Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2004-01-13
Lin, Wen-Tai (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
C709S205000, C709S206000, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06678720
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to chat systems enabling text-based conversation, wherein a plurality of users connected to a network share virtual spaces set up on the network. The present invention more particularly relates to technology for using a chat system to promote smooth communication.
In the present invention, the chat system comprises a plurality of chat devices. The chat devices are connected to the network, share a virtual conversation space set up virtually on the network, and send and received text messages to one another in a conversational format.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) system is one type of chat system constructed in compliance with the IRC protocol. An IRC system is constituted by the connection of IRC servers and IRC clients via the Internet and the like. The IRC client shares a virtual space, called a channel, and sends and receives text messages in real time. The IRC server broadcasts messages to the IRC clients that share the same channel. In an IRC system, each IRC client is uniquely designated by an identifier called a nickname.
2. Description of Related Art
With the rapid diffusion of the Internet in recent years, IRC has become widely known as a chat system. In an IRC system, a user can join a plurality of channels. In addition, a user can view conversations in a plurality of channels which the user has joined and can also send messages to a channel to participate in the channel.
The diffusion of the Internet has brought about an increase in opportunities for users at offices positioned at remote locations to coordinate their work. For example, a work style wherein geographically separated members of one department join a ordinarily designated channel, thereby exchanging information and promoting mutual understanding of their intentions, is becoming commonplace. In such a working environment, it is critical to perform work on the basis of an understanding that information is shared. Chat systems, such as an IRC system, are suited as communication tools for building that understanding by sharing information in real time.
By using a chat system as discussed above, it is possible to share information and promote mutual understanding of intentions even while being geographically separated. However, this is strictly limited to cases wherein the users can connect to a chat system; otherwise, these advantages cannot be enjoyed.
Considering an example wherein a certain user at the destination of a business trip wants to contact all members of a group, if it is possible to connect to a chat system, the user can directly convey informational matter to all members of the group by connecting to the chat system and dispatching the matter to the virtual space for the relevant group. However, if it is not possible to connect to a chat system, directly conveying the matter to all of the members is difficult.
Presently, the following methods are conceivable in the case wherein it is desired to convey the same matter to a plurality of members:
(A) The user telephones from his destination to his usual location, and requests the person who takes the call to dispatch a message to the channel on his behalf.
(B) The user leaves a message using by dialing a predetermined telephone number and recording a message, and has those persons belonging to the same department periodically access the service.
(C) The user uses the short message function of a portable telephone to send a message via a mailing list, which can simultaneously distribute electronic mail to numerous persons.
However, methods (A) to (C) above have the following problems:
(A) Since the message can only be conveyed indirectly, there is the uncertainty about whether the nuance one truly wishes to convey is reliably conveyed to all members.
(B) Since persons belonging to the same department are obliged periodically to access the telephone number, this method is troublesome as well as impractical because the message is not conveyed if those persons forget to access the service. In addition, the message is not conveyed in real time.
(C) The amount of information that can be conveyed is small. In addition, operation is complicated if one tries to convey a large amount of information. Furthermore, the message is not conveyed until the other party views the electronic mail.
In other words, a means has not yet been provided that can easily and in real time convey a message to a plurality of users on a chat system when it is not possible to connect to the chat system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide technology enabling use of a chat system to convey messages in real time directly to a plurality of users on the chat system, even wherein direct connection to the chat system is not possible.
To solve the foregoing problems, in the present application the invention in a first aspect provides a messaging method used in a chat system comprising chat devices connected to a network that share a conversation space set up virtually on the network and that send and receive text to one another in a conversational format, wherein the messaging method
(A) receives, from an information terminal having a communications function independent of the chat system, communication data and data that designates the virtual space or one of the chat devices, via the communications function;
(B) stores the received data; and
(C) notifies the designated virtual space or one of the chat devices of the storage location of the data via the chat system.
If IRC, for example, is used as the chat system, then the network is the Internet. As an information terminal having a communications function independent of the chat system, an ordinary information terminal like, for example, a telephone set or fax machine on a telephone circuit network, or a PC (personal computer) independent of the Internet can be used. The other terminal that is the second information terminal, whereon an IRC client or IRC server can run, has a communications function for receiving data from the information terminal. The second information terminal receives voice data, image data, text data and the like from the information terminal via the communications function. The second information terminal stores the received data, and notifies via the chat system the conversation space or a specific user of the address of the storage location. A URL (uniform resource locator), for example, can be used as the address.
The user notified of the URL can access the message using an ordinary method. For example, if the user is notified of a URL by an IRC client, the user can access the URL using a browser. The WWW (World Wide Web) server that receives this access request sends the contents of the URL to the user terminal.
The present invention second in a second aspect configures a messaging system used together with a chat system comprising chat devices connected to a network that share a conversation space set up virtually on the network and that send and receive text to one another in a conversational format. This messaging system is provided with a storage means, and a second information terminal.
The storage means is directly connected to the network or is connected to the network via a device connected to the network, and can store data.
The second information terminal receives, from a first information terminal having a communications function independent of the chat system, communication data and data that designates the virtual space or one of the chat devices, via the communications function; and stores the received communication data in the storage means. Furthermore, the second information terminal notifies the designated virtual space or one of the chat devices of the storage location of the communication data via the chat system.
Considering an example in which IRC is used as the chat system, a Web page is used as the storage means, and a telephone is used as the first information terminal. User A uses the telephone set to place a call to the second information terminal, and sends a message b
Iwayama Noboru
Matsumoto Tatsuro
Fujitsu Limited
Lin Wen-Tai
LandOfFree
Chat system and method for delivering additional information... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Chat system and method for delivering additional information..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chat system and method for delivering additional information... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3194648