US007464337B2

(12) United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.2

Han et a]. (54)

US 7,464,337 B2

(45) Date of Patent:

MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION METHOD

(58)

Dec. 9, 2008

Field of Classi?cation Search ............... .. 715/738,

USING VIRTUAL WORLD INTERFACE IN

715/ 758

MOBILE PERSONAL COMPUTERS (75)

Inventors: Kyun g s00k Han, lnchon KR ; San grae

See application ?le for complete search history. (

56

R f C't d e erences l e

)

Lee, Kyongsangnam-do (KR) _

_

_

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

_

5,801,700

A

*

9/1998

Ferguson

.................. .. 715/748

(73)

Ass1gnee: Inha University Foundation, lnchon (KR)

6,219,045 131* 4/2001 Leahy et a1‘ ____ __ 6,496,851 B1 * 12/2002 Morris et a1. 6,704,031 B1 *

3/2004

(*)

Notice:

Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis

6,910,186 B2 *

6/2005 Kim ......................... .. 715/706

patent is extended Or days~ adjusted under

7,086,005 Bl *

8/2006 Neven Matsuda et a1. ................... .. 715/706

Kimball et a1.

715/757 709/204

........... .. 715/745

* cited by examiner

(21) Appl. No.:

10/344,080

(22)

PCT piledZ

Feb 26, 2001

PCT No.:

PCT/KR01/00290

86

( )

§23714(C]))(1)’_ ( )’ ( ) (87)

ABSTRACT

A method for communication of multimedia data using vir

6 ‘ ’

_ PCT Pub' NO" WOW/13030

tual World interface in a mobile personal computers is dis closed. The method comprises logging in to the server; dis playing an initial menu picture on a screen of the mobile

PCT Pub D ate_ Feb 14 2002

personal computer, the initial menu picture including a plu

'

(65)

l

’

rality of menu items for transmission or retrieval of the mul

Prior Publication Data

Us 2003/0177195 A1 _

(30)

_

SeP~ 18, 2003

timedia data; and performing a subroutine associated With a selected one of the menu items in the initial menu picture to transmit or retrieve the multimedia data. According to this

_

invention,

_

_

Forelgn Apphcatlon Pnonty Data

Aug. 8, 2000

(52)

(57)

F b 6 2003

ate‘

'

(51)

Primary ExamineriBa Huynh Assistant ExamineriShashi K Becker (74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiBachman & LaPointe, RC.

(KR)

Int, Cl, G06F 3/00 G06F 3/048

............................. .. 2000-45935

information

can

rapidly

and

accurately

be

exchanged at any time or place. Further, desired media data can Conveniently be transmitted or retrieved by merely a

clicking operation of a stylus pen or a drag operation of a mouse Without executing a multiplicity of individual pro grams for transmission and/or retrieval of different media data.

(200601) (2006.01)

US. Cl. ..................... .. 715/738; 715/758; 715/752;

715/753; 715/757

2 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets

Yuma! mcnuif.) check( 5)

mulii-peer chatting specific user access

detection/c2111 lrecepiion denial

peer-io-peer chatting

received mail checking

avatar chatting direct i110 sending

mail sending (15615175515556?

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 1 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG.1

Clientl

client 11

20C

1O

:3 ~40 :

‘Ln/8O

--"_\_¢3:—3: Server

US. Patent

Dec. 9,2008

Sheet 2 or 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG. 2

log in

( 1D& password 4,50

sending) desired function _ _

selection

_[

V

file S endin 1%

r

sgrver t

ceived email

checkmg

FT

-

\54

avatar

peer - to - peer

chattmg

Chamng

'

\56 '

mail '

Sendmg

\62

'

\58 I

d'

t 1'']

k 60 ‘

_

lgggdglge

multrpeer

party

chatting

to 0

er

\64 end

~

‘was

'1"

g‘étig‘ignlmil e ec 10

ca

lreception denial

‘\68

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 3 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG.3

munuCE) check( 5)

m ulti-peer chatting specific user access

dQlBCllOEl/ cahl

peer-lo-peer chatting a

lrecepiion denial received mail ' checking

" V ata r chatting

direct file sending

mail sending

ctrJ+I Avatar DP

send chat

ctrl+L ctrl+H WWW.‘,._._.__._,.v-WWHVM

Mail

send

ctrl+A

1"vI‘P RM

End

ctrl+F check

ctr1+P I

CUHX

Please click an image

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 4 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG .5

Please select an avatar.

