Method and apparatus for joining electronic conference

According to the present invention, even while a chat opening process is in progress, users can join chats by means of a simple procedure from a video game machine. Once a chat has been opened, an invitation signal can further be transmitted to other chat guests. A video game machine of an expected guest receiving the invitation signal displays a screen prompting the guest to enter the chat room, and the expected guest can join the chat by transmitting an enter room signal to a database. At this time, a chat answer signal indicating that the expected guest accepts the invitation from a chairman is transmitted from the expected guest to the chairman.

This application is based on Patent Application No. 2000-351911 filed Nov. 17, 2000 in Japan, the content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for joining an electronic conference, and particularly to a method and apparatus for joining an electronic conference by using a simple procedure from a video game machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Video game machines with an Internet connection function can receive various services via servers of ISPs (Internet Service Providers). With these new services, for example, game software is distributed to video game machines and users can play battle games via a network. On the other hand, other new services can be provided by combining services relating to games with services such as electronic mail and conferences (hereafter referred to as “chats”) which are conventionally provided on the Internet.

In a battle game, users playing the game via a network may be opponents or allies. If users who have become acquainted through a game have means for communication, they can exchange information on games to increase enjoyment such of games. Further, if not only one-on-one battle games but also games that can be joined by many players are available, information exchanged based on chats are effective.

A problem with conventional video game machines, however, is that they have the Internet connecting function but no application program for electronic mail or chats, thus requiring a separate general-purpose computer in order to send electronic mail or have chats.

Further, the conventional video game machines require various procedures with an ISP, which are cumbersome both to a chat chairman and to guests. Moreover, if new guests are invited while a chat opening process is in progress, complicated procedures are required, thus making it difficult to increase chat guests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for joining an electronic conference which method and apparatus allow users to join a chat by means of a simple procedure from a video game machine even while the chat opening process is in progress.

To attain this object, an electronic conference joining method is provided by which a chairman who opens an electronic conference sets a particular area on a database and by which guests who join the electronic conference send a request for access to the area to a server from the guests' terminals. The chairman's terminal stores setup information for setting the area, in a storage section, creates an invitation message containing the setup information stored in the storage section. The chairman's terminal gives an instruction for transmission of the invitation message, and transmits an invitation signal containing the setup information to the guests' terminals depending on the instruction. The guests' terminals receives the invitation signal and obtain the setup information, create an access request signal containing the setup information, and transmit to the server, the access request signal in response to the guests' instruction.

The chairman's terminal may also receive an opening response signal from the server. The signal indicates that the area has been set in the database, in that the opening response signal contains an ID number for allowing the server to identify the area of the database. The chairman's terminal may also transmit the invitation signal containing the ID number, and add the ID number contained in the invitation signal to the access request signal.

A third invention is the first or second invention characterized in that the setup information contains at least one of a name of the electronic conference and a code number for accessing the area of the database.

A fourth invention is an electronic conference joining system by which a chairman who opens an electronic conference sets a particular area on a database and by which guests who join the electronic conference send a request for access to the area to a server from the guests' terminals. The chairman's terminal comprises a storage for storing setup information for setting the area and an invitation message creator for creating an invitation message containing the setup information stored in the storage. The chairman's terminal also indicates an instruction device for giving an instruction for transmission of the invitation message created by the invitation message creator, and an invitation signal transmitter for transmitting an invitation signal containing the setup information to the guests' terminals depending on the instruction from the instruction device. The guests' terminals include a setup information retriever for receiving the invitation signal and obtaining the setup information, an access request signal source for creating an access request signal containing the setup information obtained by the setup information retriever, and a request signal transmitter for transmitting to the server, the access request signal created at the access request signal source in response to the guests' instruction.

The chairman's terminal may also include a receiver for receiving an opening response signal from the server. The signal indicates that the area has been set in the database, in that the opening response signal contains an ID number for allowing the server to identify the area of the database. Moreover, the invitation signal transmitter may transmit the invitation signal containing the ID number, and in that the access request signal source may add the ID number contained in the invitation signal to the access request signal. The setup information may contain either a name of the electronic conference or a code number for accessing the area of the database.

