Method and apparatus for joining electronic conference

• US 9,246,855 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Inventors: Maehiro, Kazutoyo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOUDHURY, AZIZUL Q
• Application Number:
  US13/944,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1093 by adding participants; by removing participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 : where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 : Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 : Conference systems

Abstract

According to the present invention, even while a chat opening process is in progress, users can join chats by means of a simple procedure from a video game machine . Once a chat has been opened, an invitation signal can further be transmitted to other chat guests. A video game machine of an expected guest receiving the invitation signal displays a screen prompting the guest to enter the chat room, and the expected guest can join the chat by transmitting an enter room signal to a database. At this time, a chat answer signal indicating that the expected guest accepts the invitation from a chairman is transmitted from the expected guest to the chairman.

Claims

1. An electronic chat joining method, comprising:

opening, by a chairman video game terminal via a request that includes setup information that is input to the chairman video game terminal, a chat by setting an area of a database for storing chat messages;

storing the setup information in a storage of the chairman video game terminal, the setup information being useable by the chairman video game terminal for creating an invitation message that provides access to the area of the database;

creating, by the chairman video game terminal, the invitation message comprising the setup information that is stored in the storage of the chairman video game terminal;

giving, by the chairman video game terminal, an invitation instruction for transmission of the invitation message;

creating, at the chairman video game terminal, an invitation data signal that is based on the invitation message and that comprises the setup information;

initiating, by the chairman video game terminal, transmission of the invitation data signal comprising the setup information from the chairman video game terminal to a guest video game terminal based on the invitation instruction;

receiving, by the guest video game terminal, the invitation data signal;

obtaining, by the guest video game terminal, the setup information from the invitation data signal;

creating, by the guest video game terminal, an access request signal based on the setup information;

transmitting, from the guest video game terminal to the chairman video game terminal, the access request signal created by the guest video game terminal in response to the guest video game terminal receiving a guest instruction,

wherein the setup information includes a password that is communicated from the chairman video game terminal to the guest video game terminal and that initiates and authenticates access to the area of the database by the guest video game terminal.

2. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 1,

wherein the setup information comprises at least one of a name of an electronic conference and a code number for accessing the area of the database.

3. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating, by the chairman video game terminal, an identification number for allowing the chairman video game terminal to identify the area of the database;

transmitting the invitation data signal containing the identification number from the chairman video game terminal to the guest video game terminal; and

adding the identification number contained in the invitation data signal to the access request signal.

4. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 3, further comprising:

generating a command for inviting selected guests by obtaining an alias name and the password from a chat opening message and obtaining the identification number.

5. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 4,

wherein the password and the identification number are recognized by the guest video game terminal during an exchange of signals but are not communicated to the guest through a display screen.

6. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, from the guest video game terminal to the chairman video game terminal, an invitation answer signal in response to the guest video game terminal receiving the guest instruction.

7. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 1,

wherein the invitation data signal comprising the setup information is transmitted from the chairman video game terminal to the guest video game terminal without going through the server.

8. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 1,

wherein the invitation message comprising the setup information does not display the setup information on the chairman video game terminal.

9. An electronic chat joining system, comprising:

a chairman video game terminal including;

a chairman terminal processor that opens, via a request that includes setup information that is input to the chairman video game terminal, a chat by setting an area of a database for storing chat messages;

a chairman terminal memory that stores setup information, the setup information being useable by the chairman video game terminal for creating an invitation message that provides access to the area of the database;

the chairman terminal processor that creates, at the chairman video game terminal, the invitation message comprising the setup information that is stored in the chairman terminal memory;

the chairman terminal processor that issues an invitation instruction for transmission of the invitation message;

the chairman terminal processor that creates an invitation data signal that is based on the invitation message and that comprises the setup information; and

a chairman terminal communications interface that initiates transmission of the invitation data signal comprising the setup information from the chairman video game terminal to a guest video game terminal based on the invitation instruction; and

the guest video game terminal including;

a guest terminal communications interface that receives the invitation data signal;

a guest terminal processor that obtains the setup information from the invitation data signal;

the guest terminal processor that creates an access request signal based on the setup information; and

the guest terminal communications interface that transmits, from the guest video game terminal to the chairman video game terminal, the access request signal created by the guest video game terminal in response to the guest video game terminal receiving a guest instruction,

wherein the setup information includes a password that is communicated from the chairman video game terminal to the guest video game terminal and that initiates and authenticates access to the area of the database by the guest video game terminal.

