Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for .Iadd.data .Iaddend.communication between agents.Iadd., such as those .Iaddend.in an electronic conferencing system. In .[.an electronic conferencing.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.system wherein data is shared between a plurality of .[.participants during an electronic conference.]. .Iadd.users.Iaddend., a method is disclosed for maintaining consistency of the data among the .[.participants during the electronic conference.]. .Iadd.users.Iaddend.. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps: a) each .[.participant in the electronic conferencing system.]. .Iadd.user .Iaddend.maintains a local copy of the shared data .[.for the electronic conference during the electronic conference.]. ; b) one of the .[.participants.]. .Iadd.users .Iaddend.commences to perform modifications to an associated local copy of the shared data; c) subsequent to the step of commencing modifications, a .[.participant.]. .Iadd.user .Iaddend.requests an index for the modifications from an arbitrator .[.participant.]. .Iadd.user.Iaddend., wherein the modifications to the associated local copy of the shared data may continue to be performed; d) the arbitrator .[.participant.]. .Iadd.user .Iaddend.responds to the .[.participant.]. .Iadd.user .Iaddend.requesting the index for the modifications; and e) a .[.participant.]. .Iadd.user .Iaddend.modifies the associated local copy of the shared data according to the index received from the arbitrator .[.participant.]. .Iadd.user .Iaddend.and transfers the local modifications to remote .[.participants.]. .Iadd.users.Iaddend.. .Iadd.In one embodiment, the users are participants of an electronic conference, and the shared data are the 'meeting' data of the electronic conference. .Iaddend.

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First Claim