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`US 20040128356A1
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`as) United States
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`a2) Patent Application Publication 0) Pub. No.: US 2004/0128356 Al
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`Bernstein et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jul. 1, 2004
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`(54) EMAIL INTEGRATED INSTANT
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`MESSAGING
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`(76)
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`Inventors: Keith Bernstein, San Francisco, CA
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`(US); Alan Chung, San Francisco, CA
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`(US)
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`Correspondence Address:
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`Glenn Patent Group
`Suite L
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`3475 Edison Way
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`Menlo Park, CA 94025 (US)
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`(21) Appl. No.:
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`(22) PCT Filed:
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`(86) PCT No.:
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`10/311,259
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`Jun. 25, 2001
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`PCT/US01/20381
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`Related U.S. Application Data
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`(60) Provisional application No. 60/214,157, filed on Jun.
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`26, 2000.
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`Publication Classification
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`(51)
`(52)
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`Tint, CU? ccccececcccccccccsessessessesssessessesseeseeseene GO6F 15/16
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`709/206; 709/203
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`ABSTRACT
`67)
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`A system and method supporting instant messaging which
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`removes many of the problems and barriers to the use of
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`instant messaging through the use of universally unique
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`identifiers to web pages for instant messaging sessions, with
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`recipients invited to the instant messaging session via email.
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`Database
`Client
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`12
`150
`Server
`Memory
`Computer
`ser
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`System
`410
`212
`299
`:
`-
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`2000
`rey
`156
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`210 220|Pragram 224 Computer 164
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`Universally Unique
`Identifer?58,
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`AudienceList
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`162
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`Server 100
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`160
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`{ Communication History
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`-
`166
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`Communication
`Record 168
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`Web Page with
`Identifer 140
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`Received Comm from
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`ist Member 142
`Processed
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`Communication 144,
`Transferred
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`Communication 146
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 1
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`329 System
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`User2
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`300
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`User3
`400
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`312
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`412
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`Client
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`Computer
`310
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`Client
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`Computer
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`410
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`422
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`324
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`424
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`Server Memory
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`420
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`Program
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`1000
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`102
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`164
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`Universally Unique
`Identifert32
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`_
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`First User 134
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`Recipients 136
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`Audience Collection
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`138
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`Instant
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`Messaging
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`Session
`130
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1, 2004 Sheet 1 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 A1
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 2
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 2
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 2 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`4012
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`1000
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`Creating instant messaging session with
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`universally unique identifier initiated byfirst
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`userfor recipients designated as at least one
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`of remaining of users
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`Providing instant messaging session identified
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`by universally unique identifier as formatted
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`web page to each designated recipients and to
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`first user
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`1024
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`Fig. 2A
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`1014
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`1052
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`Assigning universally unique identifier based
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`upon instant messaging session request
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`Sending instant messaging invitation email
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`message to associated email address
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`designated for each recipient
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`1012
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`Receiving instant messaging session request
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`from first user for recipients designated by
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`associated email addressfor at least one
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`remaining user
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`Fig. 2B
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 3
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 3
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 3 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`Creating web page referenced based upon
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`universally unique identifier
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`associated with first member
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`Providing web page with area associated with
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`first user for participation
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`Providing web page with another area
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`associated with recipient for participation upon
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`responseto instant messaginginvitation email
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`message, for each recipient
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`Transferring received communication from
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`client computer operated by first memberof
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`audience to all members of audience to create
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`transferred communication as content in area
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`Fig. 3
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 4
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 4
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 4 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`1122
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`1152
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`Receiving communication from 1st memberof
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`audience to create at feast 1 received
`communication
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` Processing at least 1 received communication
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`from 1st memberto create at least 1
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`processed communication from 1st member
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` Sending at least 1 processed communication
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`from 1st memberto create transferred
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`communication as content in area associated
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`with 1st memberto all members of audience
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`with universally unique identifier
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`Maintaining database referencing history of instant messaging session
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`Fig. 4B
`
`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 5
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 5
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`identifier for audience collection
`history-received communication from first member
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`Sending processed communication from first member as content in area
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`associated with first memberto history of instant messaging session with
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`universally unique identifier
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 5 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`1192
