Terminal device, information viewing method, information viewing method of information server system, and recording medium

• US 8,370,438 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Maehiro, Kazutoyo
• Primary Examiner(s): TANG, KAREN C
• Application Number:
  US11/151,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention enables restriction of content of information in a message, which has been prepared by a user and is provided in an information service system for the viewing by a group of users, in accordance with a use purpose. The message information is prepared by selecting and combining words from a word group prepared in advance. The information for viewing is prepared by a game device.

Claims

1. A server for storing message information of messages of a user in a storage area and for allowing viewing of the messages in response to instructions of another user, comprising:

a message preparation list that stores a plurality of predetermined usable items;

a receiver that receives the messages of the user from a first game device via a network, the messages including only the plurality of predetermined usable items and being restricted from including other items different than the plurality of predetermined useable items for limiting content of the messages, each of the messages including multiple ones of the plurality of predetermined usable items that are each independently selected by the user for enabling the content of the messages to be user-defined, each of the plurality of predetermined usable items of the messages being received in a first language;

a converter that converts each of the plurality of predetermined usable items of the messages into a second language different than the first language;

a friend list that stores a handle name that indicates the another user, the another user being allowed to view the messages of the user;

a detector that receives the instructions of the another user for viewing the messages of the user and that detects the handle name of the another user in the instructions;

a confirmer that confirms whether the handle name of the another user is stored in the friend list; and

a transmitter that transmits one of the messages of the user to a second game device of the another user via the network when the detector receives each of the instructions and the confirmer confirms that the handle name of the another user is stored in the friend list, the one of the messages of the user that is transmitted to the another user including the plurality of predetermined usable items that are converted into the second language,

wherein the plurality of predetermined usable items include a plurality of words.

2. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined useable items of the message preparation list is divided into a plurality of subsets.

3. The server as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of subsets include a time subset, a conjunction subset, a who subset, a doing subset, and a last word subset.

4. The server as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a message storage that stores the message information of the messages, each of the plurality of predetermined useable items of the messages being stored as an identification code.

5. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiver receives a designation of the second language for each of the messages from the first game device, and the server further comprises:

a storage that stores each of the messages of the user in the second language after converting the plurality of predetermined usable items of each of the messages into the second language.

6. An information managing method for a server for storing message information of messages of a user in a storage area and for allowing viewing of the messages in response to instructions of another user, comprising:

receiving the messages of the user from a first game device via a network, the messages including only a plurality of predetermined useable items that are stored in a message preparation list and being restricted from including other items different than the plurality of predetermined useable items for limiting content of the messages, each of the messages including multiple ones of the plurality of predetermined usable items that are each independently selected by the user for enabling the content of the messages to be user-defined, each of the plurality of predetermined usable items of the messages being received in a first language;

converting each of the plurality of predetermined usable items into a second language different than the first language;

receiving the instructions of the another user for viewing the messages of the user;

detecting a handle name of the another user in the instructions in response to receiving the instructions;

confirming whether the handle name of the another user is stored in a friend list of the user, the friend list storing handle names of users who are allowed to view the messages; and

transmitting one of the messages of the user to a second game device of the another user via the network when each of the instructions is received and it is confirmed that the handle name of the another user is stored in the friend list, the one of the messages of the user that is transmitted to the another user including the plurality of predetermined usable items that are converted into the second language,

wherein the plurality of predetermined usable items include a plurality of words.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the plurality of predetermined useable items of the message preparation list is divided into a plurality of subsets.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the plurality of subsets include a time subset, a conjunction subset, a who subset, a doing subset, and a last word subset.

9. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

storing the message information of the messages, each of the plurality of predetermined useable items of the messages being stored as an identification code.

10. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a designation of the second language for each of the messages from the first game device; and

storing each of the messages of the user in the second language after converting the plurality of predetermined usable items of each of the messages into the second language.

11. A non-transitory recording medium on which is recorded a program executed by a server for storing message information of messages of a user in a storage area and for allowing viewing of the messages in response to instructions of another user, the program causing the server to execute:

receiving the messages of the user from a first game device via a network, the messages including only a plurality of predetermined useable items that are stored in a message preparation list and being restricted from including other items different than the plurality of predetermined useable items for limiting content of the messages, each of the messages including multiple ones of the plurality of predetermined usable items that are each independently selected by the user for enabling the content of the messages to be user-defined, each of the plurality of predetermined usable items of the messages being received in a first language;

converting each of the plurality of predetermined usable items into a second language different than the first language;

,

receiving the instructions of the another user for viewing the messages;

detecting a handle name of the another user in the instructions in response to receiving the instructions;

confirming whether the handle name of the another user is stored in a friend list of the user, the friend list storing handle names of users who are allowed to view the messages; and

transmitting one of the messages of the user to a second game device of the another user via the network when each of the instructions is received and it is confirmed that the handle name of the another user is stored in the friend list, the one of the messages of the user that is transmitted to the another user including the plurality of predetermined usable items that are converted into the second language,

wherein the plurality of predetermined usable items include a plurality of words.

12. The medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the plurality of predetermined useable items of the message preparation list is divided into a plurality of subsets.

13. The medium as set forth in claim 12, wherein the plurality of subsets include a time subset, a conjunction subset, a who subset, a doing subset, and a last word subset.

14. The medium as set forth in claim 11, the program causing the server to further execute:

storing the message information of the messages, each of the plurality of predetermined useable items of the messages being stored as an identification code.

15. The medium as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a designation of the second language for each of the messages from the first game device; and

storing each of the messages of the user in the second language after converting the plurality of predetermined usable items of each of the messages into the second language.