KR20140054487A - Group conversation method and computer-readable recording meduim having recorded group conversation program therein - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a group conversation method using an instant messenger in a terminal accessed through a network, including the steps of: configuring a communication channel between a plurality of terminals designated as a target of the group conversation according to a request of the group conversation; dividing a display region displaying an instant message on a conversation window of the instant messenger into a plurality of division display regions corresponding to the terminals; and displaying the received instant message on a division region corresponding to a terminal transmitting the receive instant message.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a group conversation method, a group conversation method, and a group conversation program.

The present invention relates to a group chat method using instant messengers and a recording medium on which a group chat program is recorded in a terminal connected via a network.

In the modern information society, computers and the Internet have emerged as essential tools for new communication as a medium for transmitting various information. Meanwhile, in recent years, users who need various communication communicate via home page, e-mail, telephone, etc. However, the homepage and e-mail are inferior in real time in customer communication, and telephone has advantage in real time. However, There is a drawback that it is big.

On the other hand, Instant Messenger is a useful method for real-time delivery of information using the Internet. An instant messenger is a client used for two or more immediate (real-time) communications using a network such as the Internet. It is also referred to simply as a messenger, and is also referred to as an Internet messenger in the sense of a messenger via the Internet.

Instant Messenger is a client that relays instant messages. Instant messaging differs from e-mail in that the conversation takes place in real time. In addition, most instant messenger services provide a contact information feature that displays the currently connected and chatable list. This is often called a "friend list." Every time a conversation person types in a line, the transmission takes place, so this is similar to talking a phone conversation rather than exchanging letters. The instant messenger program supports a feature that automatically leaves the "away message" similar to the home phone's auto-answer feature.

Popular instant messenger services include Nate On Messenger, MSN Messenger (Windows Live Messenger), .Net messenger service, AOL instant messenger service, Yahoo messenger service and ICQ messenger service.

Users use instant messengers for real-time delivery of simple messages. Instant messengers can talk in real time through a message delivered as if they were talking directly to two users. In addition to the one-to-one conversation, a plurality of users can communicate in real time via a message in one dialog window. In addition, users can transmit various types of data such as music, images, and documents to other users using the instant messenger.

Until now, in the case of a group conversation in which a plurality of users communicate using an instant messenger, all the messages sent by a plurality of users in one dialog window are displayed in chronological order. However, when a plurality of users present and discuss opinions on a topic by using such an instant messenger, messages of all of the plurality of users are displayed in one dialog window, so that opinions of each user can be clearly and easily grasped There is a problem that it can not be done.

In addition, in the conventional instant messenger, a plurality of users can not provide various functions for a case where a user simply uses a group conversation to conduct a brief meeting on a subject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the related art and to provide a group conversation method using an instant messenger in which a plurality of users can conveniently and efficiently perform conversation in a form of a meeting using a group conversation, And to provide the above-mentioned objects.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a group chat method using instant messengers in a terminal connected through a network, wherein a communication channel is set between a plurality of terminals designated as a target of group conversation according to a group chat request And displaying the instant message in at least one of the plurality of divided display areas, the method comprising the steps of: displaying an instant message in a dialog window of the instant messenger by dividing the display area into a plurality of divided display areas; And a group chatting method using an instant messenger.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a group dialogue program for causing a computer to execute the group dialogue method.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of users make a conversation such as a meeting using an instant messenger to present their opinions, opinions of each user can be grasped easily. In addition, by providing various functions for group conversation, the convenience of the user in group conversation can be improved.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a group dialog system to which a group dialog method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a terminal to which a group conversation method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a group conversation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing a display screen of an instant messenger according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing an embodiment of a group chat window of an instant messenger according to the present invention.
6A to 61 are views showing a first embodiment of the message display method of the present invention.
7A to 7P are views showing a second embodiment of the message display method of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

In the meantime, prior to describing the present invention, a general messenger (i.e., an instant messenger) system will be schematically described in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention.

