	US 12,229,854 B2
	Promoting communicant interactions in a network communications environment
Matthew Leacock, Sunnyvale, CA (US); David Van Wie, Eugene, OR (US); and Paul J. Brody, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Sococo, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Sococo, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/515,249.
Application 18/515,249 is a continuation of application No. 17/831,369, filed on Jun. 2, 2022.
Application 17/831,369 is a continuation of application No. 16/521,501, filed on Jul. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,380,020, issued on Jul. 5, 2022.
Application 16/521,501 is a continuation of application No. 15/010,806, filed on Jan. 29, 2016, granted, now 10,366,514, issued on Jul. 30, 2019.
Application 15/010,806 is a continuation of application No. 13/487,159, filed on Jun. 2, 2012, abandoned.
Application 13/487,159 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/209,812, filed on Aug. 15, 2011, granted, now 8,930,472, issued on Jan. 6, 2015.
Application 13/209,812 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/354,709, filed on Jan. 15, 2009, granted, now 8,397,168, issued on Mar. 12, 2013.
Application 13/209,812 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/418,243, filed on Apr. 3, 2009, granted, now 8,191,001, issued on May 29, 2012.
Application 13/487,159 is a continuation of application No. 12/354,709, filed on Jan. 15, 2009, granted, now 8,397,168, issued on Mar. 12, 2013.
Application 13/487,159 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/422,757, filed on Mar. 16, 2012, granted, now 8,732,593, issued on May 20, 2014.
Application 13/422,757 is a continuation of application No. 12/418,243, filed on Apr. 3, 2009, granted, now 8,191,001, issued on May 29, 2012.
Application 16/521,501 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/251,505, filed on Apr. 11, 2014, granted, now 9,411,490, issued on Aug. 9, 2016.
Application 14/251,505 is a continuation of application No. 13/422,757, filed on Mar. 16, 2012, granted, now 8,732,593, issued on May 20, 2014.
Application 16/521,501 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/587,845, filed on Dec. 31, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/587,845 is a continuation of application No. 13/209,812, filed on Aug. 15, 2011, granted, now 8,930,472, issued on Jan. 6, 2015.
Application 14/587,845 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/354,709, filed on Jan. 15, 2009, granted, now 8,397,168, issued on Mar. 12, 2013.
Application 13/209,812 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/418,243, filed on Apr. 3, 2009, granted, now 8,191,001, issued on May 29, 2012.
Application 13/487,159 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/354,709, filed on Jan. 15, 2009, granted, now 8,397,168, issued on Mar. 12, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/373,914, filed on Aug. 16, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/042,714, filed on Apr. 5, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2024/0087180 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 15/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/0481 (2022.01); G06F 3/04815 (2022.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); G06F 3/04842 (2022.01); G06F 3/04845 (2022.01); G06F 7/08 (2006.01); G06F 16/44 (2019.01); G06F 40/134 (2020.01); G06F 40/166 (2020.01); G06F 40/274 (2020.01); G06T 11/00 (2006.01); H04L 51/043 (2022.01); H04L 67/10 (2022.01); H04L 67/54 (2022.01); H04L 51/52 (2022.01)

CPC G06T 11/00 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0481 (2013.01); G06F 3/04815 (2013.01); G06F 3/0482 (2013.01); G06F 3/04842 (2013.01); G06F 3/04845 (2013.01); G06F 7/08 (2013.01); G06F 16/444 (2019.01); G06F 40/134 (2020.01); G06F 40/166 (2020.01); G06F 40/274 (2020.01); H04L 51/043 (2013.01); H04L 67/10 (2013.01); H04L 67/54 (2022.05); G06F 2203/04803 (2013.01); H04L 51/52 (2022.05)]

40 Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors included in a computer system; and

a memory, coupled to the one or more processors, storing code that when executed by the one or more processors, the computer system performs operations comprising:

connecting to a network communications environment supporting realtime communications between respective network nodes of a user and other communicants in virtual areas each of which is associated with its own respective set of communicant members;

in connection with the user's network node, providing a graphical user interface comprising controls for establishing presence in respective ones of the virtual areas, managing realtime communications with other communicants in respective ones of the virtual areas, and presenting different views of communicants associated with the network communications environment;

based on user input in connection with the graphical user interface, establishing a presence for the user in one of the virtual areas, administering realtime communications between the user and one or more communicants who are present in the virtual area, and displaying a visualization that shows graphical representations, locations of presence, and realtime activities of communicants across respective ones of the virtual areas; and

hosting virtual area applications by the virtual areas;

for each virtual area, managing sessions of respective network nodes in the virtual area using one of the hosted virtual area applications associated to the virtual area; and

customizing an appearance of at least one of the virtual areas using one of the virtual area applications of a virtual area platform, wherein the appearance is customizable to any of many different appearances.