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`Maintaining history of instant messaging session with universally unique
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`1232
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`Receiving transferred communication from first memberat history to create
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 6
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 6
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1, 2004 Sheet 6 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 A1
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 7
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 7
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 7 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`1262
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`first member history-received communication
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`as communication from first member
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`Adding new communication record to
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`communication history
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`1274
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`Fig. 7A
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`Sending databaseinitiating request for instant messaging session with
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 8
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 8
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 8 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`1192
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`1332
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`Receivinginitiating request for instant
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`messaging session with universally unique
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`identifier by first user for recipients at database
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`Creating history of instant messaging session
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`with universally unique identifier from initiating
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`request for instant messaging session with
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`universally unique identifier by first user for
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`recipients
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`1336
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`Fig. 8A
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`1342
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`1372
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`Creating audiencelist containing references to
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`each memberof audience collection
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`Creating a first communication record in
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`communication history based uponinitiating
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`request
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`1374
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`Fig. 8B
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 9
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 9
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 9 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`1412
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`Sending instant messaging invitation email message
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`containing body including web page actively embedded
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`to associated email address designated for atleast one
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`recipient
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`Sending instant messaging invitation email message
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`containing body including link to web page URL based
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`upon universally unique identifier to associated email
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`address designated for at least one recipient
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`Sending instant messaging invitation email message
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`containing bodyincluding icon referenced by universally
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`unique identifier to associated email address designated
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`for at least one recipient
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`1414
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`Fig. 9
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 10
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 10
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 10 of 13
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`2000
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`upon at least one memberof tactile input and acoustic input from user
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`Providing support for email communication & web browser compliant:
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`communication used by user with communicatively coupled server based
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`2012
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`2032
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`Sending instant messaging session request
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`initiated by first user for designated recipients
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`to communicatively coupled server
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`Receiving instant messaginginvitation email
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`messagefor user as recipient from
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`communicatively coupled serverto create
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`received instant messaginginvitation email
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`message
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`received-transferred communication from first member
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`Receiving transferred communication from first memberto create
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`Cet>Fig. 10C
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`2056
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 11
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`2054
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 11
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 11 of 13
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`2042
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`Using received instant messaginginvitation
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`email message by recipient to create instant
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`messaging response sent to communicatively
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`Alerting recipient of received instant messaging
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`invitation email message employing at least
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`one of visual output, acoustic output and tactile
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`area associated with first member
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`Presenting received-transferred communication from first member as contentin
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`Fig. 11B
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 12
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 12 of 13
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`Activating embedded web page referenced by
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`universally unique identifier in received instant
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`Activating link to web page by URL based upon
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`Activating icon referenced by universally
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`unique identifier in received instant messaging
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`invitation email message by recipient to create
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`instant messaging response sent to
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`communicatively coupled server
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`2130
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`Fig. 12A
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`Database
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`Universally Unique Identifer158.
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`Audience List 162
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`Communication Record 168
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`Communication History
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`166
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`Fig. 12B
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 13
`
`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 13
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jul. 1,2004 Sheet 13 of 13
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`Language1 230
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`User1 200p
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`Language3 430
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`Received Comm from
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`4st Member 142
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`Language’ 230
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`C Language2320
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`Fig. 13
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`Processed
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`Communication 144
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`Transferred
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`Communication 146
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`Language2 320
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`Language3 430
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 14
`
`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 14
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`Jul. 1, 2004
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`EMAIL INTEGRATED INSTANT MESSAGING
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
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`[0001] This invention relates to initiation of an Instant
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`Messaging (IM) session between two or more parties and
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`communication using a “standard/standalone” Instant Mes-
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`saging paradigm with or without email integration.
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`BACKGROUNDART
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`[0002] There are at least four major problems that are
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`common in today’s Instant Messaging (IM) systems includ-
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`ing: “screen name” namespace problems,privacy problems,
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`lack of acceptable and automated Instant Messaging mes-
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`sage archiving, and service provider compatibility/software
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`deliverability problems.
