JP2005332027A - Program, apparatus, method and system for providing virtual office space, and storage medium for storing this program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems that arise when a user group method is introduced to solve problems that arise as the number of participating users increases. <P>SOLUTION: A virtual office environment in which image data showing how logged-in users are working can be browsed on individual client terminals 121 is provided in such a manner that the browsing screens of the client terminals 121 are caused to follow the units of user groups defined and information about the user groups defined, to prevent the visibility of the browsing screens from degrading even with an increase in the number of participating users and to make it easy to find the desired user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual office space providing program, a virtual office space providing device, 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 The present invention relates to a storage medium for storing a 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.

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 JP 2002-149580 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.

  In addition, as a means for solving such a problem, the applicant has made a proposal example of introducing the concept of a user group into a virtual office. However, when the user group method is introduced, the following problems arise.

  -For security purposes, it may be necessary to restrict access to work status among users participating in the virtual office or change user groups.

  -It takes time to manage user groups.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem that occurs when a user group method is introduced in order to solve a problem that occurs as the number of participating users increases.

  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 distributing data in a data format that can be viewed by a prescribed browser, and thereby enabling a work status display based on image data representing a work status of a logged-in user to be mutually viewed on each of the client terminals; Or one or more users including two or more users A function for defining a group, a function for defining information about a user group, and a display switching program for switching a browsing image on the client terminal to a defined user group unit according to information about a defined user group A computer-readable virtual office space providing program for executing a function to be transmitted to a terminal.

  The present invention can also be realized by the virtual office space providing device according to claim 23, the virtual office space providing method according to claim 24, the virtual office space providing system according to claim 25, and the storage medium according to claim 26. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the first aspect, the function of defining information about the user group is information on the user group in response to an input operation by a system administrator on the server terminal side. Define in advance.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the first aspect, the function of defining information about a user group is information about a user group in response to an input operation by a logged-in user who uses the logged-in client terminal. Define

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the first aspect, the function for defining information relating to a user group uses an input operation by a system administrator on the server terminal side or the logged-in client terminal Define information about the user group according to the input operation by the logged-in user.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, information on the defined user group is associated with an owner who can change or delete the information.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the fifth aspect, the definer of the information regarding the user group becomes the owner of the information.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the information related to the defined user group is associated with a referencer who can refer to the information.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the virtual office space providing program according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the information related to the defined user group is associated with a referencer who can refer to the information, and defines information related to the user group. The function to perform allows the information regarding the user group that can be referred to the reference person to be copied and allows the information to become the owner.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects, the function of defining information related to the user group is the owner of the information or the owner corresponding to the information. Determine the referrer.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the ninth aspect, the function of defining information relating to a user group includes an owner or a reference who can be changed or deleted when the information is duplicated. Restrict information within the scope of the owner and referrer of information about the user group of the copy source.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the first aspect, the information regarding the user group includes basic information and information for controlling display of work status.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the fifth aspect, the information relating to the user group includes basic information and information for controlling display of work status. There is an owner associated with each piece of information for controlling the display of.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the seventh aspect, the information about the user group includes basic information and information for controlling the display of work status, and defines information about the user group. As for the function, there is a referrer associated with each of these basic information and information for controlling the display of work status, or only the basic information, and there is a referrer associated with only the basic information. In this case, a reference associated only with the basic information is regarded as a reference associated with information for controlling the display of work status.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect, the display switching program is a basic information that a system administrator or another user owns the logged-in client terminal. And a function to display at least a user group corresponding to information about the user group including information for controlling the display of the work status of the client terminal user who has logged in as an owner.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the fourteenth aspect, the display switching program further includes: information for controlling display of basic information and work status for a logged-in client terminal; A function of displaying at least a user group corresponding to information about the user group when the user of the client terminal who has logged in to both is the owner is executed.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the fourteenth aspect, the display switching program further includes: information for controlling display of basic information and work status for a logged-in client terminal; A function of displaying at least a user group corresponding to information on the user group when the system administrator or another user is the owner as at least a browsing image is executed.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the eleventh aspect, the information for controlling the display of work status is a display size of an image representing a user's work status that can be listed simultaneously on each client terminal Contains information for controlling.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the eleventh aspect, the information for controlling the display of the work situation includes name information for displaying the user group.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the eleventh aspect, the information for controlling the display of work status includes information on arrangement of users in a user group that can be listed simultaneously on each client terminal. .

