JP2005063336A - Virtual office space providing program, virtual office space providing device, virtual office space providing method, virtual office space providing system, and storage medium storing virtual office space providing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve various problems that arise with the increase in the number of participant users, such as load increase with respect to various hardware resources, and visibility deterioration of a browsing image plane with image data showing working status of logged-in users. <P>SOLUTION: In a server terminal 111, when a client terminal 121 logs in, image data showing the working status of the user sent from the logged-in client terminal 121 is stored in a storage region, image data showing the working status of logged-in users stored in the storage region is sent to the logged-in client terminal 121, and mutual browsing of image data showing working status of the logged-in users is made possible in respective client terminals 121. The server terminal 111 defines user groups, and it sends a display change-over program for changing over a browsing image in the client terminal 121 in units of the defined user group to allow image plane browsing or the like in units of group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual office space providing program, a virtual office space providing apparatus, a virtual office space providing method, a virtual office space providing system, and a virtual office space providing program for sharing a virtual office space among a plurality of computers connected via a communication network And a storage medium for storing the virtual office space providing program.

  In recent years, with the shift to broadband networks, various office forms such as satellite offices and home offices are spreading in earnest in addition to conventional offices. When such various office environments are realized, it is desired to provide a virtual office space in which a real office is virtually reproduced on a computer as a means for communication of individual workers in the office. A virtual office space is a system in which a plurality of client terminals and server terminals are connected via a communication network. For example, image data relating to the work status of a user who is logged in to each client terminal is sent to each client terminal via the server terminal. It is a system that enables mutual distribution and browsing.

  According to such a virtual office system, workers can mutually exchange, for example, image data related to work status via a communication network, so that presence confirmation, atmosphere sharing, and the like are possible. In addition, depending on the system configuration, it is possible to consider the realization of synchronous communication such as video conference and text chat, and asynchronous communication such as e-mail and bulletin board. For this reason, with the diversification of office forms such as satellite offices and home offices, attention is focused on the realization of virtual office systems.

  As related art documents, various related technologies are introduced in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6 and the like.

JP 2001-043272 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-083105 JP 2000-181967 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-283316 JP 2001-034342 A JP 2001-136502 A

A virtual office is constructed in a virtual space in which data is transmitted and received between a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals via a communication network. For this reason, the basic performance and expandability of the virtual office space are limited by the physical properties of hardware resources such as server terminals, client terminals, and communication networks. For this reason, it is difficult to cause a problem in a situation where the number of participating users in the virtual office space is small, but as the number of participating users increases, the following problems arise.
As the number of participating users increases, the amount of communication data such as image data representing the work status of the logged-in user increases, and the processing load on the server terminal and the client terminal and the transmission load on the communication network increase.
As the number of users displayed at a time increases, the visibility when displaying a list of image data representing the work status of the logged-in user becomes worse, making it difficult to find the target user.
・ Because of the system configuration that distributes image data representing the work status of logged-in users to individual client terminals, privacy tends to be infringed as the number of participating users increases, or the user feels that privacy has been infringed Easy to give.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem that occurs as the number of participating users increases.

  The present invention first provides a virtual office space providing program, a virtual office space providing device, a virtual office space providing method, a virtual office, which allow image data representing the work status of a logged-in user to be mutually viewed on each of the client terminals. A space providing system and a storage medium for storing a virtual office space providing program are provided.

  That is, the invention according to claim 1 is installed in a server terminal that transmits and receives data to and from a plurality of client terminals via a communication network, and has a function of logging in the client terminal to the server terminal via the communication network; A function of storing image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in a storage area, and a work status of the logged-in user stored in the storage area for the logged-in client terminal. A function that delivers image data to be displayed in a data format that can be browsed by a specified browser, and that enables the computer-readable image data representing the work status of a logged-in user to be viewed mutually by each client terminal Virtual office space provision program .

  The invention according to claim 21 is a virtual office space providing device having a server terminal function for transmitting / receiving data to / from a plurality of client terminals via a communication network, wherein the client terminal is logged in via the communication network. Means for storing the image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in the storage area, and the logged-in user stored in the storage area for the logged-in client terminal Means for distributing image data representing work status in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser, and enabling virtual image data representing the work status of a logged-in user to be viewed by each of the client terminals It is an office space providing device.

  The invention according to claim 41 is a virtual office space providing method executed in a system in which a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals transmit and receive data via a communication network, wherein the server terminal Logging the client terminal via a network; storing image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in a storage area; The step of delivering image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in a storage area in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser, and the client terminal installing the prescribed browser, Transmitting login information to a server terminal; and Transmitting image data representing a user's work status to a terminal, and enabling image data representing a logged-in user's work status distributed from the server terminal to be browsed using the browse function of the browser. This is a method for providing a virtual office space in which image data representing the work status of a logged-in user can be mutually viewed on each client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 61 is a system in which a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals transmit and receive data via a communication network, and the server terminal logs in the client terminal via the communication network. Means for storing the image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in the storage area, and the logged-in user stored in the storage area for the logged-in client terminal Means for delivering image data representing work status in a data format that can be browsed by a prescribed browser, wherein the client terminal has the prescribed browser installed and transmits login information to the server terminal And an image representing the work status of the user on the server terminal Means for transmitting data, and means for making it possible to browse image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal using the browser function of the browser, and the work of the logged-in user This is a virtual office space providing system in which image data representing a situation can be browsed mutually by each of the client terminals.

  The present invention then enables the definition of user groups.

  That is, the invention according to claim 2 is a user group in which one or two or more user groups including one or two or more users are defined in the server terminal, and a browsing image on the client terminal is defined. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein a function for transmitting a display switching program for switching to a unit to the client terminal is executed.

  The invention described in claim 3 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function of defining a user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, which causes the server terminal to execute a function of updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group specifying information that specifies a user group that the client terminal is browsing. A function for recognizing a user group viewed by the client terminal based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, and an update of image data representing the work status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result 5. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 4, wherein a function of increasing a frequency of a user group being browsed by the client terminal as compared to a user group not browsing is executed.

  The invention described in claim 6 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function for defining a user group defines a user group in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.

  The invention according to claim 7 provides the virtual office space according to claim 2, wherein the user group is defined so that the function for defining the user group is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. It is a program.

  In the invention according to claim 8, the display switching program defines the definition of a user group to be executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal. However, the virtual office space providing program according to claim 7, wherein a function for enabling the virtual office space is executed.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided: means for defining one or more user groups including one or more users; and switching the browsing image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, further comprising means for transmitting a display switching program to the client terminal.

  The invention described in claim 23 is the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining the user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.

  According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the virtual office space providing apparatus according to the twenty-second aspect, further comprising means for updating image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 25, wherein the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting group specifying information for specifying a user group viewed by the client terminal to the virtual office space providing device, Based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, means for recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing, and based on the recognition result, the update frequency of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user 25. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising: means for increasing the number of user groups that are browsed by the client terminal than that of user groups that are not browsing.

  According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing device according to the twenty-second aspect, the means for defining a user group defines the user group in response to an input operation.

  The invention according to claim 27 provides the virtual office space according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Device.

  The invention according to claim 28 is characterized in that the display switching program defines the definition of a user group that is executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 28. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein a function for enabling the function is executed.

  The invention according to claim 42 is the user group in which the server terminal defines one or two or more user groups including one or two or more users and a browsing image defined in the client terminal. 42. A method of providing a virtual office space according to claim 41, further comprising: transmitting a display switching program for switching to a unit to the client terminal.

  The invention described in claim 43 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining the user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.

  The invention according to claim 44 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the server terminal executes a step of updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. .

  According to a 45th aspect of the present invention, the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting group specifying information for specifying a user group viewed by the client terminal to the server terminal. Recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, and updating the image data representing the working status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result 45. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 44, wherein the step of increasing the frequency of the user group being browsed by the client terminal as compared with the user group not browsing is performed.

  The invention according to claim 46 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining the user group defines the user group in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.

  47. The virtual office space provision according to claim 42, wherein the user group is defined so that the step of defining the user group is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Is the method.

  According to a 48th aspect of the present invention, the display switching program defines a definition of a user group to be executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 48. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 47, wherein a function to enable the function is executed.

  Further, the invention according to claim 62 is characterized in that the server terminal is configured to define one or more user groups including one or more users, and a user group in which a browsing image is defined on the client terminal. 62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, further comprising means for transmitting a display switching program for switching to a unit to the client terminal.

  The invention described in claim 63 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.

  The invention according to claim 64 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the server terminal comprises means for updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 65 is characterized in that the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group specifying information for specifying a user group that the client terminal is browsing. Means for recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, and updating the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result The virtual office space providing system according to claim 64, further comprising means for increasing the frequency of the user group being browsed by the client terminal as compared to the user group not browsing.

  The invention according to claim 66 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group in response to an input operation.

  The invention according to claim 67 provides the virtual office space according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. System.

  The invention according to claim 68 is characterized in that the display switching program defines the definition of a user group to be executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 68. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 67, wherein a function for enabling the function is executed.

  Next, according to the present invention, it is possible to define a user arrangement in the browsing screen.

  In other words, the invention according to claim 9 provides the server terminal with a function for defining an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal and an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein a program for transmitting a display switching program for switching to a defined user arrangement is executed.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the virtual office space providing program according to the ninth aspect, wherein the function for defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the virtual office space according to claim 9, wherein the user array is defined so that the function for defining the user array is effective only at the client terminal in response to an instruction from the client terminal side. Provided program.

  In the invention described in claim 12, the display switching program automatically defines the definition of the user arrangement executed so that the client terminal is effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 12. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 11, which executes a function that is effective even on a machine.

  The invention according to claim 29 is characterized in that means for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal and a user array in which an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal is defined. 22. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, wherein said display office switching program for executing a display switching program is executed.

  According to a thirty-third aspect of the invention, in the virtual office space providing device according to the twenty-ninth aspect, the means for defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement in response to an input operation.

  The virtual office space according to claim 31, wherein the means for defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement so that the means is effective only at the client terminal in response to an instruction from the client terminal side. It is a providing device.

  According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, the display switching program automatically defines the user arrangement to be executed so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 32. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 31, wherein the virtual office space providing device is configured to execute a function that is effective even in a machine.

