JP2002328852A - Multimedia direct commerce system adaptive to various kinds of electronic commercial transactions of high transaction by http protocol integrated control - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for unitarily managing various kinds of electronical transactions of high transaction by using a conventionally generally used HTTP protocol. SOLUTION: The system comprises respective client terminals consisting of an uppermost layer of various kinds of application programs linked by HTTP, a lowest layer performing the session/transport control of TCP/IP and HTTP protocol and an intermediate layer having an engine corresponding to the respective application programs performing a high transaction control processing for integrally controlling the transfer between the various kinds of the application programs of the uppermost layer and the session/transport control of the lowest layer, a Web server having a CGI interface consisting of an uppermost layer having a server such as the various kinds of electronic commercial transaction commerce servers, a chat server and the various kinds of multimedia application servers, a lowest layer performing the session/ transport control of the TCP/IP and HTTP protocol and an intermediate layer for integrally controlling the transfer between the uppermost layer and the lowest layer, and client-side application.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for real-time transmission of e-mail and the like in pseudo real time by controlling each client through the web server on the Internet or an intranet connected to the web server. In addition to being able to communicate,
It is a system that can send and receive multimedia type information, and at the same time, various e-commerce (auctions) where information is updated frequently and instantly at various times such as auctions through various applications on the client and it is desired to respond immediately. , Reverse auction, joint purchasing, bartering, spot sale, flea market, stock trading, etc.). The exchange of pseudo real-time e-mail, various multimedia information, various e-commerce information, etc. all requires high processing (transaction), but all such digital information is centrally controlled by only the same http protocol. The present invention relates to a system for building a system such as a client and a web server and a continuous database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol)
Is an abbreviation of Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which is a communication protocol mainly used for accessing websites. When a web page is accessed, the WWW server where the page is located starts a program called HTTP To exchange data.
HTTP is software that constantly waits for access on the web server side and communicates with the accessing client by HTTP, and was developed so that hypertext can be viewed with a web browser .

[0003] CGI (Common Gateway Interface) is a common interface for executing an external application used by a web server to send and receive information to and from a back-end program (called a gateway).
External applications are called CGI programs and run on the web server.

[0004] The IRC server is an Internet Relay Chat Ser
Ver is an abbreviation of "ver", a server designed to exchange messages on the Internet simultaneously and in real time, and through which clients can chat in real time. If clients want to have a completely real-time session over the Internet, a web server is not possible, and a special server such as an IRC server must be provided. Also, if a plurality of IRC servers are interconnected, a conversation with a user of another IRC server can be made.

The Internet auction is a system in which many people participate on the Internet, enter desired bid prices one after another (bids), and compete for a successful bid. The form is widely spread. In addition, mobile phones, small computers and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistanc
e), participation from terminals such as televisions is also considered. Many people participate on the Internet to complete business transactions, such as reverse auctions in which suppliers bid in reverse, free markets that are free transactions that do not take the form of bartering and auctions, There are various types of user-participating e-commerce that utilize the characteristics of the Internet, such as a joint purchasing system in which the purchase price decreases as the number of purchasers increases, and a spot sale society system in which limited quantities are sold as soon as possible. .

In the server environment described above, the following systems (1) to (7) are constructed and known. (1) Normal web chat system This is a normal "chat" (conversation) performed on a so-called Internet browser. This is a system that frequently sends and receives texts between clients by activating a chat function program built on a web server by HTTP. It has been known for a long time and is still used frequently.

(2) ICQ type system This is an application that is always displayed on a part of the client's personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) without launching a browser. Is communicating via the Internet with special servers other than
It is a system that allows clients to exchange real-time chats through the IRC server. This is now widespread and, in addition to ICQ, Yahoo Pager, Excite
Many systems such as PAL and AOL IM (registered trademark) are running and used by many users.

[0008] (3) Push technology [0008] As conventionally known as push technology, on a client PC that is always connected to the Internet or an intranet, specific information is transmitted from a web server in accordance with time and rules set in advance by the client. The technology was sent from the server side, and there was such an application. This is a technology that allows web servers to send information to client terminals without having to launch a browser. Recently, some can be used to distribute application software.

(4) Web Auction System An auction system on the Internet is widely known in which consumers who desire to purchase a product from a supplier on a browser connected to the Internet or an intranet bid one after another. .

(5) Web version user participation type electronic commerce system In addition to the auction, reverse auction, joint purchasing system,
There are many types of web-based e-commerce systems in which many users take advantage of the characteristics of the Internet, such as bartering, flea markets, and stock trading.

(6) User Participation Type Electronic Commerce from Various Terminals Currently, an electronic commerce system in which many users simultaneously participate from the terminals other than the PC, such as PDA terminals such as mobile phones, TVs, and PALMs, via the Internet is widely known. ing.

(7) Launcher system A small space is taken up on the browser of the client PC, and when the client PC is connected to the Internet or an intranet, the space is displayed in the form of a toolbar or an icon on the space. The launcher is widely known as a system that, when clicked, launches the corresponding browser. This type of system does not have a function to support conversations and e-commerce, nor does it originally have a function to support such exchange of information in a unified manner, and was not originally designed as such. It's just a small browser. Theoretically, it is possible to flow various information on this launcher in the form of a toolbar or an icon, but this is the same as the push technique in the above (3).

As described in the present invention, in order to uniformly and efficiently support "exchange" of high transactions such as conversation (chat) and e-commerce, and to provide the convenience of the user, it is necessary to thoroughly implement the method as described later. In addition, it is necessary to develop a unified, strategic design and technical development, and moreover, it is essential to have a technology to support multiple "exchanges" only with HTTP, and therefore the present invention and this launcher system are essentially essential. Are different. However, the conventional systems (1) to (7) do not have the following functions a to f. a. Normal web chat system This is a normal browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer
) Must be launched by the user, and is usually done on the browser. Therefore, a function that always stays on the client PC without starting the browser and interacts with the web server, or a function that starts up the browser for the first time or starts another application according to an instruction from the web server side In addition, the web type application for chat does not have the function to send some specific information to the client side like the push technology, and it is a conventional technology that it works with such function. There was no inside.