  According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the eleventh aspect, the basic information includes a list of users included in the user group.

  According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the first aspect, the function of defining information about the user group is a user group that is displayed from among the displayable user groups on the logged-in client terminal. Allow selection setting.

  According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the virtual office space providing program according to the first aspect, the display switching program allows the client terminal that has logged in to change the display order of the displayed user groups.

  According to the invention described in claims 1, 23, 24, 25, and 26, in providing a virtual office environment that enables image data representing the work status of a logged-in user to be mutually viewed on individual client terminals, The browsing screen on the client terminal can be made to follow the information about the defined user group unit and the defined user group. Therefore, even when the number of participating users increases, the visibility of the browsing screen is prevented from being lowered. Can make it easier to find users.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the system administrator to collectively manage information relating to the user group.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the logged-in user can define information related to the user group, the information related to the user group can be performed flexibly and in accordance with the actual situation.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, information related to the user group can be collectively managed by the system administrator, and information related to the user group can be defined by the logged-in user. Can be performed flexibly and in accordance with the actual situation.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, information regarding a defined user group can be properly managed by the owner, and security related to reference and management of information regarding the user group can be ensured.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the owner of the information related to the defined user group can be set appropriately.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the reference is associated with the user group using the information about the user group, it is possible to ensure the security related to the reference, and to distribute the communication data such as the image data and the corresponding amount. The amount of communication data when the number of participating users increases and the amount of processing of the server terminal and the client terminal can be reduced.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the information related to the user group is allowed to be copied to the reference person, so that it is possible to reduce the burden required for management and creation of the information related to the user group and the information related to the user group. For example, it is possible to set up a dedicated user group because the reference person can be the owner of the copied information.

  According to the invention described in claim 9, since the owner can determine the owner and the reference person corresponding to the user group, once the definition is made, the owner or the reference person is arbitrarily changed or deleted later. Therefore, a flexible operation can be performed for the defined user group.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, the possibility that the reference person duplicates information on the user group and that the reference person becomes the owner and makes the user group refer to other unrelated users, It is possible to avoid the user who can be a referrer by limiting it to the range of the owner and the referrer of the information related to the copy source user group, and an appropriate system operation is possible.

  According to the inventions of claims 11 and 12, information on the user group is divided into basic information and information for controlling the display of work status, and the owner and the reference are associated with each information. The user can set the information for controlling the display of work status to make it easier to find the target user while referring to the basic information about the user group, and thus the amount of information stored in the server terminal It is possible to make it easier to find a target user while suppressing the problem.

  According to the invention as set forth in claim 13, a reference to information relating to a user group comprising basic information and information for controlling display of work status can be set for each information, and only basic information can be set. As for the reference person corresponding to, the setting can be simplified by considering it as a reference person for information for controlling the display of work status.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when the logged-in user is the owner of only the information for controlling the display of work status, the user's display arrangement regarding the display of the user group while referring to the basic information such as the user list Thus, it is possible to easily search for a target user.

  According to the invention described in claim 15, in addition to the invention described in claim 14, since the user can decide whether to share basic information with others or to change it by himself / herself, the user group is managed according to the type. The setting can be simplified while maintaining the degree of freedom possible.

  According to the invention of claim 16, in addition to the invention of claim 14, the user can decide whether to share information for controlling the display of work status with others or to change it by himself. You can change the display settings according to your needs. Setting can be simplified while making it easy to find a target user.

  According to the invention described in claim 17, by changing the size of the image in the user group unique to the user, the user can create a user group that can be displayed while the display area is reduced and other applications are working. it can.

  According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make it easy to recognize the user group and to find the target user group by giving the user group a display name that is easy to understand.