According to another of the present invention, a recording medium has programs recorded thereon. The programs control terminals in an electronic conference joining system by which a chairman who opens an electronic conference sets a particular area on a database and by which guests who join the electronic conference send a request for access to the area to a server from the guests' terminals. The recording medium is readable by a computer and has to control the chairman's terminal, a program recorded thereon for causing the computer to execute storing setup information for setting the area, in a storage section. The program also cause the computer to create an invitation message containing the setup information stored in the storage section, give an instruction for transmission of the invitation message, and transmits an invitation signal containing the setup information to the guests' terminals depending on the instruction. The recording medium has, to control the guests' terminals, a program recorded thereon for causing the computer to receive the invitation signal and obtain the setup information. The computer also creates access request signal containing the setup information, and transmits to the server, the access request signal in response to the guests' instruction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a program is provided for controlling terminals in an electronic conference joining system by which a chairman who opens an electronic conference sets a particular area on a database and by which guests who join the electronic conference send a request for access to the area to a server from the guests' terminals. The program causes to control the chairman's terminal, a computer to store setup information for setting the area, in a storage section and create an invitation message containing the setup information stored in the storage section. The computer also gives an instruction for transmission of the invitation message, and transmits an invitation signal containing the setup information to the guests' terminals depending on the instruction. The program causes to control the guests' terminals, the computer to receive the invitation signal and obtain the setup information. The computer also creates an access request signal containing the setup information, and transmits to the server, the access request signal in response to the guests' instruction.

As described above, the present invention allows users to join a chat by using a simple procedure from a video game machine even while a chat opening process is in progress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows an example of a system configuration for providing electronic conference opening according to the present invention. The Internet101has a server of an ISP, video game machine103aand103b, and general-purpose components104aand104bconnected thereto.

The ISP servers102comprises multiple servers including an authentication server111for managing accounts to authenticate users, a content server112for providing services for allowing users to listen to and view content such as sounds or videos, a message server113for providing environments for chats or messengers, a mail server114for providing electronic mail services, a profile server115for managing users' profiles, and game servers116aand116bfor providing game environments, all of these servers are connected to the ISP server via a LAN117.

With this configuration, a user accesses the authentication server111from the video game machine103aor103bor the general-purpose computer104aor104bvia the Internet101, to have the user authenticated. The servers102transmit a menu screen to the authenticated user. The user selects one of services displayed on the menu screen to connect the video game machine103aor103bor the general-purpose computer104aor104bto one of the groups of servers depending on the service, so that the user can receive the service.

FIG. 2shows an example of electronic conference opening of the present invention. A user who desires to open a chat creates a message201for opening a chat, on the video game machine103a. When this message is sent, a chat opening request signal202is transmitted to the message server113. The latter transmits a setup signal203for opening the desired chat room to a database in the group of servers and returns a chat opening response signal204to the user. The opening of a chat refers to an operation performed by the message server113to set a specified area in the database and grant accesses only to particular users, that is, chat guests.

Upon receiving the chat opening response signal204, the user can enter (join) the chat room by transmitting an enter room signal205to the database. The entry to a chat room refers to an operation of having the user's access checked by the message server113to access a predetermined area of the database.

Further, a message206for invitation to the chat which is transmitted to the chat guests is displayed based on the created message201, and an invitation signal207is transmitted to all the guests. The video game machine103bof an expected guest receiving the invitation signal207displays a screen210prompting the guest to enter the chat room, and the expected guest can join the chat by transmitting a enter room signal208to the database. At this time, an invitation answer signal209indicating that the guest accepts the chairman's invitation is transmitted from the expected guest to the chairman. The invitation to a chat refers to an operation of granting a guest access to an opened chat room and prompting the guest to join the chat.

After a chat has been opened, the invitation signal207can also be transmitted to new chat guests. The video game machine103c, not shown inFIG. 1, of an expected guest receiving the invitation signal207displays the screen210prompting the guest to enter the chat room, and the expected guest can join the chat by transmitting the enter room signal208to the database. At this time, the invitation answer signal209indicating that the guest accepts the chairman's invitation is transmitted from the expected guest to the chairman.