Further, since the chat on the browser is merely a web server application started by a browser specialized in chat, the present invention exists on the client PC as in the present invention, and various other web servers exist. There is no function that always interacts with the application inside the backside (even when the client is not aware). Conventionally, a system that allows only chatting via a so-called simple web server and on a client browser has been conventional.

B. ICQ type system Since this kind of application system requires a special server such as an IRC server, it was not possible to build a system using a web server as it is. Therefore, this application did not dynamically work with other applications in the web server. Furthermore, this is the biggest drawback, but real-time chat (electronic text conversation) by the IRC server requires passing through an intranet proxy / firewall. However, the proxy firewall in the intranet set in ordinary companies, government offices, etc.
The system administrator who manages it sets up a special server such as an IRC server so that clients can chat with each other, and it is impossible to make a session with a special server such as an IRC server unless you open a hole It works. Conversely, there is no firewall / proxy server that can pass freely without making a hole, and in order for clients to be able to talk with each other using the IRC server of the system and the application, it is necessary to make sure that the firewall / proxy You have to change the server settings.

Normally, the port assigned to the web application by HTTP on the Internet server is 80, and HTTP is exchanged through this port. Real-time chat via a special server such as an IRC server is performed. Does not pass 80. On the other hand, access to a general Internet server outside the office from an office or the like of an ordinary company, school, government office, or the like via an intranet is normally possible through the 80th. However, with a conventional IRC server, it is impossible to pass through here, and if a system administrator does not get a port number of 1024 or more (for example, 2000 or 3000 series) "drilled" by the system administrator, the session (sender And the receiver cannot be logically combined).

Furthermore, the conventional ICQ-like system only resides on the client terminal but only has communication as a main function. It was impossible to use multimedia, such as going, watching videos, playing games, displaying graphs, and playing music. In other words, while always occupying a certain place on the client terminal at the time when the PC is turned on and being always connected to a specific server on the Internet, only chatting on this occupied screen is possible. What was impossible was the conventional system. This occupied part was not utilized as multimedia. In other words, despite being aimed at occupying a certain space on the client terminal for a lot of time as a “portal” to the Internet / intranet, the information provided to the client through that space is ,
The only purpose of the conventional system is to display only information on who and who is "connected" or "away" from other clients. Despite the extremely valuable space occupied by this portal, there are many videos, still images, music, games,
It does not have a function of transmitting multimedia-type information such as graphs and character information.

This drawback is that conventional systems of this kind
This is an essential drawback in that the communication is not connected to the WEB server by the HTTP protocol but is connected only to the special server by a special protocol specialized for communication. Also, in the case of a system such as this type of external IRC server which requires a constant connection with a special server, the client always connects to the outside through the specially opened "hole" as described above. In the state of being. This is different from the idea of a firewall / proxy, which distinguishes inside and outside from each other, and means that the inside client is not connected to the outside by this “hole” as it is. There is a problem that monitoring and management such as client authentication confirmation, identity verification, and granting access authority cannot be performed at all. In that sense, there is a problem that permitting the use of this kind of ICQ type communication means in the intranet actually opens a "hole" in the proxy. In addition, a normal ICQ type system does not consider a cryptographic system. When introducing a cryptographic system (SSL, SSL, etc.) that operates in conjunction with HTTP used between a browser and a WEB server which are generally widely used for the Internet.
ET method) could not be used, and it was necessary to develop a cryptographic system with a proprietary protocol using a proprietary protocol.

Further, when the screen of this ICQ type application is used as a portal, another WE
Similarly, the encryption method for multimedia information from the B server is no longer linked with HTTP, and there is a problem that a unique one must be developed.

C. 2. Push Technology The conventional push technology is a broadcast-type service form in which information always flows on a client terminal, and there is no mechanism that works in conjunction with a communication part as in the present invention. There were no tools that allowed clients to communicate without having to launch a browser.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the simple chat communication system in the prior art,
The present invention invents a communication system that has a more dynamic multimedia function and allows various electronic commerce, which allows a firewall / proxy server to pass through in a normal setting, similarly to a WEB browser.
Regardless of whether or not the browser software is started, this is always sent from the WEB server according to the instructions of HTTP.
Automatically retrieves text information, music and video information, and places a WE in the space occupied on the client terminal for a long time.
It is a system that can display multimedia information and various electronic commerce information from the B server, and at the same time, can communicate with the client by using the function provided by this space as if it were a telephone.

D. Web auction system / various web version user participation type e-commerce system Conventional auction system is usually a browser (Nets
cape or Internet Explore) must be launched by the user and is usually done on the browser. Therefore, a function that always resides on the client terminal when the browser is not started and exchanges auctions and various types of user-participated e-commerce with the web server, and the browser is operated by some instructions from the web server regarding various e-commerce It does not have the ability to launch for the first time, start another application, or force specific information on various e-commerce to be sent to clients who have not launched a browser.

Further, since various electronic commerce systems on a browser are merely web server applications started on the browser, the electronic commerce system always communicates with applications in other web servers on the client terminal as in the present invention. There is no function that performs the process behind the scenes (even when the client is unaware). Conventionally, there has been a system in which only so-called various electronic commerce can be performed through a so-called simple web server and on a client browser.