  According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, by changing the user arrangement in the user group unique to the user, it is possible to change the display area and to easily find the target user.

  According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform display so that the user can easily find a target user group from a large number of user groups, by selecting and displaying the user groups.

  According to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to display the user group so that the user group can easily find the target user group by changing the display order of the user groups.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  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 illustrated in FIG. 1, the client terminal 121 is provided for each office 122 including offices X and Y. Each office 122 captures a user who operates the client terminal 121. A CCD camera 123 is installed for acquiring image data representing the work status. 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, a rewritable memory that stores various data, 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, as a storage medium for storing the computer program, not only the CD-ROM 1106 but also various types of media such as various optical disks such as a DVD, various magnetic optical disks such as a DVD, various magnetic disks such as an FD, and a semiconductor memory may be used. it can. 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 the virtual office space providing program installed in the HDD 1205 are originally recorded on the CD-ROM 1206 as an example. 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, when communicating inside the head office 101 or 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 sequence 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” and “user group information definition”. A description will be given below with a few examples of embodiments that perform these special processes.

[First form]
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. Sexuality decreases. 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. In addition, information related to user groups necessary for display in such user group units is defined by a system administrator or a logged-in user. Only the owner corresponding to the information related to the user group can perform editing such as changing or deleting the information after the definition. Information relating to the user group includes basic information such as a list of users and the name of the user group, and information for controlling display such as the arrangement of the users and the size of the work situation image.

  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 only the users in group 2 are displayed by adding 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 users that define one or more user groups including one or more users. A function, means, and process for defining information related to a group, and a display switching program for switching the browsing image on the client terminal 121 to a defined user group unit according to the information related to the defined user group are transmitted to the client terminal 121. Perform functions, means, and processes. 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 advance in the server terminal 111 by an input operation of 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, a user group is defined so that functions, means, and processes for defining a user group are effective only at the client terminal in accordance with 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.

  Further, as another embodiment, processing that uniformly defines a user group in the server terminal 111 in advance by an input operation of the system administrator, and a login user of each client terminal 121 is effective only at the client terminal 121 used by the user. As described above, both of the processing for defining the user group may be used together.

  The same applies to the definition of information related to user groups. That is, the function, means, and process for defining information related to the user group executed by the server terminal 111 in accordance with the virtual office space providing program are preliminarily determined by an input operation of a system administrator having access authority to the server terminal 111 as an example. The server terminal 111 is uniformly defined. That is, in the server terminal 111, the function, means, and process for defining information about the user group define information about the user group according to the input operation. In this case, since information related to the user group can be centrally defined by the system administrator, each user is defined in advance without forcing the user using each client terminal 121 to define information regarding the user group. Information about user groups can be easily used. In this case, the system administrator who is the definer of the information regarding the user group becomes the owner of the information, and has the editing authority to change or delete the information.

  As another embodiment, the login user of each client terminal 121 may define information about the user group. That is, in the server terminal 111, the function, means, and process for defining information related to the user group define information related to the user group in response to an input operation by the login user who uses the client terminal 121. Thereby, the definition of the information regarding the user group unique to the user is permitted for the login 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.

  Thereby, the login user can define information about the user group, and the login user who is the definer of the information about the user group can be the owner of the information. Therefore, if a user who frequently communicates is displayed in an easily understandable arrangement, a person who wants to communicate can be easily found. FIG. 7 shows that a certain logged-in user gathers frequently communicating users from group 1 as shown in FIG. 5 and group 2 as shown in FIG. The example set as is shown.

  As another embodiment, a process of uniformly defining information about user groups in the server terminal 111 in advance by an input operation of a system administrator, and a process of defining information about user groups by the login user of each client terminal 121 Both of these may be used in combination.

[Second form]
In the virtual office space providing system, when the number of participating users increases, the amount of communication data such as image data representing work status increases accordingly. In addition, the processing load on the server terminal and the client terminal and the transmission load on the communication network also increase.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, by associating a user with a user group, the distribution amount of communication data such as image data and the corresponding processing of the client terminal are reduced. When a referrer is associated with a user group, only the necessary user can refer to the user group. For example, the user X who is the reference person of the group 1 shown in FIG. 5 can view the work status of the users included in the group 1, but the user Y who is not the reference person of the group 1 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. At this time, it is not necessary to distribute the image data of the work status of the users included in the group 1 to the client terminal 121 of the user Y.

