JP2004199134A - Chat system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten useless waiting time by actively urging a desired user to enter a chat room. <P>SOLUTION: When newly opening a chat room, a chat server 9 receives the electronic mail address of a user who is urged to enter the chat room, or selects the electronic mail address of the user who is urged to enter the chat room from among preliminarily registered user information, and transmits the opening notification mail of the chat room to the destination of the electronic mail address after opening the chat room. Even when a personal computer 5 of a chat room owner and a personal computer 6 of another user are not connected to each other in a status that the chat room is sharable, the opening of the chat room can be notified to the user, and useless waiting time can be shortened by actively urging the user to enter the chat room. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a chat system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A chat system, which is a kind of service provided on a network such as the Internet, enters a virtual lounge (called a chat room or the like; hereinafter, referred to as a chat room) to enjoy real-time conversation between users. That is.
[0003]
The chat system provides the above service on a host computer (also referred to as a chat server) connected to a network. In many cases, the service providing time is all day (24 hours), and the service protocol (communication protocol) Is TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) which is today's de facto standard.
[0004]
As a conventional chat system, for example, there is a system disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1. A user who wants to receive the service of this conventional example logs in to the chart server using a terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone that supports the above-described protocol, enters a chat room that has already been established, or It is possible to enjoy a conversation mainly based on character strings with other occupants by setting up a new chat room as the owner (owner).
[0005]
[Non-patent document 1]
“Chat Room for Everyone”, [online], Tea Cup Communication, [Search December 13, 2002], Internet <URL: http://chat.teacup.com/>
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional example, when a new chat room is set as the owner, the user must simply wait until another user visits (enters) the chat room. There are points. This is because the chat system is based on “real-time communication” between terminal devices connected via a network in the first place, and the terminal device of the chat room owner and the terminal device of another user are connected. This is because real-time conversation (communication) cannot be realized unless the chat rooms are connected to each other in a state where they can be shared.
[0007]
Therefore, the ultimate object of the present invention is that even if the chat room owner's terminal device and another user's terminal device are not connected to each other so that the chat room can be shared, Another object of the present invention is to provide a chat system that can actively encourage a user to enter a room and thus can reduce unnecessary waiting time.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, when opening a new chat room, the user is required to input an e-mail address of a user who is prompted to enter the chat room, or to input user information registered in advance. The user is prompted to select an e-mail address for entry into the chat room, and the chat room establishment notification e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address after the establishment of the chat room. is there.
[0009]
According to the present invention, when a new chat room is opened, a chat room establishment notification e-mail is transmitted to the designated user. Therefore, even if the chat room owner's terminal device and another user's terminal device are not connected to each other in a state where the chat room can be shared, the chat room is opened for the user. Can be notified and the entry to the chat room can be positively encouraged, so that a chat system that can reduce unnecessary waiting time can be provided.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the specification or examples of various details and examples of numerical values, character strings, and other symbols are merely reference for clarifying the idea of the present invention, and all or some of them Obviously, the idea of the invention is not limited. In addition, well-known techniques, well-known procedures, well-known architectures, and well-known circuit configurations (hereinafter, “known matters”) will not be described in detail, but this is also for the purpose of simplifying the description, It does not intentionally exclude all or some of the matters. Such a well-known matter can be known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing the present invention, and is naturally included in the following description.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual network configuration diagram in the present embodiment. In this figure, a network (here, typically, the Internet) 1 is connected to each user (a user of the chat service according to the present embodiment) via access points 2 to 4 of an Internet service provider (a so-called provider). ), Typically, personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as "PC") 5 to 7 are connected. Each of these personal computers 5 to 7 has an Internet connection function (equipped with a TCP / IP-compatible operating system) and has Internet content browsing software called a browser and e-mail sending / receiving software called a mailer. It was done.
[0012]
The Internet 1 is connected to various servers that provide various services. The illustrated mail server 8 and chat server 9 (chat system) are representative. The mail server 8 stores the e-mail delivered to the user via the Internet 1 and transmits the e-mail to the terminal device according to a download (reception) request from the terminal device of the user, that is, a so-called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer). (Protocol) service.
[0013]
The chat server 9 provides a specific service (chat service) according to the present embodiment, and its specific functions will be described later. In short, (1) virtual conversation on the Internet 1 In addition to providing a function of establishing a chat room, which is a room, (2) providing an exclusive conversation function mainly based on a character string between users who have entered the chat room or between a room entrant and the chat room owner. Here, the “exclusive conversation function” means that only conversations between persons entering the chat room (including the chat room owner) are permitted, and the conversation contents are kept secret from non-room entry persons.