  According to a 49th aspect of the present invention, the server terminal defines an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal, and an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal. 42. A method of providing a virtual office space according to claim 41, wherein a step of transmitting a display switching program for switching to a defined user arrangement is executed.

  The invention according to claim 50 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 49, wherein the step of defining the user array defines the user array in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.

  The invention according to claim 51 is the virtual office space according to claim 49, wherein the step of defining the user array is defined so that the user array is valid only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. It is a provision method.

  The invention according to claim 52 is characterized in that the display switching program automatically defines the user arrangement to be executed so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 52. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 51, wherein a function that enables the machine to be effective is executed.

  Further, the invention according to claim 69 is characterized in that the server terminal has means for defining an arrangement of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal, and an arrangement of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal. 62. A virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein: means for transmitting a display switching program for switching to a defined user arrangement is executed.

  The invention according to claim 70 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 69, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.

  The invention according to claim 71 is the virtual office space according to claim 69, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. This is a provision system.

  The invention according to claim 72 is such that the display switching program automatically defines the user arrangement to be executed only in the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal. 62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein a function that enables the device to be effective is executed.

  Next, according to the present invention, it is possible to process image data representing the work status of the logged-in user.

  In other words, the invention according to claim 13 causes the server terminal to execute a function of executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. It is a space providing program.

  In the invention described in claim 14, the server terminal is logged into the server terminal, which is defined based on the user relation definition that defines a relation between users who use the client terminal stored in the storage area, and the user relation definition. A control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of the user, and a function for referring to the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition, 14. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 13, wherein the program executes a function of determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to a client terminal.

  The invention described in claim 15 provides the server terminal with a display control instruction for instructing the contents of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by the other user on the client terminal. The function of transmitting a display control instruction program that can be transmitted from the terminal to the server terminal, and the work status of the logged-in user that is distributed to the client terminal in accordance with the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 14. A virtual office space providing program according to claim 13, wherein the program executes a function of determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on image data on the client terminal. 16. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 15, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing his / her work status.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data. 16. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 15, wherein a user is instructed about a degree of display control to be performed on image data representing a situation.

  The invention according to claim 33 is the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 21, comprising means for executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal.

  According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in a storage area, and a work situation of a logged-in user that is determined based on the user relationship definition. A control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data to be represented, and the control definition that is determined based on the referenced user relationship definition, and is distributed to each client terminal 34. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising means for determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user.

  According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, a display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by the other user from the client terminal is sent from the client terminal to the own apparatus. A means for transmitting a display control instruction program enabling transmission to the client terminal, and image data representing a work status of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal in response to the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal; 34. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 33, further comprising: means for determining contents of display control to be executed.

  According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be executed on image data in the client terminal. 36. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 35, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing his / her work status.

  According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data. 36. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein a user is instructed to display a degree of display control to be performed on image data representing a situation.

  The invention according to claim 53 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 41, wherein the server terminal executes display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. is there.

  In the invention according to claim 54, the server terminal logs in, which is determined based on a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in a storage area, and the user relationship definition According to the control definition that defines the content of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the user, and the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition, 54. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 53, wherein the step of determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to a client terminal is performed.

  55. The display device according to claim 55, wherein the server terminal issues a display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by the other user on the client terminal. A step of transmitting to the client terminal a display control instruction program that can be transmitted from the terminal to the server terminal; and a work situation of the logged-in user that is distributed to the client terminal in accordance with the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 54. The method of providing virtual office space according to claim 53, wherein the step of determining the content of display control to be performed on the image data representing is performed.

  In the invention described in claim 56, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be executed on the image data in the client terminal. 56. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 55, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing his / her work status.

  According to a 57th aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data, whereby the user's work 56. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 55, wherein the user is instructed about the degree of display control to be performed on the image data representing the situation.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 73 is the virtual office space according to claim 61, wherein the server terminal comprises means for executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. This is a provision system.

  In the invention according to claim 74, the server terminal logs in which is determined based on a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in a storage area, and the user relationship definition A control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of the user, and means for referring to the control definition determined on the basis of the referenced user relationship definition. 74. A virtual office space providing system according to claim 73, further comprising: means for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to a client terminal.

  In the invention according to claim 75, the server terminal issues a display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be executed to image data representing its work status viewed by the other user on the client terminal. A means for transmitting a display control instruction program that can be transmitted from the terminal to the virtual office space providing system to the client terminal, and a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal in accordance with the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 74. A virtual office space providing system according to claim 73, further comprising: means for determining the content of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status.

  According to a 76th aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be executed for image data in the client terminal. 76. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 75, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing his / her work status.

  According to a 77th aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data, whereby the user's work 76. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 75, wherein a user is instructed about a degree of display control to be performed on image data representing a situation.

  The present invention then provides link information to the user.

  That is, the invention described in claim 18 causes the server terminal to execute a function of displaying link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction on the logged-in client terminal. The virtual office space providing program described.

  A nineteenth aspect of the invention is the virtual office space providing program according to the eighteenth aspect, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user who uses the logged-in client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 20 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 18, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs.

  The invention according to claim 38 provides the virtual office space according to claim 21, further comprising means for displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. Device.

  According to a thirty-ninth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing apparatus according to the thirty-eighth aspect, link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user who uses the logged-in client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 40 is the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs.

  58. The invention according to claim 58, further comprising a step of causing the server terminal to display, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. This is a virtual office space providing method.

  The invention according to claim 59 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 58, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user using the logged-in client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 60 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 58, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 78 provides the virtual office space according to claim 61, further comprising means for displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. System.

  A 79th aspect of the present invention is the virtual office space providing system according to the 78th aspect, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user who uses the logged-in client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 80 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 78, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user group to which a user using the logged-in client terminal belongs.

  And about the virtual office space provision program of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 20 mentioned above, by making it memorize | store in a storage medium, the virtual office space provision program which is an intangible can be made portable, Convenience such as distribution is achieved (claim 81).

  The invention according to claim 1 is installed in a server terminal that transmits / receives data to / from a plurality of client terminals via a communication network, and logs in the client terminal to the server terminal via the communication network; A function for storing in the storage area image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the client terminal, and an image representing the work status of the logged-in user stored in the storage area for the logged-in client terminal A function of delivering data in a data format that can be viewed by a specified browser, and a computer-readable virtual that allows each client terminal to mutually view image data representing the work status of a logged-in user Because it is an office space provision program, It is possible to provide an environment that allows each client terminal to view image data representing the work status of a user who is currently logged in, even if the actual office is spatially separated. It is possible to realize each user's presence confirmation, atmosphere sharing, etc. without forcing actual movement.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a function of defining one or more user groups including one or more users in the server terminal and a user group unit in which a browsing image on the client terminal is defined. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein a program for switching a display switching program for switching to the client terminal is executed. Therefore, a browsing screen on the client terminal can be set as a user group unit. Even when the number of participating users increases, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the visibility of the browsing screen.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function of defining a user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups. It can be done according to the actual situation.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, which causes the server terminal to execute a function of updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. Therefore, the latest work status of each user can be notified to another user by updating the image data.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group specifying information that specifies a user group that the client terminal is browsing. A function for recognizing a user group viewed by the client terminal based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, and an update of image data representing the work status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result 5. The virtual terminal space providing program according to claim 4, wherein a function for increasing a frequency of a user group being browsed by the client terminal as compared to a user group not browsing is executed. Can reduce the amount of communication traffic from , Therefore, it is possible even when the number of participating users increases reduce the burden for each hardware resource.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function for defining a user group defines a user group in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side. The user group can be defined centrally by the user, and therefore each user can easily use the predefined user group without forcing the user using each client terminal to perform the user group definition operation. .

  The invention according to claim 7 provides the virtual office space according to claim 2, wherein the user group is defined so that the function for defining the user group is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is a program, a user using each client terminal can be allowed to define a user group unique to the user, and flexible and flexible operation can be provided.

  In the invention according to claim 8, the display switching program defines the definition of a user group to be executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal. However, since the virtual office space providing program according to claim 7 is configured to execute a function to enable it, a user group defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user who uses each client terminal is notified to the user. For example, each user can easily use a user group defined in advance by a group leader without forcing a group definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the server terminal is defined with a function for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal and an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein a function for transmitting a display switching program for switching to a user layout is executed, so that a user layout in a browsing screen on a client terminal can be freely defined. Therefore, even when the number of participating users increases, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the browsing screen from being lowered.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 9, wherein the function for defining the user array defines a user array in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side. The user array can be defined centrally by the administrator, so that each user can easily use the predefined user array without forcing the user using each client terminal to perform a user array definition operation. it can.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the virtual office space according to claim 9, wherein the user array is defined so that the function for defining the user array is effective only at the client terminal in response to an instruction from the client terminal side. Since the program is provided, it is possible to allow a user using each client terminal to define a user arrangement unique to the user, and to provide a flexible and flexible operation.

  In the invention described in claim 12, the display switching program automatically defines the definition of the user arrangement executed so that the client terminal is effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 11, which executes a function that is effective even on a machine, so that a user arrangement defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user who uses each client terminal can use it. Each user can easily use a user arrangement defined in advance by a group leader, for example, without forcing a user arrangement definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 13 provides the virtual office space according to claim 1, wherein the server terminal is caused to execute a function of executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. Since it is a program, when the number of participating users increases, for example, participants who do not know each other may become participating users. If the environment is known to other users, it is predicted that privacy will be infringed or that the participating users will feel that privacy has been infringed, whereas image data is processed By executing display control, privacy can be protected.

  In the invention described in claim 14, the server terminal is logged into the server terminal, which is defined based on the user relation definition that defines a relation between users who use the client terminal stored in the storage area, and the user relation definition. A control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of the user, and a function for referring to the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition, The virtual office space providing program according to claim 13, which executes a function of determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to a client terminal. If the user level is high or low based on the classification of employee form such as regular employee, temporary employee, part-time job, etc. If specified, image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user when the operation is such that the low-level user does not view the image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user of the high-level user. It is possible to provide a flexible and flexible operation such as an operation that does not allow browsing.