FIG.6

,

Avatar Chat

connection setting Avatar UlueIHuw are

Cumll fine lhanksglad IO SEE YOU

everybody. Cuzel Where dn you live in?

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

J My Handheld l5C

Sheet 5 0f 14

'ame

NJ Temp

gaiftuvb ,iqgFTpRearvb guiHtmlviewvb gailPporLvb @?Messengenvb

__5 Temporary Intern

iJMy Documents

bitmap __1 My Documents ._1 Program Files “J Recycled

__; Windows

if JProgram Files ' '{riProjeclLvb

US 7,464,337 B2

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 6 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG.8

enter

FTP server address, 4/82

user ID and password

select and send desired file

4/84

log off

4,86

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 7 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG.9

enter user ID, password and mail

4,92

server address

1 read number and sizes of received messages

W94

1 display received messages

and attached files

96

TV

1 release connect ion

l

@

“98

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

US 7,464,337 B2

Sheet 8 0f 14

FIG. 10

( start > select avatar

'b 102

send chatting contents to other party 4’

(avatar chattlng)

104

avatar selection

Send Slip ”\ 106

t

t

t

i

Send mail k 108

send or receive

send file

file to or from

directly to

FTP server

other party

\’\ 110

\“112

US. Patent

Dec. 9,2008

Sheet 9 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG. 11

( start ) Y

set up one-to-one

/1/ [14

chatt ing room connection of chatter

1

to chatting room

send ID of other

party and number

/\/116

of chatting room

l

Chat‘?ng wrggeuser present 1n e-tot

chatting room

G5

'

4/ 118

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 10 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG. 12

enter mail server address,

destination ID, sender ID message title, mail contents and

122

attached file or files

' l gain access to mail server and send mail

124

thereto

release connection

.1

126

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

US 7,464,337 B2

Sheet 11 0f14

FIG. 13

gain access to server

4/132

i send destination ID and

“M134

file name to server

i read file stored in terminal of fi 1e sender and send it to terminal of other

4/136

party(via server)

‘ fi 1e recept ion store or open

received file

l (1?)

/\/138

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 12 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG. 14

chatting room

selected?

146%

Send cbauin? contents.

send chatting contents

h thine!’ 1D. andb I too: nun er

and chatter ~ ID to server

c a

tggsewer

(send chatt mg contents $144

[send chatting contents to users present in

to al 1 users connected to server)

chatting room)

i determine whether current

chatting mode is to send chatting contents to users present in chatting,r room or to send chatting contents \/\l48 to all users connected to server and then send

chatting contente

(via server)

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 13 0f14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG. 15

log in

4/152

i analyze user ID and password (via server)

W154

i store user ID

in log-in table

4/156

i search log-in table in response to specific user access

4/158

detection request

i send searched data to

specific client call colund tron specific cliefnt to

“160

162

specific user?

send usage to called user

i ————~@

164

US. Patent

Dec. 9, 2008

Sheet 14 0f 14

US 7,464,337 B2

FIG. 16

re re

est client tol ster users to 4,172

be denied reception

i re ister

re ept ion

F8 9?

eni_ed

u enie er_s 'nuser recetptbion a le

“V 174

i

receive message

from specific user A’ 176

i search reception denied user table

message seéider registere in

“V 178

180

table?

message sen [transmit mes er_ agetofrom /\/ 182

# (Ii-D

US 7,464,337 B2 1

2

MULTIMEDIA COMMUNICATION METHOD USING VIRTUAL WORLD INTERFACE IN MOBILE PERSONAL COMPUTERS

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multimedia communication method in mobile personal com puters, wherein a mobile personal computer is capable of readily transmitting or retrieving multimedia data using a

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

virtual world interface and an instant messenger program.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multimedia communication method in mobile personal com puters, wherein a desired function can be performed by merely a clicking operation of a stylus pen or a drag operation of a mouse without executing a multiplicity of individual programs for transmission and/or retrieval of different media data. In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a provision of a multi

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to a multimedia

communication method in mobile personal computers, and more particularly to the multimedia communication method using a virtual world interface and an instant messenger pro gram.