[0014]
The chat server 9 according to the present embodiment differs from the conventional one in that the following functions are provided on the Internet 1 in addition to the above functions ((1) and (2)).
[0015]
{Circle around (3)} In other words, when a new chat room is to be opened by the function of the above (1) and it is desired to invite an arbitrary user to the chat room, a notice of opening the chat room can be transmitted to the user by e-mail. It is in the point which was made. According to this, the function (3) allows the above-mentioned arbitrary user to be immediately notified of the establishment of the chat room, so that the user can be positively encouraged to enter the room, and the user can simply be convinced. The advantage is that there is no need to wait.
[0016]
The terminal device of each user is not limited to the personal computers 5 to 7 described above. Any device having a function equivalent to the personal computers 5 to 7, that is, having an Internet connection function and having a browser and a mailer may be used. For example, a portable information terminal called a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), Alternatively, the mobile phones 10 to 12 may be used.
[0017]
Incidentally, 13 is a gateway for controlling data transmission between the Internet 1 and the mobile communication network 14, 15 is a base station for mobile communication, and 16 is a mail server for mobile communication. Each of the mobile phones 10 to 12 freely communicates with the nearest base station 15 via the mobile communication network 14 and with another mobile phone or a subscriber telephone connected to a public telephone network (not shown). And, if desired, access to the Internet 1 via the gateway 13 to use various services on the Internet 1 (especially those provided by the chat server 9). E-mail can be transmitted and received via the server 16.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a hardware configuration of the chat server 9. The chat server 9 can use a general-purpose computer system configured with a known architecture (such as the DOS / V architecture). In this case, the chat server 9 includes a micro control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “CPU”) 20, a volatile information storage unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “RAM”) 21, a disk controller 22, an external storage device (generally a hard disk device) 23, A display controller 24, a display device 25, a keyboard controller 26, a keyboard device 27, a pointing device (typically a mouse) 28, a communication unit 29 for Internet connection, a main bus 30, a bus interface 31, an internal bus 32, and the like. Is done.
[0019]
The chat server 9 loads an operating system and various application programs (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as “software resources”) preinstalled in the external storage device 23 into the RAM 21 and executes the programs by the CPU 20. Various processing functions required for the chat service according to the present embodiment are realized by the organic combination of the hardware resources such as the above and the software resources.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram of various functions realized by an organic combination of hardware resources and software resources of the chat server 9. In this figure, the chat server 9 has the following units.
[0021]
<User authentication section>
The user authentication unit 41 determines a match between a user ID and a password based on the user information stored in the user information storage unit 47, and determines whether a user who has accessed the Internet 1 is a legitimate user (user information registration unit). It is determined whether or not the user is an authorized user, and if the user is an authorized user, the use of the chat service according to the present embodiment is permitted.
[0022]
<Open chat room display>
The established chat room display unit 42 (chat room list publishing means) is a web service (HTML: HyperText Markup Language, etc.) for displaying the already established chat room list in the chat service according to the present embodiment. The document is described in a language.), And the web document (hereinafter referred to as “document for displaying the established chat room list”) is transmitted to the user terminal device via the Internet 1.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the established chat room list display document 50. In this figure, an established chat room list display document 50 includes a title part 51 having an arbitrary fixed character string (“established chat room” in the figure) and a room identification display for each chat room (for example, “room 1”). Push button controls 52, 53 with room numbers such as "", "room 2", etc., and entry / non-entry status display for indicating the entry / non-entry status of each chat room ("entry allowed", "entry not allowed", etc.) Section 54, 55, an establisher name display section 56, 57 for displaying an establisher name of each chat room (chat room owner name; generally an anonymous chat name), and a comment (for example, And comment display sections 58 and 59 for displaying a standby message or the like. Each of the sections 52 to 59 except the title section 51 is generated based on chat room information (chat room number, entry / non-entry status, establishment person name, comment, etc.) stored in the chat room information storage section 48. By clicking on the push button control in the entry allowed state, the user can enter the chat room.
[0024]
<New Chat Room Establishment Department>
The new chat room opening section 43 (second transmitting means, chat room opening means) generates a chat room opening input form (new chat room opening document 60) when a new chat room is opened by the user. The chat room information (chat room number, entry / non-entry status, creator's name, comment, etc.) input to the form is transmitted to the user's terminal device and stored in the chat room information storage unit 48. By acting on the display unit 42, the established chat room list display document 50 is updated.
