Documentation for the Simultaneous Synchronous Communicator

May, 1999 Initial Outline

Introduction

The SSC, or Simultaneous Synchronous Communicator, is a BeOS program enabling two to four individuals, using different computers connected via a network, to exchange messages. The connections between all the individuals form a conference.

Installation Guide

Installation is very easy.
  1. Download the zip archive containing the SSC.
  2. Expand the Archive. (It expands into a new directory next to the archive). Put the directory anywhere.
    3. Note: When launched, the SSC will create a preferences folder and file in $HOME/config/settings.
  3. Create a link to the SSC in the Applications directory. (Optional)
  4. Launch the SSC program.
  5. Change 'Your Name' to a real name
    To enter the Name from a People file
    Drag & Drop the entire People file on the Conference window.
    The real name will be saved in the preferences.
  6. Quit the SSC program.

Getting Started Guide

  1. Schedule a conference with the other SSC user(s) (on the BeOS). Include the following:
    1. The date and time when the conference starts.
    2. Use the SSC on the BeOS.
    3. Decide who's going to call and who's going to wait for a call.
    4. IP Address or Domain Name of the computer to call.
  2. When the time for the conference arrives, launch the SSC.
  3. Connecting to another SSC.
    1. Either make a call.
      1. Secondary click on the background of the Conference window and select 'Make a Call' from the context sensitive pop-up menu. A 'Place a Call' window appears.
      2. Enter the IP Address or Domain Name of the computer you want to call in the text entry line.
      3. Hit the return key. The line 'Call Placed. Waiting for connection ...' appears at the bottom.
      4. When the connection occurs, the other person's name appears in the window.
      5. The other person accepts the call.
      6. After accepting, a new frame with the other person's name appears in the Conference window.
    2. Or wait for a call and 'Accept' it.
      1. The SSC is always waiting for a call from someone who wants to conference with you.
      2. When a call (as placed above) arrives, an 'Accept a Call' window appears.
      3. Secondary click on the background of the 'Accept a Call' window and select 'Accept the Call' from the context sensitive pop-up menu.
      4. After accepting, a new frame with the other person's name appears in the Conference window.
    Note: Either the caller or the acceptor can "Reject' the call by closing the 'Place a Call' or 'Accept a Call' window.
  4. Let's Chat.
    1. Secondary click on the background of the Conference window and select "Let's Chat" from the context sensitive pop-up menu. A text entry line appears in your frame.
    2. Type your message in the box and hit the return key.
    3. Your message is transmitted to all the other members of the conference.
    4. A scrolling text box appears in your frame with a log of what you typed.
    5. A similar scrolling text box appears with a log of messages from the other members.
    6. Continue entering text and hitting the return key to respond to messages.
  5. Disconnecting from the conference
    Quit the SSC as you would any other program.

User's Guide

In Progress (really!)

Change 'Your Name'

  1. Launch the SSC.
  2. Change 'Your Name' to a real name
    Drag & Drop an item containing the name on the Conference window.
    1. To enter the Name from a People file,
      Drag & Drop the entire People file on the Conference window.
    2. To enter the Company from a People file.
      1. Open the People file.
      2. Select the Company.
      3. Drag & Drop the text on the Conference window.
    3. Drag & Drop a text string.
      1. Open a file with any text editor.
      2. Select the text.
      3. Drag & Drop the text on the Conference window.
    4. Shortcut:
      1. Open Let's Chat or Make a Call
      2. Type your name in the text line.
      3. Select the text.
      4. Drag & Drop the text on the Conference window.
  3. Quit the SSC program.
    The new name will be saved in the preferences. It will be reloaded when the SSC next launches.

Participating in the Conference

  1. Scheduling the Conference.
  2. When the time for the conference arrives, launch the SSC.
  3. Connecting to another SSC forming or joining a conference.
  4. Things to do while conferencing.
    1. Audio On/Off. (Future enhancement)
    2. Video On/Off. (Future enhancement)
    3. Whiteboard, etc. On/Off. (Future enhancement)
    4. Let's Chat.
  5. Disconnect from the conference

Scheduling the Conference

Schedule a conference with the other interested parties. Include the following details:
  1. The date and time when the conference starts.
  2. Use the SSC on the BeOS.
  3. Decide who's going to call and who's going to wait for a call.
  4. IP Address or Domain Name of the computer to call. This can be easy or hard.
    1. Easy: At least one of the participants has a fixed IP address or Domain Name. Everyone else calls this address.
    2. Hard: None of the participants have a fixed IP address or Domain Name. All use DHCP or an ISP. When you log on the network:
      1. Note your IP address from DHCP or the Dial-Up Statistics.
      2. E-mail your current IP to the other participants in the conference.
      3. Wait for e-mail to arrive from the other participants specifying their current IP Address.

Connecting to another SSC forming or joining a conference.

  1. Connecting
    1. Either make a call.
      1. Secondary click on the background of the Conference window and select 'Make a Call' from the context sensitive pop-up menu. A 'Place a Call' window appears.
      2. Enter the IP Address or Domain Name of the computer you want to call in the text entry line.
      3. Hit the return key. The line 'Call Placed. Waiting for connection ...' appears at the bottom.
      4. When the connection occurs, the other person's name appears in the window.
      5. The other person accepts the call.
      6. After accepting, a new frame with the other person's name appears in the Conference window.
    2. Or wait for a call and 'Accept' it.
      1. The SSC is always waiting for a call from someone who wants to conference with you.
      2. When a call (as placed above) arrives, an 'Accept a Call' window appears.
      3. Secondary click on the background of the 'Accept a Call' window and select 'Accept the Call' from the context sensitive pop-up menu.
      4. After accepting, a new frame with the other person's name appears in the Conference window.
  2. Negotiating
    Limited messaging is available to negotiate entry to the conference:
    1. Type your message in the Out Message Text Entry line and hit the return key.
    2. The message is transmitted to the other person's In Message box.
    3. Repeat entering text and return to respond to messages between you.
    4. These messages are private and are not tranmitted to any other members of the conference.
  3. Rejecting
    Either the caller or the acceptor can reject or postpone the call by:
    1. Closing the 'Call' window.
    2. Secondary click on the background of the 'Call' window and select 'Call Back Later' from the context sensitive pop-up menu.
    3. Secondary click on the background of the 'Call' window and select 'Reject Conference' from the context sensitive pop-up menu.

Let's Chat

  1. To start chatting, secondary click on the background of the Conference window and select "Let's Chat" from the context sensitive pop-up menu. A text entry line appears in your frame.
  2. Type your message in the box and hit the return key.
  3. The message is transmitted to all the other members of the conference.
  4. A scrolling text box appears in your frame with a log of what you typed.
  5. A similar scrolling text box appears with a log of messages from the other members.
  6. Continue entering text and hitting the return key to respond to messages.
  7. To end chatting, secondary click on the background of the Conference window and select "Let's Not Chat" from the context sensitive pop-up menu. A text entry box disappears from your frame. The display box also disappears from your frame and from your frame on all the other members.

Disconnecting from the conference

To disconnect from the conference, just quit the SSC. Quit as you would any other program.
  1. Either close all the windows, including the Conference window.
  2. Or secondary click on the background of the Conference window and select "Quit" from the context sensitive pop-up menu.
After disconnecting from the conference, your frame will disappear from the conference window of the other participants.

Reference Guide

In Progress (really!)
  1. Conference context menus.
  2. Call context menus.
  3. Chat context menus.



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© François Jouen 1998-1999