. Look again at the center windowin Figure 12-4:
`do you see the schedule there? Double-click it to view it. The week’s
`schedule is pictured in Figure 12-6.
`
`|
`|
`
`Figure 19-6: The
`seven-day Event
`Rooms Schedule.
`Use this schedule
`along with the |_|
`Event Rooms||
`Guide to plan |
`|
`yourvisits.
`
`|_|
`
`There are three things I need to mention aboutthe schedule in
`Figure 12-6:
`&, This scheduleis subject to change. By the time you read this book,
`the schedule yousee in Figure 12-6 will probably be outof date.
`Checkit for yourself. Printit if you wish (choose Print from the File
`menu when the schedule is on the screen). Don’t rely on Figure 12-6 ~
`as thefinal word.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`079
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 79
`
`079
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 79
`
`

`

`,
`Chapter 12; People Connection
`
`261
`
`4. No matter how currentit might be, the Event Rooms Schedulelists
`only those events in the People Connection Department and not
`those scheduled by individual forumsor clubs. The Ten Forward
`Lounge, for instance, is the Star Trek Club’s chat room,andit isn’t
`mentioned in the Event RoomsScheduleat all. Consult individual
`clubs (see Chapter 13, “Clubs & Interests,” for a discussion of clubs)
`for their chat rooms and schedules, or use the keyword TITF
`(Tonight in the Forums) to see what's about to happen.
`4. Note the namesofthe hosts in Figure 12-6. Each of the Event
`Roomsis hosted, and that is a matter of significance. The hosts’
`duties include keeping the conversation going, selecting topics,
`aiding members whohave questions (notto the degree that the
`Guides do, but aid nonetheless), and making sure all members
`have an enjoyable time—including the shy ones. Events rooms are
`sponsored by AOL; each room andits host have to go through a
`trial period before the room is added to the schedule. Though a
`numberof roomsare simply opened by members (and don’t ap-
`pear on the schedule), you can be assuredofcertain standardsof
`behavior whenyouvisit an event room, and mostof the credit for
`this goes to the host.
`
`Finding Other Rooms
`You can alwaystell which other roomsare available at any particular
`momentbyclicking the Roomsicon attheleft side of any chat window
`(review Figure 12-2 for Lobby B’s window). Whenyouclick that icon,
`you'll see the windowpictured in Figure 12-7.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`080
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 80
`
`080
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 80
`
`

`

` Public Rooms list
`SA
`:
`appears whenever
`ae! Public Rooms
`you click the
`Room Name
`Rooms Icon ina
`chat window.
`
`
`
`
`—_—Noa
`
`
`
`= fivailable Rooms
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`Best Li] ChatHouse
`The Flirts Nook
`Gossip Gossip
`Great Outdoors
`Hollywood Tonight
`The Meeting Place
`New Member Lounge
`News Room
`On Vacation
`Over Forty
`Raiding the Fridge
`Red Dragon Inn
`Romance Connection
`
`Sports
`The Stage Door
`Starfleet Academy
`
`Seventeen roomsare listed in Figure 12-7 and the More button(at
`the bottom of the window)is active. In fact, more than 35 rooms were
`available whenI visited. Note that the lobbyis filled to capacity (again,
`23 is the maximum for a room: must have something to do with thefire
`marshal), so there mustbe other lobbies hidden beneath the More
`button. I can go into any room by double-clickingit, or I can geta list of
`all the people in a room (without going in) by selecting the room, then
`clicking the People button at the bottom of the screen.
`The Active Public Rooms window in Figure 12-7 onlylists the active
`public rooms—roomswith people in them. Often, public roomsare
`available andnooneis in them.A listing of these roomsis available by
`clicking the Available Roomsbutton(see Figure 12-8).
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`081
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 81
`
`081
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 81
`
`

`

`Figure 19-8: The
`Available Public
`Rooms window
`lists only those
`available rooms
`
`that are currently
`unoccupied.
`
`Chapter 12: People Connection
`
`263
`
`aSSS Available Public Rooms SSG
`
`Available Rooms
`Available Public Rooms
`
`Trivia A
`
`Parlor Gane Too
`Pet Chat
`Raiding the Fridge
`Recovery Link
`Sports
`The Stage Door
`Todays Head! ines
`Trivia
`
`Three Kinds of Rooms
`People whoare new to AOLoften have trouble understanding the
`three kinds of rooms AOLhasto offer. Each serves a different purpose.
`Entering one without an understanding of what's inside is a bit like
`opening meeting room doorsin a large hotel: some might welcome you
`enthusiastically, others might make you feel unwelcome, andstill
`others might be engagedin conversationsthatare of nointerest to you
`whatsoever.
`A, Public rooms are created and named by AOLtoreflect their conver-
`sational focus. Someof these are hosted; someare not. So far, public
`roomsareall we’ve discussed.
`Ax Private rooms are created and named by members. Their names
`never appear on anyofthe lists you can see.I'll discuss private
`rooms in a few moments.
`Ax Member rooms are named andcreated by members(see Figure 12-9).
`Memberroomsare rarely hosted, though Guides might occasion-
`ally visit them. Conversations in memberroomsare usually
`unmonitored and topics range from the sublimeto the scurrilous.
`
`FacebookInc.'s Exhibit 1007
`082
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 82
`
`082
`
`Facebook Inc.'s Exhibit 1007
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1007, p. 82
`
`

`

` Figure 12-9: Epp
`
`
`
`Member rooms are
`created by
`members and are
`not hosted. You
`
`
`can create one of
`Forty Something
`
`18
`Hs
`Le Chateau
`
`your own
`
`
`: ||Public Roomsabuse tna
`
`
`whenever you
`
`
`wish using the
`3
`Sysops wanted
`
`
`
`Create Room
`lunch
`2
`nice guy at
`
`
`button.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Help & Info
`
`Note that Figure 12-9 contains a Create Room button. Anyone who
`wishescan create a member room—totalk about a specific topic, or no
`particular topic at all. You can create your own member room (in which
`caseits title will appear in the window pictured in Figure 12-9),or,if an
`existing member room topic appeals to you, highlight the room and
`click th