[0025]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document 60 for opening a new chat room. In this figure, a new chat room opening document 60 includes a title section 61 having an arbitrary fixed character string (“open new chat room” in the figure), a list box control 62 for selecting a room number of a chat room, and an opening. It has a text box control 63 for inputting a user name, a text box control 64 for inputting a comment, an open execution push button control 65, and an open cancel push button control 66, and further includes elements unique to the present embodiment. And a text box control 67 for inputting a notification mail destination address.
[0026]
<Chat room entry control section>
If the chat room has entry restrictions, the chat room entry control unit 44 may use, for example, a chat room having a fixed capacity including the owner (for example, a so-called one-to-one chat room with two capacity). In some cases, when the number of occupants of the chat room has reached the capacity, the display character string of the entry availability status display section (see the entry availability status display sections 54 and 55 in FIG. 4) is set to “entrance unavailable”, and The chat room button (see push button controls 52 and 53 in FIG. 4) is disabled (light dark color so that it cannot be clicked) to prohibit other users from entering the chat room. .
[0027]
<Conversation display in the room>
The in-room conversation display unit 45 (first transmission unit) generates a chat room conversation document having a conversation list display unit of the chat room and a conversation message input unit for a terminal device of a user who is permitted to enter the room. And output.
[0028]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the chat room conversation document 70. In this figure, a chat room conversation document 70 has a title section 71 having an arbitrary fixed character string ("room 1" in the figure), a text box control 72 for inputting a user name of a conversation participant, and a conversation message. It has a conversation message input section 76 including a text box control 73 for input, a push button control 74 for sending a conversation message, a push button control 75 for canceling a conversation message, and a conversation list for displaying conversation messages in chronological order. The display unit 77 is provided. The user enters his or her chat name into the text box control 72, enters an arbitrary conversation message into the text box control 73, and clicks the conversation message transmission push button control 74 to converse the entered conversation message. It can be displayed on the list display section 77. The display contents of the conversation list display section 77 are shared by the terminal devices of the respective users in the chat room, so that the users in the chat room can enjoy character string-based conversations.
[0029]
<Notification mail generation / transmission unit>
The notification mail generation / transmission unit 46 (third transmission unit) includes a notification mail generation unit 46a and a notification mail transmission unit 46b. The notification mail generation unit 46a inputs the notification mail destination address into the text box control 67 of the document 60 for opening a new chat room when the destination address of the notification mail is specified when the new chat room is opened. If it has been, a mail for notifying the establishment of the new chat room is generated, and transmitted to the Internet 1 via the notification mail transmitting unit 46b to the destination address.
[0030]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the notification mail 80. In this figure, the notification mail 80 has a header portion 84 including a sender address (From) column 81, a destination address (To) column 82, a title (Subject) column 83, and the like, and a message body portion 85.
[0031]
In the example shown in the figure, the sender address (From) column 81 contains the mail address of the operator of the chat server 9 (eg, “info@chat.com”) or the mail address of the person who established the new chat room. In the destination address (To) column 82, the destination address of the notification mail (the notification mail destination address input to the text box control 67 of the document 60 for opening a new chat room in FIG. 5; "taro@aaa.com") Is described. In the title (Subject) column 83, a guide character string from the system (eg, “notification from chat room”) is described, and in the message body part 85, a new chat room A message that the creator is waiting (eg, “User name XXxx is waiting in the chat room”), comments on the chat room, and link information to the chat room (eg, “http: //Www.chat.com/12345/ ").
[0032]
According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a certain user (referred to as “user A” for convenience) operates his / her own terminal device (referred to as “PC 5” for convenience) to access the chat server 9. And a new chat room is opened. In this case, it is assumed that the user A has a desire to invite a specific user (referred to as “user B” for convenience) into the chat room. It is assumed that the e-mail address of the user B is “taro@aaa.com”.
[0033]
In such a case, the user A operates the personal computer 5 to input necessary information into the document 60 for opening a new chat room shown in FIG. 5, and the input information includes a text box control for inputting a notification mail destination address. The e-mail address of the user B input to 67 is also included. The chat server 9 opens a new chat room based on the input information, and generates and transmits a required notification mail (see FIG. 7) to the e-mail address of the user B. Therefore, the user B can know the call (invitation to the chat room) from the user A by receiving the notification mail on his / her personal computer 6, operate the personal computer 6, enter the chat room, A conversation can be exchanged with the user A.
[0034]
As described above, in the chat system according to the present embodiment, the notification of the establishment of a new chat room can be transmitted by e-mail to the designated user (user B), It is possible to encourage the user B to enter the room actively. As a result, the waiting time from the establishment of a new chat room to the entry of the user B can be shortened, and an extraordinary effect that unnecessary waiting can be minimized can be obtained.
