FWIW, the patent number is 6,449,344 Communication system
(not many patents have the string "Hey Bayby, Call Me at My IP Address" imbedded in them :-)
I've highlighted what is probably the significant point about the patent. Can anybody knowledgeable about such things comment ?
Abstract
The present invention discloses a communication system including a communications network, a multiplicity of communications terminals which are connectable to the communications network and which can be employed by users to communicate via the communications network, the user not necessarily being identified with a given communications terminal, apparatus for monitoring whether or not a user is connected to the communications network irrespective of which of the multiplicity of communications terminals that user is employing, and apparatus for annunciating to a seeking user, currently connected to the communications network via any of the multiplicity of communications terminals, network connection status information relating to other users who are in a set of sought users, which set is definable by the seeking user, and for providing the seeking user connection address information relating to those sought users who are currently connected to the communications network. |
