Information terminal, and server for efficiently exchanging messages via a network

• US 7,660,848 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Torii, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dustin
• Application Number:
  US10/903,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 463/42, 709/204, 709/217, 709/206
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

An instant messaging communication system including information terminals and an instant messaging server is provided. The information terminals are configurable for use by searching users or search target users. The information terminal of a searching user acquires, from the instant messaging server, search target user information, and searches the search target user information for a search target user matching a profile created by the searching user. The information terminal of a search target user registers the search target user profile with the instant messenger server. The instant messenger server is a conduit among the searching users and the search target users, automatically sending updated information to the searching users upon registering a new search target user or updating the information of a search target user. Because the terminals perform the search and the server acts as a conduit, reliability and efficiency of the instant messenger network is improved.

Claims

1. An information terminal connected to a server that provides a service for searching a message exchange partner to each user of the information terminal via a network, the server including a login manager configured to log in a new user into said service in accordance with log in information indicating the user as one of a searching user and a search target user, a user information manager configured to acciuire, from the information terminal of a user logged in to said service as a search target user, user information inclusive of an ID information, and manage the acciuired user information;

and a user information distributor configured to distribute the user information of the search target user to the information terminal of at least one logged in searching user in response to acciuisition of the user information by the user information manager, said information terminal comprising;

a user information provider configured to transmit, via said network to said server, a user information including an ID information of a user for logging on to and registering in said server, said ID information indicating a search category;

a user information acquirer configured to acquire, from said server via said network, user information of at least one other user logged in to the service;

an ID information setter configured to set the ID information indicative of the search category;

a detailed information memory configured to store detailed information of one of a searching condition and a searched condition of the user;

a searched condition acquirer configured to

collate, independently of the server, ID information in the user information of the at least one other user acquired by said user information acquirer, with the ID information of the user set by said ID information setter, and

acquire, via said network, detailed information of a searched condition stored in said detailed information memory of a coincident other user; and

a decider configured to

collate 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 user, and

decide, independently of the server, the other user who satisfies a predetermined condition of coincidence as a message exchange partner.

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 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, the information terminal including a user information provider configured to transmit, via said network to said server, a user information including an ID information of a user for logging on to and registering in said server, said ID information indicating a search category;

a user information acquirer configured to acquire, from said server via said network, user information of at least one other user logged in to the service;

an ID information setter configured to set the ID information indicative of the search category;

a detailed information memory configured to store detailed information of one of a searching condition and a searched condition of the user;

a searched condition acquirer configured to collate, independently of the server, ID information in the user information of the at least one other user acquired by said user information acquirer, with the ID information of the user set by said ID information setter, and acquire, via said network, detailed information of a searched condition stored in said detailed information memory of a coincident other user; and

a decider configured to collate 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 user, and decide, independently of the server, the other user who satisfies a predetermined condition of coincidence as a message exchange partner, said server comprising;

a login manager configured to log in a new user into said service in accordance with log in information indicating the user as one of a searching user and a search target user;

a user information manager configured to acquire, from the information terminal of a user logged in to said service as a search target user, user information inclusive of the ID information, and manage the acquired user information; and

a user information distributor configured to distribute the user information of the search target user to the information terminal of at least one logged in searching user in response to acquisition of the user information by the user information manager.

6. The server according to claim 5, wherein said user information distributor distributes registered user information to the information terminal of the at least one logged in searching user in response to registration of the user information in the user information manager.

7. The server according to claim 5, wherein said user information distributor distributes updated user information to the information terminal of the at least one logged in searching user in response to updates received by the user information manger corresponding to the user information.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions thereon, said instructions when executed by a server that provides a service for searching a message exchange partner to each user of an information terminal, cause the server to perform the steps comprising:

logging in a new user into said server in accordance with log in information indicating the user as one of a searching user and a search target user;

acquiring, from the information terminal of a user logged in to said service as a search target user, user information inclusive of an ID information, and managing the acquired user information; and

distributing the user information of the search target user, to the information terminal of at least one logged in searching user in response to acquisition of the user information by the user information manager; and

the information terminal;

transmitting, via a network to the server, user information inclusive of the ID information, and enabling said server to register the transmitted user information therein;

acquiring, from said server via said network, the user information of at least one other user logged in currently to the service;

setting the ID information indicative of the search category;

storing detailed information of one of a searching condition and a searched condition of the user;

collating, independently of the server, ID information in the user information of the other user acquired by said user information acquirer, with the ID information of the user set by said ID information setter;

acquiring, via said network, the detailed information of the searched condition stored in said detailed information memory of the coincident other user;

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 user; and

deciding, independently from said server, the other user who satisfies the predetermined condition of coincidence as a message exchange partner.

9. A system having an information terminal and a server that provides a service for searching a message exchange partner to each user of the information terminal vai a network:

Said server including;

a login manager configured to log in a new user into said service in accordance with log in information indicating the user as one of a searching user and a search target user;

a user information manager configured to acquire, from the information terminal of a user logged in to said service as a search target user, user information inclusive of the ID information, and manage the acquired user information;

a user information distributor configured to distribute the user information of the search target user to the information terminal of at least one logged in searching user in response to acquisition of the user information by the user information manager; and

said information terminal including;

a user information provider configured to transmit, via said network to said server, a user information including the ID information of a user for logging on to and registering in said server, said ID information indicating a search category;

a user information acquirer configured to acquire, from said server via said network, user information of at least one other user logged in to the service;

an ID information setter configured to set the ID information indicative of the search category;

a detailed information memory configured to store detailed information of one of a searching condition and a searched condition of the user;

a searched condition acquirer configured to

collate, independently of the server, ID information in the user information of the at least one other user acquired by said user information acquirer, with the ID information of the user set by said ID information setter, and

acquire, via said network, detailed information of a searched condition stored in said detailed information memory of a coincident other user; and

a decider configured to

collate 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 user, and

decide, independently of the server, the other user who satisfies a predetermined condition of coincidence as a message exchange partner.