Abstract: In a presence system in which one user users a plurality of terminals, dynamically changing buddy lists are synchronized between the terminals. A presence notification message is sent to all the terminals of the user. The timing of sending includes, for example, when the presence information of a buddy is updated, when a new buddy is set, when display attribute information is updated, when a buddy is cancelled, and when a presence notification of unknown presentity is made. Thus, when one user uses a plurality of terminals in the presence system, dynamically changing buddy lists can be synchronized between the terminals. In addition, the display formats of the buddy lists do not differ from one terminal to another, and the same display format is attained.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods and devices for displaying conversations on a network for ease of viewing in accordance with user preferences. Based on thread (message-group) forming instructions from users, as well as on member users' instructions, threads are created from member users' remarks. Instead of designating users, remarks that include threads may be designated. Thread information relating to the created threads is at the same time created and stored. The thread information includes predetermined information such as thread IDs, member users and authors. The created thread information is reported to other users in the network, and is in common with thread information within the network. Remarks within a thread may be displayed in a thread window 307 only, or displayed in both it and a conversation window 303, configurable to suit according to user instructions.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods and devices for displaying conversations on a network for ease of viewing in accordance with user preferences. Based on thread (message-group) forming instructions from users, as well as on member users' instructions, threads are created from member users' remarks. Instead of designating users, remarks that include threads may be designated. Thread information relating to the created threads is at the same time created and stored. The thread information includes predetermined information such as thread IDs, member users and authors. The created thread information is reported to other users in the network, and is in common with thread information within the network. Remarks within a thread may be displayed in a thread window 307 only, or displayed in both it and a conversation window 303, configurable to suit according to user instructions.

Abstract: A method and associated system for promoting smooth communications in a chat system. A keyword list 3 stores keywords. A keyword-detection module 2 detects the sending of any keyword from another user terminal on any channel. A status-detection system 4, in response to the detection of a keyword, judges user status based on the status of the user terminal. A reporting module 9 sends the user status to the channel on which the keyword was sent. A report destination table 10 correlates the user status report destination with the keyword remark source and stores this information, and the reporting module 9 may report the user status to a report destination determined based on the report destination table. The real-time status of a user called by a keyword is reported, so as to support smoothly conducting conversations held in real time.

Abstract: A method and associated system for promoting smooth communications in a chat system. A keyword list 3 stores keywords. A keyword-detection module 2 detects the sending of any keyword from another user terminal on any channel. A status-detection section 4, in response to the detection of a keyword, judges user status based on the status of the user terminal. A reporting module 9 sends the user status to the channel on which the keyword was sent. A report destination table 10 correlates the user status report destination with the keyword remark source And stores this information, and the reporting module 9 may report the user status to a report destination determined based on the report destination table. The real-time status of a user called by a keyword is reported, so as to support smoothly conducting conversations held in real time.

Abstract: An “introducing” information generating part of an introducing part generates “introducing” information based on data in a buddy list storing part, in accordance with an instruction of a user of the introduction origin system, and notifies an introduction destination system of the “introducing” information through an “introducing” information notifying part. A buddy list registering part of the introduction system registers a user to a buddy list based on the “introducing” information and generates registration information. A registration information notifying part notifies the introduction target system of the registration information. Furthermore, the registration information notifying part notifies the introduction target system of “introduced” information representing that introduction is received. An “introduced” recognizing part of the introduction target system recognizes an introduction relationship.

Abstract: A communication parameter search apparatus includes a location managing part for receiving a signal indicating a location of each user, and for managing the location of each user, an input receiving part for receiving an input designating a location from an operator, a communication parameter storing module for storing communication parameters necessary for communication with each user, a user search module for referring to information managed by the location managing part and for searching for users present in the location designated by the input received by the input receiving part, and a communication parameter search module for searching the communication parameter storing module for communication parameters concerning the users searched for by the user search module.

Abstract: When a new customer appears in a shop, the customer is registered in an advertisement server 1 with shop terminal 2. When the customer registers an advertiser in his buddy list, an advertisement is distributed to user terminal 4. Namely, by registering an advertisement of the advertiser in buddy list system 4 as if the advertisement of the advertiser is status information of the advertiser, the advertisement is distributed to the user terminal 4 via the buddy list system 3. To persuade a customer to register an advertiser in his buddy list, the advertiser provides an incentive for a customer registering the advertiser in his buddy list (hereinafter referred to as registration customer). Incentive is, for example, adding a premium to points granted to the customer according to purchase history.

Abstract: A plurality of user terminals regularly accessing Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services are also in communication with a service selecting host. The service selecting host is configured to collect data from the plurality of user terminals. The collected data includes information about the users at the user terminals and information about the user terminals activity in the accessing of the IRC services. The service selecting host compiles and sorts the collected data concerning IRC services to produce information provided to the user terminals. The information provided to the user terminals allows users at the user terminals to more easily select sorted IRC services.

Abstract: The text messaging system consists of mobile terminal (5) connected to mobile communication network (4), information terminal (3) connected to computer network (2), and server (1) connected to the mobile communication network and the computer network. The information terminal (3) has status detection means (22), (23), and (24), and detects an operational status including at least the connection status of the computer network and notifies the server (1) of it. The server (1) has status administration means (8) and (9) and decision means (10). The status administration means (8) and (9) retain the operational status of the information terminal (3) notified from status detection means (24) for each user. The decision means (10) determines a send mode according to the operational status of the information terminal such as whether to send a text message to an information terminal or to send a text message with a network application.