  In order to realize such processing, the server terminal 111 executes processing for associating information on the defined user group with a referencer who can refer to the information, according to the virtual office space providing program.

  Such an effect can also be realized by an operation of editing information related to the user group on the login user side. In the present embodiment, the logged-in user can change and set the user group to be displayed together with the definition of the user group as part of the definition of information related to the user group. For example, FIG. 9 shows a group 2 (FIG. 6) in which a login user displays only his / her own group 3 (FIG. 7) defined by collecting and defining users who often communicate with the group 1 (FIG. 5). ) Is set to be hidden. By doing in this way, it becomes unnecessary to distribute the image of the work status of the user included in the group 2 to the client terminal of the login user.

  In order to realize such processing, the server terminal 111 displays a user group that can be displayed from among the user groups that can be displayed on the logged-in client terminal 121 according to the virtual office space providing program as a function for defining information about the user group. Allow user group selection setting.

[Third form]
In the present invention, a login user or a system administrator can define information about a user group. However, it is troublesome to manage user groups and information about user groups, and it takes time to create information about user groups from scratch each time. Moreover, when the information regarding the user group unique to the user increases, the load on the server terminal 111 increases. Furthermore, there may be a case where information regarding the user group is desired to be shared among a plurality of users in order to unify awareness within the user group and further facilitate communication.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, these problems are solved by permitting sharing and copying of information regarding user groups.

  For example, the work status of the users in group 1 displayed in FIG. 6 is displayed in the same manner for all the logged-in users who are referers. At this time, it is not necessary for a reference person of group 1 to individually manage information regarding the user group. In addition, information regarding a user group such as a user list and user arrangement can be shared between owners of the group 1.

  Further, when the referrer is permitted to copy the user group, as shown in FIG. 10, the referrer replicates the user group that can be referred to (copy of group 1), and as shown in FIG. You can change the name of the group and create information about the new user group you own. Thereby, the effort which produces the information regarding a user group and a user group from one can be saved.

  In order to realize such processing, the server terminal 111 according to the present embodiment assumes that information on the defined user group is associated with a referrer who can refer to the information, and defines information on the user group. As a function to do so, it is possible to copy information on a user group that can be referred to a referrer and to be an owner.

  By the way, in the two examples of the first and second forms described above, the load on the server terminal 111 is reduced and the target user can be easily found in order to simplify the management of information regarding the user group. Either of them was sacrificed.

  In this regard, in the third embodiment, in order to control the display of the “basic information” and “work status” so that the target user can be easily found while suppressing the information stored in the server terminal 111. The information is divided into “information” and the owner and the reference are associated with each piece of information. At this time, the user can uniquely set information for controlling the display of work status so as to make it easier to find the target user while referring to the basic information on the user group. Accordingly, for a certain user group, one “basic information” and “information for controlling the display of work status” for each user are stored in the server terminal 111.

  For example, if the user X who is a reference to the basic information of the group 1 possesses only the information for controlling the display of work status, as shown in FIG. The arrangement of users can be changed, and it is possible to easily find a target user. Further, even when there is a change in basic information such as a user list, the user can view the work status display of the user group in which the change is reflected without performing a special operation. For example, assume that users I and J are added to group 1 as shown in FIG. At this time, the user X can see the display in which the user I and J are added as shown in FIG. 14 without being consciously operated, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram in which a certain logged-in user collects frequently communicating users from group 1 as shown in FIG. 5 and group 2 as shown in FIG. If the user X who is a reference to the basic information of the group 7 and the basic information of the group 1 possesses only the information for controlling the display of the work status, while referring to the basic information such as the user list, FIG. As shown, a virtual office system that can realize both an example in which the arrangement of users can be changed is also conceivable.