E. Various user participatory electronic commerce systems combined with ICQ type systems ICQ type systems are widely spread at present, and on the clients of this type of ICQ type system which occupies valuable space which can be said to be the prime location of user PC The idea of mounting an e-commerce system in which a large number of users simultaneously participate, such as an auction, has been proposed. However, in this case, the usual IC
It is customary for the Q type to use a unique protocol to support chat, while a multi-user electronic commerce system such as a web auction which is currently widely used is controlled by the HTTP protocol. Typically, two different protocols will be used side by side.

In such a case, a mechanism for simultaneously processing two or more protocols is required for the client side application on the same system, and the implementation of the system becomes heavy. In addition, e-commerce systems that are considered to be further developed include, for example, a communication function for confirming items and discussing details of transactions during or before and after an auction, and people who are interested in a theme of interest in the e-commerce. It is thought that those that integrate functions that support the gathering community will become useful and powerful. In this case, when various electronic commerce systems such as auctions made on a web version are combined with a conventional ICQ type system, HTTP is the protocol most widely used on the web as in the present invention. , It is impossible to control chat and various kinds of electronic commerce essentially in an integrated manner.

For example, when control is performed by a single HTTP protocol, HTTPS (SS) is used in accordance with an encryption method such as SSL.
Similarly, the chat and the electronic commerce can be controlled collectively and collectively by a single HTTP corresponding to L.
On the other hand, in an ICQ type system based on a proprietary protocol other than the HTTP protocol which is widely used at present, when the Web version auction is combined, it becomes very inconvenient that the proprietary protocol and the HTTP need to be separately encrypted. . Conversely, in order to avoid such inconveniences, it is possible to consider unifying the protocols of various e-commerce systems with multiple users, such as web version auctions, in accordance with the protocols of the ICQ type chat system. This means that the web-based electronic commerce system, which is currently widely used, is drastically improved.

In the present invention, transactions through various web-based electronic commerce systems of the multi-user type and transactions through the direct multimedia commerce system resident in the client terminal according to the present invention are integrated in the system core part. However, if the protocol is integrated into the ICQ type system side as in the preamble, the web version of electronic commerce can be recreated, or one can be prepared in a separate system, and can be separated from the conventional web version system. It requires a very advanced coordination system for real-time system coordination and is extremely difficult.

Furthermore, if the ICQ type system is integrated into a proprietary protocol side, there is also a disadvantage that it is difficult to pass through the intranet firewall / proxy server unless a hole is made as described above. Therefore, it is easy to use in an office with an intranet, which is a place where a business (eg, a company), which is a very important user of an e-commerce system, which is expected to participate in a large number of users at the same time, is usually expected to participate in commerce. The risk of becoming unusual becomes stronger. The need to quickly interact with details about the terms of a transaction, such as bidding,
Participation from the corporate office, which is a heavy intranet user, is assumed to be a very important user.

F. Launcher system It is customary and long known that links to browser applications can be executed from the same launcher in the form of a toolbar or icon. It has been possible for a long time to send and display various information on the small launcher by the push technology of (3). However, in these systems,
It is not possible to check the status of a plurality of participant clients (for example, on / off to the Internet or an intranet), and a function for grasping various electronic commerce and supporting the participant's transactions is not implemented. However, supporting chat and various electronic commerce in the space of this kind of launcher is theoretically possible for many people, and in that sense, the idea situation has been known for a long time.

However, chat and various e-commerce transactions are regarded as essentially one kind of “exchange” of high transactions of the same digital information, and these are unifiedly controlled and managed by one HTTP protocol most widely used in the Web field. The system that enabled it is not considered. As in the present invention, the unified management of these "high transactions" and "exchanges" by HTTP requires considerable contrivance on the backside of the system and the development of key technologies related to the center of the "exchange" of information that can be called an engine. Yes, it sets it apart from what is simply called feasible in theory. The normal launcher merely displays information and provides a simple link to the home page or application on the web that the user wants to go to. From the beginning, conversations using one HTTP, multimedia information, various electronic It is completely different from those that support, control and manage all transactions in commerce.

[0031]

That is, the present invention provides an application program linked by HTTP incorporated in each client terminal, and an HTTP communication program and application connected to each client terminal via a line. It consists of a WEB server having a CGI interface for execution, and using this application, each client exchanges electronic sentences (chat) in pseudo-real-time via the Internet and an intranet, and various types of communication on the client. A client-side application linked via HTTP to a system on a web server configured to enable various commercial transactions such as auctions, etc., to be updated frequently and quickly responding through the application. A communication system including a Shon.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication system, the application program is configured to be accessible to a web server via an HTTP communication program in a state where each client has not started browser software. It is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when realizing "pseudo-real""electronic sentence exchange" (chat), a special server such as an IRC server is used, and an intranet is used as a proxy for exchange with an external general Internet. Port 8 open on server or firewall
Combined with a special client-side application (described above that works with HTTP) so that you can bother chatting with the web server to go through number 0, but without having to launch the browser on the client side It is characterized by comprising.

