Patent Publication Number: US-8528050-B2

Title: Instant messagings

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention generally relates to data processing techniques, and more specifically, relates to an instant messaging technique for exchanging messages such as chats. 
     Instant messaging services have rapidly become widespread as communication tools in which computer systems are used. Text messages can be exchanged among computers in which groupware clients are installed in real time by using instant messaging services. 
     A groupware client can create a contact list for registering partners with which the groupware client exchanges messages on a regular basis. Moreover, a groupware client can exchange messages after checking the status of partners by checking information (referred to as, for example, status information) on the status of the partners, such as “Available”, “In a Meeting”, and “Out of Office”. 
     For example, regarding instant messaging services, the following techniques have been developed and disclosed. 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-241946 discloses a message sending and receiving system that can receive electronic mails or instant messages in response to settings on the side of a recipient. Instant message transfer means determines, on the basis of transfer conditions set by users, where individual instant messages from a server unit are transferred and then transfers the instant messages. A message conversion unit converts instant messages to electronic mails and reversely converts electronic mails to instant messages. 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-107893 discloses an IM system in which mobile communication terminals are used to readily implement application sharing. Individual user terminals and BOTs 300 (IM clients) exchange instant messages (IMs) with each other via a server. When an IM client has established a session, the server assigns a session ID to the session and indicates the session ID to the corresponding IM client. When the IM client sends a message, the IM client sends information indicating the destinations of the message and the indicated session ID as presence information. When the server has received a message from the IM client, the server determines, on the basis of the presence information received together with the message, session participating members, the destinations of the message, and the like and controls, on the basis of the result of the determination, destinations to which the message is relayed to allow a plurality of users to share applications provided by the BOTs 300 or cause a plurality of the BOTs 300 to cooperate with each other. 
     PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2005-535012 discloses a method and an apparatus for allowing an animated talking character to appear on a user&#39;s screen when conducting an instant messaging session. The character to be displayed on the user&#39;s screen is determined by a profile for the sender of a message. This allows a user to pre-select which character will be displayed on a screen for a recipient of an instant message. 
     Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-351020 discloses a method for operating a communication device to handle at least two simultaneous communication sessions. The method includes providing a user interface that includes a first portion for handling a first communication session and a second portion for causing a second communication session to invoke a switch, switching the first portion of the GUI to handle the second communication session in response to user&#39;s input for invoking the switch, and displaying a notification at the second portion in response to at least an activity in the second communication session while the first communication session is handled at the first portion, the notification including a contact portion for identifying a contact that is a subject of the notification and an activity portion for identifying the activity of the contact, which is the subject of the notification. 
     PCT Japanese Translation Patent Publication No. 2006-501578 discloses a method including a step of receiving an instant message in a first instant messaging format from a data processing device, a step of determining a first IM service to which the instant message is directed, a step of reformatting the instant message in a second IM format that is compatible with the first IM service, and a step of sending the first IM service the instant message in the second IM format. 
     A wireless instant message service provided by NTT DATA Corporation, provides a service in which answers to a question are prepared in advance as a form and sent to a user, and then the user who has received the form can send an answer to the question by pressing buttons of a mobile phone (see NTT DATA Corporation, “2002 News Release, NTT DATA has developed AirBridge™, Air Messenger™, and Air Messenger Bot™ that enable wireless instant messaging”, Mar. 20, 2002.) 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises: receiving, in a server connected to a plurality of client computers via a network, a message from a client computer from which login has been performed using a first user ID, the message having at least two destination client computers as destinations, login having been performed from the at least two destination client computers using a second user ID; and determining which of the at least two destination client computers the message is sent to on the basis of status information of the at least two destination client computers, the status information being held in the server. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a system comprises: means for holding status information of client computers from which login has been performed using individual user IDs; means for receiving a message from a client computer from which login has been performed using a first user ID, the message having a destination identified by a second user ID; means for determining a client computer from which login has been performed using the second user ID; and means, when a plurality of client computers from which login has been performed using the second user ID exist, for determining which of the client computers the message is sent to, the determining being made on the basis of status information held in association with the client computers from which login has been performed using the second user ID. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product for sending an instant message comprises: a computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising: computer usable program code configured to: hold status information of client computers from which login has been performed using individual user IDs; receive a message from a client computer from which login has been performed using a first user ID, the message having a destination associated with a second user ID; determine a client computer from which login has been performed using the second user ID; and when a plurality of client computers from which login has been performed using the second user ID exist, determining which of the client computers the message is sent to, the determining being made on the basis of status information held in association with the client computers from which login has been performed using the second user ID. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method comprises: authenticating a user of a groupware client who attempts to perform login using a user ID; recording the user ID and status information in association with an instant messaging user ID; receiving an instant message addressed to the user ID; and determining, on the basis of the status information, which of two or more client computers the instant message is sent to. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a high level overall schematic diagram illustrating an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of a groupware server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of a client computer in which a groupware client according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the process of message exchange in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the process of message exchange in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a status transition diagram of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows the login status of a plurality of users in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows an example of a delivery destination determination table provided in a groupware server according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a login screen, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows contact lists, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows message exchange, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  shows a login screen, in a mobile phone, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  shows a contact list, in a mobile phone, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  shows message exchange, in a mobile phone, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  shows a menu for changing the status, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  shows an example of a calendar display screen in a client computer in an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  shows a menu for changing the level of each contact list group, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  shows a process in response to the level of a contact list group in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  shows another example of a menu for changing the level of each contact list group, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  shows a screen for customizing options for a calendar entry, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  shows a screen for customizing a template for a calendar entry, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  shows a calendar corresponding to a user in a contact list, in a client computer, of an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  shows calendar entries corresponding to  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 25  shows a screen for sending a special message in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26  is a flowchart showing processing of a special message in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 27  shows the change of a cursor and a pop-up, as a result of processing of a special message, in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 28  shows special character strings and corresponding cursor icons in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 29  shows input by gesture in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 30  shows input of a location based on a GPS in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 31  is a flowchart showing the process of inputting a location based on a GPS in an instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The number of users who selectively use a plurality of terminals, such as a desktop PC, a mobile PC, a PDA, and a mobile phone, is increasing. In such a situation, while a user starts up instant messaging clients in a plurality of terminals at the same time and keeps login using the same user ID, the user may need to receive messages from other clients and send messages in a terminal that is currently kept at hand and used. 
