Abstract:
A reservation information reference apparatus for referencing facility reservation information from a terminal connected to a network is disclosed. The reservation information reference apparatus transmits a request for reservation information for a specified facility and receives the reservation information from a server via a communication device thereof. Subsequently, the reservation information reference apparatus displays, on a screen, a current scene for a terminal associated with the requested reservation information as the facility reservation information received from the communication device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an information sharing system that provides a function for referencing reservation information of facilities.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Group information sharing systems have been developed that utilize communication networks, such as intranets and the Internet, to share image information among participants in groups that include a plurality of users. The use of these systems is expected to become increasingly widespread in the future.  
         [0005]     In such known systems, a plurality of users can monitor images of their working schedules via a communication network, such as an intranet or the Internet.  
         [0006]     For example, such a group information sharing system can include a function to reserve a facility, such as a meeting room. In this known group information sharing system, a user who reserves the facility (hereinafter referred to as “reserver”) sometimes does not need to use the facility after reserving it. In such cases, other users wanting to use the room may not use the room because it has already been reserved. Alternatively, other users may contact the reserver, e.g., via telephone, in order to ask the reserver to confirm whether or not the reserver will actually use the room. Additionally, if a user is not familiar with the facility, the user may be at a loss as to who to call to confirm whether or not the reserver is really going to use the room.  
         [0007]     Unfortunately, in such a case, although the user may attempt to ask for transfer of the reservation of the facility, the user often cannot reach the reserver or the manager of the facility, for example if the reserver and/or the manager are on holiday or out of office. Thus, the phone call or the e-mail is a wasted effort, and time has been wasted by the user in his or her efforts to rearrange the use of the facility.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a group information sharing system for providing a smooth transfer of facility reservations. The group information sharing system provides smooth communication with a reserver or a manager of a reserved facility by selectively displaying a current scene for a terminal associated with the requested reservation information.  
         [0009]     According to an aspect of the present invention, a reservation information reference apparatus for a requester to reference facility reservation information from a requester terminal connected to a network is provided. The reservation information reference apparatus includes a communication device connected to the requester terminal and configured to request reservation information for a specified facility and to receive the reservation information for the specified facility from a server. The reservation information reference apparatus also includes a display control device connected to the requester terminal and configured to receive the reservation information for the specified facility and to display a current scene for a participant terminal associated with the reservation information.  
         [0010]     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the current scene is an image from a camera connected to the participant terminal. The current scene for the participant terminal may be repeatedly updated.  
         [0011]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the display control device is configured to display text information from an input device connected to the participant terminal in addition to displaying the current scene for the participant terminal.  
         [0012]     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the participant terminal is used by a user who has a reservation for the requested facility. Alternatively, the participant terminal may be used by a user who manages the requested facility.  
         [0013]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for referencing facility reservation information from a requester terminal connected to a network is provided. The method includes transmitting a request for reservation information for a specified facility, receiving the reservation information for the specified facility, and displaying a current scene for a participant terminal associated with the reservation information.  
         [0014]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a program for executing a method for referencing facility reservation information from a requester terminal connected to a network is provided. The program includes instructions for transmitting a request for reservation information for a specified facility, receiving the reservation information for the specified facility, and displaying a current scene for a participant terminal associated with the reservation information.  
         [0015]     Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a system configuration of a reservation information reference system including terminals and a server in communication over a network, such as the Internet.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an example of a display screen of a terminal shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the main components of a terminal shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the main components of the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a menu to start a groupware function.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a facility reservation information screen displayed on a terminal shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  shows an example of a detailed facility reservation information screen displayed on a terminal shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a detailed facility information screen displayed on a terminal shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  shows an example of a user management table stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  shows an example of a facility management table stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  shows an example of a facility reservation management table stored in the server shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart showing exemplary logic of the operation for displaying a current status of a facility reserver in detailed facility reservation information.  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  is a flow chart showing exemplary logic of the operation for displaying a current status of a facility manager in detailed facility reservation information. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]     An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary system configuration of a group information reference system.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , terminals  101 ,  102  communicate with a server  104  via a network  103 , such as the Internet. In the exemplary configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , there are two terminals  101  and  102 . However, the group reference system can, and typically will, include more than two terminals. Each of the terminals  101  and  102  incorporates a telecommunications function connected to the Internet  103 . The terminals  101  and  102  include personal computers (PCs) that operate under the control of a terminal program of the group information reference system. The server  104  also incorporates a telecommunications function connected to the Internet  103 . The server  104  includes a server computer, which operates under the control of a server program of the group information reference system.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a screen of the group information reference system displayed on the terminals  101  and  102 . The display screen of the group information reference system includes a display area for each of the current users in the group. The display area for each of the users includes a user name display area  201 , a message display area  202 , and an image information display area  203 . The message display area  202  includes text information delivered from a terminal used by a user to other users via the server  104 . The image information display area  203  is delivered to other users from the terminal via the server  104 . The image information display area  203  is continuously distributed via the server  104  so as to notify the status of users accessing the system in near real time. In exemplary embodiments, the image information displayed in the image information display area  203  is an image taken using a video camera that is a part of or in communication with the terminal for the user.  
