Communication management system for a chat system

• US 6,393,461 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Yasuhide, Sasaki, Kenichi, Matsumoto, Tatsuro, Ito, Hidenobu, Yamauchi, Hitoshi, Murakami, Masahiko, Okada, Sumiyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US09/249,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/250, 709/234, 709/204, 709/203, 709/217, 345/331, 345/332, 345/753, 345/758, 705/37, 707/100, 370/396
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A communication management system is adapted for a chat system provided in a computer network including a plurality of client workstations and a server computer linked thereto. The communication management system includes a log file recognizing part which recognizes recognizing a log file produced at a predetermined channel of the chat system during a chat session between the plurality of client workstations and the server computer even when the client workstation of concern is not connected to the channel of the chat system. A storage part stores the log file recognized by the log file recognizing part. A log file output part transmits the log file, stored by the storage part, through the computer network to an external communication device provided outside the chat system, when a log file request transmitted by the external communication device is received by the log file output part.

Claims

1. A communication management system for a chat system provided in a computer network including a plurality of client workstations and a server computer linked thereto, comprising:

log file recognizing means for recognizing a log file produced at a predetermined channel of the chat system during a chat session between the plurality of client workstations and the server computer even when the client workstation of concern is not connected to the predetermined channel of the chat system;

storage means for storing the log file recognized by the log file recognizing means; and

log file output means for transmitting the log file, stored by the storage means, through the computer network to an external communication device outside the chat system when a log file request transmitted by the external communication device is received by the log file output means,

wherein the log file recognizing means, the storage means and the log file output means are provided in an agent connected via the computer network between the server computer and one of the plurality of client workstations, and said agent receives the log file request from the external communication device and transmits the stored log file from the log file output means to the external communication device through the computer network.

2. The communication management system according to claim 1, further comprising user authentication means, coupled to the log file output means, for performing an authentication of a user of the external communication device before transmitting the log file to the external communication device.

3. The communication management system according to claim 1, further comprising record processing means, coupled to the log file output means, for processing the log file in accordance with output conditions transmitted by the external communication device, and the log file output means transmits the processed log file supplied by the record processing means, to the external communication device.

4. The communication management system according to claim 3, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria with respect to records of the log file based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device, searches records of the log file that match the selection criteria, and supplies the processed log file in which the matching records are arranged in a form in accordance with the output conditions.

5. The communication management system according to claim 4, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria including a specific chat server based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device.

6. The communication management system according to claim 4, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria including a specific chat channel based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device.

7. The communication management system according to claim 4, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria including a specific time period based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device.

8. The communication management system according to claim 4, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria including a specific username based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device.

9. The communication management system according to claim 4, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria including a specific character string based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device.

10. The communication management system according to claim 4, wherein the record processing means sets selection criteria including a specific character string and the number of selection records before and after a record containing the specific character string, based on the output conditions transmitted by the external communication device.

11. The communication management system according to claim 3, wherein the record processing means processes the log file in accordance with the output conditions, such that the records in the processed log file have different fonts depending on individual usernames of the records.

12. The communication management system according to claim 3, wherein the record processing means processes the log file in accordance with the output conditions, such that the records in the processed log file have different character sizes depending on individual usernames of the records.

13. The communication management system according to claim 3, wherein the record processing means processes the log file in accordance with the output conditions, such that the records in the processed log file have different colors depending on individual usernames of the records.

14. The communication management system according to claim 3, wherein the record processing means converts text data contained in each of records of the log file into a synthesized voice signal, and the log file output means transmits the synthesized voice signal supplied by the record processing means, to the external communication device.

15. The communication management system according to claim 14, wherein the record processing means processes the log file in accordance with the output conditions, such that the synthesized voice signals of the processed log file are different from each other depending on individual usernames of the records of the log file.

16. A communication management system for a chat system provided in a computer network including a plurality of client workstations and a server computer linked thereto, comprising:

log file recognizing means for recognizing a log file produced at a predetermined channel of the chat system during a chat session between the plurality of client workstations and the server computer even when the client workstation of concern is not connected to the predetermined channel of the chat system;

storage means for storing the log file recognized by the log file recognizing means;

record reading means for reading records from the log file, stored by the storage means, when the records match previously stored conditions; and

log file output means for establishing a connection with a communication device when the records are read by the record reading means, and the log file output means transmitting a log file containing the read records, through the computer network to the communication device,

wherein the log file recognizing means, the storage means, the record reading means and the log file output means are provided in an agent connected via the computer network between the server computer and one of the plurality of client workstations, and said agent reads the records from the stored log file when the records match the previously stored conditions, and transmits the log file containing the read records from the log file output means to the communication device through the computer network by establishing the connection with the communication device.

17. The communication management system according to claim 16, wherein the communication device is one of the plurality of client workstations, and the log file output means transmits the log file containing the read records, through the computer network to said one of the plurality of client workstations.

18. The communication management system according to claim 16, wherein the log file output means includes destination storage means for previously storing a location of the communication device, and, when the records are read by the record reading means, the log file output means establishes a connection with the communication device the location of which is stored by said destination storage means.

19. The communication management system according to claim 16, wherein, when the stored conditions include a specific time period, the record reading means reads, from the stored log file, records which have been produced within the specific time period.

20. The communication management system according to claim 16, wherein, when the stored conditions include a specific keyword, the record reading means reads, from the stored log file, records which contain the specific keyword.

21. The communication management system according to claim 16, further comprising log file converting means for converting the log file containing the records read by the read reading means, into a signal detectable to the communication device, wherein the log file output means transmits the signal supplied by the log file converting means, through the computer network to the communication device.

22. The communication management system according to claim 16, further comprising:

message storage means for storing a predetermined message prepared for a specific username; and

answer means for transmitting the predetermined message, stored by the message storage means, through the computer network to one of the client workstations corresponding to the specific username,

wherein, when the record reading means detects that a record in the log file matches the previously stored conditions, the answer means transmits the stored message through the computer network to one of the client workstations corresponding to the specific username.

23. The communication management system according to claim 16, further comprising answer means for transmitting a predetermined message through the computer network to the server computer when the client workstation of concern does not transmit a message to the channel of the chat system over a predetermined time period.