2. Description of the Prior Art Mobile personal computers (PCs) are expected to be uni versally used in the early twenty-?rst century and absorb all functions of existing telecommunication and information appliances such as pagers, cellular phones, videophones, fac similes, etc. These mobile PCs signify not only existing hand

media communication method in mobile personal computers which includes a virtual world interface and an instant mes senger program and is connected to a server over any one of

wired and wireless communication networks, the method comprising the ?rst step of logging in to the server; the second

held computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs), but also light and small PCs having all or some of the infrared port, serial port, radio data communication functions and the

20

step of displaying an initial menu picture on a screen of the

mobile personal computer, the initial menu picture including

like for communication with remote PCs, as well as the per

a plurality of menu items for transmission or retrieval of the

formance of desktop PCs, such as wearable PCs (in the form

multimedia data; and the third step of performing a subrou

of a wristwatch or bulletproofj acket), auto PCs (such as a PC tine associated with a selected one of the menu items in the which is contained in a vehicle to guide a driver or read an 25 initial menu picture to transmit or retrieve the multimedia electronic mail for the driver in response to a voice command from the driver), etc. Such mobile PCs are expected, on the

data.

basis of the following reasons, to absorb all functions of

existing telecommunication and information appliances. 1. Development is continuously made of fundamental tech niques capable of realiZing functions of pagers, cellular phones, videophones and facsimiles in PCs. 2. Mobile PCs, charge coupled devices (CCDs), batteries, etc. are becoming lighter in weight and higher in performance at a very remarkable speed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 30

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the

following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 35

FIG. 1 is a view showing the construction of a system for execution of a multimedia communication method using a

3. Peripheral techniques associated with a wireless asyn chronous transmit mode (ATM) are being developed. These

virtual world interface in mobile personal computers in accor

techniques will replace existing cellular phones and radio

FIG. 2 is a top-level ?owchart illustrating the multimedia communication method in accordance with the present inven

data communication systems using them or be used in com bination with them. 4. It is much simpler and more convenient for persons to carry and use a single telecommunication/information appli ance rather than individual pagers, cellular phones, electronic notes, etc. On the other hand, it is the current reality that an instant messenger program runs only on either desktop computers or notebook computers. The instant messenger program requires no procedure of server accessing by a user and is

dance with the present invention; 40

FIG. 3 is a view showing an exemplary initial menu picture displayed on a screen after user authentication, more particu

45

invention; 50

functions and always runs at a background or foreground.

with anybody anytime and anywhere. But, either desktop 55

multimedia function and be actively spread, will enable rapid communication at any place or time as long as they are able to transmit or retrieve multimedia data using the instant mes senger program.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an exemplary avatar chatting picture displayed on the screen when an avatar chatting func

tion is selected in FIG. 2; FIG. 7 is a view showing an exemplary picture for avatar selection and ?le sending in accordance with the present

An ultimate goal of communication techniques can be de?ned as allowing users to rapidly exchange information computers or notebook computers are disadvantageously limited in places for use. Mobile PCs, expected to have a

larly icon functions in the initial menu picture; FIG. 4 is a view showing types of services provided in the initial menu picture of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view showing an exemplary avatar selection picture displayed on the screen in accordance with the present

made active in response to a request from a different user

while online. This program mostly has memo and chatting

tion;

invention; FIG. 8 is a ?owchart illustrating the step in FIG. 2 of sending a ?le to a ?le transmit protocol (FTP) server; FIG. 9 is a ?owchart illustrating a received mail checking

step in FIG. 2; 60

FIG. 10 is a ?owchart illustrating an avatar chatting step in

FIG. 2; FIG. 11 is a ?owchart illustrating a peer-to-peer chatting

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

step in FIG. 2; FIG. 12 is a ?owchart illustrating a mail sending step in

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia communication method using a virtual world

interface in mobile personal computers, wherein information can rapidly and accurately be exchanged at any time or place.

65

FIG. 2; FIG. 13 is a ?owchart illustrating the step in FIG. 2 of directly sending a ?le to the other party;

US 7,464,337 B2 3

4

FIG. 14 is a ?owchart illustrating a multi-peer chatting step in FIG. 2;

desired functions through the server 30 connected thereto. In

the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the desired functions may be a variety of functions for transmis sion or retrieval of multimedia data, for example, a multi-peer

FIG. 15 is a ?owchart illustrating a speci?c user access

detection/call step in FIG. 2; and

chatting function, avatar chatting function, received mail

FIG. 16 is a ?owchart illustrating a speci?c user reception denial step in FIG. 2.

checking function, etc., which are executed at steps 54 to 68 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a view showing an exemplary initial menu picture

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

displayed on a screen after user authentication, more particu

larly icon functions in the initial menu picture, and FIG. 4 is a view showing types of services provided in the initial menu picture of FIG. 3. In the present embodiment, the “initial menu picture” may be referred to as a chatting picture.