  The invention described in claim 15 provides the server terminal with a display control instruction for instructing the contents of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by the other user on the client terminal. The function of transmitting a display control instruction program that can be transmitted from the terminal to the server terminal, and the work status of the logged-in user that is distributed to the client terminal in accordance with the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 14. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 13, wherein the program executes the function of determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing the image data, and the user instructs the content of display control by himself / herself. Therefore, privacy protection can be further strengthened.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on image data on the client terminal. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 15, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing his / her work status. It is possible to improve the operability when instructing the content of display control by itself.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 15, wherein the virtual office space providing program according to claim 15 is configured to cause a user to instruct a degree of display control to be performed on image data representing a situation. The image data that is displayed is blurred so that it cannot be viewed at all, the outline is dimly displayed so that the person cannot be visually recognized, and the display is blurred so that it can be displayed to the extent that it can be identified It provides users with the flexibility to set the degree of control, and can provide flexible and flexible operation. That.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the server terminal is caused to execute a function of causing the logged-in client terminal to display link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. Since it is a virtual office space providing program, it is possible to promptly refer to the participating users for important information other than work status, thereby enabling more effective information sharing among the users. It is possible to increase the utility of browsing the office with a client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 19 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 18, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to the user who uses the logged-in client terminal. Can be quickly referred to by the user, thereby increasing the utility of allowing the virtual office to be viewed on the client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 20 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 18, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs. Information that is important to the group to which the user belongs can be quickly referred to by the user, and information sharing within the group can be realized more effectively, and thus the virtual office can be viewed on the client terminal. The utility can be increased.

  The invention according to claim 21 is a virtual office space providing device having a server terminal function for transmitting / receiving data to / from a plurality of client terminals via a communication network, and means for logging in the client terminal via the communication network And means for storing in the storage area image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal, and for the logged-in client terminal, the work status of the logged-in user stored in the storage area Means for delivering image data representing the data in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser, and allowing the client terminal to log in the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user with each client terminal. Since it is a providing device, the work schedule of the logged-in user Can provide an environment that allows individual client terminals to view each other's image data, even if the actual office is spatially separated, without forcing actual movement in such space In addition, it is possible to realize the presence confirmation and atmosphere sharing of each user.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for defining one or more user groups including one or more users, and display switching for switching a browse image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit. 23. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: means for transmitting a program to the client terminal, so that a browsing screen on the client terminal can be set in units of user groups, and thus the number of participating users increases. In this case, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the browsing screen from being lowered.

  The invention according to claim 23 is the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining the user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups. It can be done according to the actual situation.

  The invention according to claim 24 is the virtual office space providing device according to claim 22, comprising means for updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. It is possible to notify another user of the latest work status of each user.

  The invention according to claim 25, wherein the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting group specifying information for specifying a user group viewed by the client terminal to the virtual office space providing device, Based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, means for recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing, and based on the recognition result, the update frequency of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user 25. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 24, comprising: means for increasing the number of user groups that the client terminal is browsing than the number of user groups that are not browsing; Can reduce the amount of communication traffic for Te, can be even in the case where the number of participating users has increased reduce the burden for each hardware resources.

  According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the means for defining the user group is the virtual office space providing device according to the twenty-second aspect, wherein the user group is defined by the administrator of the server, for example. Therefore, each user can easily use a predefined user group without forcing a user using each client terminal to perform a user group definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 27 provides the virtual office space according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is an apparatus, it is possible to allow a user who uses each client terminal to define a user group unique to the user, and to provide a flexible and flexible operation.

  The invention according to claim 28 is characterized in that the display switching program defines the definition of a user group that is executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. However, since the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 27 is configured to execute a function to enable it, a user group defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user who uses each client terminal can be used as a user. For example, each user can easily use a user group defined in advance by a group leader without forcing a group definition operation.

  The invention defined in claim 29 switches means for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal, and switches an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal to a defined user layout. 23. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, wherein the virtual office space providing device is configured to execute a display switching program for the user terminal, so that the user arrangement in the browsing screen on the client terminal can be freely defined, Even when the number of users increases, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the browsing screen from being lowered.

  The invention according to claim 30 is the virtual office space providing device according to claim 29, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array in response to an input operation. Therefore, each user can easily use the predefined user arrangement without forcing the user who uses each client terminal to perform the user arrangement defining operation.

  The virtual office space according to claim 31, wherein the means for defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement so that the means is effective only at the client terminal in response to an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is a providing apparatus, it is possible to allow a user using each client terminal to define a user arrangement unique to the user, and to provide a flexible and flexible operation.

  According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, the display switching program automatically defines the user arrangement to be executed so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the virtual office space providing apparatus executes a function that is effective even on a machine, so that a user array defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user using each client terminal can be used. Each user can easily use a user arrangement defined in advance by a group leader, for example, without forcing a user arrangement definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 33 is the virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, comprising means for executing display control for processing image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. When the number of users increases, for example, participants who do not know each other may become participating users. Therefore, the user's appearance and office environment are shown to other users by image data representing the work status of the logged-in user. When it is known, it is predicted that privacy will be infringed, or that the participating users will feel that privacy has been infringed, whereas display control that processes image data is executed. In this way, privacy can be protected.

  According to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in a storage area, and a work situation of a logged-in user that is determined based on the user relationship definition. A control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data to be represented, and the control definition that is determined based on the referenced user relationship definition, and is distributed to each client terminal 34. A virtual office space providing device according to claim 33, comprising: means for determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user. If it is assumed that the user level is high or low based on the employee type classification such as part-time job, the low-level user The operation that does not allow you to browse the image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user of the high-level user, the operation that does not allow you to view the image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user between unrelated users, etc. Flexible and flexible operation can be provided.

  According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, a display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by the other user from the client terminal is sent from the client terminal to the own apparatus. A means for transmitting a display control instruction program enabling transmission to the client terminal, and image data representing a work status of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal in response to the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal; 34. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 33, further comprising: means for determining the content of display control to be executed by the user, so that the user can instruct the content of display control by himself / herself. Protection can be further strengthened.

  According to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be executed on image data in the client terminal. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 35 is configured to execute a function, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status. It is possible to improve the operability when instructing the content of display control by itself.

  According to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the virtual office space providing apparatus is configured to cause the user to instruct a degree of display control to be performed on image data representing a situation. The image data that is displayed is blurred so that it cannot be viewed at all, the outline is dimly displayed so that no one can be visually recognized, and the display is blurred so that it can be identified to whom It is possible to provide the user with a degree of freedom to set the degree of control, and to provide flexible and flexible operation.

  The invention according to claim 38 is the virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 21, comprising means for displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. As a result, it is possible to promptly refer to important information other than work status, etc., so that information sharing among each user can be realized more effectively. Therefore, the virtual office can be viewed on the client terminal. The possible utility can be increased.

  The invention according to claim 39 is the virtual office space providing device according to claim 38, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to the user who uses the logged-in client terminal. It is possible to prompt the user to refer to the information quickly, thereby increasing the utility of enabling the virtual office to be viewed on the client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 40 is the virtual office space providing device according to claim 38, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to the user group to which the user using the logged-in client terminal belongs. Information that is important to the group to which the user belongs can be quickly referred to by the user, thereby making it possible to more effectively share information within the group, so that the virtual office can be viewed on the client terminal. The utility to do can be increased.

  The invention according to claim 41 is a virtual office space providing method executed in a system in which a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals transmit and receive data via a communication network, wherein the server terminal uses the communication network. Logging in the client terminal via the log-in, storing the image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in a storage area, and the storage area for the logged-in client terminal And the step of delivering the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user stored in the data format in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser, and the client terminal installing the prescribed browser is the server terminal Transmitting login information to the server terminal and the server terminal Performing the steps of: transmitting image data representing the work status of the user; and enabling the browsing of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal using the browser function of the browser. Since the virtual office space providing method enables image data representing the work status of the logged-in user to be mutually browsed by each of the client terminals, the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user is sent to each client terminal. Can provide an environment that enables mutual browsing, and even if the actual office is spatially separated, confirmation of the presence of each user and the atmosphere without forcing the actual movement in such a space Sharing etc. can be realized.

  The invention according to claim 42 is characterized in that the server terminal defines one or more user groups including one or two or more users, and a browsing image on the client terminal is defined in units of user groups. 42. The method of providing a virtual office space according to claim 41, wherein the display switching program for switching is transmitted to the client terminal. Therefore, the browsing screen on the client terminal can be set for each user group. Even when the number of participating users increases, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the visibility of the browsing screen.

  The invention according to claim 43 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining a user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups. It can be done according to the actual situation.

  The invention according to claim 44 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the server terminal executes a step of updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. Therefore, the latest work status of each user can be notified to another user by updating the image data.

  According to a 45th aspect of the present invention, the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting group specifying information for specifying a user group viewed by the client terminal to the server terminal. Recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, and updating the image data representing the working status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result 45. The method for providing virtual office space according to claim 44, wherein the step of increasing the frequency of the user group being browsed by the client terminal than the user group not browsing is executed. Can reduce the amount of communication traffic to client terminals from Therefore, it is possible that even if the number of participants users increases reduce the burden for each hardware resources.

  The invention according to claim 46 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining a user group defines a user group in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side. The user group can be defined centrally by the user, and therefore each user can easily use the predefined user group without forcing the user using each client terminal to perform the user group definition operation. .

  47. The virtual office space provision according to claim 42, wherein the user group is defined so that the step of defining the user group is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is a method, it is possible to allow a user who uses each client terminal to define a user group unique to the user, and to provide flexible and flexible operation.

  According to a 48th aspect of the present invention, the display switching program defines a definition of a user group to be executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 48. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 47, wherein the function to enable the function is executed. Therefore, a user group defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user who uses each client terminal is notified to the user. For example, each user can easily use a user group defined in advance by a group leader without forcing a group definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 49 is characterized in that the server terminal defines an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal, and an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal. 42. The method of providing a virtual office space according to claim 41, wherein the step of transmitting a display switching program for switching to a user arrangement is executed, so that a user arrangement in a browsing screen on a client terminal can be freely defined. Therefore, even when the number of participating users increases, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the browsing screen from being lowered.

  The invention according to claim 50 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 49, wherein the step of defining the user array defines the user array in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side. The user array can be defined centrally by the administrator, so that each user can easily use the predefined user array without forcing the user using each client terminal to perform a user array definition operation. it can.