     For example, a user may send and receive messages with a desktop PC when the user is at the user&#39;s office, send and receive messages with a mobile PC when the user is in a meeting, and send and receive messages with a mobile phone or a PDA when the user is in transit. 
     However, in existing instant messaging techniques, including the aforementioned background art, a problem exists in that switching between terminals cannot be smoothly performed in such a situation. 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides improved systems, servers, methods, and programs for instant messaging to make instant messaging services more convenient. The present invention also provides, in an instant messaging system, a way to implement automatic transmission of a message in a suitable format to a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone, and the like from which login has been performed using the same ID. 
     In more detail, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an instant messaging system is provided that includes first and second client computers and a groupware server that are connected to each other via a network. The first client computer includes a first groupware client in which a user can perform login using a first user ID and for which first status information can be set. The second client computer includes a second groupware client in which the user can perform login using the first user ID and for which second status information that may be different from the first status information can be set. The groupware server can determine, on the basis of the first and second status information, which of the first and second groupware clients an instant message addressed to the first user ID is sent to. 
     While the outline of the present invention has been described as an instant messaging system, the present invention may be regarded as a groupware server, a method, a program, or a program product. For example, the program product may include a storage medium in which the aforementioned program is stored or a medium through which the program is transmitted. 
     It should be noted that the aforementioned outline of the invention does not include all necessary features of the present invention, and a combination or a sub-combination of these components may also constitute the invention. 
     The best mode for carrying out the present invention will now be described in detail on the basis of the drawings. The following embodiments do not restrict the invention claimed in the claims. Moreover, all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily mandatory for the problem-solving means of the invention. The same numbers are assigned to the same components throughout the description of the embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a high level overall schematic diagram illustrating an instant messaging system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a groupware server  110  and client computers  120 ,  130 , and  140  (that hereinafter may be collectively called client computers) that are connected to each other via a network  150 . 
     The groupware server  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention is a computer server in which groupware (or also called collaboration software), which is software for supporting cooperative working by users by facilitating information sharing or communication using network techniques, is installed. 
     Specifically, the groupware server  110  provides an instant messaging service in which text messages are exchanged among users who use client computers in real time and an electronic mail service in which electronic mails are exchanged among the users. The groupware server  110  further provides a scheduler service used by users for schedule management. 
     A block diagram of the hardware configuration of the groupware server  110  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6 , the groupware server (server computer)  110  includes a main memory  606 , a CPU  604 , and an IDE controller  608 . These components are connected to a bus  602 . Moreover, a display controller  614 , a communication interface  618 , and a keyboard/mouse controller  620  are connected to the bus  602 . A hard disk  610  and a DVD drive  612  are connected to the IDE controller  608 . A display unit  616  that is preferably an LCD monitor is connected to the display controller  614 . A keyboard  622  and a mouse  624  are connected to the keyboard/mouse controller  620 . The keyboard  622  and the mouse  624  are used by an operator of the groupware server  110  as necessary to perform processing, such as system startup, failure recovery, and data backup. 
     Any CPU based on the 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, for example, Pentium (trademark) 4 or Xeon (trademark) of Intel Corporation, or Athlon (trademark) of AMD, Inc., can be used as the CPU  604 . 
     An operating system that performs overall control of the groupware server  110  and a communication server program that operates on the operating system to implement a mail function and an instant messaging function are stored in the hard disk  610 . The operating system and a groupware server program are loaded into the main memory at the time of system startup. For example, Windows XP (trademark), Windows (trademark) Server 2003, or Linux (trademark) can be used as the operating system. The groupware server software used in this case is, for example, Lotus NOTES (trademark)/Domino (trademark), available from International Business Machines Corporation, to which a feature extension unique to the present invention is added. 
     The communication interface  618  exchanges data with the Internet  150  on the outside according to, for example, the Ethernet protocol preferably via a proxy server (not shown), using a TCP/IP communication function provided by the operating system. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , it is assumed that groupware client software (hereinafter just called a groupware client) paired up with the groupware server software of the groupware server  110  is installed in the client computers in an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Specifically, the groupware clients include at least the instant messaging function, the electronic mail function, and the scheduler function. The users of the groupware clients (hereinafter just called users) can exchange text messages with each other in real time, exchange electronic mails with each other, and perform schedule management using the scheduler function. 
     A block diagram of the client computer (groupware client)  120  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6 , the groupware client  120  (or  130 ) includes a main memory  636 , a CPU  634 , and an IDE controller  638 . These components are connected to a bus  632 . Moreover, a display controller  644 , a communication interface  648 , and a keyboard/mouse controller  650  are connected to the bus  632 . A hard disk  640  and a DVD drive  642  are connected to the IDE controller  638 . The DVD drive  642  is used as necessary to install programs from, for example, a CD-ROM and a DVD. Each of the client computers  120  and  130  is preferably a notebook personal computer, and a display unit  646  that includes an LCD screen integrally assembled with the notebook personal computer is connected to the display controller  644 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . A keyboard  652  and a mouse  654  are connected to the keyboard/mouse controller  650 . The keyboard  652  and the mouse  654  are used by the users of the client computers  120  and  130  to, for example, enter messages, such as chats and e-mails, or select and perform an operation on a menu. 