In the following description made in conjunction with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a variety of speci?c elements such as the number and names of avatars,

types of multimedia data, Windows operating systems and

If the initial menu picture is displayed on the screen after the user authentication as stated above, then each of the cli ents 2011, 20b and 200 can conduct a desired type of commu nication using a virtual world interface as the described here

concrete processing are shown. The description of such ele ments has been made only for a better understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented without using the

inafter with a desired client or clients connected to the server

above-mentioned speci?c elements. In the following descrip tion of the present invention, a detailed description of known

30 on the displayed initial menu picture. In FIG. 2, the refer 20

functions and con?gurations incorporated herein, for example, a handheld personal computer (PC), personal digi tal assistant (PDA) and a desktop PC, will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather

unclear. Further, in the following description of the present

25

invention, “multimedia data” are de?ned as including text,

shown in FIG. 5 are displayed on the screen. These avatars

represent clients connected to the server 30, respectively, and information thereof must be pre-registered in the DB server 40. An example of chatting using such avatars is shown in

handwriting, audio, image, and video data, and an “integrated environment” is de?ned as a program capable of continuously performing its function in response to a new media data

transmission/retrieval request by not modifying an existing

ence numeral 54 denotes the step of sending a ?le to a ?le

transmit protocol (FTP) server, and 56 denotes a received mail check step. Also, the reference numeral 58 denotes an avatar chatting step and 60 denotes a peer-to-peer chatting step. If the avatar chatting function is selected, then avatars as

30

program code, but registering an additional component or

FIG. 6. In FIG. 2, the reference numeral 62 denotes a mail sending

step and 64 denotes the step of directly sending a ?le to the other party. For direct sending to the other party, each client

plug-in program. With this integrated environment program, a user need not execute a multiplicity of individual programs

can select a ?le to be sent, click on an avatar of the other party

for transmission/retrieval of different media data. FIG. 1 is a view showing the construction of a system for execution of a multimedia communication method using a virtual world interface in mobile personal computers in accor dance with the present invention. As shown in this drawing, the system comprises a messaging server 30 connected to a plurality of clients 2011-200 via a communication line 10 (this line may be associated with both wired/wireless communica tion networks if a mobile PC supporting radio data commu nication is used), and a database (DB) server 40 connected to

and then send the selected ?le directly to the other party. An example of such direct sending is shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, the reference numeral 66 denotes the step of conducting multi-peer chatting in a chatting room and 68

35

denotes a speci?c user access detection/call step and a spe

ci?c user reception denial step. The above steps 54 to 68 can 40

the messaging server 30. Each of the clients 2011-200 can be a

handheld PC, PDA, or desktop PC. Preferably, mobile PCs

45

available as clients may be a mobile PC employing Windows CE as its operating system, and a desktop PC and notebook

a speci?c client ?rst enters an “FTP server address”, “user ID” and “password” at step 82 to gain access to the FTP server. If the speci?c client gains access to the FTP server, then it selects a desired ?le and sends it to the FTP server at step 84.

PC employing Windows 95/ 98/NT/2000 as their operating systems. The messaging server 30 may preferably be a Win dows NT 4.0 server.

50

Now, a description will be given of the multimedia com munication method using a virtual world interface of the

completed.

above-mentioned construction, with reference to the accom

FIG. 2 is a top-level ?owchart illustrating the multimedia communication method using a virtual world interface in accordance with the present invention. First, each of the cli ents 2011-200, physically connected to the messaging server 3 0 via the communication line 10, is user-authenticated by the messaging server 30 through a log-in procedure (entering a user identi?cation (ID) and password) at step 50. The user IDs and passwords of the clients must be pre-registered in the DB server 40. Upon user authentication by the messaging server (referred to hereinafter as a server) 30, an initial menu picture as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on a screen of each of the

clients 2011, 20b and 200 such that each client performs

Subsequently, the speci?c client proceeds to step 86 to log off. Through this procedure, the ?le sending to the FTP server is

present invention, which is carried out by the system with the

panying drawings.

be executed by selecting associated menu items in the initial menu picture. Hereinafter, a more detailed description will be given of a variety of functions selected in the initial menu picture. FIG. 8 is a ?owchart illustrating the step 54 in FIG. 2 of sending a ?le to the FTP server. For sending of a ?le to the FTP server,

55

FIG. 9 is a ?owchart illustrating the received mail checking step 56 in FIG. 2. For the checking of received mails, a speci?c client ?rst enters a “user ID”, “password” and “mail server address” at step 92 to gain access to the server 30.