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`[0003] The namespace problem can be broken downinto
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`three sub-problems, as follows:
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`[0004]
`“Screen names” are not unique across IM provid-
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`ers. In today’s Instant Messaging software, each Instant
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`Messaging service provider maintains a separate and pro-
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`prietary “screen name” namespace. This leads to users of
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`one Instant Messaging service not being able to freely
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`communicate with the users of a different Instant Messaging
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`service provider because names in each namespace are not
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`universal, so, for example, the user “Johril” in AOL’s Instant
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`Messenger (AIM) might refer to John Smith, while “John P
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`in Yahoo’s Messenger might refer to John Jones.
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`[0005] Obtaining a desired nameis difficult, and will only
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`get more difficult. The namespaces available within each
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`Instant Messaging provider are extremely crowded. For
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`example, when signing up with the largest of the Instant
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`Messaging providers, AOL’s Instant Messenger (AIM)ser-
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`vice, a typical user would rarely succeed with their first
`choice for a screen name because there are over 90 million
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`namesalready in use. In the case of AOL,this problem will
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`only get worse as over 3 million new users sign up for AIM
`each month.
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`“Screen names” frequently have little or no con-
`[0006]
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`nection to a person’s “real” name. Most Instant Messaging
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`screen namesare nameslike “doglover3”, “corvette33”,etc.,
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`since, as described above, nameslike “John Smith” haveall
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`been taken. Therefore users end up with screen names which
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`are hard for others to remember. This problem is of particu-
`lar concern in the business world where universal and
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`recognizable user names are essential for conducting busi-
`ness.
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`[0007] The privacy problem can beseen as follows. In the
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`Instant Messaging environments available by current Instant
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`Messaging providers a particular user’s presence online can
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`easily, or even automatically, be detected by others. When a
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`user begins an Instant Messaging session using one of these
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`Instant Messaging providers, all other users who are inter-
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`ested in this user are notified that the he just went “online”.
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`SomeInstant Messaging providers do provide some protec-
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`tion against this “presence detection”. They may allow users
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`to set an option to either let “no one” know that they are
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`online, or to block certain people from knowing they are
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`online. Unfortunately, these type of features are cumber-
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`some to use since they are not automatic and force users to
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`constantly manage who can “see” them and who can’t.
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`[0008] The Instant Messaging messaging archiving prob-
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`lem can be seen as follows. Some currently available Instant
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`Messagingclient software allowsusers to save transcripts of
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`an Instant Messagingsession asa file on their computerdisk.
`But the client software does not allow them to file these
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`sessions away,title them,etc., as they would with email, and
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`the feature is cumbersome enough that most users either
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`don’t know it exists, or simply don’t use it. This gives
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`Instant Messaging a disadvantage when compared to email
`because it does not allow the user to maintain an automatic
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`archive of what was discussed in the Instant Messaging
`session.
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`[0009] There are several problems associated with Instant
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`Messaging service provider compatibility and software
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`delivery. Today, Instant Messaging service providers require
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`users download a particular piece of software to execute on
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`their computer. This type of Instant Messaging software
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`causes at least three major problems.
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`[0010] Lack of interoperability causes a significant prob-
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`lem. Each Instant Messaging service provider only supports
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`its own Instant Messaging protocol and client software.
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`Clients from one Instant Messaging service provider, using
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`that service provider’s Instant Messaging software can typi-
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`cally only communicate with other people who use the same
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`service provider and software. A person cannot arbitrarily
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`send an Instant Message to another person, unless that other
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`person uses the same Instant Messaging service provider and
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`software that
`they do. For example, “Joe” uses AOL’s
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`Instant Messenger, and “Jane” uses Yahoo’s Messenger.
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`Even if Joe and Jane know each other’s screen names, they
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`cannot communicate with each other since they are using
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`different Instant Messaging service providers.
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`(0011] Lack of platform independenceis another problem.