The fourth invention is an HT that occupies a small space on a client terminal instead of a browser at all times.
TP-linked applications (games, videos, graphs,
Various e-commerce transactions (auction, reverse auction, joint purchasing, bartering, bartering, etc.), such as music, text information, and auctions, where information is updated frequently and it is desired that the client respond immediately. , A flea market, a stock transaction, etc.), so that the application and the web server are finally (set) designed to be able to be started. If an IRC server is used, it is difficult for such other web-type applications to run on the same HTTP-linked client-side application, which is a disadvantage of the conventional technology. It is a very big feature.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the web server of this system has a function of always checking the client side, thereby making it possible to determine whether or not the client is connected to the server and to prepare for receiving a chat conversation. It is characterized by checking whether there is, and whether there is a request or instruction on the server side on the client side. For example, it is characterized in that it is checked whether there is a request or instruction of a client regarding various electronic commerce.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when a person or clients who wants to connect is selected (multiple or plural), the client is notified of a conversation (chat) request, and the client receives the request. It is possible to perform various exchanges related to chat and various electronic commerce between clients via the client.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, various information (weather forecast, stock price information, news, fortune telling, etc.)
It is characterized in that information related to various electronic commerce can be continuously transmitted in characters. For example, if an auction field that the client is interested in is specified in advance in the application, various notifications such as auction notification, bidding status, listing status, successful bid result, inquiry status, price movement, etc. It is possible to keep displaying information on the application every moment. In addition, for example, in general electronic commerce and the like not only in auctions, by specifying in advance the fields, items, and the like of goods, services, and the like that are of interest on the client side, electronic commerce of the matter can be performed. Various information is transmitted from time to time according to the client's preset settings, and can be displayed on the application on the client.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a hyperlinkable HTML format display is provided in an application portion on the client side, and by clicking on the display, another browser can be started. Therefore,
Various information related to various e-commerce is transmitted from the web server to the client's application from outside the web server, and is displayed and stored every moment. Web application of the e-commerce system can be started. In other words, it is possible to open the web page for the corresponding e-commerce, open a web page, log in, etc., one by one, thereby bringing convenience to the user.

According to a ninth aspect, in a space of an application on the client side, according to a designated procedure, a face / moving image of a chat partner or an image of an object related to electronic commerce can be displayed. It has a function that enables a telephone call with a videophone. Further, it becomes possible to display images and the like relating to various electronic commerce in the client application.
For example, while displaying images of products to be auctioned or sold, the faces of people participating in the e-commerce, etc., all communication such as negotiating conditions, exchanging confirmations, questions and answers, etc. Is possible through

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, an application on the client side is used to access the web server and start a chat with another client, or to select the multimedia function and obtain multimedia information from the web server. In order to obtain information on various electronic commerce, participate in such transactions, and perform various exchanges concerning actual commercial transactions, the web server really gives the client the right to access the server. It has a function of “identity confirmation” and “authentication confirmation” for confirming whether or not the user is qualified to participate in the commercial transaction.

According to an eleventh aspect, the web server is accessed using a client-side application,
Chat with other clients, select the multimedia function described above, obtain multimedia information from the web server, obtain various electronic commerce information in the application on the client, and "exchange" (tr
ansaction), the "exchange" of all these information is controlled uniformly by a single HTTP, which is the most widely used protocol in the field related to the Web, and is controlled individually. I do. As a result, the conventional methods (for example, running an ICQ type system and a web version of an e-commerce application on it) are impossible for “Commerce” and “Comm”.
unication, Community, Contents ”can be centrally grasped and controlled.

According to a twelfth aspect, the web server is accessed by using a client-side application.
Start chatting with other clients, select the multimedia function described above, obtain multimedia information from the web server, obtain information on various e-commerce, participate in the transaction, participate in various transactions related to actual transactions Proxy server /
The firewall server is characterized in that it has a function of encoding and decoding using an encryption method that works in conjunction with HTTP, such as SSL or SET, which is generally widely used. What is particularly important here is that the "exchange" of electronic sentences such as chats, the "exchange" of various multimedia information, and all the "exchanges" of various electronic commerce are most widely used in the field related to the Web called HTTP. "Commerce", "Communication, Community", which is unified by one protocol and was not possible with conventional methods (eg, running an ICQ type system and a web version of e-commerce application on it) , Content
s ”can be unified. Thereby, HTTP
It is possible to centrally perform cryptographic control using a widely-used cryptosystem such as SSL that operates in conjunction with.

The thirteenth invention is a client-resident application which can operate integrally with a web version of various e-commerce application systems widely used and commonly used by many people. The application also features the ability to support the exchange of electronic sentences (chat) between a large number of widely used people.

In the fourteenth invention, the exchange of electronic sentences (chat), the exchange of various multimedia information, and the exchange relating to electronic commerce all involve considerable input and output of information.
Processing is required, and processing and handling of high transactions are required. It is an essential part of the present invention to control all of these in one protocol, but in order to realize this, a TCP / IP part for Internet correspondence and HTTP are combined as a session / transport control part inside the server. "Multimedia Direct Commerce Manager Protoco, which supports the exchange of complex information
l) (MDCMP) ”, a unique internal protocol needs to be developed. The control on the server side by this protocol is the essence of the present invention.

The fifteenth invention is characterized in that in order to process "exchange" of information of the same transaction, the client and the server have a three-layer structure so as to form a pair. In other words, if the structure is such that a large number of transactions directly access the database,
It can easily be assumed that the load on the database is too high and the performance of the entire system is rapidly reduced. In order to avoid this, a layer (session / transport control layer) responsible for access control and communication control to each database, and a server part that processes various electronic commerce, chat, and various multimedia information, and both. The server-side configuration is a total of three layers (MDCMP) that manage sessions with users. On the other hand, in the form corresponding to this structure of the server, the application on the client side includes various electronic commerce, chat, various multimedia information exchange and display layers,
It has a three-layer structure consisting of a layer of the session / transport control part that controls the exchange of high transaction communication and a layer of the Core Engine part that enables high transaction processing between both. And
For the first time with such a three-layer structure, high-transaction transactions such as various types of e-commerce, chat, and exchange of various multimedia information on the client application are performed.
Input and output by unified processing of information by HTTP protocol
Display and processing can be efficiently realized.