A process of delivering a message to the other party using the instant messenger will be briefly described as follows.

1) Messenger user A informs messenger server that messenger user B will send a message.

2) The messenger server confirms whether or not the messenger B is connected (presence status), and allocates a channel for the conversation between the messenger user A and the messenger user B.

3) The messenger server informs messenger user B that the channel with messenger user A has been set.

4) Messenger user A delivers the message through the channel assigned by the messenger server.

5) The messenger server transmits the information sent by the messenger user A through the channel to the messenger user B.

6) Messenger user B receives and displays the message of messenger user A sent by the messenger server through the channel.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a group dialog system to which a group dialog method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, a group communication system 100 to which the present invention is applied includes terminals 110, 112, 114, and 116, a communication network 120, and a messenger server 130.

The terminals 110, 112, 114 and 116 access the messenger server 130 by wire or wirelessly through the communication network 120, download the messenger program from the messenger server 130, and install the messenger program in the terminal. The terminals 110, 112, 114 and 116 are connected to the messenger server 130 and request a group conversation from the messenger server 130 through a messenger program. And performs a group conversation using the channel set between the terminals.

Here, the messenger program is a program for causing the other party's terminal and the messenger to execute a conversation, and includes a menu for making a connection to the messenger server 130 and a menu for requesting a group conversation.

The communication network 120 provides a connection path for connecting the terminals 110, 112, 114 and 116 to the messenger server 130 and also provides a connection path between the terminals 110, 112, 114 and 116 and the messenger server 130 A communication path is provided so as to be transmitted and received. The communication network 120 includes, for example, a mobile communication network and a wired communication network.

The messenger server 130 provides a messenger program for allowing the terminals 110, 112, 114, and 116 to establish a group conversation and execute a conversation via the messenger. The messenger server 130 transmits a messenger program to the terminals 110, 112, 114, and 116 via the communication network 120 upon request for downloading the messenger program from the terminals 110, 112, 114, and 116.

In addition, the messenger server 130 establishes a channel for group conversation at the time of a group talk request from the terminals 110, 112, 114, and 116.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a terminal to which a group conversation method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

A terminal to which the present invention is applied includes a terminal such as a PC, a PDA, or a mobile phone that transmits and receives data through a wire / wireless communication network.

2, the terminal to which the present invention is applied includes a communication unit 210, an input unit 220, a control unit 230, a display unit 240, a storage unit 250, and a program unit 260.

The communication unit 210 connects to the messenger server 130 via the Internet and transmits / receives data.

The input unit 220 receives a command from a user's operation and transfers the command to the controller 230. [ That is, the input unit 220 receives a command for making a connection to the messenger server 130, a command for requesting a group conversation, and the like.

The control unit 230 requests the messenger server 130 to set a channel for a group conversation according to a user's input or controls a conversation with another terminal through a messenger. Also, the control unit 230 downloads the messenger program from the messenger server 130 according to the request of the user, and installs the messenger program in the program unit 260.

The display unit 240 displays an operation state of the terminal. Also, the display unit 240 displays the messenger on the terminal screen, displays the conversation contents input by the user through the input unit 220, or displays a message from another terminal on the terminal screen.

The storage unit 250 stores data input from the input unit 220 by the user or data or the like received from the messenger server 130 through the communication unit 210. [

