US 11418466

A concise summary of U.S. Patent 11,418,466 is as follows:

Title: Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms

Assignee: Disintermediation Services Inc

Inventors:

• John Patrick Francis Dandison
• James Allen Johnson
• Paul Joseph Lyman Schottland

Filing Date: May 10, 2022

Issue Date: August 16, 2022

Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving a first communication request, from a web browser of a first user. A request for information is sent, using a first active communication protocol, to the web browser. A first communication as part of the first conversation is received from the first user. A responder sends a communication to the first user. A first conversation identifier is identified and used to store the conversation of the first user. The responder sends a communication to a second user. A second active communication protocol is determined and used to send the communication. A second conversation identifier is identified and used to store the conversation of the second user.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 11,418,466 has two independent claims (Claim 1 and Claim 18), one for a "system" and the other for a "method." Both claims essentially describe the same core invention.

Claim 1 (System): This claim describes a system with a processor configured to manage web-based chats between an unauthenticated website user (first user) and a "responder." The system can handle multiple conversations at once, even using different communication methods for different users.

In plain terms, the system does the following:

• A user, without needing to log in, visits a webpage and initiates a chat.
• The system sends a message from a responder to this user within their web browser.
• It creates and stores a unique "conversation identifier" to keep track of this specific chat.
• When the user replies, the system uses the identifier to correctly associate the message with the ongoing conversation.
• Crucially, the system can also manage a separate conversation between the same responder and a different user (second user).
• For this second user, the system can use a different communication method (e.g., instant messaging or SMS instead of a web browser chat) and assigns a separate, unique identifier to keep that conversation distinct.
• The system then routes messages back and forth for both conversations, ensuring each user only sees their own chat.

Claim 18 (Method): This claim outlines a method that mirrors the functionality of the system described in Claim 1. It details the steps an electronic processor would take to perform the same web-based communication management.

In essence, the method involves:

• Receiving a chat request from an anonymous user on a website.
• Sending a message from a responder to that user's web browser.
• Creating and storing a unique ID for that conversation.
• Receiving the user's reply and linking it to the correct conversation using the ID.
• Handling a separate conversation with a second user, potentially over a different communication protocol (like SMS).
• Sending messages to this second user's device.
• Using a second, distinct ID to manage this second conversation.
• Receiving the second user's reply and correctly routing it back to the responder as part of the second conversation.

Litigation Context

It is noted that the assignee, Disintermediation Services, Inc., has been involved in litigation, asserting this patent against various companies. Court documents indicate that the patents asserted by this entity, including U.S. Patent 11,418,466, "all center on systems for web-based communication that allows unauthenticated users to participate in chat functions by creating a conversation identifier and using it to map conversations." No specific dockets before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026 were identified in the search.