GB2422266A

GB2422266A - Communication system

Info

Publication number: GB2422266A
Application number: GB0419196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Parsons; Russell Husband
Original assignee: CONTINUITY PLANNING ASSOCIATES; JOHN LEWIS PLC
Current assignee: CONTINUITY PLANNING ASSOCIATES (SOFTWARE) LIMITED
Priority date: 2004-08-27
Filing date: 2004-08-27
Publication date: 2006-07-19
Also published as: GB0419196D0

Abstract

A communication system is provided for a plurality of users. This system runs on a central server 2 which provides a messaging service to the users. Each user has a means for the storage and display of all messages of which have been transmitted on the system since a predetermined start time. The server stores all the messages transmitted since the predetermined start time. Each user repeatedly interrogates the server to determine whether or not any new messages are being transmitted by other users and is able to download these messages if any new messages are detected.

Description

47420.GBO1/AJR

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

This invention relates to a communication system in particular to a communication system which can be used by a plurality of users. The system has particular application to communications in situations where a history of communications must be accessible.

In situations where fast action is needed by personnel spread throughout a buliding or over a number of different sites good communication is essential. At present, in an organisation if there is some event which needs good communication the normal routes for doing this are email, the telephone system, and mobile telephones and text messages. Such communication systems are generally one-to-one communication systems and do not allow others who may have an interest in managing the event to look into the message. Furthermore, there is no means by which a history of messages and communications sent between individuals and groups of individuals can be examined. Because of this, events may not be managed as efficiently as would ideally be desired.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system for organising communications between different parties to manage an event in which all communications are sent via a networked system and each party with access to the system is able to see all communications which have taken place between individuals or groups of individuals since commencement of the event.

Preferably the system is provided as a real time conversation system shared among all users to keep them informed of events as they occur, to communicate actions that have been taken, and decisions that have been made.

Preferably any user logging into the system since commencement of the event can see at a glance all message entries which have been created since commencement of the event.

Preferably the messages are divided into days so that users may access 47420. GBO1/AJR communications from selected days.

In a preferred embodiment users are not permitted to alter any historical entry.

Preferably all users are able to create new communications which will be added to the existing communication list.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system in which the invention may be embodied; Figure 2 shows a picture of a typical browser window embodying the invention; Figure 3 shows the messaging stages between a user and a server in the embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating how the messaging system works.

In figure 1 there is shown a network server 2 which is coupled to a plurality of users 4. These users may be all provided on the same site or may be on different sites. Therefore, it may be a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) or a combination of the two.

Each user has a computer terminal through which he may log on to the network server. This network server will provide all the applications made available to users in an organisation.

An application in an embodiment of the invention is a communication suite which can be used for e.g. managing particular events which require many users to have knowledge An application running on the network server 2 provides a messaging facility which enables a real time conversation system to be shared amongst all users.

This keeps them informed of events as they occur. It also enables them to communicate actions that have been taken and decisions that have been made.

These communications and decisions are then available to all users. Users are also able to look back through a history of communications and this will enable 47420.GBO1/AJR them to understand the history of the management of an event.

When the event management system is loaded on the network server, all users who are logged on are able to access a messaging window which is illustrated in figure 2 via a browser application running on their own computers. This message window is located in the application running on the network server and all messages sent between users are logged into this message window with a time stamp, a location, indicating where the user was, a user name and the message.

A message type may also be recorded.

The messages will be ordered chronologically within the message window and the most recent message will be the one immediately available to a user.

The types of messages may include, for example, a dialogue message which is a simple communication or question between users, an action message reporting or instructing an action which is or happens to be taken, and a decision message.

Users can locate message entries quickly within the message window by using a filter system which is provided within the communication package. This can be used to look for particular text items or for particular users. Thus if a particular user is to be located his name will be entered. The filter is also flexible enough to allow searches on multiple strings of text or multiple users with some form of delimiter such as a comma provided between the different items.

The embodiment of the invention has significant advantages over previous messaging systems which have not been able to be implemented on web browsers. This has been prevented in the past because page changes such as new messages have also required the browser to reload the entire screen. This involves downloading the entire application again including code graphics and data when only a small change has been made. This can lead to much slower traffic on the network and thus much slower response times.

The present invention overcomes its limitation by first loading application code images and data when a user first logs into the system. However, from that point any new messages are incrementally requested and received in the background 47420.GB01/AJR without requiring the page to be reloaded. This is illustrated in relation to figure 3: At 1 a web browser running on a user's PC requests a page from the server. At 2 the application code or application images and application data (including any existing messages) are sent to the user. At 3 the browser requests message updates. At 4, the server then returns new messages only and these are added to the existing messages As a result of all this, page reloads are not required and messages are added to a message window without interruption to the user application. It also enables the system to be operated over a much lower band with the connection and therefore to be used with e.g. dial-up connections.

The web browser at 3 which requests message updates does this on a regular basis which can be set according to the type of events which are being managed.

Figure 4 shows a flow diagram of the system implemented. At 20 the application is commenced and at 22 all relevant web page graphics are loaded to a user's computer. This is followed at 24 by setting a total message count register to value zero. The then system enters into a loop in which it continually interrogates the central server running the application for any new messages which make the total of messages registered by users logged on to the system exceed the value stored in the total message count register. This is done at 26. At 28, determination is made as to whether or not any new messages have been returned. If they have not the system waits at 30 for a polling interval before returning to interrogation 26.

If new messages are detected, these are downloaded from the central server and displayed to the user at 34. The total message count register is then updated to the new total message count number of messages at 36 before the system returns to the polling interval and then back to the request for new messages from the central server at 26.

Claims

47420. GBO 1/AJR Claims 1. A communication system for a plurality of users

running on a central server which provides a messaging service to the users comprising means for each user to store and display all messages which have been transmitted on the system since a predetermined start time, means at the central server to store all messages transmitted since the predetermined start time, means for each user to repeatedly interrogate the central server to determine whether or not any new messages have been transmitted by other users and means to download these messages to users if any new messages are detected.
2. A system according to claim 1 in which each user accesses the central server via a browser running on a local computer.
3. A system according to claim 2 in which each user is able to apply a text filter to any messages received to locate particular text items or particular users.
4. A system according to any preceding claim in which the system operates substantially in real time.