  In addition, the user X who is the reference person of the group 1 shown in FIG. 5 can view the work status of the users included in the group 1, but the user Y who is not the reference person of the group 1 As shown in FIG. 8, if the user X who cannot refer to the group 1 and the user X who is a reference to the basic information of the group 1 possesses only the information for controlling the display of the work situation, the basics like the user list A virtual office system that can realize both an example in which the user arrangement can be changed as shown in FIG. 12 while referring to the information is also conceivable.

[Fourth form]
As described above, in the virtual office space providing system, when it becomes possible to define information about user groups, it is necessary to take measures for ensuring security. In the present embodiment, security is considered when information about user groups is managed and when information is referred to.

  First, in security related to management of information related to a user group, it is necessary to control editing authority such as changing or deleting the information. In this system, the owner is associated as a person having such management authority.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the owner of group 1 can change and display the list of users in group 1 displayed in FIG. 5, or can change the arrangement of users and display as shown in FIG. can do. Group 1 can also be deleted. On the other hand, a logged-in user or system administrator who is not the owner of group 1 cannot edit information related to the user group such as change or deletion of group 1.

  On the other hand, for security related to reference of information related to a user group, the system associates a reference person with the information. A person who refers to information on the user group can see the work status of the users included in the user group under the conditions defined in the information. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a group 1 reference can see the work status of users included in group 1, but a user who is not a group 1 reference cannot refer to group 1 as shown in FIG. 8. .

  In this system, the owner can determine the owner and the reference person corresponding to the user group. Thereby, after defining the information regarding the user group, the owner and the reference can be changed later, so that it is possible to perform flexible operation regarding the user group. For example, when information on the user group of group 1 is shown in FIG. 15, user A who is the owner may add user B to the owner or add ε to the reference as shown in FIG. it can.

  As described in the third embodiment, depending on the setting, the referrer can duplicate a user group that can be referred to and create information on a new user group that the owner is an owner of. However, in this case, there is a problem that, after performing the duplication operation, the referrer may cause other unrelated users to refer to the duplicated user group of which the user is the owner.

  Therefore, this system solves this problem by restricting the owner and the referrer within the scope of the owner and the referrer of the information related to the copy source user group for the user group copied by the referrer. To do. For example, when the user B duplicates the information regarding the user group of the group 1 shown in FIG. 15 as shown in FIG. 17, the user B shows the referrer and owner corresponding to the copied information as shown in FIG. However, it is not possible to add other users who are not included in the original owner or referrer, for example, ε.

[Fifth form]
The virtual office space providing system is an application having a property of being always activated on the client terminal 121 side. However, when the number of people to be displayed at a time increases, the screen size to be displayed increases, making it difficult to display simultaneously with other applications being worked on. In this case, the work status of the user who wants to communicate cannot be confirmed immediately, and it takes time to confirm. For example, when it is desired to contact a user who is on the phone, the user often waits for the user's phone to finish while performing other tasks, and wants to contact when the end is confirmed. In such situations, you want to communicate well and display the user's work status that you want to constantly check even when working with other applications.

  Therefore, in this system, as shown in FIG. 19, the display area is reduced by changing the size and arrangement of the images in the user's own user group (here, group 3), so that it can be displayed even while other applications are working. User groups can be created.

  In order to realize such processing, in the present embodiment, the information for controlling the display of work status controls the display size of an image representing the user's work status that can be listed simultaneously on each client terminal. Information and user arrangement information in a user group that can be listed at the same time.

[Sixth form]
When a large number of user groups are displayed in a virtual office space providing system that performs display in user group units, it is difficult to find a user group that includes a user whose work status is to be confirmed.

  Therefore, in this system, display that makes it easy for the user to find the target user group can be performed by selecting whether to display / hide the user group and changing the display order of the user group.

  FIG. 9 described above is an example in which the reference of the group 2 performs selection setting to hide the group 2, and the display group is reduced. FIG. 20 shows an example of display when the user-defined group 3 is changed and set as the first group in the display order for the groups 1, 2, and 3.