     Any CPU based on the 32-bit architecture can be used as the CPU  634 . For example, Pentium (trademark) 4 of Intel Corporation or Athlon (trademark) of AMD, Inc. can be used. 
     An operating system that performs overall control of the groupware client and the groupware client software, which operates on the operating system to implement the mail function and the instant messaging function, are stored in the hard disk  640 . The operating system and the groupware client software are loaded into the main memory at the time of system startup. For example, Windows XP (trademark) or Linux (trademark) can be used as the operating system. The groupware client software is, for example, Lotus NOTES (trademark) available from International Business Machines Corporation. The present invention is implemented via such groupware client software, to which a feature extension is added. 
     The communication interface  648  communicates with the server computer  110  according to, for example, the Ethernet protocol, using a TCP/IP communication function provided by the operating system. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment according to the present invention, it is assumed that the client computer  120  is used by a first user (a user A), and the client computers  130  and  140  are used by a second user (a user B). 
     Moreover, in an embodiment according to the present invention, it is assumed that each of the client computers  120  and  130  is a well known personal computer, and the client computer  140  is a mobile phone that has a function of connecting to the network  150  via a base transceiver station and an intelligent function, for example, i-mode (trademark), ezweb (trademark), or Blackberry (trademark). 
     The network  150  is a communication path for connecting the groupware server  110  and the client computers and can be implemented via, for example, the Internet, an intranet, or a mobile phone network, or a combination of them. The network  150  in an embodiment of present invention connects systems, using, for example, TCP/IP, which is a communication protocol well known to persons skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of the groupware server  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Individual components shown in functional block diagrams in  FIGS. 2 and 3  can be implemented by, in the hardware configuration shown in  FIG. 6 , loading the operating system and computer programs stored in the hard disk  610  and the like into the main memory  606  and then causing the CPU  604  to perform calculation to cause the hardware resources and the software to work together. 
     The groupware server  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a client communication block  205 , a message receiving block  210 , a delivery destination determination block  215 , a delivery destination table  220 , a message sending block  225 , a message conversion block  230 , a mail server  235 , a status information table  240 , a status management block  245 , a status transition table  250 , a client display control block  255 , a scheduler  260 , a user information management block  265 , and a user authentication block  270 . 
     The client communication block  205  has a function of exchanging digital information with the client computers via the network  150 . In an embodiment of the present invention, instant messages, electronic mail data, user authentication information, schedule information, and the like are exchanged via the client communication block  205 . 
     The message receiving block  210  has a function of receiving a text message, from a client computer, received by the client communication block and transferring the text message to the delivery destination determination block  215 . The delivery destination determination block  215  determines the delivery destination of the text message received from the message receiving block  210  with reference to a user ID in the header portion of the message, the delivery destination table  220 , and the status information table  240 . 
     The delivery destination table  220  is a table in which rules for determining a delivery destination are described. The status information table  240  is a table in which user IDs and corresponding status information in association with client IDs are recorded. The details of the delivery destination table  220  and the status information table  240  are described below. 
     The message conversion block  230  converts the message in a manner that depends on the delivery destination determined by the delivery destination determination block  215  and transfers the converted message to the message sending block  225 . For example, when it is determined that the delivery destination is a client computer that is a mobile phone, the message conversion block  230  converts the received message to a message that is easily viewable even in a mobile phone unit that has a small display screen. 
     In this case, it should be noted that, when the delivery destination is a personal computer that is ready to return a response, a recipient of the message can view the message without conversion, and thus the message conversion block  230  may not substantially perform message conversion. The message sending block  225  has a function of sending the delivery destination the message received from the message conversion block  230  in the format of an instant message or an electronic mail. 
     The status management block  245  has a function of changing and maintaining the content of the status information table  240  with reference to the status transition table  250  and the user authentication block  270 . In the status transition table  250 , rules for changing the status at what time and on what conditions are described. The details of the status transition table  250  in an embodiment of the present invention are described below. 
     The user authentication block  270  performs user login authentication by comparing authentication information (a user ID and a password) received from a user who attempts to log in to the instant messaging system with authentication information related to the user in the user information management block (LDAP)  265 . The user authentication block  270  further sends the status management block  245  a notification that such authentication has been successfully completed to cause the status management block  245  to change the status information table  240 . The user authentication block  270  further receives a notification that the user has forcibly changed the status from the client computer  120  or  130  and sends the status management block  245  information stating that the user has forcibly changed the status to cause the status management block  245  to update the status information table  240 . 
     In the user information management block (LDAP)  265 , other than user authentication information described above, for each user, information on registered users added to a contact list, rights to access the registered users, the group information of the registered users, rights to view schedules of the registered users, and the like are recorded. 
     The scheduler  260  manages schedules of users. The scheduler according to an embodiment of the present invention has a function in which a user sets which user is allowed to view the user&#39;s schedule information and specifies the level of detail. Settings on the rights are recorded in the user information management block  265 . 
     The client display control block  255  has a function of providing and controlling information to be displayed on the client computers on the basis of information recorded in the groupware server  110 . Specifically, the client display control block  255  provides a contact list to a client computer to cause the client computer to display the contact list in a manner that depends on settings for each user as a part of the instant messaging service. The client display control block  255  further has a function of causing a contact list client and a scheduler client to display the status and schedule information of each user on the basis of information recorded in the user information management block. 
       FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of the groupware client software in each of the client computers  120  and  130  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The groupware client software includes a server communication block  305 , a user information input block  310 , a schedule input block  315 , a schedule receiving block  320 , a calendar display block  325 , a contact list control block  330 , a contact list display block  335 , a message input block  340 , a message sending block  345 , a message receiving block  350 , a message display block  355 , a gesture input block  360 , and a mail client  365 . 
     The server communication block  305  has a function of transferring, to the aforementioned functional blocks, information received from the server computer via the network  150  and sending the server computer information received from the functional blocks via the network  150 . 