The program unit 260 stores a group dialogue program downloaded from the messenger server 130 and installed in addition to the program related to the overall operation of the terminal. Here, the group dialog program includes a program for requesting the instant messenger server 130 to open a group conversation, or allowing the messenger to exchange conversation contents with a party of the group conversation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a group conversation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, a user who desires a group conversation selects an object of group conversation using the instant messenger installed in the terminal, and requests the instant messenger server 130 to open a group conversation (S302). The user can select either "immediate opening request" or "reservation opening request" when requesting opening of group conversation. The messenger server 130 determines whether the group talk opening request is a reservation opening request (S304). If the request is a reservation opening request, the messenger server 130 waits until the reservation time (S306). When it is a request for immediate opening or a reserved time for requesting opening of a reservation, the messenger server 130 configures a communication channel between the terminals of the group conversation (S308). In the dialog box of the instant messenger of the group conversation target terminals, a display area for displaying the instant message received from each terminal is divided into a plurality of divided display areas and displayed (S310). Thereafter, each user performs a group conversation using the instant messenger of his / her terminal (S312). Then, the messenger server 130 determines whether the user who requested the group conversation establishment input the group conversation end command on the instant messenger (S314). The group conversation continues until the end command is input (NO at S314), and the group conversation is terminated when the end command is input.

4 is a view showing a display screen 400 of an instant messenger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The display screen 400 of the instant messenger includes a friend list 405, a menu part 420, a group conversation opening button 425, an upper display part 430, and the like.

A user who desires to establish a group conversation can select an object of group conversation using the check box 410 of the friend list 405 of the instant messenger. Then, the user can request the establishment of a group conversation by clicking on the group conversation establishment button 425 in the menu displayed at the top of the instant messenger. When the user clicks the group conversation establishment button 425, a pop-up menu (not shown) is displayed which allows the user to immediately select the open or open reservation. The group conversation is started immediately when the user selects to open it immediately, and the group conversation is started according to the reservation time designated by the user when the reservation open is selected.

In addition, when the user clicks on the group conversation establishment button 425, a pop-up menu (not shown) for selecting whether to display the conversation name of the group conversation participant as it is or blind processing is displayed, Accordingly, the conversation name of the participant can be displayed in the messenger conversation window at the time of the group conversation, or the blind processing can be performed for the conversation name of the participant. In the case of blind processing of a participant's screen name, since the anonymity between the participants is ensured, there is an advantage in that it is possible to exchange opinions more freely than in the case of not blind processing. It is also possible to arrange a plurality of divided display areas corresponding to a plurality of participants in a random order before blind processing of the participant's screen name so as to make it impossible to know to which participant each of the divided display areas corresponds after the blind processing have.

When the group conversation is held, immediately below the upper display portion 430 of the instant messenger of the group conversation participant, information on the group conversation, for example, a group The date and time of the conversation, and the topic are displayed together.

In addition, a button for selecting whether or not the group conversation is to be displayed is displayed next to the information on the group conversation (in FIG. 4, the user selects 'attendance'), and the user can select attendance / non-attendance according to his / her circumstances.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an embodiment of a group chat window of a group chat method using an instant messenger according to the present invention. In the dialog box of the instant messenger of the user participating in the group conversation, divided display areas 510a to 510c, an input message display part 520, a send button 530 and a function button 540 are provided.

When the number of participants in the group conversation is N, the divided display areas 510a to 510c are displayed in N or N-1 groups. 5 shows that when four users participate in a group conversation, three divided display areas 510a to 510c, which are the number of participants in the group conversation except for themselves, are displayed. In addition, the instant message received by the terminal is displayed in the corresponding divided display area 510a to 510c. For example, when the user A sends an instant message, the content may be displayed in the divided display area 510a. According to such a configuration, it is easy to grasp opinions by users.

The input message display unit 520 displays an input message provided in a chat window of a general instant messenger. When each user inputs a message through an input means (such as a keyboard or a mouse), the inputted character or image is displayed in real time do. At this time, each user completes the input and then clicks a send button 530 provided in the input message display unit 520 or transmits a specific key (e.g., an enter key) of the keyboard The message currently input and displayed on the input message display unit 520 can be transmitted to the other party. When the input completion action is thus performed, the input message is added to and updated in all the divided display areas 510a to 510c of the dialog window. Alternatively, the message inputted by the user can be displayed in a separate divided display area, as will be described later, without being displayed in all of the divided display areas 510a to 510c.

