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`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
`
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`computers connected over a unicast
`
`ide area communication network,
`
`
`
` A method for providing group messagestoaplurality of host
`
`comprisingthe stepsof:
`providing a group messaging server coupled to said network, said server
`host computers using said unicast
`communicating with said plurality of
`
`network and maintainingalist of message groups, each message group
`
`
`
`containing at least one host computer;
`sending, by a first host computer belonging to a first message group, a
`message to said servervia said unicast
`retwork, said message containing a
`payload portion anda portionforidentifying said first message group; and
`
`transmitting, by said servervia said
`ast network, said payload portion
`
`to selected host computers belonging to
`first group.
`
`n said selected host computers
`2.
`The method ofclaim 1 where
`comprising all host computers belong to said first group except said first host
`
`computer.
`3.
`| The method of claim 1 wherein|said message also contains a portion
`for identifying a secondmessage group, said selected host computers being
`selected from a set operationof membersin\said first and said second message
`
`groups.
`~ The method of claim 1 further comprising the step ofcreating, by a
`4.
`second host computer, said first message group by sendinga first control
`messageto said server via said unicast netwo k.
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`group.
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`erein said networkis Internet and said
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`The method of claim 4 further comprisingthe step ofjoining, by
`5.
`said first host computer, said first message group by sending via said unicast
`network a second control message to|said server specifying said first message
`
`
`The method of claim 1 w
`6.
`
`server communicates with said plurality of host computers using a session layer
`protocol
`:
`
`7.
`A methodfor providing group messagesto a plurality of host
`“PUAAL
`wide area communication network,
`computers connected over a unicast
`
`comprising thestepsof:
`
`providing a group messaging sefve
`communicating with said plurali\omputers using said unicast
`
`
`network and maintaining a list of messag
`containing at least one host com huter;
`sending, by a plurality ofhost computers belonging to a first message
`group, messagesto said servervia said unicast network, said messages
`containing a payload portion and a portipn for identifying said first message
`
`a)
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`boast
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`10
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`25 |
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`oupled to said network, said server
`
`of
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`hi
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`oups, each message group
`
`
`
`group,
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`aggregating, by said serverin a timeinterval determined in accordance with
`
`a predefined criterion, said payload portidns
`of said messages to create an
`
`aggregatéd payload;
`
`forming an aggregated message using said aggregated payload; and
`transmitting, by said server via said uniqast network, said aggregated
`messageto a recipient host computer belonging to said first message group.
`8.
`The method ofclaim 7 wherein said time interval is a fixed period of
`
`time.
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`9.
`
`The method of claim 7 Wherein said time interval corresponds to a
`
`time for said server to receive at least one message from each host computer
`
`.
`belonging to said first message group.
`10.
`The method of claim 7
`further comprising the step of creating, by
`
`one ofsaid plurality of host computers, said first message group by sending a
`first control messageto said server
`ia said unicast network.
`11.
`The method of claim 10\further comprising the step ofjoining, by
`
`someofsaid plurality of host computers, said first message group by sending
`control messagesvia said unicast network to said server specifying said first
`
`message group.
`
`The methodofclaim 7 w. erein said networkis Internet and said
`12.
`server communicates withsaid plurality
`qfihost computers using a session layer
`
`protocol
`
`
`A method for providing group me
`13.
`computers connected over a unicast
`wid¢g area communication network,
`comprisingthe stepsof: .
`providing a group messaging server|coupled to said network, said server
`communicating with said plurality of host computers using said unicast
`network and maintaining a list of message groups, each message group
`
`
`
`20
`
`25
`
`containing at least one host computer;
`dynamically joining, by a first host computer, message groups on said list
`by sending a first control messageto said servervia said unicast network, said
`first control message specifying a message|groupdesired to be joined by said
`
`first host computer; and
`dynamically leaving, by said first host computer, message groups on said
`list by sending a secondcontrol messageto ‘said server via said unicast
`
`
`
`59.
`
`network, said second control message specifying a message groupsaid first
`host computer desires to leave.
`14.
`The method of claim 13 wherein said first host computer belongs to
`
`a first message group, said method further comprising the stepsof:
`sending, by said first host computer, a messageto said servervia said
`
`unicast network, said message co
`ing a payload portion and a portion for
`
`identifying said first message group;
`
`network, said payload portion
`transmitting, by said server
`via sai
`to selected host computers belonging to\said first group.
`
`The method ofclaim 14 wherejn said selected host computers
`15.
`comprising all host computers belong tosaid first group except said first host
`computer.
`
`16.
`
`Themethodofclaim 14whereinroalsocontainsa
`
`‘said selected host computers
`portion for identifying a second message group,
`being selected from a set operation of membersin said first and said second
`
`message groups.
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