     The user information input block  310  provides a function of inputting information on the user of the client computer. In a scenario in an embodiment of the present invention, user information to be input includes user authentication information for receiving the instant messaging service and information of an instruction to change the status. 
     A schedule client includes the schedule input block  315 , the schedule receiving block  320 , and the calendar display block  325 . The schedule input block  315  inputs schedule information of the user of the client computer and transfers calendar information to be displayed to the calendar display block  325  via the server communication block  305  and the schedule receiving block  320 . 
     A contact list section includes the contact list control block  330  and the contact list display block  335 . 
     An instant messaging client includes the message input block  340 , the message sending block  345 , the message receiving block  350 , the message display block  355 , and the gesture input block  360 . 
     The mail client  365  provides a function in which the user of the client computer sends and receives e-mails. In the mail client  365 , an ordinary protocol, such as SMTP or POP, is used. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are flowcharts showing the process of message delivery in the instant messaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process in the flowchart in  FIG. 4  starts with step  405 , and in step  410 , assuming that the user of the client computer  120  is the user A, the instant messaging system operating on the client computer  120  performs user authentication for the user A. This authentication is performed according to, for example, a menu shown in  FIG. 10 . Specifically, when the user A attempts to log in to the instant messaging system, a screen  1010  shown in  FIG. 10 , is displayed on the display  646  of the client computer  120 . When the user A has clicked a logon button  1040  with the mouse  654  after entering a user&#39;s own ID and a corresponding password in predetermined places  1020  and  1030  in the screen with the keyboard  652 , the input user ID and password are sent to the server computer  110  via the user information input block  310  and the server communication block  305  in  FIG. 3 . 
     The server computer  110  receives this information via the client communication block  205 , and the information is sent to the user authentication block  270 . A plurality of sets of a user IDs that are allowed to use the instant messaging system and a password are stored in the user authentication block  270 . The user authentication block  270  compares information of the received user ID and password with the plurality of stored sets of a user ID and a password. When a matching set is found, a signal indicating authentication success is sent to the client computer  120  via the client communication block  205 . The client computer  120  receives the signal indicating authentication success via the server communication block  305 , and the instant messaging system installed in the client computer  120  allows the user A to log in on the basis of the signal indicating authentication success. 
     On the other hand, when no set of a user ID and a password that match the input user ID and password is found in the user authentication block  270 , a signal indicating authentication failure is sent to the client computer  120  via the client communication block  205 . The instant messaging system installed in the client computer  120  causes login by the user A to fail on the basis of the signal. 
     When the user A is allowed to log in after the authentication is successfully completed, a screen  1110  for instant messaging as shown in  FIG. 11  is displayed on the display  646  of the client computer  120 . Specifically, contact lists of users who are logging in out of users registered by the user A of the client computer  120  are listed preferably in groups, for example, a list  1  and a list  2 . Such registered user lists (hereinafter called contact lists) for each user are preferably stored in the user information management block  265  in  FIG. 2  for each user ID, and the client computer can add, change, and delete lists as necessary. In response to authentication success, contact lists of users who have logged in are sent from the user information management block  265  in  FIG. 2  to the client communication block  205  via the client display control block  255 . Then, information of the contact lists is sent from the client communication block  205  to the client computer  120 . When the client computer  120  has received the sent contact lists in the server communication block  305 , the client computer  120  sends the contact lists to the contact list display block  335  via the contact list control block  330 . Then, the contact list display block  335  displays the contact lists on the screen, as shown in  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 11 , a situation is shown, in which the cursor is put on Abe, and the current status “09:30-11:00 In a Meeting”, together with the user ID, is popped up in response to the action. This function is described below. 
     In step  415 , the user A just waits, leaves the desk, or performs processing other than that in which the instant messaging system is used on the client computer  120 . 
     Before step  420  is described, a case where instant messaging is used in a mobile phone will now be described. In some known instant messaging systems, when login is performed from a plurality of computers with the same ID, the login is determined as being illegal login, and the ID is forcibly caused to log out. In the instant messaging system according to the present invention, login from a plurality of computers with the same ID is allowed. 
     In a mobile phone, when a login function of instant messaging has been activated by selecting the function from a predetermined menu (not shown), a screen on which a user ID and a password are entered appears on a screen  1310  of the mobile phone  140 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . A system that implements the functions in the block diagram shown in  FIG. 3  or the functions in a simplified form is also constructed in the mobile phone  140 , and such functions are written preferably in Java (trademark). A user ID and a password entered here are sent from the mobile phone  140  to the client communication block  205  of the server computer  110  in response to a predetermined user&#39;s operation, and are authenticated by the user authentication block  270  in a manner similar to that described above. As a result, the server computer  110  sends the mobile phone  140  a signal for authentication success. In response to receipt of the signal for authentication success, a contact list is sent from the server computer  110  to the mobile phone  140 . Then, the contact list is displayed on the screen  1310  of the mobile phone  140 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     In step  420 , the user creates a message. In the client computer, this operation is started by double-clicking another user displayed in the contact lists shown in  FIG. 11 . As a result, a message creation/transmission screen  1210  appears, as shown in  FIG. 12 . At this point, a message is entered in a message creation area  1230  with the keyboard  652 . The input of the message is handled by the message input block  340  in  FIG. 3 . While the user is entering the message, since a predetermined condition is not met in step  425 , the process returns to step  415  for waiting. Then, when a send key  1240  has been clicked with the mouse  654 , the entered message and information of the destination ID are sent to the server communication block  305  by the message sending block  345  in  FIG. 3 , and then are transferred to the server computer  110 . 
     In step  430 , the server computer  110  receives the sent message and information of the destination ID, and the information is sent to the delivery destination determination block  215  via the message receiving block  210 . Then, in step  435 , the delivery destination determination block  215  determines the delivery destination of the message. 
     In principle, a delivery destination is determined on the basis of the type and status of a computer or a mobile device, such as a mobile phone or a PDA, from which login has been performed with a destination ID. 