Then, the speci?c client reads the number and siZes of received messages from the DB server 40 at step 94 and

displays the received messages and attached ?les correspond 60

ing respectively thereto on the screen at step 96. Subse

quently, the speci?c client releases the connection to the server 30 at step 98. In this manner, each client can check

65

received mails. FIG. 10 is a ?owchart illustrating the avatar chatting step 58 in FIG. 2. For avatar chatting, a speci?c client ?rst selects an avatar of the other party at step 102 and then sends the contents of chatting to the selected avatar at step 104. Alter

US 7,464,337 B2 5

6

natively, the speci?c client may send a slip to a desired avatar at step 106, send a mail to the desired avatar at step 108, send

server 30 to detect access by a speci?c user, then the server 30

searches the log-in table for data about the speci?c user at step 158 and sends the searched data to the speci?c client at step 160. Thereafter, if there is a call command from the speci?c

or receive a ?le to or from the FTP server at step 110 or send

a ?le directly to the other party at step 112. At any step, the

corresponding function is performed by selecting an avatar of

client to the speci?c user at step 162, then the server 30 sends

the other party as in the above step 102. FIG. 11 is a ?owchart illustrating the peer-to-peer chatting step 60 in FIG. 2. For peer-to-peer chatting, a speci?c client

a message to a called user, or the speci?c user, at step 164. As

a result, the called user can respond to the call from the calling user, or the speci?c client. FIG. 16 is a ?owchart illustrating the speci?c user recep tion denial step in FIG. 2. First, if a speci?c client selects a speci?c user reception denial function in the initial menu

?rst sets up a one-to-one chatting room at step 114 and then sends an ID of the other party and a number of the set-up chatting room to the messaging server at step 116. As a result, the speci?c client can conduct one-to-one chatting with a user

picture shown in FIG. 3, then the server 30 displays a picture to request the speci?c client to register users to be denied reception, on the screen at step 172. Subsequently, if the

present in the chatting room at step 118. FIG. 12 is a ?owchart illustrating the mail sending step 62 in FIG. 2. For sending of a mail to the other party, a speci?c

speci?c client enters IDs (user names, avatars, etc.) of the reception denied users in the displayed picture, then the

client ?rst enters a “mail server address”, a “destination ID”, a “sender ID”, a “message title”, “mail contents” and an

server 30 registers the IDs of the reception denied users in a

“attached ?le or ?les” at step 122. Thereafter, if the speci?c

reception denied user table at step 174. Thereafter, upon receiving a message from a speci?c user at step 176, the

client enters a send command, then a mail is sent to the mail

server at step 124. Subsequently, the mail sending client

20

proceeds to step 126 to release the connection to the server 30. FIG. 13 is a ?owchart illustrating the step 64 in FIG. 2 of

the table. Upon determining at step 180 that the message sender was registered in the reception denied user table, the

directly sending a ?le to the other party. For direct sending of a ?le to the other party, a speci?c client ?rst enters a server

address and port number at step 132 to gain access to the server 30, and then sends a destination ID and ?le name to the server 30 at step 134. At step 136, a terminal of the ?le sender reads a ?le stored therein according to a program therein and sends the read ?le to a terminal of the other party via the server 30. Then, the other client stores or opens the sent ?le at step 138.

25

As apparent from the above description, the present inven tion provides a multimedia communication method using a

virtual world interface in mobile personal computers wherein 35

40

multiplicity of individual programs for transmission and/or retrieval of different media data. The present multimedia communication method is based

ID” and a “chatting room number” to the server 30. 45

the outer appearances of avatars as well as text IDs, and users 50

participating in chatting can dispose their avatars in desired places in a virtual world and change the positions of the avatars during chatting. Further, in addition to text and voice, users can express actions with feelings through avatars, so that they can more realistically and intimately chat with one another.

55

Although the preferred embodiments of the present inven tion have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modi?cations, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the

Through this procedure, each client can conduct the multi

60

accompanying claims.