         [0033]     In the exemplary screen of the group information reference system shown in  FIG. 2 , eight users are registered in one group in the server  104  and access the system. The screen shown in  FIG. 2  also includes a group name display area  204  that displays a name of the group to which those users belong. Ordinarily, the screen shown in  FIG. 2  is displayed on all of the terminals of users who are group members.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the main components of each of the terminals  101  and  102 . As described above, the terminals  101  and  102  include PCs, which operate under the control of the terminal program of the group information reference system. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each terminal  101  and  102  includes a communication control unit  301 , an input unit  302 , a central processing unit (CPU)  303 , a display  304 , a read-only memory (ROM)  305 , a random access memory (RAM)  306 , and a storage unit  307 , all of which are connected to a system bus  308 .  
         [0035]     The communication control unit  301  controls communication with the Internet  103  and adopts various types of communication interfaces. For direct connection with an access network, the communication control unit  301  includes various types of modems or terminal adaptors. For a connection via an external device, such as an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) modem or a cable modem, the communication control unit  301  includes an Ethernet interface.  
         [0036]     The input unit  302  typically includes a keyboard, a pointing device, such as a mouse, a microphone, and a video camera. The keyboard is used for a user to input a message for display in the message display area  202  for the user. The video camera is used for capturing images of a user in the office and the background for display in the image information area  203  for the user. As described above, image displayed in the image information area  203  for the user are continuously captured by the video camera for distribution to the users in the group via the server  104 .  
         [0037]     The CPU  303  controls the overall operation of the personal computer and performs processes in response to commands from the terminal program of the group information reference system. The display  304  includes a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). The screen shown in  FIG. 2  is an example of a screen displayed on the display  304 .  
         [0038]     The ROM  305  stores instructions and data required for the CPU  303 . The RAM  306  is used as a working memory required for the operation of the CPU  303 . In exemplary embodiments, the storage unit  307  is a hard disk drive. The storage unit  307  stores a terminal program  309  of the group information reference system and data required for the operation of the terminal program  309 .  
         [0039]     An exemplary audio output unit  310  includes a sound generator circuit, an audio amplifier circuit, and a speaker to output audio signals. As with the other components shown in  FIG. 3 , the audio output unit  310  is connected to the system bus  308 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the main components of the server  104 . As described above, the server  104  includes a server computer, which operates under the control of the server program of the group information reference system. More specifically, the server  104  includes a communication control unit  401 , an input unit  402 , a CPU  403 , a display  404 , a ROM  405 , a RAM  406 , and a storage unit  407 , all of which are connected to a system bus  408 .  
         [0041]     The communication control unit  401  controls communication with the Internet  103 . Since the server  104  is generally installed at a network operation center (NOC) of an internet service provider (ISP), which is near the Internet backbone, a high-speed Ethernet interface is used as a communication interface to connect with a router at the NOC.  
         [0042]     The input unit  402  includes a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a mouse, to administer the server computer. Instead of using a keyboard and a pointing device, the input for administration may be entered from a computer for remote administration via a network. The CPU  403  controls the overall operation of the server computer and performs processes in response to commands from the server program of the group information reference system. The display  404  includes a CRT or an LCD. The ROM  405  stores instructions and data required for the CPU  403 . The RAM  406  is used as a working memory required for the operation of the CPU  403 .  