  The invention according to claim 51 is the virtual office space according to claim 49, wherein the step of defining the user array is defined so that the user array is valid only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is a providing method, it is possible to allow the user using each client terminal to define a user arrangement unique to the user, and to provide a flexible and flexible operation.

  The invention according to claim 52 is characterized in that the display switching program automatically defines the user arrangement to be executed so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 52. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 51, wherein a function that enables the function to be effective on a machine is executed. Therefore, a user array defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user using each client terminal can be used. Each user can easily use a user arrangement defined in advance by a group leader, for example, without forcing a user arrangement definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 53 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 41, wherein the server terminal executes display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. When the number of participating users increases, for example, participants who do not know each other may become participating users. Therefore, the user's appearance and office environment may vary depending on the image data indicating the working status of the logged-in user. When it is known to the user, privacy is infringed, or it is predicted that the participating user will feel that privacy is infringed, but display control that processes the image data is executed By doing so, privacy can be protected.

  In the invention according to claim 54, the server terminal logs in, which is determined based on a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in a storage area, and the user relationship definition According to the control definition that defines the content of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the user, and the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition, 54. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 53, wherein the step of determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to a client terminal is executed. When the user level is assumed to be high or low based on the classification of regular employee, temporary employee, part-time employee, etc. Operation that does not allow low-level users to view the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user of the high-level user, or does not allow any unrelated users to view image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user It is possible to provide flexible and flexible operations such as such operations.

  55. The display device according to claim 55, wherein the server terminal issues a display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by the other user on the client terminal. A step of transmitting to the client terminal a display control instruction program that can be transmitted from the terminal to the server terminal; and a work situation of the logged-in user that is distributed to the client terminal in accordance with the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 54. The method for providing virtual office space according to claim 53, wherein the step of determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing the image data is displayed, so that the user instructs the content of display control by himself / herself. Therefore, privacy protection can be further strengthened.

  In the invention described in claim 56, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be executed on the image data in the client terminal. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 55, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed for the image data representing his / her work status. It is possible to improve the operability when instructing the content of display control by itself.

  According to a 57th aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data, whereby the user's work The virtual office space providing method according to claim 55, wherein the user is instructed about the degree of display control to be performed on the image data representing the situation. The image data that is displayed is blurred so that it cannot be viewed at all, the outline is dimly displayed so that no one can be visually recognized, and the display is blurred so that it can be identified to whom It is possible to provide the user with a degree of freedom to set the degree of control, and to provide flexible and flexible operation.

  The invention according to claim 58 includes the step of causing the server terminal to display, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. Since it is an office space providing method, important information other than work status can be referred to promptly by participating users, thereby enabling information sharing among each user to be realized more effectively. It is possible to enhance the utility of enabling browsing on the client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 59 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 58, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to the user using the logged-in client terminal. Can be quickly referred to by the user, thereby increasing the utility of allowing the virtual office to be viewed on the client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 60 is the virtual office space providing method according to claim 58, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user group to which a user using the logged-in client terminal belongs. Information that is important to the group to which the user belongs can be quickly referred to by the user, and information sharing within the group can be realized more effectively, and thus the virtual office can be viewed on the client terminal. The utility can be increased.

  The invention according to claim 61 is a system in which a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals transmit and receive data via a communication network, and the server terminal logs in the client terminal via the communication network. And means for storing in the storage area image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal, and for the logged-in client terminal, the work status of the logged-in user stored in the storage area Means for delivering image data representing the data in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser, wherein the client terminal has the prescribed browser installed, and transmits login information to the server terminal; Image data representing the work status of the user is stored on the server terminal. And means for making it possible to browse image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal using the browser function of the browser, and representing the work status of the logged-in user Since it is a virtual office space providing system in which image data can be browsed mutually by each client terminal, an environment is provided in which image data representing the work status of a logged-in user can be browsed mutually by each client terminal Even if the actual office is spatially separated, it is possible to confirm the presence of each user, share the atmosphere, and the like without forcing actual movement in such a space.

  The invention according to claim 62 is characterized in that the server terminal defines a means for defining one or more user groups including one or two or more users, and a user group unit in which browsing images on the client terminal are defined. 62. A virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, comprising: a means for transmitting a display switching program for switching to the client terminal, so that the browsing screen on the client terminal can be set in user group units, and therefore Even when the number of participating users increases, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the browsing screen from being lowered.

  The invention according to claim 63 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups. It can be done according to the actual situation.

  The invention according to claim 64 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the server terminal comprises means for updating image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. The latest work status of each user can be notified to another user by updating the image data.

  The invention according to claim 65 is characterized in that the display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group specifying information for specifying a user group that the client terminal is browsing. Means for recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal, and updating the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result 65. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 64, comprising: means for increasing the frequency of the user group that the client terminal is browsing than the user group that is not browsing. The amount of communication traffic for client terminals can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible even when the number of participating users increases reduce the burden for each hardware resource.

  The invention according to claim 66 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group in accordance with the input operation. Therefore, each user can easily use a predefined user group without forcing a user using each client terminal to perform a user group definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 67 provides the virtual office space according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is a system, a user using each client terminal can be allowed to define a user group unique to the user, and flexible and flexible operation can be provided.

  The invention according to claim 68 is characterized in that the display switching program defines the definition of a user group to be executed in the client terminal so as to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. However, since the virtual office space providing system according to claim 67 is configured to execute a function that makes it effective, a user group defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user who uses each client terminal is notified to the user. For example, each user can easily use a user group defined in advance by a group leader without forcing a group definition operation.

  The invention according to claim 69 is characterized in that the server terminal is defined with means for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal and an array of logged-in users on the browsing screen on the client terminal. 62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein the system for transmitting a display switching program for switching to a user layout is executed, so that the user layout in the browsing screen on the client terminal can be freely defined. Therefore, even when the number of participating users increases, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the browsing screen from being lowered.

  The invention according to claim 70 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 69, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side. The user array can be defined centrally by the administrator, so that each user can easily use the predefined user array without forcing the user using each client terminal to perform a user array definition operation. it can.

  The invention according to claim 71 is the virtual office space according to claim 69, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side. Since it is a providing system, it is possible to allow a user using each client terminal to define a user arrangement unique to the user, and to provide a flexible and flexible operation.

  The invention according to claim 72 is such that the display switching program automatically defines the user arrangement to be executed only in the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal. 62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein the system is configured to execute a function that is also effective on a machine, so that a user array defined by another user can be used as it is, and a user using each client terminal can Each user can easily use a user arrangement defined in advance by a group leader, for example, without forcing a user arrangement definition operation.

  73. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein the server terminal comprises means for executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. Therefore, when the number of participating users increases, for example, participants who are completely unaware of each other may become participating users. Therefore, the user's appearance and office environment are represented by image data representing the working status of the logged-in user. When other users are informed, privacy is infringed, or it is predicted that participating users will feel that privacy is infringed. By executing the control, privacy can be protected.

  In the invention according to claim 74, the server terminal logs in which is determined based on a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in a storage area, and the user relationship definition A control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of the user, and means for referring to the control definition determined on the basis of the referenced user relationship definition. 74. A virtual office space providing system according to claim 73, comprising: means for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to a client terminal. Assuming that the user level is high or low based on the classification of employee form, such as employee, temporary employee, and part-time job In this case, the operation is such that the low-level user does not view the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user of the high-level user, and the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user is viewed between users who are not related at all. It is possible to provide flexible and flexible operations such as operations that do not allow them to occur.

  In the invention according to claim 75, the server terminal issues a display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be executed to image data representing its work status viewed by the other user on the client terminal. A means for transmitting a display control instruction program that can be transmitted from the terminal to the virtual office space providing system to the client terminal, and a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal in accordance with the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 74. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 73, further comprising: means for determining the content of display control to be executed on image data representing the work status of the user, so that the user instructs the content of display control by himself / herself Thus, privacy protection can be further strengthened.

  According to a 76th aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program selects a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be executed for image data in the client terminal. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 75, wherein the function is executed, thereby causing the user to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing his / her work status. It is possible to improve the operability when instructing the content of display control by itself.

  According to a 77th aspect of the present invention, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting a display control parameter that defines the content of display control to be performed on the image data, whereby the user's work The virtual office space providing system according to claim 75, wherein the virtual office space providing system according to claim 75 is configured to cause a user to instruct a degree of display control to be performed on image data representing a situation. The image data that is displayed is blurred so that it cannot be viewed at all, the outline is dimly displayed so that no one can be visually recognized, and the display is blurred so that it can be identified to whom Provides the user with the freedom to set the degree of control, and can provide flexible and flexible operation .

  The invention according to claim 78 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, further comprising means for displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction. As a result, it is possible to promptly refer to important information other than work status, etc., so that information sharing among each user can be realized more effectively. Therefore, the virtual office can be viewed on the client terminal. The possible utility can be increased.

  The invention according to claim 79 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 78, in which the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to the user who uses the logged-in client terminal. It is possible to prompt the user to refer to the information quickly, thereby increasing the utility of enabling the virtual office to be viewed on the client terminal.

  The invention according to claim 80 is the virtual office space providing system according to claim 78, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to the user group to which the user using the logged-in client terminal belongs. Information that is important to the group to which the user belongs can be quickly referred to by the user, thereby making it possible to more effectively share information within the group, so that the virtual office can be viewed on the client terminal. The utility to do can be increased.

  Since the invention according to claim 81 is a storage medium for storing the virtual office space providing program according to any one of claims 1 to 20, the virtual office space providing program which is an intangible can be made portable. It is possible to facilitate distribution and the like.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of the entire virtual office space providing system.

  As an example, this system is constructed by connecting a head office 101, a satellite office 201, and a home office 301 via a local network 401 such as a LAN or WAN, and an external network 501 such as the Internet. The local network 401 and the external network 501 constitute a communication network. In FIG. 1, only one satellite office 201 and home office 301 are shown symbolically, but actually, a plurality of satellite offices 201 and home offices 301 are provided.