       FIG. 7  shows the transition of the possible status of the instant messaging system operating on a client computer. Just after a user logs in, the status is “Available”. In this status, when the user enters a meeting, the user changes the status to “Conditionally Available”. Moreover, the status is changed to “Away from Desk” in response to detection of manual operation by the user when the user leaves the desk, no key entry for a predetermined time, or the transition of the client computer to an idle state. The transition logic of the transition diagram shown in  FIG. 7  is stored in the status transition table  250  shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the transition scheme shown in  FIG. 7  can be changed by changing the status transition table  250 . 
     In the case of manual operation, the user changes the status by clicking Options in an action bar on the screen  1110  of the instant messaging system. Specifically, when the user has clicked Options in the action bar, a pull-down including statuses, such as “Available”, “Conditionally Available”, and “Away from Desk”, appears, as shown in  FIG. 16 . The current status is indicated by a black circle. Since the change of the status depends on the status, as shown in the transition diagram in  FIG. 7 , in a certain status, all the other statuses cannot necessarily be selected. Thus, in one method, character strings corresponding to statuses that cannot be selected are displayed in a light color by setting the Enabled attributes of menus having the character strings to false. In another method, character strings corresponding to statuses that cannot be selected are hidden by setting the Visible attributes of menus having the character strings to false. Either of these methods can be adopted. Persons skilled in the art may consider incorporating a GUI element such as a combo box, other than a pull-down, that implements an equivalent function. 
     Such a status is held in the status information table  240  in the block diagram in  FIG. 2  for each PC or device of each user ID that logs in to the instant messaging system of the server computer  110 , and content held in the status information table  240  is updated upon receipt of a notification message of the status change from each PC or device from which login has been performed with each user ID via the client communication block  205 , the message receiving block  210 , and the delivery destination determination block  215 .  FIG. 8  shows examples of the status of each PC or device from which login has been performed with each user ID, the status held in the status information table  240 . In the information of the status information table  240 , not only the status of a device or a PC of each user ID but also the type of the PC or the device, from which login has been performed, are held, as shown in this drawing. Moreover, at the time of authentication in step  410  in  FIG. 4 , a device or a PC used by the user to log in to the instant messaging system sends the server computer  110  an identifier indicating a PC, a mobile phone, or a PDA and an IP address assigned to the device or the PC. The sent identifier and IP address of a device type is held in association with the user ID in the delivery destination table  220 . The identifier of a device type is indicated as, for example, “PC”, “MOBILE PHONE”, or “PDA” in  FIG. 8 . It is preferable that device identifiers indicated as, for example, “Note PC 1” and “MOBILE PHONE 1” be held in the delivery destination table  220 . A device identifier may be any identification information, such as the MAC address, computer name, or serial number of a corresponding device and is sent from a client computer or a mobile phone to the server computer  110  at the time of login. 
     The identifier and IP address of a device type that are held in association with a user ID in the delivery destination table  220  in this manner are used to delivery messages from a client computer to another client computer. Specifically, a client computer specifies the delivery destination of a message on the basis of a user ID, and the server computer  110  needs an IP address to actually determine the physical delivery destination of the message. Thus, an IP address corresponding to the user ID is determined on the basis of information held in the delivery destination table  220 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , in “Away from Desk”, the status is returned to “Available” in response to detection of manual operation or key entry by the user. In the status “Away from Desk”, the status is changed to “Available on Mobile” in response to connection of a mobile phone or a PDA to the server computer  110 . In the status “Available on Mobile”, regardless of the state of the client computer, a message addressed to the user is sent to a mobile device, such as the mobile phone  140  ( FIG. 1 ), from which login has been performed with the ID of the user. This is a situation in which, for example, the user has left the client computer to go out with the mobile phone  140  and needs messages to be sent to the mobile phone  140  with priority. 
     In the status “Available on Mobile”, the status can be further changed to “Unavailable by Mobile Communication”. This change is made by manual operation in a mobile phone or is automatically made when a mobile phone has moved to the outside of a service area. In the status “Unavailable by Mobile Communication”, the status is changed to the status set in the client computer. 
     In the status “Available on Mobile”, when the user has returned to the client computer and touched any key or the mouse, the status is returned to “Available”. 
     Moreover, in any status, the status is changed and set to “Unavailable” or “Offline” by manual operation, as shown in  FIG. 7 . “Offline” means that the user terminates the instant messaging system on the client computer side. In the status “Offline”, the status is changed to “Available on Mobile” in response to connection of a mobile phone or a PDA to the server computer  110 . It should be noted that, in a case where the status is changed from “Offline” to “Available on Mobile”, even when the user returns to the client computer, the status is not returned to “Available” until the user re-activates the instant messaging system. 
     Returning to step  435  in  FIG. 4 , a process of determining a delivery destination by the delivery destination determination block  215  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . For example, it is assumed that the user A has logged in to the messaging system of a client computer named Note PC  1  and the messaging system of a mobile phone named MOBILE PHONE  1  with the user ID Abe, as shown in  FIG. 8 . Moreover, it is assumed that the user B has logged in to the messaging system of a client computer named Note PC  2  and the messaging system of a mobile phone named MOBILE PHONE  2 . In a case where login is performed from a plurality of devices with the same user ID in this manner, when one user ID sends a message to another user ID, ambiguity occurs. A table shown in  FIG. 9  is a table for eliminating such ambiguity about a destination and is stored in the delivery destination determination block  215  in  FIG. 2 . The delivery destination determination block  215  determines, using this information, in response to the statuses of a client computer (PC) and a mobile phone associated with a destination user ID, which of the PC and the mobile phone a message is sent to. For example, when a client computer of a destination ID is in the status “In a Meeting” and when a mobile phone of the same destination ID is in the status “Available” (corresponding to “Available on Mobile” in  FIG. 7 ), as shown in  FIG. 8 , the delivery destination determination block  215  determines a delivery destination so that a message is sent to the mobile phone. 
