Information terminal, server, and program

• US 20050060379A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Torii, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

In an IM communication system, an IM client of a user behaves as either a client of a searching person or a client of a search target person. The IM client of the search target person registers user information inclusive of a self PSID list in a user management database of an IM server. The IM client of the searching person acquires, from the IM server, the user information including the search target person PSID list and registered in the user management database, and finds any search target person coincident in regard to the PSID. And upon finding any satisfactory search target person, the searching person sends a request to the search target person for transmitting the PD, then collates the received PD with the self PD, and specifies the target person who satisfies the desired condition. In this system, entire loads for processing exchange of messages are dispersed in the server and the information terminals of the users to consequently avoid concentration of the loads on the server alone, hence improving the reliability (usability) of the service and the reply efficiency thereof.

Claims

1. An information terminal comprising:

a user information provider for transmitting, via a network to a server which provides a service for searching a message exchange partner, user information inclusive of ID information to indicate a service utilizing purpose of the self user, and enabling said server to register the transmitted user information therein;

a user information acquirer for acquiring, from said server via said network, the user information of the other user logged in currently to the service;

an ID information setter for setting the ID information indicative of the service utilizing purpose of the self user;

a detailed information memory for storing detailed information of a searching condition or a searched condition of the self user;

a searched condition acquirer for collating the ID information in the user information of the other user acquired by said user information acquirer, with the ID information of the self user set by said ID information setter, and acquiring, via said network, the detailed information of the searched condition stored in said detailed information memory of the coincident other user; and

a decider for collating the detailed information of the searched condition acquired by said searched condition acquirer, with the detailed information of the searching condition stored in said detailed information memory of the self user, and deciding, as a message exchange partner, the other user who satisfies the predetermined condition of coincidence.

2. The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said user information acquirer acquires the user information of the other user from said server via said network whenever the user information is registered in said server by said other user.

3. The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said user information acquirer acquires the user information of the other user from said server via said network whenever the user information of said other user registered in said server is updated.

4. The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said user information includes connection information necessary for connection to the self user via said network, and said searched condition acquirer is connected to the other user on the basis of the connection information, and acquires the detailed information of the searched condition, which is stored in said detailed information memory of the relevant other user, via said network.

5. A server for providing, via a network, a service for searching a message exchange partner to each user of an information terminal, said server comprising:

a user information manager for acquiring, from the information terminal of the user logged in to said service, user information inclusive of ID information indicating a service utilizing purpose, and managing the acquired user information; and

a user information distributor for distributing the user information of the user managed in said user information manager, to the information terminals of the other users logged in currently.

6. The server according to claim 5, wherein, whenever the user information has been registered in the user information manager, said user information distributor distributes the registered user information to the information terminals of the other users logged in currently.

7. The server according to claim 5, wherein, whenever the user information managed in said user information manager has been updated, said user information distributor distributes the updated user information to the information terminals of the other users logged in currently.

8. A program for enabling a computer to function as:

a user information provider for transmitting, via a network to a server which provides a service for searching a message exchange partner, user information inclusive of ID information to indicate a service utilizing purpose of the self user, and enabling said server to register the transmitted user information therein;

a user information acquirer for acquiring, from said server via said network, the user information of the other user logged in currently to the service;

an ID information setter for setting the ID information indicative of the service utilizing purpose of the self user;

a detailed information memory for storing detailed information of a searching condition or a searched condition of the self user;

a searched condition acquirer for collating the ID information in the user information of the other user acquired by said user information acquirer, with the ID information of the self user set by said ID information setter, and acquiring, via said network, the detailed information of the searched condition stored in said detailed information memory of the coincident other user; and

a decider for collating the detailed information of the searched condition acquired by said searched condition acquirer, with the detailed information of the searching condition stored in said detailed information memory of the self user, and deciding, as a message exchange partner, the other user who satisfies the predetermined condition of coincidence.