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`Today’s Instant Messaging service providers and software
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`typically will only execute on a limited number of hardware
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`platforms, so users on non-supported platforms will not be
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`able to communicate with users on supported platforms.
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`{0012] The inability to work through network “firewalls ”
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`causes additional problems. The current Instant Messaging
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`service providers and software offerings will typically not
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`work through “firewalls”. Since most business enterprises
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`have firewalls in place, these programs preclude users inside
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`the organization from communicating with users outside of
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`the organization. Additionally, as home networks become
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`more prevalent,
`the use of firewalls will become more
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`commonand the significance of this problem will increase.
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`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
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`[0013] Certain embodiments of the present invention are
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`directed to a system supporting the initiation of an Instant
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`Messaging (IM) session between two or more parties
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`through the use of email programs and standard web brows-
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`ers. Additionally, it allows users to communicate using a
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`“standard/standalone” Instant Messaging paradigm (ie.
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`without email integration) which affords users the features
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`of today’s popular Instant Messaging services, but also
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`provides at least the additional benefits listed in the sum-
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`mary.
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`[0014] Regarding the namespace problem, users are not
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`required to use proprietary “screen names”. Instead,
`the
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`inventive system allowsthe parties to use their email address
`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 15
`
`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 15
`
`
`
`
`
`US 2004/0128356 Al
`
`
`Jul. 1, 2004
`
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`as their “screen name”. Email addresses have the advantages
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`that they are much more pervasive and established than
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`typical Instant Messaging “screen names”, and valid email
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`addresses are guaranteed to be universally unique names.
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`[0015] The present invention details a process whereby a
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`computer user may send an “IM Enhanced”or “Live” email
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`to another person, using a standard email program, by
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`knowing only the recipient’s email address.
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`[0016] Regarding the privacy problem, when an Instant
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`Messagingsession is initiated via email, strict privacy rules
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`are enforced in a non-intrusive manner; one user cannot
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`“blindly” initiate a messaging session with another user,
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`unless the second user accepts the Instant Messaging invi-
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`tation. Furthermore, the initial chat request is not delivered
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`via an Instant Message, rather, it is delivered in an email.
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`Uponreceipt of the email invitation, the recipient initiates an
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`Instant Messaging conversation with the sender (who’s
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`acceptance is implicit since the sender initiated the Instant
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`Messaging request). When an Instant Messaging session is
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`initiated via the “standalone” Instant Messaging web page,
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`the user is able to control presence detection in the same
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`sorts of ways as most commonly available Instant Messag-
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`ing software allows.
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`invention also details the process
`[0017] The present
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`whereby users may indicate that presence detection is
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`allowed only to certain individuals simply by sending those
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`individuals an email/IM invitation. This email becomesthe
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`implicit “permission” for the recipient to converse with the
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`sender, so no other action is required on the part of the
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`sender. This provides a very dynamic and powerful meansof
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`granting “permission” to message, and the permissions may
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`even be email message specific. This meansthat if Joe sends
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`Jane an IM-enhanced email, Jane would be able to commu-
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`nicate to Joe through that email, but
`if Jane used the
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`standalone Instant Messaging service, she may not by able
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`detect Joe’s presence, assuming Joe has “total privacy”
`selected.
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`[0018] The sender is not able to initiate the Instant Mes-
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`saging conversation in any wayother than through an email.
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`This prevents users from getting Instant Messaging “spam”.
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`If the recipient accepts the Instant Messaging invitation
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`includedin the email, they can begin a conversation with the
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`sender (who is assumed to have implicitly accepted IMs
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`from the recipient). Since these Instant Messaging conver-
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`sations are initiated via email,
`the spam problem is also
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`addressed by leveraging all of the protections already in
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`place for protecting users against email spam, this includes
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`existing legislation, filtering software, etc.