     In  FIG. 9 , statuses, such as “Idle”, “In Transit”, “On the Phone”, and “Power Off”, which are not shown in  FIG. 7 , are shown regarding a mobile phone. This is just an example, and thus the illustration is omitted in the transition diagram in  FIG. 7  for the sake of simplification. Specifically, “Idle” is automatically set in response to no key entry in a mobile phone for a predetermined time. The status “In Transit” is set by manual operation in a mobile phone and represents, for example, the status where the user cannot pick up a mobile phone because the user is driving a car. 
     In  FIG. 9 , for example, when a client computer is in the status “Away from Desk” and when a mobile phone is in the status “Idle”, “PC→MOBILE PHONE”, i.e., processing, such as first sending a message to the client computer and then sending the message to the mobile phone, is performed. 
     Moreover, when a client computer is in the status “Unavailable” and when a mobile phone is also in the status “Unavailable”, the delivery destination determination block  215  determines a delivery destination and a delivery method so to send a mail to the PC, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Similarly, when a client computer is in the status “Offline” and when a mobile phone is in the status “Unavailable”, the delivery destination determination block  215  determines a delivery destination and a delivery method so to send a mail to the mobile phone. In such a manner, in an embodiment of the present invention, not only is a delivery destination, but also a delivery method is appropriately determined. In some cases, regarding a certain user ID, login may have been performed only from a client computer or a mobile phone. Processes in such cases correspond to cases, in  FIG. 9 , where one device is powered off or offline. For example, in cases where, regarding a certain user ID, login has been performed only from a client computer (PC), when the status of the instant messaging system of the client computer is “Available”, “Away from Desk”, or “In a Meeting”, messages are sent to the instant messaging system of the client computer; and when the status is “Unavailable”, messages are sent to the client computer. When the status of the instant messaging system of the client computer is “Offline”, since other users cannot see the user ID in contact lists, no consideration is necessary. In cases where login has been performed only from a mobile phone, the processes correspond to cases where a client computer is offline. 
     Moreover, when login is performed from devices of the same device type, for example, when, while login is performed from a mobile phone with a certain user ID, login is performed from another mobile phone with the same user ID, a device from which login is performed later has priority. Specifically, for example, in a case where two mobile phones from which login is performed with the same user ID are both in the status “Available”, when it is determined on the basis of the table in  FIG. 9  that a message is to be sent to a mobile phone, the message is sent to a mobile phone from which login is performed later. However, in a case where the mobile phone, from which login is performed later, is in a status other than “Available”, and the mobile phone, from which login is performed earlier, is in the status “Available”, when it is determined on the basis of the table in  FIG. 9  that a message is to be sent to a mobile phone, the message is sent to the mobile phone, from which login is performed earlier. Such a process of dispatching a message to devices of the same device type is similarly applicable even when the devices are personal computers. 
     Returning to  FIG. 4 , in step  440 , it is determined whether message conversion is necessary. The message conversion here is typically message display conversion processing (transcoding) at the time transmission of a message from a client computer to a mobile phone. Specifically, in general, the display screen of the messaging system of a mobile device, such as a mobile phone or a PDA, is narrower than the display screen of a client computer. Thus, when the delivery destination determination block  215  determines in step  435  that the delivery destination is a mobile device and when the length of the message is equal to or more than a predetermined length (for example, 256 bytes), in step  445 , message conversion can be performed by the message conversion block  230  in  FIG. 2 , using, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-22276 by the same applicant as the applicant of the present invention. On the other hand, when it is determined, in step  435  that that the destination is a client computer, message conversion is not performed in step  445 . 
     In step  450 , the message prepared in this manner is delivered to the destination determined in step  435  by the delivery method determined in step  435 . Specifically, when the delivery method is that for instant messages, the message is delivered to the determined destination PC or device via the message sending block  225 . When the delivery method is that for mails, as in, for example, a case in  FIG. 9  where a PC is unavailable and a mobile phone is powered off, the message is transferred to the mail server  235 . Then, a mail is sent from the mail server  235  to the destination client computer or the destination mobile device using SMTP protocol. 
     A connector  455  in  FIG. 4  connects to a connector  505  in a flowchart in  FIG. 5 . In step  510  in  FIG. 5 , the message sent in step  450  in  FIG. 4  is received by, for example, the server communication block  305  ( FIG. 3 ) of the client computer  130 , from which the user B has logged in. The received message is sent to the message display block  355  via the message receiving block  350  to be displayed as shown in a display section  1220  in  FIG. 12 . 
     Processes in the following steps  520 ,  525 ,  530 ,  535 ,  540 ,  545 , and  550  are substantially the same as those in steps  420 ,  425 ,  430 ,  435 ,  440 ,  445 , and  450  in  FIG. 4 , respectively. Thus, the description is omitted. 
     The basic message delivery function has been described above. Additional functions according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. One of the functions is a calendar display function. In an embodiment of the present invention, the instant messaging system typically cooperates with a calendar input/display function of a groupware system such as Lotus NOTES (trademark) that logs in with the same ID. 
       FIG. 17  shows a typical calendar input/display screen of groupware. A calendar for one month is displayed in a left portion  1710 . In particular, the current week and the current day are highlighted. An actual schedule that was entered is displayed in a right portion  1720 . In the right portion  1720 , the view can be changed to a day view, a week view, or a month view. The illustrated example shows a week view. 
     This function of the present invention enables a display indicating a calendar, at the present time, of a listed user upon putting a mouse cursor on the user, as shown in a pop-up window  1120  in  FIG. 11 . In an embodiment, it is assumed that levels for presenting a calendar can be set for individual groups. It is assumed that such levels include a high level, a medium level, and a low level. Setting of the levels for individual groups is performed, for example, as shown in  FIG. 18 . Specifically, on a screen for instant messaging, a mouse cursor is put on a list name, and then the right button of the mouse is clicked. Then, a window on which a menu including “High Level”, “Medium Level”, and “Low Level” is displayed pops up. When a desired level is clicked, the clicked level, for example, “High Level”, is set for users in a group having the list name. 