In the sixteenth invention, the client is not limited to a PC, but is connected to the Internet or an intranet, such as a mobile phone, a PDA terminal, a TV terminal, or any other network terminal such as a game machine or a CATV SET TOP BOX. Is characterized in that it functions in exactly the same way as the client application on the PC.
In other words, on the display part of all these terminals, a client-side application for displaying the chat, various multimedia information, and various electronic commerce in a unified and simple manner with one protocol (HTTP),
While being closely linked to this, it is also an integrated system that simultaneously links with web-type applications such as web chat, various web-version applications, and various web-version electronic commerce applications by HTTP.

[0047]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described in detail. FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention.
FIG.₁~ PC_nIs each client
To 1₁~ 1_nPersonal computer (PC and
PC)_i~ PC_nIs linked by HTTP
Made to move, client 1₁~ 1 _nIs my own
Launch PC and connect to internet or intranet
Appearing on the PC for a considerable amount of time
Multimedia direct commerce system
Stem application 2₁~ 2_nIs installed
Have been.

Clients A _{1 to} A ₄ are PDs other than PCs
A, etc., which are always connected to the Internet or an intranet, etc., at all times or on a case-by-case basis, and assume that a client-side application operating in conjunction with the HTTP protocol appears on the display portion of the client terminal. The application 2 of the multimedia direct commerce system is installed. Each of the client terminals PC _{1 to} PC _n and each of the client terminals A _{1 to} A ₄ are connected to the Internet 12 and / or the intranet 11 via a public line, a telephone line, a dedicated line, and a LAN line wirelessly. It is connected to the server 30.

The web server 30 incorporates an HTTP communication program 13, and includes a session / transport control section 14 in the web server 30.
And the Multimedia Direct Commerce Manager part 15
And the User Session Manager
on Manager) 16 and a web-type chat server 1 that enables web chat
8. Various application programs of various electronic commerce servers 17, various multimedia application servers 19, and connected party list management server 20 are stored.

[0050] Application _{2 1} on the client terminal PC _i and client _{A n,} the display portion of the information 4,
It includes a display unit 3 capable of hyperlinking by HTML and a display unit 5 of a connected person / registrant list, and at the same time, displays multimedia information and information on various electronic commerce (moving images, still images, music, graphs, character information, games, etc.). Display unit 6,
It comprises a program constituting a multimedia function and e-commerce function selection display section 7 and a display section 8 for displaying a message such as an advertisement. The connection list display unit 5 has a function of displaying whether another client terminal _i (domain name), which is a registrant who has registered in advance, and a client A _i are connected to the web server 30. have.

[0051] from the connection list 5, intranet and / or Internet 12 When you click to select the other side client terminal _i (domain name) or client A _i he wants to communicate, web server 30, an intranet and / or Internet 12 Via the other PC
Display conversation requests the display unit of the _i or terminal A _i comes out. If the corresponding client 1 _n receives it, another window 9
Rise, and the exchange of electronic sentences (chat) starts there. It is possible for multiple clients at the same time.

When the button of the multimedia and electronic commerce function selection display section 7 is selected, the display section 6 displays various multimedia information and various electronic commerce information on the web type multimedia application server 19 and the web type multimedia server 19 in the web server 30. Desired multimedia information and various electronic commerce information are transmitted and displayed from various electronic commerce servers 17 via the Internet 12 or the like according to HTTP. For example, a moving image is transmitted in a streaming form (so that it can be played in real time), and the whole of the application 2 functions as if it were a television, or has a Shockwave, Flash, Java
a (registered trademark) is distributed from the web server 30 in the same manner, so that the application 2 functions as if it were a game board, or the stock price information is distributed from the web server 30 as graph information. As a result, the movement of the stock of the predetermined brand input by the user in advance is displayed on the application 2 as a graph. Further, in this display portion, information on various electronic commerce is displayed. Users can select information such as auctions that they are interested in by setting them, display them moment by moment, and click on that screen to display a detailed screen that further enhances the information, and respond quickly to that information (Bid). Alternatively, depending on the setting, it is also possible to construct a system such that a separate window 10 of a web application of various electronic commerce or the like or a browser 10 _n of homepage browsing software starts. Multimedia function selection display section 7
When the so-called videophone function is selected, an image such as the face of the client on the other end is displayed in the display space 6 in the application 2 and the sound comes out in synchronization. If client 1 _n is in an environment such as an intranet, proxy server 1 with or without firewall 11 of FIG. 1
1, when connected to the external Internet 12, as shown in FIG.
That is, the HTTP protocol can be passed.

Various information can be transmitted to the information display section 4 in the application 2 in conjunction with the various electronic commerce servers 17 and the multimedia application server 19 in the web server 30.
Further, the external content information provider 21 sends information from the multimedia application server system 19 connected to the web server 30 so that the information is displayed in accordance with a predetermined rule and a setting according to a client's request. Can be displayed on the display.

The application 2 part in each client not only displays various electronic commerce information, but also executes a predetermined procedure from the application part to start a browser on the same application or separately, or to execute another program. It is designed to be able to easily execute a transaction related to the electronic commerce by being activated. The exchange of e-commerce between a normal web-type application running on a browser and the direct multimedia commerce application according to the present invention is controlled in a unified manner by various e-commerce servers 17, which are based on databases relating to various e-commerce (hereinafter, referred to as databases). DB 22), a DB 23 for managing users, and a DB 24 for storing information on various multimedia applications.

The web server 30 has a connection list management server 20 which, in conjunction with the user management database 23, constantly checks which client is connected and is preparing to accept a conversation. While managing its state. When passing through 11 firewall / proxy servers, follow a predetermined rule and ask the client to verify that he / she really has access to the web server and to check with the client It has the functions of "identity confirmation" and "authentication confirmation", and it is possible for a client to pass through here for the first time by inputting a valid ID and password. Such "authentication confirmation" etc. is not carried out specially to a dedicated server such as an IRC server, but is a general rule for entering and exiting the intranet / internet as well as accessing other web servers. The method allows for centralized management and monitoring.