  In order to realize such processing, in the present embodiment, as a function for defining information related to user groups, a user group selection setting to be displayed from among user groups that can be displayed on a logged-in client terminal. Or as a display switching program, the login user terminal is allowed to change the display order of the displayed user groups.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 21, each user can easily recognize the user group by assigning a display name (for example, simply Group 1 to Theme I) to the user group so that the user group can easily recognize the user group. You can also make it easier to find groups.

  In order to realize such processing, in this embodiment, information for controlling the display of work status includes information on names for displaying user groups.

[Create, view, and change information about user groups]
By the way, the creation / browsing / changing operation of information related to the user group necessary for carrying out the above-described embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram showing data transmission / reception between the server terminal 111 and the client terminal 121. The browsing process is as described above with reference to FIG.

  When the user wants to create / browse / change information related to the user group, first, the client terminal 121 that has logged in transmits the request to the server terminal 111. The server terminal 111 collates the logged-in user of the client terminal 121 with the user group reference, and transmits a list of user groups that can be referred to by the logged-in user to the client terminal 121. The logged-in user selects a user group that he / she wants to view information about the user group from the received list, and transmits it from the client terminal 121. In response to this, the server terminal 111 identifies the location where the user can perform the change operation by collating the owner of the corresponding user group with the login user, and delivers information about the user group as shown in FIG. 23, for example. . In the distributed information, a portion that can be changed by the user of the client terminal 121 is a portion surrounded by a square in the lower column of FIG. That is, in the illustrated example, the user group display name, the size of the display image, and display / non-display are selected. Thereafter, the user transmits the change location and the change content by an input operation on the client terminal 121, and the server terminal 111 stores the information in a storage device such as the HDD 1105, whereby the information regarding the user group is changed and set.

  In the case of creating a new user group, a new user group creation request may be made when a client group 121 transmits a user group name for which information related to the user group is to be browsed.

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 sequence diagram 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 set exclusively for oneself 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 displayed on the user who is not a reference of the group 1 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 display which did not display the group 2 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 display at the time of duplicating the group 1 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 display at the time of editing the copied user group 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 a display only when the arrangement | positioning of the user of the group 1 is changed 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 display at the time of changing the user list of the group 1 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 a display at the time of changing the user list of the group 1 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 explanatory drawing which shows the example of information regarding the user group. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which changed the owner and the referrer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of information when the information regarding the user group 1 is duplicated. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which changed the name. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a display when the magnitude | size of a display is made small 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 a display at the time of changing and setting a group display order 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 a display when the name for a display is changed and set 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 sequence diagram which shows data transmission / reception between a server terminal and a client terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of information with which it uses for preparation, browsing, and change about the information regarding the user group which a user browses.

Explanation of symbols

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

Claims (26)