FIG. 3shows an example of a message for opening a chat in the electronic conference opening of the present invention. This corresponds to the chat opening message201shown inFIG. 2and is created and transmitted to the message server113by the chairman. The contents of the chat opening message201request the message server113to open the chat room and to transmit the invitation message to the expected guests.

The chat opening message201has a category301indicative of a type of message, and a message title302and a text box303that are required to transmit the invitation message to the expected guests. The message201also has input columns for a chat name304and a chat password305which are required to request the message server113to open the chat room.

FIG. 4shows an example of a chat opening data signal format in the electronic conference opening of the present invention. This corresponds to the invitation message206shown inFIG. 2and is created by the video game machine103abased on the chat opening message201created by the chairman. The setup information input to create the chat opening message201has been stored and is used to create the invitation message206. The invitation message206differs from the chat opening message201shown inFIG. 3in that the chat name304input through the chat opening message201is displayed as a room name401in the invitation message206. The chat password305will be described later.

The invitation message206can be invoked while the chat opening process is in progress. The user can invoke and edit the invitation message206by performing an operation required to invoke the message or selecting guests from an address book while the chat opening process is in progress. Then, after the chat has been opened, the invitation signal207can be transmitted to other guests.

FIG. 5shows an example of an invitation data signal format in the electronic conference opening of the present invention. This data signal format corresponds to the invitation signal207shown inFIG. 2and is created by the video game machine103abased on the invitation message206. The video game machine103asets a user name501and a user ID502of the chairman which have already been registered. An “invitation” command511is generated by obtaining a chat name512and a chat password513from the contents of the chat opening message201and obtaining a chat ID514from the contents of the chat opening response signal204.

The chat password513is set by obtaining it from the chat password305in the chat opening message201but is not displayed in the invitation message206shown in FIG.4. The chat ID514is also not displayed. Upon receiving the invitation message207, the video game machines103band103cdisplay the screen210prompting the guests to enter the chat room and create the Enter Room signal208. The screen210prompting the guests to enter the chat room also does not display the chat password513or the chat ID514. That is, the chat password513and the chat ID514are recognized by the video game machines103ato103cduring the exchange of the signals but are not communicated to the guests through the screen. When cumbersome procedures required to set a chat are thus omitted, users can open and join a chat by means of a simple procedure from a video game machine.

FIG. 6shows an example of a data signal format for entering a chat room in the electronic conference opening of the present invention. This data signal format corresponds to the enter room signals205and208shown inFIG. 2. Here, the enter room signal208will be explained. When the guest selects “Enter Room” in the screen210prompting the guests to enter the chat room, the video game machines103band103ccreate and transmit the enter room signal208to the database of the group of message servers113. The video game machine103bsets a user name601, a user ID602, and a user password603of the chairman which have already been registered. An “Enter Room” command611is generated by obtaining the chat name512, the chat password513, and the chat ID514from the contents of the invitation signal207.

According to this embodiment, even while the chat opening process is in progress, the video game machine103acan invoke the invitation message206so that the invitation signal207can be transmitted based on this message, thereby eliminating the need for cumbersome procedures for inviting guests. Further, the guests can join chats without any cumbersome procedure because the video game machines103band103cgenerate the enter room signal208from the contents of the invitation signal and transmit this signal.

FIG. 7shows an example of a video game machine having the electronic conference opening ability of the present invention mounted therein. The video game machine103has a CPU711for controlling the entire machine, a ROM712storing game programs and a program for the electronic conference opening of the present invention, a RAM713as a temporary storage area, and an Application Specific IC (ASIC)714for processing images, which are connected together via a bus715.

A CD-ROM drive716for loading the game programs and the program for the electronic conference opening of the present invention, from the CD-ROM storing these programs, a serial interface717connected to the game controller701, a video interface718connected to a TV monitor702, and a communications interface719for connection to the Internet101are also connected to the bus715.

Of course, the present invention is achieved by causing the video game machine or general-purpose computer to read and execute program code of software from the storage medium storing these program codes, the software implementing the electronic conference opening of the present invention. The storage medium for supplying the program code may include, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a photo-electromagnetic disk, an optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, and a ROM.

The electronic conference opening of the present invention is applicable not only to standalone general-purpose computers but also to a client server system including a group of computers.

The present invention has been described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. It is the intention, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.