Since the chat electronic text, multimedia information, and various electronic commerce information are exchanged collectively with a web server using the HTTP protocol, an encryption method (SSL) widely used as an encryption for the Internet working in conjunction with HTTP is used. , SET, etc.) and the client side ₁₁ and firewall / proxy server 1
In the encryption programs 11 ′ and 11 ″ in 1, chat electronic sentences and multimedia information can be centrally encrypted and decrypted by the same method.

The client terminals are not limited to PCs, but include mobile phone clients A ₁ , PDA clients A ₂ , T
V terminal client _{A 3,} Other CATV SETTO
Various Internet terminal clients A such as PBOX and game consoles
_{As in 4} , all terminals connected to the Internet / intranet can function as the client of the present invention.
Each client controls the exchange of conversation (chat), multimedia information, and various types of e-commerce information using a single protocol called HTTP, and is designed to operate in conjunction with the web server 30 that controls the exchange of these information. Have been.

In this embodiment, the case where the Internet and the intranet are always connected has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the case of the Internet, the client side terminal conforms to TCP / IP. A dialer is installed, and the web server 3 is accessed from each user terminal at predetermined time intervals set in advance.
Needless to say, it may be configured to access 0. In such a case, since the web server 30 stores information of another user who wants to talk on behalf of each user, and distributes the information to another client's PC, the communication is a pseudo real-time communication.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a design according to the present invention. It is important that both the server and the client have a three-layer structure. Between the client terminal and the server, three "exchange" information of conversation, multimedia information and various electronic commerce will be exchanged in a unified manner, so very high transaction processing and control is assumed. It is very important to have a system that supports both exchanges stably and efficiently.

On the server side, the lowermost layer session / transport control section 2-6, User Session
Manager 2-4 and a multimedia direct commerce manager 2-5, and various e-commerce commerce server layers 2-1 and chat server layers 2-2 and various multimedia which operate on the second layer. And an application server layer 2-3. The lowermost layer controls high transactions consisting of exchanges with various DBs and frequent exchanges of high transactions with each client terminal. The second layer is a part that performs the role of an engine that controls the exchange between the server and the session / transport layer.

Similarly, on the client side, various electronic commerce applications 2-11 and various application parts 2-11 on the top layer which provide an actual user interface and perform business transactions with the session / transport control section 2-15 on the bottom layer. 12 and a middle layer of a CORE engine part for performing high transaction control and processing for unifying and controlling conversation (chat), various multimedia information, and various electronic commerce information between the chat application part 2-13. Take the structure. Theoretically, various electronic commerce are displayed on a conventional ICQ type system,
The idea of controlling has been around for a long time, but it has been quite technically difficult to realize.

One reason is that the transaction is so high that it has been difficult to control the exchange of WEB-type electronic commerce in a batch. As mentioned above, both on the client terminal and server side,
This is made possible for the first time by having a three-layer structure, and is one of important parts of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail the protocol part of the important part of the invention. The lowermost session / transport control part consists of TCP / IP and HTTP.

The upper layer is mainly composed of two layers. In order to realize exchange of conversation, various kinds of multimedia information, and various kinds of electronic commerce, each protocol for controlling the exchange with each server in the uppermost layer and the User Session Manager protocol and a multimedia direct commerce protocol (Multimedia DirectCom
Merce Manager Protocol (MDCMP).
By configuring the protocol in this way, a server and a client system that can control an extremely high transaction composed of three kinds of exchanges of chat, various multimedia and electronic commerce in one system by HTTP in a unified manner. Can be constructed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for particularly explaining the configuration on the server side. An important part is a server part 4-1 of various electronic commerce. Prior to the present invention, a system (4-3) such as an auction centered on the web (browser) has been widely known for a long time, and various electronic commerce server systems (e.g., web version auctions) that support electronic commerce such as web auctions on many sites. 4-4) exists. The present invention unifies the display and control of chat, exchange of various multimedia information, and exchange of various electronic commerce in a client application (4-2) which is not a browser. By providing a special commerce server (4-4) linked with the server (4-4) and closely linked with the above-mentioned three-layer structure, the client application (4 The system of the present invention that operates in conjunction with -2) can be constructed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of the system according to the present invention. Various electronic commerce application parts 2-11, various application parts 2-12 and chat application parts 2-1 are provided on the client terminal.
3 is stored.

(1) When the user clicks a character or image link button on the multimedia and electronic commerce type function selection display section 7, the core engineering portion 2-14 is displayed.
The command is sent to.

(2) Core Engine part 2-1
In No. 4, the instruction is translated into an instruction for efficiently converting and transmitting the instruction to a portion for efficiently controlling the session / transport. The translated instructions are sent to the session / transport control part.

(3) The control part 2-16 generates a TCP / IP and HTTP protocol command based on the command.

(4) The generated command is transmitted to the web server 3 via the Internet 12 or the intranet 11.
Sent to 0.

(5) The web server 30 uses HTTP
It is sent to the session / transport control unit 2-6 via the protocol conversion unit.

(6) Session of Web Server 30
In the transport control part 2-6, the "various electronic commerce DB 2-7" and the "user management D"
B2-8 "," Various multimedia applications D "
B2-9 "and a program X for extracting necessary data from the" external information provider 2-10 ".

(7) On the other hand, the session / transport control section 2-6 transmits instructions on the TCP / IP and HTTP protocols to multimedia direct commerce.
It is translated into an internal protocol MDCMP that can be understood by a manager (hereinafter referred to as MDCM), and generates instructions.

(8) In the MDCM, various internal e-commerce commerce protocol engines (EP) α and chat service protocol (CSP) based on the transmitted command.
Start the engine β or other service protocol (OSP) engine γ and generate instructions to run each server.