  The head office 101 is constructed as a server client system in which a server terminal 111 that functions as a virtual office space providing device and a plurality of client terminals 121 are connected via a local network 401. The client terminal 121 is provided for each office 122 provided for each user. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the client terminal 121 is provided for each office 122 including offices A, B, and C. Each office 122 images a user who operates the client terminal 121. A CCD camera 123 for acquiring image data representing the work status of the user is installed. The CCD camera 123 may be configured to be fixed to a display 1209 (see FIG. 2) described later of the client terminal 121 or embedded in the display 1209, or may be installed in the office 122, for example. It may be configured, or both.

  Such a client terminal 121 is connected to the server terminal 111 via a local network 401, and in addition, a communication server 151 and another device 161 are connected to the local network 401. The other devices 161 are, for example, MFPs, printers, network scanners, etc. (all not shown).

  The satellite office 201 basically has a server client system similar to the head office 101. That is, the satellite office 201 is constructed as a server client system in which a server terminal 111 that functions as a virtual office space providing device and a plurality of client terminals 121 are connected via a local network 401. The client terminal 121 is provided for each office 122 provided for each user. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the client terminal 121 is provided for each office 122 including offices A, B, and C. Each office 122 images a user who operates the client terminal 121. A CCD camera 123 for acquiring image data representing the work status of the user is installed. The CCD camera 123 may be configured to be fixed to a display 1209 (see FIG. 2) described later of the client terminal 121 or embedded in the display 1209, or may be installed in the office 122, for example. It may be configured, or both.

  Such a client terminal 121 is connected to the server terminal 111 via a local network 401, and in addition, a communication server 151 and another device 161 are connected to the local network 401. The other devices 161 are, for example, MFPs, printers, network scanners, etc. (all not shown).

  The head office 101 and the satellite office 201 can share information with each other by connecting their communication servers 151 via a private network 401 such as a dedicated line.

  The home office 301 is used by a telecommuter, for example. Such a home office 301 includes a client terminal 121 and a CCD camera 123 as a basic configuration. The client terminal 121 is provided in the office 122 of the user, which is the office 122 consisting of the office H in the example shown in FIG. 1, and the office 122 captures an image of the user operating the client terminal 121 and represents the work status of the user. A CCD camera 123 for acquiring data is installed. The CCD camera 123 may be configured to be fixed to a display 1209 (see FIG. 2) described later of the client terminal 121 or embedded in the display 1209, or may be installed in the office 122, for example. It may be configured, or both.

  Such a client terminal 121 can be connected to the communication server 151 of the head office 101 via an external network 501 with a known encryption technique, thereby enabling information sharing with each other.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the head office 101, the satellite office 201, and the home office 301 constitute an office space in the real world. However, in the head office 101, the offices A to C are spatially separated, and the space between the head office 101, the satellite office 201, and the home office 301 is further expanded. For example, the head office 101 may be in Tokyo, the satellite office 201 may be in Osaka, and the home office 301 may be in Kyushu. As another example, the head office 101, the satellite office 201, and the home office 301 may exist across borders. In such a case, the actual space among the head office 101, the satellite office 201, and the home office 301 has a very large extent. For this reason, it is difficult for workers to confirm each other's presence, and the atmosphere sharing remains unchanged. Therefore, the virtual office space providing system according to the present embodiment provides a user of each client terminal 121 with a virtual space that allows any client terminal 121 to view image data representing the work status of the user who uses each client terminal 121. In addition, it is possible to confirm the presence of each other and share the atmosphere among users who are workers.

  In the present embodiment, such a virtual office space providing system can be constructed extremely simply by installing a necessary virtual office space providing program for the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121. . Therefore, before explaining the mechanism, the hardware configuration of the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121 will be outlined.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121. As shown in FIG.

  First, the server terminal 111 will be described. The server terminal 111 includes a CPU 1101 that centrally controls each unit. The CPU 1101 stores a ROM 1102 that is a read-only memory that stores a BIOS and the like, and stores various data in a rewritable manner, and a work area of the CPU 1101. A RAM 1103 that functions as a microcomputer is connected via a bus 1104 to form a microcomputer. Further, on the bus 1104, an HDD 1105 in which various computer programs such as a virtual office space providing program are installed, a CD-ROM drive 1107 for reading data recorded on the CD-ROM 1106, and an input device 1108 such as a keyboard and a mouse. Also, a display 1109 such as a CRT or LCD and an interface 1110 that manages communication with an external device are connected. The server terminal 111 is connected to the local network 401 via the interface 1110.

  Various computer programs such as the virtual office space providing program installed in the HDD 1105 are originally recorded on the CD-ROM 1106 as an example, and the computer program is read by the CD-ROM drive 1107 by the CPU 1101 and stored in the HDD 1105. Installed. When the computer program installed in the HDD 1105 is activated, the computer program is copied from the HDD 1105 to the RAM 1103, and processing according to the computer program is executed by the CPU 1101 and the RAM 1103. In this sense, the RAM 1103, HDD 1105, or CD-ROM 1106 functions as a storage medium for storing computer programs.

  However, not only the CD-ROM 1106 but also various types of media such as various optical disks such as DVDs, various magnetic disks such as various magneto-optical disks and flexible disks, and semiconductor memories are used as storage media for storing computer programs. Can do. Further, a computer program may be downloaded from an external network 501 such as the Internet and installed in the HDD 1105. In this case, a storage device that stores a computer program accessed by the server on the transmission side is also a storage medium in the present invention. The program may operate on a predetermined OS (Operating System), in which case the OS may execute a part of various processes described later, or a word processor. It may be included as part of a group of program files that constitute predetermined application software such as software or an OS.

  Next, the client terminal 121 will be described. The client terminal 121 includes a CPU 1201 that centrally controls each unit. The CPU 1201 includes a ROM 1202 that is a read-only memory that stores a BIOS and the like, a rewritable memory that stores various data, and a work area of the CPU 1201. Are connected to each other by a bus 1204 to constitute a microcomputer. Further, the bus 1204 includes an HDD 1205 in which a computer program such as a virtual office space providing program is installed, a CD-ROM drive 1207 for reading data recorded on the CD-ROM 1206, an input device 1208 such as a keyboard and a mouse, A display 1209 such as a CRT or LCD is connected to an interface 1210 that controls communication with an external device. The client terminal 121 is connected to the local network 401 via the interface 1210.

  Various computer programs such as a virtual office space providing program installed in the HDD 1205 are originally recorded on a CD-ROM 1206 as an example, and the computer program is read by the CD-ROM drive 1207 by the CPU 1201 and stored in the HDD 1205. Installed. When the computer program installed in the HDD 1205 is activated, the computer program is copied from the HDD 1205 to the RAM 1203 and executed by the CPU 1201 and the RAM 1203. In this sense, the RAM 1203, HDD 1205, or CD-ROM 1206 functions as a storage medium that stores computer programs.

  However, not only the CD-ROM 1206 but also various types of media such as various optical disks such as DVDs, various magnetic disks such as various magneto-optical disks and flexible disks, and semiconductor memories are used as storage media for storing computer programs. Can do. Further, a computer program may be downloaded from an external network 501 such as the Internet and installed in the HDD 1205. In this case, a storage device that stores a computer program accessed by the server on the transmission side is also a storage medium in the present invention. The program may operate on a predetermined OS (Operating System), in which case the OS may execute a part of various processes described later, or a word processor. It may be included as part of a group of program files that constitute predetermined application software such as software or an OS.

  Here, in the present embodiment, many data codes of the virtual office space providing program are installed in the HDD 1105 of the server terminal 111. On the virtual office space providing system of the present embodiment, the most important program installed in the HDD 1205 of the client terminal 121 is prescribed browser software. As an example of this browser software, it is preferable to use Internet Explorer (trade name, trade name) of Micro Software. However, the browser software must be able to browse and browse various data transmitted from the server terminal 111, typically image data representing the work status of the logged-in user, which will be described later. The browser software installed in the HDD 1205 of the client terminal 121 transmits / receives necessary information to / from the server terminal 111 via the local network 401 or the external network 501, for example, using the HTTP protocol, and executes necessary operations. At this time, when the client terminal 121 has to execute an operation essential to the virtual office space providing system beyond the function of the browser software, the client terminal 121 is transmitted from the server terminal 111 via the local network 401 or the external network 501, for example. A JAVA script (JAVA is a registered trademark) is received via the interface 1210, the received JAVA script (JAVA is a registered trademark) is temporarily stored in the RAM 1203, and processing according to the data code is executed.

  In any case, the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121 perform data transmission / reception via the local network 401 or the external network 501 and perform necessary processing. At this time, the interface 1110 of the server terminal 111 and the interface 1210 of the client terminal 121 perform data transmission / reception using, for example, TCP / IP as a communication protocol. Of course, in communication inside the head office 101 or communication inside the satellite office 201, a cable is used if the communication protocol of the interface 1110 of the server terminal 111 and the interface 1210 of the client terminal 121 match. Instead of the local network 401, for example, a wireless LAN may be used as a communication network. Alternatively, communication between the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121 may be realized on a network using broadcast waves.

  FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing data transmission / reception between the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121.

  Here, a basic operation in the virtual office space providing system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as a premise, in the server terminal 111, the virtual office space providing program is copied from the HDD 1105 to the RAM 1103 and is always activated, and the CPU 1101 accesses the RAM 103 and executes processing according to the virtual office space providing program.

  Under such an environment, the client terminal 121 starts the virtual office space providing program installed in the HDD 1205. As a result, the virtual office space providing program is copied to the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121, and the CPU 1201 of the client terminal 121 executes the virtual office space providing program while accessing the RAM 1203. At this time, the CPU 1201 executes processing for starting browser software and processing for notifying the server terminal 111 of activation of the virtual office space providing program in accordance with the virtual office space providing program. Such processing is preferably executed automatically without user intervention, but does not preclude execution in response to user operation.

  When the server terminal 111 receives a virtual office space providing program activation notification from a certain client terminal 121, the server terminal 111 provides login screen information to the client terminal 121 specified by, for example, an IP address.

  Therefore, in the client terminal 121, for example, a user ID and a password are input to the provided login screen and returned to the server terminal 111 by a user operation. Here, the function, means, and process of transmitting the login information to the server terminal 111 by the client terminal 121 in which the prescribed browser is installed are executed.