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;
Image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area is distributed to the logged-in client terminal in a data format that can be viewed by a specified browser, thereby representing the logged-in user's work status A function for enabling the work status display based on image data to be mutually viewed on each of the client terminals;
The ability to define one or more user groups that contain one or more users;
The ability to define information about user groups,
A function for transmitting to the client terminal a display switching program for switching to a defined user group unit while following the information about the defined user group for the browsing image on the client terminal;
A computer-readable virtual office space providing program for executing the program.   2. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the function for defining information relating to the user group predefines information relating to the user group in response to an input operation by a system administrator on the server terminal side.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the function for defining information relating to a user group defines information relating to the user group in response to an input operation by a logged-in user using the logged-in client terminal.   The function of defining information related to the user group is based on an input operation by a system administrator having authority to access the server terminal on the server terminal side or an input operation by a login user using the logged-in client terminal. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein information relating to a group is defined.   The virtual office space providing program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information on the defined user group is associated with an owner who has an authority to change or delete the information.   6. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 5, wherein a definer of information regarding the user group is an owner of the information.   The virtual office space providing program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein information on the defined user group is associated with a referrer who can refer to the information. Information about the defined user group is associated with a referrer who can refer to the information,
7. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the function for defining information relating to a user group allows copying of information relating to a user group that can be referred to the reference person and allowing the user to become an owner. .   The virtual office space providing program according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the function of defining information relating to a user group causes an owner of the information to determine an owner or a reference corresponding to the information.   The function to define information about user groups is a request to limit the owners or referers that can be changed or deleted when the information is duplicated within the scope of owners and referers of information about the user group of the copy source. Item 10. The virtual office space providing program according to Item 9.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the information about the user group includes basic information and information for controlling display of work status. Information about user groups consists of basic information and information for controlling the display of work status.
6. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 5, wherein each of the basic information and the information for controlling the display of work status has an associated owner. Information about user groups consists of basic information and information for controlling the display of work status.
The function to define information about user groups has reference users associated with each of these basic information and information for controlling the display of work status, or only basic information, and supports only basic information. 8. The reference according to claim 7, wherein when there is an attached reference person, the reference person associated only with the basic information is regarded as a reference person associated with information for controlling display of work status. Virtual office space provision program.   The display switching program controls, for a logged-in client terminal, display of basic information that a system administrator or another user is an owner and a work status that a user of the logged-in client terminal is an owner. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a function for displaying at least a user group corresponding to information on the user group including information as a browse image is executed.   The display switching program further provides a user when the user of the client terminal who has logged in to both the basic information and the information for controlling the display of work status is the owner of the logged-in client terminal. 15. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 14, wherein a function for displaying at least a user group corresponding to information on the group as a browse image is executed.   The display switching program further provides a user in the case where a system administrator or another user is the owner for both basic information and information for controlling the display of work status for the logged-in client terminal. 15. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 14, wherein a function for displaying at least a user group corresponding to information on the group as a browse image is executed.   12. The program for providing a virtual office space according to claim 11, wherein the information for controlling the display of work status includes information for controlling the display size of an image representing the work status of a user that can be listed simultaneously at each client terminal.   12. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 11, wherein the information for controlling the display of work status includes name information for user group display.   12. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 11, wherein the information for controlling the display of work status includes arrangement information of users in a user group that can be listed simultaneously at each client terminal.   12. The virtual office space providing program according to claim 11, wherein the basic information includes a list of users included in the user group.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the function of defining information related to the user group allows a login client terminal to select and set a user group to be displayed from among displayable user groups.   The virtual office space providing program according to claim 1, wherein the display switching program permits a login client terminal to change and set a display order of displayed user groups. 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;
Image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area is distributed to the logged-in client terminal in a data format that can be viewed by a specified browser, thereby representing the logged-in user's work status Means for enabling the work status display based on image data to be mutually viewed on each of the client terminals;
Means for defining one or more user groups including one or more users;
A means to define information about user groups,
Means for transmitting, to the client terminal, a display switching program for switching to a defined user group unit while following the information related to the defined user group on the browsing image on the client terminal;
A virtual office space providing device comprising: 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 through the communication network;
Storing image data representing the work status of the user transmitted from the logged-in client terminal in a storage area;
Image data representing the logged-in user's work status stored in the storage area is distributed to the logged-in client terminal in a data format that can be viewed by a specified browser, thereby representing the logged-in user's work status Making it possible for each client terminal to mutually view work status displays based on image data;
Defining one or more user groups including one or more users;
Defining information about user groups;
Transmitting to the client terminal a display switching program for switching to a defined user group unit while following the information related to the defined user group for browsing images on the client terminal;
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 a logged-in user distributed from the server terminal using a browser browsing function;
A step of switching to a defined user group unit according to information related to the user group defined by the display switching program transmitted from the server terminal;
A virtual office space providing method for executing. 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;
Means for defining one or more user groups including one or more users;
A means to define information about user groups;
Means for transmitting, to the client terminal, a display switching program for switching to a defined user group unit while following the information related to the defined user group on the browsing image on the client terminal;
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 enabling browsing of image data representing the work status of a logged-in user distributed from the server terminal using a browser browsing function;
Means for switching to a defined user group unit according to information about a user group defined by the display switching program transmitted from the server terminal;
A virtual office space providing system. A storage medium for storing the virtual office space providing program according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

Images