`
`In the Claims:
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`-3-
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`ROTHSCHILDet al.
`Appl. No. 09/407,371
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`Please cancel cl4ims 1-16 without préjudice or disclaimer.
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`Please add the following newlaims 17-35:
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`| oT A method for facilitating communications amonga plurality ofhost computers over a
`network to implement a shared, interactive application, comprising the stepsof:
`
`NWNWnFFWN
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`(1)
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`receiving a create message from oneofthe plurality of host computers, wherein
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`said create message specifies a message groupto be created;
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`(2) receiving join messagesfromafirst subset of the plurality of host computers,
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`wherein each of said join messages specifies said message group;
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`(3)
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`receiving host messages from a second subsetofsaid first subset of the
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`plurality of host computers belonging to said message group, wherein each of said messages
`contains a payload portion and a portionthat is used to identify said message group;
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`(4)
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`aggregating said payload portions of said host messages received from said
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`second subsetofthe plurality of host computers to create an aggregated payload;
`(5)
`forming an aggregated message using said aggregated payload; and
`(6)
`transmitting said aggregated messageto said first subset of the plurality of host
`computers belonging to said message group;
`wherebyard ‘aggregated message keepsthe shared,interactive application operating
`consistently on cach ofsaid first subset ofthe plurality ofhost computers.
`[
`A The methodof claim5Awherein the networkis at least a portion ofthe Internet.
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`ROTHSCHILDetal.
`Appl. No. 09/407,371
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`22
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`network to implement a shared, interactive application, comprising the stepsof:
`
`(1)
`
`receiving a create message from oneofthe plurality of host computers, wherein
`
`said create message specifies a message groupto be created;
`
`9%~~Amethodforfacilitating communications amonga plurality of host computers over a
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`
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`(2) receiving join messages fromafirst subset of the plurality of host computers,
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`wherein each of said join messagesspecifies said message group;
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`(3)
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`receiving host messages from a second subsetofsaid first subset of the
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`plurality of host computers belonging to said message group, wherein each of said messages
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`contains a payload portion anda portion that is used to identify said message group;
`
`(4)
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`aggregating said payload portionsof said host messages received from said
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`second subsetof the plurality of host computers to create an aggregated message;
`
`OW)
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`(5)
`transmitting said aggregated messagetosaid first subset of the plurality of host
`computers belonging to said message group;
`.
`Lo
`;
`;
`Wherein
`wherebyySaid aggregated message keepsthe shared, interactive application operating
`consistently on each ofsaid first subset of the plurality of host computers.
`3
`A . The methodofclaim19%wherein the networkis at least a portion ofthe Internet.
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`oOoOoINDHWHFPWNY=
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`AT A methodforfacilitating communications among a plurality of host computers over a
`network to implementa shared, interactive application, comprising the stepsof:
`(1)
`receiving a host message from oneofthe plurality of host computers belonging
`to a message group, wherein said host message contains a payload portion and a portion that
`is used to identify said message group;
`
`(2)
`
`(3)
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`forming a server message using said payload portion of said host message;
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`transmitting said server messageto each ofthe plurality of host computers
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`belonging to said message group; and
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`(4)
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`suppressing said server message suchthat said one ofthe plurality of host
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`— oO
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`computers which originated said host message does not receive said server message;
`whereby$SiMServer message keepsthe shared,interactive application operating
`—NO—
`consistently on each ofthe plurality of host computers belonging to said message group.
`
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`The method ofclaim2T, wherein the networkis at least a portion of the Internet.
`iy A methodfor facilitating communications amonga plurality ofhost computers over a
`
`ROTHSCHILDet al.
`Appl. No. 09/407,371
`
`network to implement a shared, interactive application, comprising the stepsof:
`
`(1)
`
`receiving messages from a subset of the plurality of host computers belonging
`
`to a message group, wherein each of said messages contains a payload portion and a portion
`
`that is used to identify said message group;
`
`.
`
`(2)
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`aggregating said payload portions of said messages to create an aggregated
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`payload; and
`
`(3)
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`transmitting saidaggregatedmessageto eachofthepluralityofhostcomputers
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`belonging to said message group;
`t
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`oe
`.
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`eikK
`said aggregated message keepsthe shared, interactive application operating
`rR
`consistently on each ofthe plurality of host computers belonging to said message group.
`g
`DE The method of claim,23; wherein the networkis at least a portion of the Internet.
`q
`q
`JE The method of claim.23, wherein step (3) is performed after pausing for a pre-
`determined timeinterval.
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`[O
`ZS.
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`The method of claim,25; wherein said pre-determined time interval is equivalent to the
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`amountof time for the group messaging serverto receive at least one message from each of
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`the plurality host computers belongingto said first message group.
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`The method ofclaim125, wherein said pre-determined time intervalis a function of the
`27.
`rate that said messagesare received from said subsetofthe plurality of host computers
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`belonging to said first message group.
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`Lo\
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`CoOoNDnHFRWDNO&
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`I VL
`28.
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`ROTHSCHILDet ai.
`Appl. No. 09/407,371
`pp
`A methodfor providing group messagesto a plurality of host computers connected to
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`-6-
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`a group messaging server over a unicast wide area communication network, comprising the
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`steps of:
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`(1)
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`communicating with the plurality of host computers using the unicast network
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`and maintaining a list of message groups, each message group containingat least one host
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`computer;
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`receiving messagesfrom a subsetofthe plurality of host computers, each host
`(2)
`computerin said subset belongingtoa first message group, wherein each of said messages
`contains a payload portion anda portion that is used to identify said first message group;
`
`G3)
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`aggregating said payload portions of said messages received from said subset
`
`of the plurality of host computers to create an aggregated payload;
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`(4)
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`forming an aggregated message using said aggregated payload; and
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`transmitting said aggregated messageto a recipient host computer belonging to
`(5)
`said first message group.
`
`(2
`ZS,
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`ID
`The method of claim_28; wherein the unicast wide area communication networkis at
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`least a portion of the Internet.
`(VY
`lq
`AV.—The methodof claim28, wherein the unicast wide area communication networkis at
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`least a portion of the Internet, and said group messaging server communicates with said
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`plurality of host computers using a session layer protocol.
`7
`(L
`Ib
`The method of claim.28, wherein step (3) is performed after pausing for a pre-
`SW.
`determined timeinterval.
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`15
`[@
`AZ.—The method of claimLW, wherein said pre-determined time interval is equivalent to the
`amountof time for the group messaging serverto receive at least one message from each of
`the plurality host computers belonging to said first message group.
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`(oo
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`The methodofclaim31, wherein said pre-determinedtimeinterval is a function of the
`23.
`rate that said messagesare received from said subsetofthe plurality of host computers
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`ROTHSCHILDet ai.
`Appl. No. 09/407,371
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`belonging to said first message group.
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`Ks
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`\ 3.
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`Amethodforfacilitatingcommunicationsamongapluralityofhostcomputersovera
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`network to implement a shared, interactive application, comprising the steps of:
`
`(1)
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`receiving a host message from oneofthe plurality of host computers belonging
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`to a message group, wherein said host message contains a payload portion and a portion that
`
`is used to identify said message group;
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`forming a server message bing said payload portion of said host message; andA.
`(2)
`transmitting said server message to each ofthe plurality ofhost computers
`b}
`G)
`belonging to said message group;
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`wherebysaid server message keepsthe shared, interactive application operating
`consistently on each ofthe plurality of host computers belonging to said message group.
`(1
`ig
`1 35.—The method of claim34, wherein the networkis at least a portion of the Internet.--
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