[0035]
When the newly opened chat room is one-to-one, if the existence of the chat room is disclosed, that is, if the chat room is listed in the opened chat room list display document 50, the e-mail is transmitted. It is conceivable that another user enters the room before the user B. In such a case, there is a disadvantage that the capacity of the chat room is satisfied and the original user (user B, the transmission destination of the e-mail) cannot enter the room. In order to solve such an inconvenience, the condition that “a newly opened chat room is one-to-one” and “a chat room establishment notification email has been transmitted to a specific user” is satisfied. In this case, the chat room may be kept private, that is, the chat room may not be listed in the established chat room list display document 50. Unless a notification mail is received, the existence of the chat room cannot be known.
[0036]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described of “at the time of opening a new chat room”, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a “already established chat room” or a “permanent chat room” fixedly established by a chat system. That is, when one user (for convenience, user A) who has entered those chat rooms waits for entry of a second user (for convenience, user B) such as a friend, the chat server 9 receives the input by the user A. E-mail address of the user B (for example, "taro@aaa.com") or the e-mail address of the user B selected by the user A from the user information registered in advance (for example, "taro@aaa.com"). .Com ”), an electronic mail (see FIG. 7) notifying that the user A is waiting in the chat room may be transmitted.
[0037]
Further, in the above embodiment, a chat system (for example, a membership system) requiring user authentication has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be applied to a chat system that does not require identity verification (for example, a system that does not require authentication such as a non-member system). In this case, the user authentication unit 41 illustrated in FIG. 3 does not perform the identity confirmation (identification of the individual) of the login user. At least, the user may be distinguished by a chat name or the like.
[0038]
The main functions of the present embodiment (particularly, each of the units 41 to 48 in FIG. 3) are an organic combination of hardware resources of the chat server 9 and software resources such as an operating system and various programs installed in the chat server 9. Although the function is realized functionally by the combination, since the hardware resources and the operating system can use general-purpose ones, the essential items indispensable for the present invention are substantially the components 41 to 41 in FIG. That is, it can be said that the programs are implemented in a program for realizing 48. Accordingly, the present invention provides a recording medium (such as a flexible disk, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory) storing all of these programs or a main part of the programs (not only those that are on a distribution channel itself, (Including those that provide only recorded contents).
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when a new chat room is opened, a chat room establishment notification mail is transmitted to the designated user. Therefore, even if the chat room owner's terminal device and another user's terminal device are not connected to each other in a state where the chat room can be shared, the chat room is opened for the user. Can be notified and the entry to the chat room can be positively encouraged, so that a chat system that can reduce unnecessary waiting time can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual network configuration diagram in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a hardware configuration of a chat server 9.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram of various functions realized by an organic combination of hardware resources and software resources of the chat server 9.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an established chat room list display document 50;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a document 60 for opening a new chat room.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a chat room conversation document 70;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a notification mail 80.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an effect of the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
9 chat server (chat system)
42 Chat room display area (chat room list disclosure means)
43 New Chat Room Opening Department (Second Transmission Means, Chat Room Opening Means)
45 Room conversation display unit (first transmission means)
46 Notification mail generation / transmission unit (third transmission means)

Claims (4)

When opening a new chat room, the user is required to enter the e-mail address of the user who is prompted to enter the chat room, or to enter the e-mail address of the user who is prompted to enter the chat room from the user information registered in advance. A chat system, wherein a mail address is selected, and after the chat room is opened, the chat room opening notification mail is transmitted to the e-mail address. A chat room list publishing means for publishing the established chat room list on the network,
When receiving a request to enter an arbitrary chat room selected by the user from the established chat room list, a document for inputting a conversation of the chat room and displaying a time-series conversation is generated and transmitted to the request source. First transmitting means for performing
A second transmitting means for generating a document for inputting information for opening a new chat room upon receiving a request for opening a new chat room via the network, and transmitting the generated document to a request source;
Upon receiving the new chat room opening information, a chat room opening means for newly opening a chat room corresponding to the information,
When the destination address of the notification mail is included in the new chat room establishment information, a third transmission means for transmitting a new chat room establishment notification mail to the address is provided. Chat system. 3. The chat room list publishing unit according to claim 2, wherein when the destination address of the notification mail is included in the new chat room opening information, the existence of the corresponding new chat room is not disclosed. Chat system. When one user waits for the entry of two users in a newly established chat room or an already established chat room, the e-mail address of the two users entered by the one user, or the e-mail address registered in advance Sending an e-mail notifying that the one user is waiting in the chat room to an e-mail address of the second user selected by the one user from among the user information that the user is waiting for. And chat system.

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