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`[0019] Regarding the problem of Instant Messaging mes-
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`sage archiving, users may choose to permanently save
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`Instant Messaging sessions in much the same waythat they
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`save email. The Instant Messaging session might even be
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`saved as part of the email. This allows Instant Messaging
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`archivesto be referred backto in the future. Additionally, if
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`there was an Instant Messaging session as a result of an
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`email, that Instant Messaging session will be automatically
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`saved in conjunction with the email, so that anytime in the
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`future the user choosesto read that particular piece of email,
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`they will also see the associated messaging.
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`[0020] Upon receiving such an email, the recipient will be
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`able to read the email “body” as they always have, and
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`below the email body will be an area in whichto participate
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`in an Instant Messaging conversation with the sender.
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`[0021] As the Instant Messaging session proceeds, it is
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`constantly being saved on the server computer, which pro-
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`vides the Instant Messaging support. This allowsusersto file
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`away emails as always, and at any future time, when they
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`view the email, the full transcript of the Instant Messaging
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`session will also appear. This allows users to both maintain
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`conversations about the email together with the email, as
`well as to maintain an automatic archive of their Instant
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`Messaging session (users would, of course, be able to
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`disable this feature).
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`[0022] Regarding Instant Messaging service provider
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`compatibility and software delivery problems, no explicit
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`signup or software is needed. Sender and recipient need not
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`be signed up with a common Instant Messaging service
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`provider, or any service providerat all in order to message
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`each other. Users may “message” each other without the
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`need for explicit client software downloads. Messaging is
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`performed with standard DHTMLwithin an email window
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`[though the Instant Messaging part of this invention can also
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`be utilized in an “IM only” mode, without the use of email].
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`[0023] This “IM area” is rendered within the email mes-
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`sage, using only generally available browser technologies,
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`such as DHTML.Noother software is required for the user
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`to download, and no “plugins” are required. This allows any
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`user with a popular browser to immediately, and seamlessly,
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`participate in an Instant Messaging session.
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`[0024] The whole Instant Messaging session takes place
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`using only the publicly-defined internet protocol known as
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`HTTP allowing Instant Messaging conversations to take
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`place across firewalls. The present invention also details the
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`process whereby a computer user may send or receive
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`“standard” Instant Messages,
`from a web-based Instant
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`Messaging web page/application. The implementation of
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`this “standalone” web page uses the same software “engine”
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`as the software described above, which allows users to
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`Instant Messaging each other within their emails. Though
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`there are many benefits to the email/Im solution, a standa-
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`lone solution is required as well, since the sender needs a
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`way to communicate with the recipient once the recipient
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`choosesto initiate an Instant Messaging session. Addition-
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`ally, users often choose to communicate only via Instant
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`Messages, and not use email. It is in the standalone incan-
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`tation of this software where the privacy and presence-
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`hiding and http presence-detection features of this software
`shine.
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`[0025] These and other advantages of the present inven-
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`tion will become apparent upon reading the following
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`detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the
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`drawings.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a system comprising a server 100
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`communicatively coupled to associated client computers
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`used by users supporting email communications and web
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`browser compliant communications to provide instant mes-
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`saging between at least two of the users;
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`[0027] FIG. 2A depicts a detail flowchart of server pro-
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`gram system 1000 of FIG. 1 for supporting instant messag-
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`ing between at least two of the users;
`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 16
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`Samsung v. Uniloc, IPR2017-1799
`Uniloc's Exhibit 2002, page 16
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`US 2004/0128356 Al
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`Jul. 1, 2004
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`[0028] FIG. 2B depicts a detail flowchart of operation
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`1012 of FIG.2A for creating the instant messaging session;
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`[0029] FIG. 3 depicts a detail flowchart of operation 1022
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`of FIG. 1 for providing the instant messaging session;
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`[0030] FIG. 4A depicts a detail flowchart of operation
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`1122 of FIG. 3 for transferring the at least one received
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`communication from the first member;
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`[0031] FIG. 4B depicts a detail flowchart of server pro-
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`gram system 1000 of FIG. 1 for supporting instant messag-
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`ing between at least two users;
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`[0032] FIG. 5A depicts a detail flowchart of operation
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`1192 of FIG. 4B for maintaining the database referencing
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`the history;
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`[0033] FIG. 5B