(9) User session manager 2
The command generated by the MDCM is transmitted to each server based on the control of -4 to activate various servers.

(10) The web server 30 confirms the identity and authentication of the transmitting user by checking with the user DB 2-8 whether or not the transmitting user has the access right to the web server. Denies access.

(11) When the identity is confirmed, the started various servers input / output data to / from a predetermined database, and which clients are connected to the output data in conjunction with the user management database 23. While the connection is being made and the conversation is being prepared, the protocol is converted in the opposite manner to the above (1) to (9), and the connection from the web server 30 is changed. The information is transmitted to each client terminal and finally displayed on the display of the PC.

[0077]

As described above, the greatest feature of the system according to the present invention is that all exchanges of conversations (chat), various multimedia information and various high-level transactions of various electronic commerce are integrally controlled by HTTP. Multimedia type communication tool as a single client application, not on the browser,
It was launched in a way that works perfectly with the web server. Therefore, conventional ICQ type communication tools usually use protocols other than HTTP,
While a special server that is not a web server such as a server must be prepared, the client can use the system according to the present invention regardless of whether it is in an intranet or not, if there is an environment that can view the normal web ,
Conversation with other clients, acquisition and display of various multimedia information, display of various electronic commerce such as auctions,
Can interact.

Also, if there is only a web server that supports a normal web, a "window" for sending and exchanging various multimedia information in addition to the exchange of electronic sentences (chat) on this application, and a convenient display of various electronic commerce. And it can be easily used as entrance and exit for exchange. In other words, the conventional ICQ type communication application always uses the PQ so that it can always chat with other pre-registered clients like a telephone.
Assuming that it is running on C, and despite being strongly promoted as a "portal" (front door) of the Internet as a business, it uses a special server such as an IRC server until it gets tired, so HTTP Since the communication with the server side is performed using a protocol other than the above, the screen on the application, which is a “place” on the PC as the portal, transmits and receives multimedia information and e-commerce information as in the present invention. It was not made.

Further, various web-type applications often controlled by HTTP can be used as they are in IR
It was not built to run on a C-type system.
For example, an auction system is widely spread as a web-type system. However, in order for the system to be used as it is on an IRC-type system, an original protocol of the IRC-type system and a normal web-type electronic commerce system such as a web-type auction system are used. The difference with the working HTTP protocol is
It was difficult to control the exchange of conversations, multimedia information, and electronic commerce using the same protocol. The present invention uses HTTP as the operating principle, and although the external shape is similar, it is fundamentally developed from a mere conversational one to a multimedia information "window" and e-commerce "window". It was made. Therefore, while aiming for the client's "Internet portal" in the same way, the value of this "portal" can be strengthened and maximized with a view to e-commerce, which will grow in the future. .

In particular, the operation principle (HTT
P and web server), it can pass through almost all intranet and internet environments.
Especially in the premises such as offices where many client terminals such as PCs are always connected to the intranet via the LAN, etc., via the proxy / firewall, and connected to the outside world in the future, if this application is started up, You can talk with other clients without having to open a browser and without having to open the port to the system administrator like ICQ, and you can get information on various multimedia types on the web. Above, it is possible to obtain information of various e-commerce that is expected to respond promptly and change quickly, and users can immediately conduct business from this client. It can be used.

The present invention can be a powerful “Internet multimedia commerce portal” especially in a client terminal where the external Internet world is always connected through an intranet or a dedicated line. Further, in the present invention, since all of the electronic text of communication, multimedia information, and exchange of various electronic commerce are controlled by HTTP,
Using an HTTP-linked encryption method (SSL, SET, etc.) usually used on the Internet, the exchange of chat electronic text, multimedia information, and various electronic commerce transactions can be easily and centrally encrypted.

On the other hand, the ICQ type system is HTTP
In order to use this protocol to encrypt this chat electronic text, it is not possible to use SSL and SET widely used for the Internet, and it is different from the encryption for communication with the web server. Is necessary, and there is an inconvenience that two systems must be prepared for security. In the system of the present invention, since the communication with the web server can be performed by HTTP, the encryption can be centrally managed by a widely used method (SSL, SET method, etc.), so that the security is consistently uniform. Can be provided.