65

What is claimed is: 1. A method for communication of multimedia data in a mobile personal computer which includes a virtual world interface and an instant messenger program and is connected

password of the speci?c client logging in thereto at step 154 to determine whether the speci?c client is a registered mem ber. If the speci?c client is a registered member, the server 30

on avatar and space concepts such that users, which are tar

gets of a personal information inquiry function and other functions, can be distinguished from other users according to

peer chatting. FIG. 15 is a ?owchart illustrating the speci?c user access detection/ call step in FIG. 2. For detection of access by a speci?c user, a speci?c client ?rst logs in to the server 30 at step 152. In this case, the server 30 analyZes a user ID and

mitted or retrieved by merely a clicking operation of a stylus pen or a drag operation of a mouse without executing a

case, the speci?c client sends “chatting contents”, a “chatter

it sends the contents of chatting to all users connected to the server 30 at step 144. In this case, the speci?c client sends “chatting contents” and a “chatter ID” to the server 30. At step 148, the server 30 determines according to the presence or not of a “chatting room number” in received data whether the current chatting mode is to send the chatting contents to users present in the chatting room or to send the chatting contents to all users connected thereto. Subsequently, the server 30 deter mines whether receivers are online or o?line, and then sends the chatting contents to the receivers determined to be online.

a mobile personal computer is capable of readily transmitting or retrieving multimedia data using a virtual world interface and an instant messenger program, thereby enabling informa tion to rapidly and accurately be exchanged at any time or place. Further, desired media data can conveniently be trans

chatting room. In other words, if a speci?c client selects the

On the other hand, in the case where the speci?c client does not select the displayed chatting room at the above step 142,

As a result, each client can deny the reception of a message sent from a speci?c user.

multi-peer chatting function and, in turn, a chatting room, displayed on the screen in response to the function selection, at step 142, then it proceeds to step 146 to send the contents of chatting to users present in the selected chatting room. In this

server 30 ends a speci?c user reception denial subroutine. However, in the case where it is determined at step 180 that the mes sage sender was not registered in the reception denied user table, the server 30 proceeds to step 182 to transmit the message from the message sender to the message receiver, or

the speci?c client. 30

FIG. 14 is a ?owchart illustrating the multi-peer chatting step 66 in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the multi-peer chatting function is classi?ed into two modes, one where a client selects a chatting room and chats with users present in the selected chatting room and the other where a client chats with all users connected to the server 30 without selecting the

server 30 searches the reception denied user table at step 178 to determine whether the message sender was registered in

permits it user connection thereto and stores the user ID in a

to a server over any one of wired and wireless communication

log-in table at step 156. If the speci?c client requests the

networks, said method comprising the steps of:

US 7,464,337 B2 7

8

a) logging in to said server;

c-4) transmitting the message received from said speci?c user to said mobile personal computer only When said speci?c user is not registered in said reception denied

b) displaying an initial menu picture on a screen of said

mobile personal computer, said initial menu picture including a plurality of menu items for transmission or 5 retrieval of the multimedia data; Wherein said menu items include an avatar chatting function, a speci?c user

access detection/call function a speci?c user reception denlal funCtlOn, and a dlreCI ?le Sendlng Item; c) performing a subroutine associated With a selected one 10 of said menu items in said initial menu picture to trans mit or retrieve said multimedia data, Wherein said menu items include an avatar chatting function, a speci?c user access detection/ call function and a speci?c user recep

tion denial function, Wherein said step c) is adapted to, if said speci?c user reception denial item is selected, per form a subroutine including the steps of:

e'1) requesting Said mehhe Personal Computer to register users to be denied reception;

user table; and d) performing a subroutine associated With a selected one of said menu items in said initial menu picture to trans

mit or retrieve said multimedia data, Wherein said step c) is adapted to, if Said avatar Chatting item is Selected, perform a subroutine including the steps of: d-l) select ing a desired avatar; and (1-2) sending the Contents of chatting to a client of the selected avatar, and if any one of a mail sending item, a direct ?le sending item and an item for ?le sending or reception to or from said ?le

transfer protocol server is selected, additionally perform 15

a subroutine associated With said selected item.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising e) performing a subroutine associated With a selected one of said menu items in said initial menu picture to transmit or retrieve

saidmultimedia data, Wherein said step c) is adapted to, if said 20 direct ?le sending item is selected, perform a subroutine

c-2) registering identi?cations of the reception denied

ihehldihg the Steps eff e'1) Seleetihg a ?le to he sent; and e'2)

users in a reception denied user table in said server;

ehekihg ah avatar of the other Party, and e'3) sending the

c-3) searching said reception denied user table upon receiving a message from a speci?c user; and

Selected ?le dlrec?y to the other party’ *

*

*

*

*