         [0043]     In exemplary embodiments, the storage unit  407  is a hard disk drive. The storage unit  407  stores a server program  409  of the group information reference system, data required for the operation of the server program  409 , user database information, such as a management table, and message data sent from the terminals  102  and  103 .  
         [0044]     A facility reservation system, which is part of the above-described group information sharing system, is described next.  
         [0045]     Clicking a groupware start button  205  shown in  FIG. 2  displays a groupware select menu such as the one shown in  FIG. 5 . The user can select a function from the groupware select menu which includes a “facilities reservation” function menu selection item  501 , a “scheduler” function menu selection item  502 , a “document management” function menu selection  503 , and a “bulletin board” function menu selection  504 . The “facilities reservation” function is described next. The other functions available from the groupware select menu are not described in further detail herein.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary screen of the facility reservation function that is displayed when the facility reservation function menu selection  501  in the selection menu shown in  FIG. 5  is selected (e.g., the menu item is “clicked”). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the screen of the “facility reservation” function includes a calendar section  601 , a facility reservation information section  602 , and a detailed information section  605 . The facility reservation information section  602  includes a facility name field  603  and a facility reservation field  604 . The facility reservation field  604  indicates that the facility is reserved. The detailed information section  605  displays detailed information about a facility and a reservation. Selecting a date in the calendar section  601  displays the reservation status for that date in the facility reservation information section  602 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows an example of detailed information about a reservation. For example, this information is displayed in the detailed information section  605  by clicking the field  604  displaying the text “Reserved”.  
         [0048]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the detailed information section  605  includes a type field  701  that displays the type of the detailed information (“Reservation” in the example shown in  FIG. 7 ), a facility name field  702  that displays the reserved facility name, a facility reserver field  703  that displays the name of the reserver, a period field  704  that displays the reserved period, a content field  705  that displays details that the user inputs, such as the purpose of the reservation, a mail field  706  that displays the e-mail address of the reserver, a telephone field  707  that displays the telephone number of the reserver, and a status field  708  that displays the current status of the reserver, which is identical to the corresponding entry shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  shows an example of detailed information about a facility. For example, this information is displayed in the detailed information section  605  by clicking the facility name field  603  displaying “Meeting Room 3” in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0050]     With reference to  FIG. 8 , the detailed information section  605  includes a type field  801  that displays the type of the detailed information (“Facility Information” in the example shown in  FIG. 8 ), a facility name field  802  that displays the reserved facility name, a facility manager field  803  that displays the name of the facility manager, a mail field  804  that displays the e-mail address of the manager, a telephone field  805  that displays the telephone number of the manager, and a status field  806  that displays the current status of the manager, which is identical to the corresponding entry shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 9  shows part of a user management table stored in storage unit  407  of the server  104  shown in  FIG. 1 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , Login ID  901  is an identification (ID) required for logging into the reservation information reference system. The Login ID  901  is unique and therefore is not duplicated for another user. A user name  902  is defined by a user or a system administrator. A user inputs a user destination  903  and message information  904 . The user destination  903  is text information that shows the current whereabouts of the user, such as “in the office”, “out of the office”, or “in a meeting”. The message information  904  is used for a user to input informal information other than the user destination, for example, a greeting. The e-mail address of a user  905  and the telephone number of the user  906  are also stored in the user management table.  
         [0052]      FIG. 10  shows a facility management table stored in the server  104  shown in  FIG. 1 . A unique facility ID  907  is registered without duplicating another facility ID. A facility name  908  and a manager ID  909  for a manager of a facility are also stored in the facility management table. The manager ID  909  is identical to the login ID  901  shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 11  shows a facility reservation table stored in the storage unit  407  of the server  104  shown in  FIG. 1 . A reservation ID  910  is a unique reservation ID of a facility that is not duplicated with another reservation ID. A reserver ID  911  is identical to the login ID shown in  FIG. 9 . A content field  912  contains details about a reservation. A facility ID in a facility ID field  913  is identical to the facility ID  907  shown in  FIG. 10 . A from time field  914  and a to time field  915  indicate a beginning time and an end time of a facility reservation, respectively.  