In addition, a message sent from another group conversation participant is added to and updated in the divided display areas 510a to 510c corresponding to another group conversation participant. In addition, the input message display unit 520 can modify and delete a message that is created before a message is transmitted during message creation. On the other hand, upon completion of message creation, when a message is transmitted, all the messages currently displayed on the input message display unit 520 are cleared and ready for inputting a new message.

When the user presses the " Save " button among the function buttons 540, the contents of the message displayed in all the divided display areas are stored in one file in the divided display areas. Alternatively, the content of the message displayed in each divided display area may be stored in a separate file for each divided display area.

When the group conversation is started according to the present invention, the number of divided display areas and the display method of the instant message can be configured, for example, by any of the following two methods.

<First Method>

In the first scheme, when the group conversation is performed by N terminals, the divided display area is composed of N-1. In addition, when the user inputs an instant message to the input message display unit and inputs an instruction to send the instant message to all the terminals, the instant message input in all of the divided display areas is displayed. When the user inputs an instant message to the input message display unit and inputs an instruction to send the instant message to a specific terminal, the instant message entered in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal is displayed. In addition, when an instant message is received from the specific terminal, the received instant message is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal.

6A to 6L are diagrams showing an embodiment according to the first scheme when the group conversation participant is four members A, B, and C. FIG.

When the user clicks the <All> button (FIG. 6A) to input a message "Let's start a meeting" on the input message display unit and send a message to all of the participants, "Is displayed (Fig. 6B). At this time, when the <A> activates the split display area corresponding to <A> and inputs a message "Yes, I know" to the input message display unit and sends a message using the Enter key (FIG. 6C) The message "A: Yes, I see it." Is displayed in the split display area corresponding to A &gt; (Fig. Then, after activating the split display area corresponding to &lt; B &gt;, "Is B prepared? &Quot;, the message is sent using the enter key (Fig. 6E) A message "A: B is also prepared?" Is displayed in the corresponding divided display area (Fig. 6F). On the contrary, if the <B> activates the split display area corresponding to <A> and inputs a message "Yes, I am ready" and then sends a message using the Enter key (FIG. 6G) The message "B: YES, READY READY" is displayed in the corresponding divided display area (Fig. 6G). After that, when the user presses the <All> button (FIG. 6I) after inputting the message "Would you like to tell us your opinion about abortion?", It corresponds to <A>, <B>, <C> The same message is displayed in the divided display areas (Fig. 6J). On the contrary, if the <C> activates the split display area corresponding to <A> and inputs a message "~~~ Opposite" and then sends a message using the enter key (FIG. 6k) Quot; C: ~ &quot; is opposite "is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the screen (Fig. 61).

<Second Method>

In the second scheme, when the group conversation is performed by N terminals, the divided display area is composed of N pieces. In addition, when the user inputs an instant message to the input message display unit and sends out the instant message, the instant message input in the split display area corresponding to the terminal is displayed, and when the user inputs an instant message And inputs an instruction to send the instant message to all the terminals, the instant message input in the divided display area corresponding to all the other group conversation participants except for the terminal is displayed. When the user inputs an instant message to the input message display unit and inputs an instruction to send the instant message to the specific terminal, the instant message displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal is displayed. In addition, when an instant message is received from the specific terminal, the received instant message is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal.

7A to 7P are views showing an embodiment according to the second scheme when the group conversation participant is three members A, B, and B, respectively.