  As another embodiment, only prescribed browser software is installed in the client terminal 121, and the virtual office space providing program may not be installed. In this case, when the client terminal 121 starts up the browser software and accesses, for example, an office space providing site provided by the server terminal 111 by the browser software, the office space providing site provides the client terminal 121 with a login screen. You may build a system. In the system constructed in this way, the client terminal 121 can input, for example, a user ID and a password on the provided login screen and send it back to the server terminal 111 by a user operation. Here, the function, means, and process of transmitting the login information to the server terminal 111 by the client terminal 121 in which the prescribed browser is installed are executed.

  Then, the server terminal 111 compares the returned user ID and password with, for example, a user list (not shown) stored in the HDD 1105 and performs authentication. As a result, if authentication is obtained, the client terminal 121 is logged in. Here, the function, means, and process of logging in the client terminal 121 through the local network 401 or the external network 501 that is the server terminal 111 as a communication network are executed.

  Thereafter, the server terminal 111 transmits an image data request to the client terminal 121 that has logged in. The image data in this case is image data representing the work status of the logged-in user.

  In response to an image transmission request from the server terminal 111, the client terminal 121 transmits the image being captured by the CCD camera 123 to the server terminal 111. At this time, the client terminal 121 controls the CCD camera 123 according to the running virtual office space providing program or the JAVA script (JAVA is a registered trademark) transmitted from the server terminal 111 to acquire the captured image. The process of transmitting to 111 is executed. Here, the function, means, and process in which the client terminal 121 transmits image data representing the work status of the user to the server terminal 111 are executed.

  In the server terminal 111 that has received the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user, the image data is stored and saved in an image memory as a storage area that is comprehensively expressed as, for example, the RAM 1103. Here, the function, means, and process are executed in which the server terminal 111 stores the image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal 121 in the image memory (RAM 1103) as a storage area.

  Thereafter, the client terminal 121 transmits, to the server terminal 111, an image data browsing request indicating the work status of the logged-in user stored and stored in the image memory (RAM 1103). In this case, the client terminal 121 requests the browsing using the user who has already transmitted the device, that is, the user who uses another client terminal 121 that is logged in as well as the image data representing his / her work status. It is about the image data showing the work status of. At this time, as a result, even if it becomes possible to view the image data representing the work status of the user who is the user's own machine on the client terminal 121 which is the own machine, The browsing request is meaningful only when the user who uses the other client terminal 121, that is, the image data representing the working status of another person can be browsed. Such a browsing request is preferably executed automatically without user intervention, but depending on the situation, it may be preferable to execute it according to a user operation.

  In response to the browsing request from the client terminal 121, the server terminal 111 transmits image data representing the work status of the logged-in user to the client terminal 121 specified by, for example, the IP address. At this time, what is important is that the server terminal 111 represents the work status of the user who has logged in in a data format that can be browsed by the prescribed browser software installed in the client terminal 121 as a system request in the virtual office space providing system. This means that image data is distributed. Here, the server terminal 111 stores the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user stored in the image memory (RAM 1103) serving as a storage area with respect to the logged-in client terminal 121 in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser. Functions, means, and processes for distribution are executed.

  Therefore, the client terminal 121 browses image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal 111 using browser software, and enables browsing. Here, a function, means, and process are performed in which the client terminal 121 makes it possible to browse the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal 111 using the browser browsing function.

  Through the processing as described above, the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user can be viewed with each client terminal 121. As a result, even if the actual office 122 is spatially separated, confirmation of the presence of each user, sharing of the atmosphere, and the like can be realized without forcing actual movement in such a space.

  Here, the virtual office space providing system of the present embodiment is characterized in that a special process is performed on the browsing screen viewed on the client terminal 121. Such special processing can be expressed by keywords as “user group definition”, “user array definition”, “display control”, and “link information”. Each will be described below.

(1) User Group Definition FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a virtual office displayed on the display 1209 of the client terminal 121 based on image data representing the work status of the logged-in user.

  Here, a total of 12 users are displayed. If this number becomes 13 or more, for example, it is necessary to take a measure such as displaying using a scroll bar or reducing the display image of each user, and it becomes difficult to find a target person as the number of people increases. Sex is reduced. In addition, the amount of image data to be distributed increases, and the processing load on the system and the transmission load on the network (the local network 401 and the external network 501) increase accordingly.

  On the other hand, in actual work, it is rare for all users to communicate with the same frequency, and users belonging to the same organization, the same project, the same theme, etc. frequently communicate with each other. But often not so much for non-users.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the users are divided into several groups, and display based on image data representing the work status of the logged-in user is performed in units of groups. FIG. 5 is an example of such a case, and shows a virtual office in which only eight users from the users displayed in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a virtual office in which the remaining users shown in FIG. 4 are added with the user (ε) that could not be displayed in FIG. is there. In this way, by displaying in units of groups, the visibility of the user is improved and the target user can be easily found.

  In order to realize such processing, the server terminal 111, according to the virtual office space providing program, functions, means, steps, and client that define one or more user groups including one or more users The function, means, and process of transmitting a display switching program for switching the browsing image on the terminal 121 to the defined user group unit are executed. The display switching program is, for example, a JAVA script (JAVA is a registered trademark). In the client terminal 121, the display switching program transmitted from the server terminal 111 is read into the RAM 1203, and the display by the browser software is controlled according to the read display switching program. That is, the browsing display of the virtual office as illustrated in FIG. 5 or 6 on the client terminal 121 is executed according to the display switching program transmitted from the server terminal 111.

  Here, the grouping is performed according to various situations such as an organization, a project, and a theme. Therefore, the function, means, and process for defining one or more user groups including one or more users executed by the server terminal 111 according to the virtual office space providing program are, for example, access to the server terminal 111. It is uniformly defined in the server terminal 111 in advance by an operation input by an authorized system administrator. That is, in the server terminal 111, the function, means, and process for defining the user group define the user group according to the input operation. In this case, since the user group can be defined centrally by the system administrator, each user can easily define a predefined user group without forcing the user using each client terminal 121 to perform a user group definition operation. Can be used.

  As another embodiment, a user group may be defined so that a login user of each client terminal 121 is effective only at the client terminal 121 used by the user. That is, in the server terminal 111, the user group is defined so that the function, means, and process for defining the user group are effective only at the client terminal in response to an instruction from the client terminal 121 side. Thereby, a user group definition unique to the user is allowed for a user who uses each client terminal 121, and flexible and flexible operation can be provided.

  Such functions in the client terminal 121 are executed according to a display switching program that is transmitted from the server terminal 111 to the client terminal 121 and temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121. Therefore, in this case, the display switching program allows the client terminal 121 to define a user group that is executed only in the other client terminal 121 in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal 121, even on the own device. A function that makes it effective may be executed. As a result, user groups defined by other users can be used as they are, and each user is a user as defined by a group leader in advance without forcing the user using each client terminal 121 to perform a user group definition operation. Groups can be used easily.

  Furthermore, as another embodiment, it is effective only in the client terminal 121 which the login user of each client terminal 121 uses for the user, and the process which defines a user group uniformly in the server terminal 111 beforehand by the operation input of a system administrator As described above, both of the processing for defining the user group may be used together.

  Here, considering actual operation, there are cases where a cross-organizational project is formed in addition to the normal organization division. In such a case, the same person can belong to multiple groups. If you don't, you can't operate flexibly and flexibly according to the actual situation. Therefore, in this system, the same person can belong to a plurality of different groups. FIG. 7 shows such an example, and a project formed transversely with respect to group 1 and group 2 in FIGS.

  In addition, in this system, the server terminal 111 executes a function, means, and process for updating the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user to be distributed to the logged-in client terminal 121, and displays the latest work status of each user. Inform another user. The update cycle is appropriately determined according to the purpose. As an example, in the client terminal 121, in addition to being able to switch the display in units of groups, the update frequency of the work status display image is set to a different value between the user group displayed on the display 1209 and the user group that is not. To do. That is, the update frequency of the group displayed on the display 1209 is set high, and the frequency of the other group is set low. For example, in FIG. 5, the update frequency of group 1 is 1 time / minute, and the update frequency of groups 2 and 3 is 2 times / minute. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the data transfer amount of the user images of the group that is not displayed, and it is possible to reduce the processing load of the system and the data transfer load of the network (the local network 401 and the external network 501).

  In order to realize such a function, in this embodiment, for example, the display switching program temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121 as a JAVA applet is displayed on the client terminal 121 by the user browsing the client terminal 121. A function, means, and process for transmitting group specifying information for specifying a group to the server terminal are executed. And the server terminal 111 recognizes the user group which the client terminal 121 browses based on the group specific information transmitted from the client terminal 121, and represents the working status of the logged-in user based on the recognition result. The function, means, and process are executed to increase the update frequency of the image data more than the user group that the client terminal 121 is browsing than the user group that is not browsing.

(2) User arrangement definition In this embodiment, the arrangement of users in a group displayed on the display 1209 of the client terminal 121 can be freely set. The user array illustrated in FIG. 8 is obtained by resetting the user array illustrated in FIG.

  In order to realize such processing, the server terminal 111 switches the function, means, and process for defining the user arrangement and the browsing image on the client terminal 121 to the defined user arrangement in accordance with the virtual office space providing program. The function, means, and process of transmitting the display switching program for the client terminal 121 are executed. The display switching program is, for example, a JAVA script (JAVA is a registered trademark). In the client terminal 121, the display switching program transmitted from the server terminal 111 is read into the RAM 1203, and the display by the browser software is controlled according to the read display switching program. That is, the user layout in the virtual office displayed on the display 1209 of the client terminal 121 is switched according to the display switching program transmitted from the server terminal 111.

  Here, the user arrangement in the group displayed on the display 1209 of the client terminal 121 is defined in advance by the system administrator as an example. That is, in the server terminal 111, the function, means, and process for defining the user array define the user group according to the input operation. In this case, since the user group can be defined centrally by the system administrator, each user can easily define a predefined user group without forcing the user using each client terminal 121 to perform a user group definition operation. Can be used.

  As another embodiment, the user array may be defined so that the login user of each client terminal 121 is effective only at the client terminal 121 used by the user. That is, in the server terminal 111, the user array is defined so that the function, means, and process for defining the user array are effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal 121 side. As a result, the user arrangement definition unique to the user is allowed for the user who uses each client terminal 121, and flexible and flexible operation can be provided.