       FIG. 19  is a flowchart of a process in a case where a first user in a group for which a level is set in such a manner puts the mouse cursor on a second user who has set the level on a contact list screen for instant messaging, as shown in  FIG. 11 . In step  1910  in  FIG. 19 , it is determined whether the second user, on whom the mouse cursor is put, has set the high level for the first user. When the second user has set the high level for the first user, in step  1920 , the whole schedule of the second user on the day and a special customized message are displayed in a pop-up window. The high level is set for, for example, a person corresponding to a secretary. When the level is not the high level, in step  1930 , it is determined whether the level is the medium level. When the level is the medium level, in step  1940 , the current status information indicating that the second user is in a meeting, and the time are displayed. The medium level is set for, for example, a coworker in a project. When the level is not the medium level, the level is determined as being the low level. Thus, in step  1950 , only information indicating that the second user is in a meeting is displayed. The low level is set for general people who are not closely related. 
     In  FIG. 18 , a level is set for users for each list group. Alternatively, a level may be individually set for each user ID. Such levels set for contact list groups or levels set for individual user IDs are stored in the user information management block  265  in  FIG. 2  and are used to control the content of calendar information to be sent to the client display control block  255  by operating the scheduler  260 , which manages calendars of individual users. The calendar information is sent to the server communication block  305  of the client computer  120  via the client communication block  205  of the server computer  110 . The calendar information is further sent to the calendar display block  325  via the schedule receiving block  320  and is used to display content, such as the pop-up window  1120  in  FIG. 11 , in the client. 
       FIG. 20  shows a screen in another embodiment for setting display levels for individual contact list groups at an increased level of detail. In  FIG. 20 , a group of contact lists created by a user who has displayed the screen are displayed. In this case, a list called Secretary is selected, and IDs (e-mail addresses) of members in the list are displayed in an area  2020  where user IDs can be added to or deleted from the group. In a right potion of  FIG. 20 , a menu is displayed for setting whether the display of a schedule is limited to only the current status or all of the schedule is displayed, which of meetings, reservations, business trips, and vacations are displayed as the display of entries, which of the subject, time, and place are displayed as the content of each entry, and whether a response is enabled or disabled. A way to display a calendar is set for a specified group by clicking an OK button  2030  after appropriately selecting these options. 
       FIG. 21  shows a screen for controlling the display of each calendar entry that was entered. In particular, note a combo box indicated as “Template”. In the combo box, “Default” is usually displayed. When the combo box is opened, a menu including “Private”, “Wordless”, “Customize”, and “Out of Office” appears. This is a menu for specifying whether the entry is displayed in a form such as the pop-up window  1120  in  FIG. 11 . “Default” means always showing the entry to other people. “Private” represents a way to display the entry in which the entry can be viewed only personally. “Wordless” represents a way to display the entry in which the entry cannot be viewed even personally. “Out of Office” represents a way to display the entry at the time of absence. “Customize” is selected to edit existing templates, such as “Private”, “Wordless”, and “Out of Office”, or create a new template. A template newly created with “Customize” can be selected in the combo box indicated as “Template”. 
       FIG. 22  shows a screen for editing the template “Out of Office” with “Customize”. Setting can be performed on the display of the entry, the content of the entry, and a response, as shown in the drawing. Returning to  FIG. 21 , a template set in “Template” is applied to the entry. 
     In  FIG. 23 , a calendar in  FIG. 24  is displayed in a pop-up window  2310  by putting the mouse cursor on the user&#39;s own ID Abe in the contact list. In  FIG. 24 , the template “Default” is applied to an entry  2410  for 09:00-11:00. Thus, the entry  2410  is an entry that can be viewed by other users for whom Abe is listed by putting the mouse cursor on Abe. The same applies to an entry  2420  for 11:00-12:00. However, the template “Wordless” is applied to an entry  2430  for 13:00-14:00. Thus, the entry  2430  does not appear in the pop-up window  2310  even for Abe. The template “Private” is applied to an entry  2440  for 18:00-20:00. Thus, the entry  2440  appears in the pop-up window  2310  for Abe. However, the entry  2440  for 18:00-20:00 does not appear in a pop-up window (not shown) that appears when the other users for whom Abe is listed put the mouse cursor on Abe. 
       FIGS. 25 to 29  illustrate yet another function. Specifically, while a message from a client computer is converted in the message conversion block  230  as necessary, as described above, a function of detecting whether the message sent to the message conversion block  230  includes a specific character string and sending a destination computer or a destination mobile device a specific command instead of the message in response to detection of such a specific character string in the message is additionally provided.  FIG. 25  shows a case where such a message for a schedule is sent. The message in this case is “lunch+?”. When a word “lunch” out of “lunch+?” is used alone, the server computer  110  sends a destination a command to indicate a specific operation instead of sending the destination the message without change.  FIG. 26  is a flowchart of this process.  FIG. 26  is substantially an extension of the flowchart in  FIG. 4 , and determination step  2610  and processing step  2620  are incorporated into the flowchart in  FIG. 4 , as shown in the drawing. In determination step  2610 , it is determined whether the message includes a specific character string. In this embodiment, in a case where the message starts with “lunch”, when the message also ends with “lunch” or when “?” follows “lunch”, it is determined that a specific character string is detected. Moreover, in this embodiment, it is assumed that “+?” of “lunch+?” has a special meaning. Specifically, it is assumed that “+?” does not allow the destination to return answers other than Yes or No. In  FIG. 28 , examples of keywords that are interpreted as specific characters strings in this embodiment are shown. 
