Patent ID: 6877024
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A chat network system providing chat services to a plurality of participants at their respective terminal devices, the chat network system including a server device and terminal devices connected to the sever device via a network, wherein: said server device comprises: input information receiving means for receiving predetermined input information sent from the terminal devices via the network; count means for counting in accordance with the predetermined input information that said input information receiving means receives; information providing means for providing information in accordance with a value counted by said count means, wherein the value representing the number of terminal devices which have logged in to a current chat session associated with the predetermined input information; voice information providing means for providing voice information set at an audible level in accordance with the value that the counting means counts; and sending means for sending information that the information providing means provides, and the voice information that the voice information providing means provides, via said network to the terminal devices currently logged in the chat session; wherein said terminal devices comprise: input means for inputting said predetermined input information; input information sending means for sending said predetermined input information input by said input means via the network, and controlling the input information receiving means of said server device to receive the predetermined input information; means for receiving information sent from the sending means of the server device via the network and voice information; and output means for outputting information and voice information that the receiving means receives.