  Such functions in the client terminal 121 are executed according to a display switching program that is transmitted from the server terminal 111 to the client terminal 121 and temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121. Therefore, in this case, the display switching program allows the client terminal 121 to define a user array definition that is executed only in the other client terminal 121 in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal 121, even on the own device. A function that makes it effective may be executed. As a result, user groups defined by other users can be used as they are, and each user can, for example, a user defined by a group leader in advance without forcing a user using each client terminal 121 to perform a user array definition operation. The array can be easily used. In addition, in order to make the group's consciousness uniform and facilitate further communication, it may be possible to share the grouping and arrangement within the group with all users in the group, so it is possible to meet such demands. It becomes.

  Here, referring to FIG. 9, the definition of the user array executed so as to be effective only in the other client terminal 121 in accordance with an instruction from the other client terminal 121 is also enabled in the own device. An example of the operation will be described. As an example, the display switching program temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121 captures a user array defined by the user who is browsing the client terminal 121, here, the user F. That is, in FIG. 9, a pointing device such as a cursor is aligned with the position of the user F at the client terminal 121. When a selection operation such as clicking is performed in this state, the display switching program displays a menu “load arrangement”. Therefore, when this menu is further selected by a selection operation such as a click, the display switching program recognizes that the user array definition defined by the user F has been selected, and loads the user array definition into the client terminal 121. More specifically, the display switching program causes the client terminal 121 to transmit a transmission request for the user arrangement definition defined by the selected user F to the server terminal 111. In response to this, the server terminal 111 searches for the user array definition corresponding to the request, and returns the user array definition to the client terminal 121 that has requested transmission. Therefore, in the client terminal 121, the CPU 1201 controls the browser software so as to change the array according to the received user array definition according to the display switching program.

  Furthermore, as another embodiment, it is effective only in the client terminal 121 which the login user of each client terminal 121 uses by the user, and the process which defines a user arrangement | sequence uniformly beforehand in the server terminal 111 by the operation input of a system administrator As described above, both the processing for defining the user sequence may be used in combination.

(3) Display Control In the present embodiment, the server terminal 111 performs a display control on the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed to the client terminal 121, and functions and means for processing the image data. Execute the process. When the number of participating users increases, for example, participants who do not know each other may become participating users. Therefore, the appearance and office environment of the logged-in user's work status and other users may change depending on the image data. It is predicted that privacy will be infringed or that the participating users will feel that privacy has been infringed. Therefore, in this embodiment, privacy is protected by executing display control for processing image data.

  For such display control, the user of each client terminal 121 performs display control for his / her image viewed by another user, and the case where the server terminal 111 performs display control according to a certain rule. There are two ways.

  First, the case where the user of each client terminal 121 performs display control on his / her image viewed by another user will be described. Referring to FIG. 10, the image representing the work status of user C and user D is controlled to be displayed as a blurred image on the client terminal 121 of another person. In order to realize such display control, in the present embodiment, the server terminal 111 performs display control content to be executed on image data representing the work status of the other user browsing on the client terminal 121. A function, means, and process for transmitting a display control instruction program for enabling transmission of a display control instruction for instructing to the virtual office space providing system from the client terminal 121 to the client terminal 121, and the display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal 121. In response, the function, means, and process for determining the content of display control to be performed on the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed to the client terminal 121 are executed. As a result, the user can instruct the contents of display control by himself / herself, and thus privacy protection can be enhanced.

  On the other hand, depending on whether you are on the job or on a break, or when you are working alone and other users are coming to your seat and talking There may be a request to change the degree of privacy protection / security guarantee. Therefore, referring to FIG. 10, the blurring degree of the user D is stronger than the user C. Therefore, in this embodiment, each user can adjust the control parameter of the filter.

  As one of the methods for that purpose, there is a method of selecting from a plurality of display control parameters defined in advance by the system administrator. This method is executed in accordance with a display control instruction program composed of, for example, a JAVA script (JAVA is a registered trademark) temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121. That is, the display control instruction program temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121 causes the client terminal 121 to select a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on the image data. This causes the user to instruct the contents of display control to be performed on the image data representing his / her work status. An example is shown in FIG. 11, and it is assumed here that the user H is “self”. When a selection operation such as a mouse click is performed on the “self”, that is, the work status display image of the user H, the display control instruction program describes four levels of filter strengths prepared in advance as shown in FIG. A menu is displayed in the browser software, allowing the user to select the desired filter strength. Then, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal 121 to transmit the filter strength information selected by the user to the server terminal 111. Based on the transmitted filter strength information, the server terminal 111 performs a filtering process on “self”, that is, the work status display image of the user H.

  As another method in which each user adjusts the control parameter of the filter, the user may be able to adjust the display control parameter himself. An example is shown in FIG. Here, the user can set the filter strength by adjusting the slide bar left and right. In order to realize this, the display control instruction program temporarily stored in the RAM 1203 of the client terminal 121 has a function of adjusting display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on the image data in the client terminal 121. This causes the user to instruct the degree of display control to be performed on the image data representing his / her work status. Then, the display control instruction program causes the client terminal 121 to transmit the filter strength information adjusted by the user to the server terminal 111. Based on the transmitted filter strength information, the server terminal 111 performs a filtering process on “self”, that is, the work status display image of the user H.

  Through the above processing, the degree of display control, for example, the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user cannot be viewed at all, or the outline can be displayed dimly so that no one can be visually recognized. In addition, it is possible to provide the user with a degree of freedom to set the degree of display control, such as blurring while allowing display to the extent that it can be identified, and to provide flexible and flexible operation.

  When filtering the work status display image, the processed image data may be sent to the server terminal 111 after the filter processing is performed on each client terminal 121 with respect to the image data, or each client terminal From 121, the image data may be sent to the server terminal 111 as a normal image, and the image data may be filtered on the server terminal 111, or after being delivered from the server terminal 111 to another client terminal 121. The other client terminal 121 may perform filter processing on the image data. Further, these filter processes may all be realized by software, or may be performed by installing dedicated hardware.

  Next, a case where the server terminal 111 performs display control according to a certain rule will be described. In accordance with the virtual office space providing program, the server terminal 111 is determined based on a user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal 121 stored in a storage area such as the HDD 1105, and the user relationship definition. And a control definition that defines the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user, and each client in accordance with the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition The function, means, and process for determining the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed to the terminal 121 are executed. That is, the server terminal 111 controls whether or not to display the work status of the user at the client terminal 121 based on the relationship between the login user of each client terminal 121 and another user or user group.

  As a result, for example, assuming that the user level is high or low based on the classification of employee form such as regular employee, temporary employee, part-time job, etc., the low-level user is logged in Providing flexible and flexible operations such as operations that do not allow viewing of image data representing work status, or operations that do not allow any unrelated users to view image data representing the work status of logged-in users. Can do.

  FIG. 13 illustrates an example in which display control is performed on the virtual office illustrated in FIG. FIG. 13 illustrates a case where the security level of the user G and the user H is higher than that of the user using the client terminal 121 that displays the virtual office illustrated in FIG. This is apparent from the fact that the users G and H are not displayed in the virtual office illustrated in FIG.

  On the other hand, FIG. 14 shows another example in which display control is performed on the virtual office illustrated in FIG. FIG. 14 illustrates a case where the security level of group 2 is higher than that of group 1, which is a group to which a user using the client terminal 121 that displays the virtual office illustrated in FIG. 14 belongs. This is apparent from the fact that the tag for displaying the group 2 is not displayed in the virtual office illustrated in FIG.

(4) Link information In this system, link information to another document or document server is displayed on the browsing screen of the client terminal 121. In the example shown in FIG. 15, link information of <Today's topic>, <Group 1 bulletin board>, and <Group 1 schedule> is pasted to the virtual office. For example, when the link information is clicked with a mouse, the document itself, or a Web page or database storing the document can be opened. This makes it possible to quickly refer to important information other than work status and shared information within the group, making information sharing more effective and always displaying the virtual office on the display 1209 of the client terminal 121. The utility of this will increase. Note that the description for accessing the linked document by selecting the link information by clicking the mouse, for example, is a well-known technique, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The document link may be switched for each user or user group. FIG. 16 shows an example of a document link of group 2. Unlike the display example of FIG. 15, <Group 2 bulletin board> and <Group 2 schedule> are linked. Thereby, it becomes possible to preferentially refer to a document having a higher importance for each user or user group.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration example of the whole virtual office space provision system. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a server terminal and a client terminal. It is a timing chart which shows data transmission / reception between a server terminal and a client terminal. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the working condition of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a grouping display as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example of a grouping display as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the grouping display in case the same user straddles different groups as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user. FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a user array in which the user array illustrated in FIG. 5 is reset as an example of a virtual office displayed on a client terminal based on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation which loads the user arrangement | sequence definition which the other user defined as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example by which display control was given as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the working condition of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the screen which provides selection operation of a display control parameter to a user as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the slide bar screen which provides a user with adjustment operation of a display control parameter. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which display control is performed on a virtual office illustrated in FIG. 5 as an example of a virtual office displayed on a client terminal based on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example in which display control is performed on a virtual office illustrated in FIG. 5 as an example of a virtual office displayed on a client terminal based on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user. . It is a schematic diagram which shows an example containing link information as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example containing link information as an example of the virtual office displayed on the client terminal based on the image data showing the work situation of the logged-in user.