         [0054]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart of the operation of the terminal  101  when displaying detailed reservation information. In step S 1001 , the system detects a click by a user on the facility reservation field  604  displaying “Reserved” on the display  304  of the terminal  101 , as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0055]     In step S 1002 , the terminal  101  accesses the facility reservation table (shown in  FIG. 11 ) stored in the storage unit  407  of the server  104  via the Internet  103 . The terminal  101  retrieves a corresponding facility reservation record from the table.  
         [0056]     In step S 1003 , the terminal  101  extracts a reserver ID (login ID)  911  from the facility reservation record retrieved in step S 1002 , and then accesses a user management table (shown in  FIG. 9 ) stored in the storage unit  407  of the server  104  via the Internet  103 . The terminal  101  retrieves a user record whose login ID  901  matches the login ID  911  from the table.  
         [0057]     In step S 1004 , the terminal  101  extracts a facility ID  913  from the facility reservation record retrieved in step S 1002 . The terminal  101  then accesses a facility management table shown in  FIG. 10  stored in the storage unit  407  of the server  104  via the Internet  103 . The terminal  101  retrieves a facility record whose facility ID  907  matches the facility ID  913  from the facility reservation table. Alternatively, step S 1004  may be performed prior to step S 1003 .  
         [0058]     In step S 1005 , the terminal  101  combines the following items as facility reservation information: reservation details (content), a beginning time, and an end time from the facility reservation record retrieved in step S 1002 ; a user name, an e-mail address, and a telephone number from the user record retrieved in step S 1003 ; a facility name from the facility record retrieved in step S 1004 ; and one entry of user information shown in  FIG. 2 . The items in the user information are selected from the user record and are arranged into a format shown in the status field  708  in  FIG. 7 . The information is displayed in the detailed information section  605  on the display  304  of the terminal  101  in the format shown in  FIG. 7 . The server  104  may perform the above-described converting process from the format shown in  FIG. 2  to that shown in  FIG. 7  to display the information in the detailed information section  605 .  
         [0059]     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the detailed information of a user who makes a reservation for a meeting room (reserver) is displayed showing the current status of the user as a real-time image. Accordingly, a user need not search for the reserver information from the screen shown in  FIG. 2  as the user can instantly see the current status of the reserver in the detailed information screen shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 13  is a flow chart of the operation of the terminal  101  when displaying detailed manager information. In step S 2001 , the system detects a click by a user on the facility name field  603  on the display  304  of the terminal  101  shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0061]     In step S 2002 , the terminal  101  accesses the facility table, shown in  FIG. 10 , stored in the storage unit  407  of the server  104  via the Internet  103 , and retrieves a corresponding facility record from the table.  
         [0062]     In step S 2003 , the terminal  101  extracts a manager ID (login ID)  909  from the facility record retrieved in step S 2002 , and then accesses a user management table shown in  FIG. 9  stored in the storage unit  407  of the server  104  via the Internet  103 , and retrieves a user record whose login ID  901  matches the login ID  909  from the table.  
         [0063]     In step S 2004 , the terminal  101  combines the following items as facility manager information: a facility name  908  from the facility record retrieved in step S 2002 , a user name  902 , an e-mail address  905 , and a phone number  906  from the user record retrieved in step S 2003 , and one entry of user information shown in  FIG. 2  corresponding to the Login ID in the retrieved user record. The information is displayed in the detailed information section  605  shown in  FIG. 6  on the display  304  of the terminal  101  in a format shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0064]     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the detailed information of a manager who manages a meeting room is displayed, showing the current status of the manager as a real-time image. Thus, a user need not search for the manager information from the screen shown in  FIG. 2  as the user can instantly see the current status of the manager in the detailed information screen for a facility as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0065]     As described above, in the facility reservation system, facility information includes the current status of a manager who manages the facility. Consequently, a query to a manager for how to use a facility, such as a projector or a company car, or the location of the facility can be simplified. For example, the system prevents a needless phone call to a manager who is out of the office. This system can provide a user with useful information so that the user can choose an effective communication method, such as an e-mail, with a manager who is busy talking on the telephone.  
         [0066]     In addition, the facility reservation information includes the current status of a reserver who has reserved a facility. Another user can ask the reserver to transfer the reservation of the facility, such as a meeting room. This prevents a needless phone call to a reserver who is out of the office. This facility reservation system can provide a user with useful information so that the user can choose an effective communication method, such as an e-mail, with a reserver who is busy talking on the telephone.  
         [0067]     While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.