Multimedia direct communication system linked with HTTP protocol

• US 6,857,006 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsui & Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Mitsui & Company Limited
• Inventors: Nishizawa, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choudhary, Anita
• Application Number:
  US09/530,954
• Time in Patent Office: 2,344 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-204, 709/205, 709/230, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A multimedia direct communication system linked with HTTP protocol, which comprises application programs and a Web server, wherein the application programs are installed into a plurality of client personal computers (PCs), reside in the PCs such that they are displayed for many hours on the PCs occupying a part of the space on the display of the PCs, and are linked at all times with a Web server via HTTP; the Web server has a CGI interface and is connected to each of the PCs through communication circuits to execute the HTTP communication programs and applications; and each client can transfer (chat) electronic mails with each other in pseudo-real time via Internet and/or Intranet using the application programs.

Claims

1. A multimedia direct communication system comprising:

a web server connected to a distributed computer network, said web server including an electronic message communication (chat) server having a CGI interface;

an application program embedded in a plurality of client personal computers connected via said distributed computer network, said application program interlocking with HTTP protocol to work with said web server using said HTTP protocol;

said web server using a PC application so that said plurality of client personal computers communicate with each other in semi-real-time electronic message communication (chat) by interlocking with HTTP protocol;

said application program including a display window for displaying said chat; and

said application program also activating, displaying, transmitting and receiving multimedia applications, information and contents by working with said web server through said HTTP protocol, said multimedia applications, information and content being displayed concurrently and in said same display window with said chat, said application program consistently accessing and communicating with said web server by interlocking with HTTP protocol without activating browser software.

2. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said client personal computers includes a memory for storing said application program and data from said multimedia applications, storage of said data allowing a user continuing access to said data when said client personal computer is not in communication with said web server.

3. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said application program has a function enabling a user to input data manually to the memory for storage therein and to transmit said data from the client personal computer to an interlocked web application on the web server.

4. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said function of enabling the user to input data is active when the client personal computer is not connected to the web server.

5. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 4, wherein, upon connection of said client personal computer to said web server, the stored data is transmitted to the interlocked web application on the web server.

6. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distributed computer network includes an intranet connecting said plurality of client personal computers and an Internet connecting said plurality of computers to said web server, said semi-real-time chat enabled through use of said HTTP protocol and an open port of a proxy server/firewall for communication from said intranet to said Internet.

7. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said web server includes a function to check for client connection with said web server to determine whether clients are ready to receive chat by interlocking with HTTP protocol.

8. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said web server includes a CGI interface for continuously distributing several types of information in character form to said application program through said web server from an information provider outside of said web server.

9. A multimedia direct communication system comprising an application program embedded in a plurality of client personal computers connected via a distributed computer network, said application program interlocking with HTTP protocol to communicate with a web server on said distributed computer network using said HTTP protocol, and displaying on each of said personal computers both electronic message communication data and multimedia information received from said web server, both said data and said information being fully supported and controlled by said interlocking with HTTP protocol and said data and said information being displayed in a common display window independently of any browser software activation.

10. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said multimedia information includes a plurality of multimedia applications.

11. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said multimedia information includes a plurality of media selected from motion picture, still picture, character information, graphic information, and voice communication.

12. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said electronic message communication data and multimedia information received from said web server are displayed simultaneously in said common display window.

13. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of said client personal computers includes a memory for storing said application program and data from said multimedia applications, storage of said data allowing a user continuing access to said data when said client personal computer is not in communication with said web server.

14. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said application program has a function enabling a user to input data manually to the memory for storage therein and to transmit said data from the client personal computer to an interlocked web application on the web server.

15. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said function of enabling the user to input data is active when the client personal computer is not connected to the web server.

16. The multimedia direct communication system as set forth in claim 15, wherein, upon connection of said client personal computer to said web server, the stored data is transmitted to the interlocked web application on the web server.

17. A multimedia direct communication system comprising:

a web server connected to a distributed computer network, said web server including an electronic message communication (chat) server having a CGI interface;

an application program embedded in a plurality of client personal computers connected via said distributed computer network, said application program interlocking with HTTP protocol to work with said web server using said HTTP protocol;

said web server using a PC application so that said plurality of client personal computers communicate with each other in semi-real-time electronic message communication (chat) by interlocking with HTTP protocol;

said application program including a display window for displaying said chat, and also activating, displaying, transmitting and receiving multimedia applications, information and contents by working with said web server through interlocking HTTP protocol, said multimedia applications, information and content being displayed concurrently and in said same display window with said chat, said application program consistently accessing and communicating with said web server by interlocking with HTTP protocol without activating browser software;

each of said client personal computers having a memory for storing said application program and data from said multimedia applications, storage of said data allowing a user continuing access to said data when said client personal computer is not in communication with said web server, said application program having a function enabling a user to input data manually to the memory for storage therein and to transmit said data from the client personal computer to an interlocked web application on the web server, said function of enabling the user to input data being active when the client personal computer is not connected to the web server and, upon connection of said client personal computer to said web server, the stored data being transmitted to the interlocked web application on the web server;

said web server further including a function to check for client connection with said web server to determine whether clients are ready to receive chat by interlocking with HTTP protocol; and

said web server further including a CGI interface for continuously distributing several types of information in character form to said application program through said web server from an information provider outside of said web server.