Explanation of symbols

121 Client terminal 111 Server terminal 401, 501 Communication network (private network, external network)
1103, 1105 Storage area (RAM, HDD)

Claims (81)

Installed in a server terminal that transmits and receives data to and from a plurality of client terminals via a communication network,
A function of logging in the client terminal via the communication network;
A function for storing, in a storage area, image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal;
A function of distributing image data representing a logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area in a data format that can be browsed by a prescribed browser, to the logged-in client terminal;
And a computer-readable virtual office space providing program in which image data representing the work status of a logged-in user can be viewed with each client terminal. In the server terminal,
The ability to define one or more user groups that contain one or more users;
A function of transmitting to the client terminal a display switching program for switching the browsing image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit;
The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein:   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function of defining a user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the server terminal is caused to execute a function of updating image data representing a work status of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. The display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group identification information that identifies a user group that the client terminal is browsing.
In the server terminal,
A function of recognizing a user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal;
Based on the recognition result, a function to increase the update frequency of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user more than the user group that is not browsing the user group that the client terminal is browsing,
5. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 4, wherein:   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function of defining a user group defines a user group according to an input operation on the server terminal side.   3. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 2, wherein the function of defining a user group defines a user group so that the function is defined only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program is a function for enabling a definition of a user group executed in the client terminal to be effective only in the client terminal according to an instruction from the other client terminal. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 7, wherein: In the server terminal,
A function for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal;
A function of transmitting a display switching program for switching the array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal to a defined user array;
The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein:   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 9, wherein the function for defining the user array defines a user array in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 9, wherein the function for defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement so as to be effective only in the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program enables the client terminal to make the definition of the user arrangement executed to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 12. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 11, wherein the function is executed.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the server terminal is caused to execute a function of executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. In the server terminal,
A user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in the storage area, and image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user determined based on the user relationship definition is executed. A function to refer to a control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed,
A function for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to each client terminal according to the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition;
14. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 13, wherein the program is executed. In the server terminal,
Display control instruction for enabling transmission of a display control instruction from the client terminal to the server terminal for instructing the content of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work situation viewed by the other user on the client terminal A function of transmitting a program to the client terminal;
In accordance with a display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal, a function for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal;
14. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 13, wherein the program is executed.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of selecting a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on image data. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 15, wherein the user is instructed about the content of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the user.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on the image data, and thereby to the image data representing one's work status 16. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 15, wherein a user is instructed about the degree of display control to be executed.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the server terminal is caused to execute a function of causing the logged-in client terminal to display link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction.   19. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 18, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user who uses the logged-in client terminal.   19. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 18, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user group to which a user using the logged-in client terminal belongs. A virtual office space providing device having a server terminal function for transmitting / receiving data to / from a plurality of client terminals via a communication network,
Means for logging in the client terminal via the communication network;
Means for storing, in a storage area, image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal;
A means for delivering to the logged-in client terminal image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area in a data format viewable by a prescribed browser;
A virtual office space providing device that enables image data representing a work status of a logged-in user to be viewed with each client terminal. Means for defining one or more user groups including one or more users;
Means for transmitting to the client terminal a display switching program for switching the browsing image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit;
The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, further comprising:   The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining a user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.   23. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 22, further comprising means for updating image data representing a work status of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. The display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting group specifying information for specifying a user group viewed by the client terminal to the virtual office space providing device,
Means for recognizing a user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal;
Based on the recognition result, means for increasing the update frequency of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user more than the user group that is not browsing the user group that the client terminal is browsing;
The virtual office space providing device according to claim 24.   23. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining a user group defines a user group in response to an input operation.   23. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for defining a user group defines the user group so as to be effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program is a function for enabling a definition of a user group executed in the client terminal to be effective only in the client terminal according to an instruction from the other client terminal. 28. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 27. Means for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal;
Means for transmitting a display switching program for switching the array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal to a defined user array;
The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, wherein the virtual office space providing device is executed.   30. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array in response to an input operation.   30. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the means for defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement so that the user arrangement is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program enables the client terminal to make the definition of the user arrangement executed to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 32. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 31, wherein the function is executed.   The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, further comprising means for executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. A user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in the storage area, and image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user determined based on the user relationship definition is executed. A control definition that defines the content of the display control to be performed;
Means for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to each client terminal according to the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition;
34. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 33. A display control instruction program that allows a display control instruction to instruct the contents of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by another user on the client terminal to be transmitted from the client terminal to the own apparatus Means for transmitting to the client terminal;
Means for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal in response to a display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal;
34. The virtual office space providing device according to claim 33.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of selecting a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on image data. 36. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein a user is instructed to display control content to be executed on image data representing the work status of the user.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on the image data, and thereby to the image data representing one's work status 36. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the user is instructed about the degree of display control to be executed.   The virtual office space providing device according to claim 21, comprising means for displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction.   39. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user who uses the logged-in client terminal.   39. The virtual office space providing apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs. A virtual office space providing method executed in a system in which a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals transmit and receive data via a communication network,
The server terminal is
Logging the client terminal via the communication network;
Storing image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in a storage area;
Delivering image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area to the logged-in client terminal in a data format readable by a specified browser;
Run
The client terminal in which the prescribed browser is installed,
Transmitting login information to the server terminal;
Transmitting image data representing a user's work status to the server terminal;
Making it possible to browse image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal using the browser function of the browser;
Run
A virtual office space providing method in which image data representing a work status of a logged-in user can be browsed mutually by each of the client terminals. The server terminal is
Defining one or more user groups including one or more users;
Transmitting a display switching program for switching a browsing image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit;
42. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 41, wherein:   43. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining a user group can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.   43. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the server terminal executes a step of updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. The display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group identification information that identifies a user group that the client terminal is browsing.
The server terminal is
Recognizing the user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal;
Based on the recognition result, the step of increasing the update frequency of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user more than the user group that is not browsing the user group that the client terminal is browsing,
45. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 44, wherein:   43. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining a user group defines a user group according to an input operation on the server terminal side.   43. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 42, wherein the step of defining a user group defines a user group so that the user group is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program is a function for enabling a definition of a user group executed in the client terminal to be effective only in the client terminal according to an instruction from the other client terminal. 48. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 47, wherein: The server terminal is
Defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal;
Transmitting a display switching program for switching the array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal to a defined user array;
42. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 41, wherein:   The virtual office space providing method according to claim 49, wherein the step of defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement in accordance with an input operation on the server terminal side.   50. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 49, wherein the step of defining the user arrangement defines the user arrangement so that the user arrangement is effective only in the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program enables the client terminal to make the definition of the user arrangement executed to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 52. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 51, wherein the function is executed.   42. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 41, wherein the server terminal executes display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. The server terminal is
A user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in the storage area, and image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user determined based on the user relationship definition is executed. A process of referring to a control definition that defines the content of display control to be performed,
Determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to each of the client terminals according to the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition;
54. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 53, wherein: The server terminal is
Display control instruction for enabling transmission of a display control instruction from the client terminal to the server terminal for instructing the content of display control to be executed on image data representing his / her work situation viewed by the other user on the client terminal Transmitting the program to the client terminal;
In accordance with a display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal, determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal;
54. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 53, wherein:   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of selecting a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on image data. 56. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 55, wherein the user is instructed about the contents of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the user.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on the image data, and thereby to the image data representing one's work status 56. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 55, wherein a user is instructed about a degree of display control to be executed.   42. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 41, further comprising a step of displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction.   59. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 58, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user using the logged-in client terminal.   59. The virtual office space providing method according to claim 58, wherein the link information to be displayed is determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs. A system in which a server terminal and a plurality of client terminals transmit and receive data via a communication network,
The server terminal is
Means for logging in the client terminal via the communication network;
Means for storing, in a storage area, image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal;
A means for delivering to the logged-in client terminal image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area in a data format viewable by a prescribed browser;
With
The client terminal has the specified browser installed,
Means for transmitting login information to the server terminal;
Means for transmitting image data representing a user's work status to the server terminal;
Means for allowing image data representing the work status of the logged-in user distributed from the server terminal to be browsed using the browser browsing function;
With
A virtual office space providing system in which image data representing a work status of a logged-in user can be browsed mutually by each of the client terminals. The server terminal is
Means for defining one or more user groups including one or more users;
Means for transmitting to the client terminal a display switching program for switching the browsing image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit;
62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61.   64. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining user groups can include the same user in a plurality of different groups.   64. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the server terminal includes means for updating image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the logged-in client terminal. The display switching program causes the client terminal to execute a function of transmitting, to the server terminal, group identification information that identifies a user group that the client terminal is browsing.
The server terminal is
Means for recognizing a user group that the client terminal is browsing based on the group identification information transmitted from the client terminal;
Based on the recognition result, means for increasing the update frequency of the image data representing the work status of the logged-in user more than the user group that is not browsing the user group that the client terminal is browsing;
65. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 64.   64. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining a user group defines a user group in response to an input operation.   64. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 62, wherein the means for defining the user group defines the user group so that the user group is effective only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program is a function for enabling a definition of a user group executed in the client terminal to be effective only in the client terminal according to an instruction from the other client terminal. 68. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 67, wherein: The server terminal is
Means for defining an array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal;
Means for transmitting a display switching program for switching the array of logged-in users in the browsing screen on the client terminal to a defined user array;
62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein:   70. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 69, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array in response to an input operation on the server terminal side.   70. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 69, wherein the means for defining the user array defines the user array so that the user array is valid only at the client terminal in accordance with an instruction from the client terminal side.   The display switching program enables the client terminal to make the definition of the user arrangement executed to be effective only in the client terminal in response to an instruction from the other client terminal. 64. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein the function is executed.   62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, wherein the server terminal includes means for executing display control for processing image data representing a work situation of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal. The server terminal is
A user relationship definition that defines a relationship between users who use the client terminal stored in the storage area, and image data that represents the work status of the logged-in user determined based on the user relationship definition is executed. A control definition that defines the content of the display control to be performed;
Means for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to each client terminal according to the control definition determined based on the referenced user relationship definition;
74. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 73. The server terminal is
A display control instruction for instructing the content of display control to be performed on image data representing his / her work status viewed by another user on the client terminal can be transmitted from the client terminal to the virtual office space providing system. Means for transmitting a display control instruction program to the client terminal;
Means for determining the content of display control to be performed on image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed to the client terminal in response to a display control instruction transmitted from the client terminal;
74. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 73.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of selecting a desired display control parameter from among a plurality of display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on image data. 76. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 75, wherein the user is instructed about the content of display control to be executed on the image data representing the work status of the user.   The display control instruction program causes the client terminal to execute a function of adjusting display control parameters that define the content of display control to be performed on the image data, and thereby to the image data representing one's work status 76. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 75, wherein the user is instructed about the degree of display control to be executed.   62. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 61, further comprising means for displaying, on the client terminal that has logged in, link information that enables browsing of link destination information according to a selection instruction.   79. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 78, wherein the link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user who uses the logged-in client terminal.   79. The virtual office space providing system according to claim 78, wherein link information to be displayed is individually determined according to a user group to which a user who uses the logged-in client terminal belongs. A storage medium for storing the virtual office space providing program according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

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