After entering the message " Let's start the meeting "and sending the message using the enter key (Fig. 7A), the party A will start the meeting with the split display area corresponding to the party A. Is displayed (Fig. 7B). On the contrary, if the message " A " is inputted by using the enter key after inputting the message "Yes, OK ", the message " "Is displayed (Fig. 7D). Then, when the user inputs a message "Would you like to tell your opinion about abortion?" And sends a message using the enter key (Fig. 7E), the same A message is displayed (Fig. 7F). On the contrary, if a message " B " is rejected "is input and a message is sent using the enter key (FIG. 7G) Quot; is rejected "(Fig. 7H). When the message " A " is affixed to ". " is input and the message is sent using the enter key (Fig. 7I), " Quot; is displayed (Fig. 7J). In this case, when a message is sent by using the enter key after the user inputs the message "I have a complaint, I will refer to it ". (Fig. 7k), the same A message is displayed (Fig. Also, after activating the split display area corresponding to &lt; A &gt; &lt; A &gt;, and inputting the message "What is the origin of the A's opinion?" 7m), and a message "Where is the source of the A's opinion?" Is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to <A> (Fig. 7n). Then, if a message is sent using the &quot; All &quot; button after entering the message "B &quot; exits first &quot;, the message &quot; B: (Fig. 7P).

According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, when a plurality of users proceed with a conversation such as a meeting using an instant messenger to present their opinions, opinions of each user can be grasped easily. In addition, by providing various functions for group conversation, the convenience of the user in group conversation can be improved.

The group conversation method according to the present invention can be implemented in the form of a program command that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. The medium may be a transmission medium such as an optical or metal line, a wave guide, or the like, including a carrier wave for transmitting a signal designating a program command, a data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments, but should be determined by the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

110, 112, 114, and 116: terminal 120:
130: Messenger server 210:
220: input unit 230:
240: display unit 250: storage unit
260: Program section 410: Check box
425: Group dialog opening button 430:
510a to 510c:
520: Input Message Display
530: Send button

Claims (18)

A group conversation method using an instant messenger in a terminal connected via a network,
Setting a communication channel between a plurality of terminals designated as a target of group conversation according to a group conversation request;
Dividing a display area for displaying an instant message into a plurality of divided display areas in the chat window of the instant messenger,
Displaying an instant message in at least one of the plurality of divided display areas
Wherein the instant messenger comprises: The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of displaying, in the instant messenger, information on the group conversation including the date and time of the group conversation when the group conversation is performed. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of displaying a selection button for selecting whether to participate in a group conversation when a group conversation between a plurality of terminals is performed. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of displaying a start button for starting a group conversation and an end button for ending a group conversation on the instant messenger when the instant messenger terminal is a terminal requesting a group conversation . The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of dividing the contents of the message displayed in the divided display area into one file and dividing the divided messages into the divided display areas. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising the step of storing the contents of the message displayed in the divided display area in a separate file for each divided display area. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein when the group conversation is performed, the screen name of the group conversation participant displayed in the conversation window of the instant messenger is blinded so that it can not be identified. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein a plurality of divided display areas corresponding to a plurality of group conversation participants are arranged in a random order before the blind processing of the screen name. The group conversation method according to claim 1, wherein when the group conversation is performed by N terminals, the number of divided display areas is N-1. 10. The group conversation method according to claim 9, wherein when an instant message and an instruction to send the instant message to all terminals are input, the instant message entered in all the divided display areas is displayed. The group conversation method according to claim 9, further comprising: displaying an instant message and an instant message input in a split display area corresponding to the specific terminal, when an instruction to send the instant message to a specific terminal is input. 10. The group conversation method according to claim 9, wherein when the instant message is received from the specific terminal, the instant message is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal. The group conversation method according to claim 1, wherein when the group conversation is performed by N terminals, the number of the divided display areas is N. 14. The group conversation method according to claim 13, wherein, when an instant message and an instruction to send the instant message are input, the instant message is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the terminal. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein when an instant message and an instruction to send the instant message to all terminals are input, an instant message input in a divided display area corresponding to all other group conversation participants other than the terminal is displayed Group conversation method. 14. The group conversation method according to claim 13, wherein, when an instant message and an instruction to send the instant message to a specific terminal are input, the instant message is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal. 14. The group conversation method according to claim 13, wherein when an instant message is received from a specific terminal, the instant message is displayed in the divided display area corresponding to the specific terminal. A group talk program for causing a computer to execute the group talk method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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