10. The electronic chat joining system according to claim 9,

wherein the invitation data signal comprising the setup information is transmitted from the chairman video game terminal to the guest video game terminal without going through the server.

11. The electronic chat joining system according to claim 9,

wherein the invitation message comprising the setup information does not display the setup information on the chairman video game terminal.

12. An electronic chat joining method, comprising:

setting, by a chairman video game terminal, an area of a database for storing chat messages;

requesting, by the chairman video game terminal via a request that includes setup information that is input to the chairman video game terminal, a server to open a chat;

storing the setup information in a storage of the server, the setup information being useable by the server for creating a data signal;

creating by the server, the data signal that includes a password and that comprises the setup information;

initiating, by the server, transmission of the data signal including the password and comprising the setup information from the server to the chairman video game terminal and a guest video game terminal;

receiving, by the guest video game terminal, the data signal;

obtaining, by the guest video game terminal, the setup information from the data signal;

creating, by the guest video game terminal, an access request signal based on the setup information;

transmitting, from the guest video game terminal to the chairman video game terminal, the access request signal created by the guest video game terminal in response to the guest video game terminal receiving a guest instruction,

wherein the password initiates and authenticates access to the area of the database by the guest video game terminal.

13. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 12,

wherein the setup information comprises at least one of a name of an electronic conference and a code number for accessing the area of the database.

14. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the chairman video game terminal, an opening response signal from the server, the opening response signal comprising an identification number for allowing the chairman video game terminal to identify the area of the database;

transmitting the invitation data signal containing the identification number from the server to the guest video game terminal; and

adding the identification number contained in the invitation data signal to the access request signal.

15. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 14, further comprising:

generating a command for inviting selected guests by obtaining an alias name and the password from a chat opening message and obtaining the identification number from the opening response signal.

16. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 15,

wherein the password and the identification number are recognized by the guest video game terminal during an exchange of signals but are not communicated to the guest through a display screen.

17. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, from the guest video game terminal to the chairman video game terminal, an invitation answer signal in response to the guest video game terminal receiving the guest instruction.

18. The electronic chat joining method according to claim 12,

wherein the invitation message comprising the setup information does not display the setup information on the chairman video game terminal.

19. A electronic chat joining system, comprising:

a chairman video game terminal including;

a chairman terminal processor that sets an area of a database for storing chat messages; and

a chairman terminal communications interface that requests a server, via setup information that is input to the chairman video game terminal, to open a chat;

the server including;

a server memory that stores the setup information, the setup information being useable by the server for creating a data signal;

a server processor that creates the data signal that includes a password and that comprises the setup information; and

a server communications interface that initiates transmission of the data signal including the password and comprising the setup information from the server to the chairman video game terminal and a guest video game terminal; and

the guest video game terminal including;

a guest terminal communications interface that receives the data signal;

a guest terminal processor that obtains the setup information from the data signal;

the guest terminal processor that creates an access request signal based on the setup information; and

the guest terminal communications interface that transmits, from the guest video game terminal to the chairman video game terminal, the access request signal created by the guest video game terminal in response to the guest video game terminal receiving a guest instruction,

wherein the password initiates and authenticates access to the area of the database by the guest video game terminal.

20. The electronic chat joining system according to claim 19,

wherein the invitation message comprising the setup information does not display the setup information on the chairman video game terminal.