Communication system, control device, control method, program, and recording medium

Abstract

The present invention provides a communication system, a control apparatus, a program and a recording medium that controls participation in a session using presence information on participation member and information of the session itself. A communication system in which a plurality of communication terminals are connected to each other through a network to establish communication between the communication terminals has a presence information registering section that registers presence information of the communication terminals, a participation condition setting section that sets a participation condition for participating in the communication, a communication information managing section that manages communication information related to a state of the communication, and a communication control section that controls participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the communication system;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in a presence server;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of rules set in a participation rule control unit;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing session information obtained immediately after the start of a session;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing session information when users B and C participate in a session;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an operation of the communication system;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the communication system when user B cannot come to work;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing session information obtained when user B is separated from the session;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing session information obtained when user D participates in the session;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an operation of the communication system when user B cannot come to work;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another example of the communication system;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of information registered in a presence server;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of a rule set in a participation rule control unit;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of session information obtained immediately after the start of the session;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a case in which a new rule is added to the rules set in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing session information obtained when user A is separated from the session;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a state of a session when a session is suspended;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing session information obtained when user B participates in a session;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing anther example of the operation of the communication system;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing another example of the communication system;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing still another example of rules set in a participation rule control unit;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of session information in which a response order is set; and

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing still another example of the operation of the communication system.

Claims

1. A communication system in which a plurality of communication terminals are connected to each other through a network to establish communication, comprising: presence information registering section that registers presence information of communication terminals;participation condition setting section that sets a participation condition to participate in the communication;communication information managing section that manages communication information related to a state of the communication; andcommunication control section that controls participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication control section controls participation in and separation from the communication based on the presence information, the participation condition, and the communication information.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the presence information is changed, the communication control section controls participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals with reference to the participation condition again.

4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication control section suspends the communication when the participation condition is not satisfied after the presence information is changed.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein when the participation condition is satisfied after the presence information is changed while the communication is suspended, the communication is resumed.

6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the participation condition setting section adds a participation condition to the communication already established.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the communication control section controls participation in the communication based on the added new participation condition, the presence information, and the communication information.

8. A communication control device for controlling communication between communication terminals, comprising: participation condition setting section that sets a participation condition to participate in the communication;communication information managing section that manages communication information related to a state of the communication; andcommunication control section that controls participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals.

9. The communication control device according to claim 8, wherein the communication control section controls participation in and separation from the communication based on the presence information, the participation condition, and the communication information.

10. The communication control device according to claim 8, wherein when the presence information is changed, the communication control section controls participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals by referring to the participation condition again.

11. The communication control device according to claim 8, wherein the communication control section suspends the communication when the participation condition is not satisfied after the presence information is changed.

12. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein when the participation condition is satisfied after the presence information is changed while communication is suspended, the communication is resumed.

13. The communication control device according to claim 8, wherein the participation condition setting section adds a new participation condition to the communication already established.

14. The communication control device according to claim 13, wherein the communication control section controls participation in the communication based on the added new participation condition, the presence information, and the communication information.

15. A method for controlling a communication system in which a plurality of communication terminals, a presence server that registers presence information of the communication terminals, and a communication control device that controls communication between the communication terminals are connected to each other through a network, comprising: a participation condition setting step of setting a participation condition to participate in the communication;a communication information managing step of managing communication information related to a state of the communication; anda communication control step of controlling participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein in the communication control step, participation in and separation from the communication is controlled based on the presence information, the participation condition, and the communication information.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein when the presence information is changed, in the communication control step, participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals are controlled by referring to the participation condition again.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein in the communication control step, when the participation condition is not satisfied after the presence information is changed, the communication is suspended.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the communication is resumed when the participation condition is satisfied after the presence information is changed while the communication is suspended.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein in the participation condition setting step, a new participation condition is added to the communication already established.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein in the communication control step, participation in the communication is controlled based on the added new participation condition, the presence information, and the communication information.

22. A computer program for establishing communication between a plurality of communication terminals, causing a computer to perform: a participation condition setting process of setting a participation condition to participate in the communication;a communication information managing process of managing communication information related to a state of the communication; anda communication control process of controlling participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals.

23. The computer program according to claim 22, wherein in the communication control process, participation in and separation from the communication are controlled based on the presence information, the participation condition, and the communication information.

24. The computer program according to claim 22, wherein when the presence information is changed, in the communication control process, participation in and separation from the communication of the communication terminals are controlled by referring to the participation condition again.

25. The computer program according to claim 22, wherein in the communication control process, when the participation condition is not satisfied after the presence information is changed, the communication is suspended.

26. The computer program according to claim 25, wherein when the participation condition is satisfied after the presence information is changed while the communication is suspended, the communication is resumed.

27. The computer program according to claim 22, wherein in the participation condition setting process, a new participation condition is added to the communication already established.

28. The computer program according to claim 27, wherein in the communication control process, participation in the communication is controlled based on the added new participation condition, the presence information, and the communication information.

29. A computer readable recording medium storing the computer program according to any one of claims 22 to 28.