Abstract: A plurality of user terminals regularly accessing Internet Relay Chat (IRC) services are also in communication with a service selecting host. The service selecting host is configured to collect data from the plurality of user terminals. The collected data includes information about the users at the user terminals and information about the user terminals activity in the accessing of the IRC services. The service selecting host compiles and sorts the collected data concerning IRC services to produce information provided to the user terminals. The information provided to the user terminals allows users at the user terminals to more easily select sorted IRC services.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display method for quickly displaying animation sequences corresponding to a keyword. The image display method displays a keyword and a still picture of one screen of an animation sequence representing the keyword on a screen, and when one of the keywords is designated, the animation sequences corresponding to the designated keyword are quickly displayed.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method of operation manipulates the display of an object on the display surface of a display device in accordance with sensing touching contact on a touch panel, superimposed on the display surface and simulating movement of the displayed object in accordance with the characteristics of the touching contact on the touch panel adjacent to the displayed object image. Further, object data defining the display of the object image for each of a plurality of different states of the object, display information specifying the shape and physical properties of the object and the current display position thereof and file information relating to the stored data are stored and accessed for interpreting the simulated manipulation of the object by the characteristics of the touching contact therewith, for correspondingly manipulating and displaying the thus manipulated object image.

Abstract: A telephone call alerting system is applied to a telephone communication system accommodating a line to which a telephone terminal is connected, a plurality of telephone numbers being assigned to the line.

Abstract: An ISDN interface unit interconnects a data processing unit, an ISDN, and an analog telephone and comprises a DMA request signal generation circuit for generating a DMA request signal from an 8 kHz clock signal from an ISDN line. In accordance with the request signal, PCM coded data input from the ISDN line is transferred, using DMA, to a memory of the data processing unit or vice versa, or the ISDN interface unit comprises a code conversion circuit, data stored in the data processing unit are converted to nonlinear PCM coded data and transmitted to the ISDN line or vice versa. Further, the ISDN interface unit comprises communication functions for the digital signal and for the voice band signal, a control channel signal sent from the ISDN line is interpreted, and one of the communication functions can be selected.

Abstract: A file managing system manages a plurality of files shared with a plurality of users. The files are linked to each other, and are controlled in accordance with link information. File control information is defined to represent a status of rights given to each of the users who is permitted to perform a processing which corresponds to one of the rights the status of which is in an on-state. The file control information is produced for each of the files. Link control information including link information representing a condition of the link between the first file and the second file is defined. The link control information further includes information which represents whether each of the users is permitted to use the link. The link control information is produced for each of the files. The access of each of said users to the files and the access of each of users to the link is controlled in accordance with the file control information and the link control information.

Abstract: A dynamic image display device which successively reads out each frame from dynamic image data stored as successive frames to display each of the frames at each predetermined display period on a window of a display device. The display period and the display area size of the window are changeable. The dynamic image display device comprises a display area size input device for inputting the display area size of the window, a storage device having a definition correlating the display area size with the display period, a device for reading out from the storage device the display period corresponding to the display area size of the window inputted in the display area size input device, and a device to display each of the frames on the window of the display device during each read display period.

Abstract: An ISDN interface unit interconnects a data processing unit, an ISDN, and an analog telephone and includes a DMA request signal generation circuit for generating a DMA request signal from an 8 kHz clock signal from an ISDN line. In accordance with the request signal, PCM coded data input from the ISDN line is transferred, using DMA, to a memory of the data processing unit or vice versa. Alternatively, the ISDN interface unit includes a code conversion circuit. Data stored in the data processing unit are converted to nonlinear PCM coded data and transmitted to the ISDN line or vice versa. Further, the ISDN interface unit includes communication functions for the digital signal and for the voice band signal, a control channel signal sent from the ISDN line is interpreted, and one of the communication functions can be selected.

Abstract: A dynamic image display device which reads out each frame from dynamic image data stored as successive frames every predetermined number of skipped frames, to display each of the frames at each predetermined display period on a window of a display device. The predetermined number of skipped frames and a display area size of the window are changeable. The dynamic image display device includes a display area size input device for inputting the display area size of the window, a storage device having a definition correlating the display area size with the predetermined number of skipped frames, a device for reading out from the storage device the predetermined number of skipped frames corresponding to the display area size of the window inputted by the display area size input device, and a device for displaying each of the frames on the window of the display device every read predetermined number of skipped frames.

Abstract: A dynamic image display device which successively reads out each frame from dynamic image data stored as successive frames to display each of the frames at each predetermined display period on a window of a display device. The predetermined display period is changeable. The dynamic image display device includes a distance parameter input device for inputting a distance parameter between a display screen displaying the window and a person looking at a dynamic image on the display screen, a storage device having a definition correlating the distance parameter with the predetermined display period, a device for reading out from the storage device the predetermined display period corresponding to the distance parameter inputted by the distance parameter input device, and a device for displaying each of the frames on the window of the display device during each predetermined display period.