Also, from the viewpoint of security, it is not necessary to always open a specific port on the proxy server / firewall of the intranet, and the encryption is centrally managed by a single system that is used for communication with the normal web server. In addition to what you can do, you can centrally perform "identity verification" and "authentication verification" in the same way as with a general HTTP-based external web server for entering and leaving the intranet / internet. Confirmation is further strengthened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram of a multimedia direct commerce system corresponding to various electronic commerce transactions of high transaction under unified HTTP protocol control using the Internet and intranet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hierarchical structure of a client part and a server part of the system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical configuration of a protocol of a high transaction session.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a mechanism of data exchange on the server side, in particular, of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a state of conversion of a command from a client terminal to a web server in the system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ₁ to 1 _n each client PC ₁ to PC _n the personal computer 2 ₁ to 2 _n multimedia direct commerce system applications 3 hyperlink can display 6 Multi display unit 5 jointer and registration list of the display unit 4 Information Information display section for media information and various electronic commerce 7 Multimedia function and electronic commerce function selection display section 8 Message display section 9 Window 10 Window 11 Internet 12 Intranet 13 HTTP communication program 14 Session / transport control section 15 Multimedia direct Commerce Manager (MDCM) 16 User Session Manager 17 Various E-Commerce Servers 18 Web Type Chat Server 19 Various Multimedia Applications Ba 20 connection list management server 21 external information provider 22 various types of electronic commerce database (DB) 23 user management database (DB) 24 various multimedia applications database (DB) 30 web server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An uppermost layer of various application programs linked by HTTP, TCP / IP and HTT
A lowermost layer that performs session / transport control of the P protocol, and application programs that perform high transaction control processing for unifying and controlling the exchange between the various uppermost layer application programs and the lowermost session / transport control Client terminal consisting of an intermediate layer having an engine corresponding to the above, a top layer having servers such as various e-commerce commerce servers, chat servers and various multimedia application servers, and TCP / IP and HTTP
A lower layer for performing session / transport control of a protocol, a middle layer including a user session manager and a multimedia direct commerce manager for integrally controlling the exchange between the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer and managing access users; A web server having a CGI interface including various electronic commerce databases, a user management database, and various multimedia application databases, and a communication line such as the Internet or an intranet connecting the web server with each of the client terminals, Using an application embedded in each client terminal and web server, each client can connect to the pseudo-rear via the Internet and intranet. Communication system comprising a client-side applications that work with the system and HTTP on the Web server, characterized in that it is configured to allow exchange of electronic statements in a state of time. 2. The top layer of various application programs linked by HTTP, TCP / IP and HTT
A lowermost layer that performs session / transport control of the P protocol, and application programs that perform high transaction control processing for unifying and controlling the exchange between the various uppermost layer application programs and the lowermost session / transport control Client terminal consisting of an intermediate layer having an engine corresponding to the above, a top layer having servers such as various e-commerce commerce servers, chat servers and various multimedia application servers, and TCP / IP and HTTP
A lower layer for performing session / transport control of a protocol, a middle layer including a user session manager and a multimedia direct commerce manager for integrally controlling the exchange between the uppermost layer and the lowermost layer and managing access users; A web server having a CGI interface including various electronic commerce databases, a user management database, and various multimedia application databases, and a communication line such as the Internet or an intranet connecting the web server with each of the client terminals, Auctions and other information are updated frequently through various applications on each client terminal, and various commercial transactions that require immediate response are possible. Communication system comprising a client-side applications that work with the system and HTTP on the Web server, characterized in that is configured to be. 3. The application program according to claim 1, wherein the application program is configured to be accessible to a web server via an HTTP communication program when each client terminal does not launch browser software. A communication system as described. 4. A port in which an intranet is opened to a proxy server or a firewall for an external general Internet communication type without using a special server such as an IRC server in realizing a pseudo-real electronic text exchange. The feature is that it is configured by combining with a special client side application so that it is not necessary to open a browser on the client side while enabling a chat by a web server to pass through the 80th. Item 2. The communication system according to Item 1. 5. It is desired that information such as an HTTP-linked application and an auction occupying a small space on a client terminal instead of a browser be updated frequently and the client immediately respond to it. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the application and the web server are designed in pairs so that an application enabling various electronic commerce is activated by a mouse click. 6. The web server has means for constantly checking the connection status of each predetermined client terminal, and the means for checking whether or not each client terminal is connected to the server, and further having a chat conversation. 6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein it is checked whether the server is in a preparation state for accepting, and whether there is any request or instruction on the server side at each client terminal side. 7. When a client terminal desired to be connected is selected from the display unit of each client terminal, a chat request is displayed on the display unit of the selected client terminal, and the client receives the request. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the client is able to chat between clients via a web server.
A communication system as described. 8. A client terminal according to a procedure designated by the client, wherein various character information and / or image information and the like are continuously output from the web server to the application. The communication system according to claim 1. 9. An application part of each client terminal having a display in an HTML format capable of hyperlinking, wherein the client is clicked to open another selected browser. 9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein: 10. The multimedia application on each client terminal side has a function of displaying a face / moving image of the other party in chat or an image of an object related to e-commerce, etc. according to a procedure designated by the client. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein: 11. A client application, a chat application, various electronic commerce applications, and a multimedia application are incorporated in each client's application. The client accesses the web server and starts chatting with another client, or selects a multimedia function. It is possible to obtain multimedia information from the web server, obtain information on various electronic commerce and participate in the transaction, and when the web server performs various exchanges regarding actual commercial transactions, the client "Identity Confirmation" to confirm that you are really authorized to access the server or qualify to participate in the transaction.
2. A function of "authentication confirmation".
11. The communication system according to any one of claims 10 to 10. 12. A chat application, various e-commerce applications, and a multimedia application are incorporated in each client side application. The web server is accessed to start a chat with another client, and a multimedia function is selected. It is possible to obtain multimedia information from the web server, obtain information on various electronic commerce and participate in the transaction, and when the web server performs various exchanges regarding actual commercial transactions, all of this information is The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the exchange is uniformly controlled by HTTP, which is the most widely used protocol in the field related to the Web. 13. A chat application, various e-commerce applications, and a multimedia application are incorporated in each client application. The client accesses the web server, starts a chat with another client, and selects a multimedia function. It is possible to obtain multimedia information from the web server, obtain information on various electronic commerce and participate in the transaction, and when the web server performs various exchanges regarding actual commercial transactions, each client terminal and The web server is a proxy server /
A communication system, characterized in that a firewall server has a function of enabling or disabling encryption using a cryptosystem that works in conjunction with HTTP, such as SSL or SET, which is generally widely used. 14. An application embedded in each client terminal, which can be integrated with a system of various web-based e-commerce applications widely used and commonly used by many people. 2. The application of claim 1, wherein the application is capable of supporting the exchange of electronic sentences between a large number of widely used people.
14. A communication system according to any one of claims 13 to 13. 15. In order to handle the exchange of high transaction information, each client and the web server have a three-layer structure of a bottom layer, a middle layer, and a top layer so as to form a pair. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is performed. 16. Each client terminal is constituted by a mobile phone, a PDA terminal, a TV terminal, other game terminals, or various network terminals such as a CATV SET TOP BOX having similar functions. 1 to 1
6. The communication system according to 5.