     Some of the predetermined processes in this case are device-dependent. For example, a process can be executed in a personal computer and cannot be executed in a mobile phone. Note that, since the type of the destination computer has been already determined in step  435 , in step  2610 , it is also determined, using this information, whether a command to be executed can be executed in the destination device. When it is determined that the command cannot be executed in the destination device, detection of a specific character string is not performed, and the process proceeds to step  440 . 
     When a specific character string has been detected in step  2610 , in step  2620 , the message is sent to the destination computer as a command. In step  2620 , special prefix characters “&gt;&gt;$” are appended to message like “&gt;&gt;$lunch+?” to indicate that the message is a command instead of an ordinary message. On the other hand, the function of the message receiving block  350  ( FIG. 3 ) of the client computer is expanded so as to interpret such special prefix characters “&gt;&gt;$” to interpret and execute the message as a command instead of simply transferring the message to the message display block  355 . 
     In this embodiment, the shape of a mouse cursor in the destination computer is changed upon receipt of a command in the form of a specific character string. This operation is performed by calling an API function called SetCursor( ) in an operating system, such as Windows XP (trademark). It is preferable that a bitmap resource used to specify the shape of the mouse cursor be prepared in the instant messaging system on the client side. In this embodiment, the display of a cursor  2710  is changed to a buffet in response to the character string “lunch”, as shown in  FIG. 27 . A notification of lunch is sent to a user on the client side by this operation. In this case, an animated cursor can be used as the cursor  2710 , and a message can be included in the animated cursor. In order to use an animated cursor, the animated cursor is first loaded with LoadAniCursor( ), and then SetCursor( ) is used. Moreover, a pop-up window  2720  appears in the client computer in response to a portion “+?” of the message. In the window  2720 , only a sending user name (in this case, Abe), “Yes”, and “No” are displayed. When “Yes” or “No” is clicked in the client computer, the pop-up window  2720  is closed, characters of “Yes” or “No”, which has been clicked, are returned to the sender as a message, and the cursor  2710  is restored to its original shape. In this case, the sending user name is displayed in the window  2720 . However, in some cases, the user name should not be displayed in this manner. In such cases, the user name may not be displayed in the window  2720 , and the color or shape of the cursor  2710  may vary with a user who has sent a notification so that a user who sees the cursor  2710  can determine, according to a pre-agreed arrangement, who has sent the message. Moreover, icons corresponding to items other than “lunch” and “dinner” are also shown in  FIG. 28 . Thus, this notification method can be also used for a purpose, such as a call for a meeting, other than lunch and dinner. 
     The change of a mouse cursor for notification is just an embodiment, and it should be understood that a notification method in which a desired graphic interface of a window system is used, for example, characters of “lunch” are included in the pop-up window  2720 , can be adopted and falls within the scope of the present invention. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, a response Yes or No can be input by gesture by a mouse cursor, as shown in  FIG. 29 . Such a gesture operation can be enabled by obtaining a series of coordinates with GetCursorPos( ) function and performing analysis in an operating system, such as Windows XP (trademark). The gesture input block  360  in  FIG. 3  is responsible for analyzing such a gesture operation. 
       FIG. 30  shows yet another function of an embodiment of the present invention. It is assumed here that a client computer or a mobile device to which a message is sent has a GPS function. Mobile phones, PDAs, and the like that have a GPS function are known. Moreover, recently, a GPS receiver that can be connected to a PC with a USB has been available. 
     In this case, “where?” is added to words that are recognized as special characters in step  2610  in the flowchart in  FIG. 26 . In this arrangement, when a certain client computer sends another client computer the message “where?” by instant messaging, in step  2610 , the message is determined as being specific characters. Then, in step  2620 , the special prefix characters “&gt;&gt;$” are appended to the message, so that the message is sent to the message receiving block  350  of the destination computer, shown in  FIG. 3 , as “&gt;&gt;$where?”. The message receiving block  350  interprets “where?” in response to the special prefix characters. 
     On the other, a process performed in the message receiving block  350  of the destination computer will now be described with reference to the drawing of a window shown in  FIG. 30  and a flowchart in  FIG. 31 . In step  3110  in  FIG. 31 , it is determined whether the received message is a command character string that starts with “&gt;&gt;$”. When the received message is not a command character string that starts with “&gt;&gt;$”, the message is an ordinary message. Thus, in step  3120 , the message display block  355  displays the message. When the received message is a command character string that starts with “&gt;&gt;$”, in step  3130 , it is determined whether the command is “where?”. When the command is not “where?”, in step  3140 , the message is processed as another command. When the command is “where?”, in step  3150 , it is determined whether the client computer or the mobile device has a GPS function. Whether a GPS function is provided is determined by actually issuing an inquiry to a GPS unit and determining whether a response is returned within a predetermined time. Thus, even in a case where a GPS unit is provided, when radio waves cannot be received in good condition, it is determined that no GPS function is provided. Then, in step  3160 , the message receiving block  350  removes “&gt;&gt;$” from the received message, and only “where?” is displayed as a message as usual. In response to the message, the destination client makes determination by itself and appropriately returns the location information. 
     When it is determined in step  3150  that a GPS function is provided, in step  3170 , location information is obtained from the GPS unit. Although the information obtained here basically includes only latitude and longitude, the message receiving block  350  obtains a hierarchy of specific place names, using an appropriate GPS support program, and, in step  3180 , generates a combo box that includes these place names as items. In step  3190 , a window  3005  that includes a generated combo box  3010  is generated, as shown in  FIG. 30 . In step  3200 , the user clicks an OK button  3020  after selecting an appropriate place name from the combo box  3010  to return the selected place name to the sender of the message. 
     While the present invention has been described on the basis of specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications may be made. For example, devices used as clients are not limited to a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a PDA, and any device which can connect to networks and from which login to an instant messaging system can be performed may be used.