US 20120278462A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2012/0278462 A1 Lee et al. (43) Pub. Date: Nov. 1, 2012 (54) UNIFIED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND UNIFIED COMMUNICATION METHOD USING MULTI-LOGIN, TERMINAL FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOL, AND COMMUNICATION METHOD IN TERMINAL (75) Inventors: Suk Young Lee, Seongnam-si (KR); Soo Young Kim, Seongnam-si (KR); Gyu H Kim, Seongnam-si (KR); Jin Soo Park, Seongnam-si (KR); Austin Kim, Seongnam-si (KR) (73) Assignee: NHN CORPORATION, Seongnam-si (KR) (21) Appl. No.: 13/284,237 (22) Filed: Oct. 28, 2011 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 29, 2010 (KR)..... 10-2010-0107272 I20 \ i L Publication Classi?cation (51) Int. Cl. G06F 15/173 (2006.01) (52) U.S.Cl...... 709/223 (57) ABSTRACT Provided are a uni?ed communication system and a uni?ed communication method using multi-lo gin, a terminal for con trolling an operation of a uni?ed communication tool, and a communication method in a terminal. The uni?ed communi cation system may include a communication tool provider to provide a communication tool for at least one communication server associated With a user; a login manager to manage lo gin information of the user When the user is logged in to two or more terminals simultaneously through respective com munication tools on the two or more terminals, respectively, the login manager storing the login information of the user in a storage unit; a terminal determining unit to determine, among the two or more terminals, at least one terminal to Which data associated With the user is to be transmitted based on the login information; and a communication unit to trans mit the data to the at least one determined terminal. 130 110 2 8 FIR ST TERMINAL SECOND TERMINAL UNIFIED UNIFIED THIRD TERMINAL COMMUNICATION < TOOL > COMMUNICATION SYSTEM N-TH TERMINAL
\ 1 Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 1 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 QmFE/HD QMEHZD EmElmVm HOOP.UHm o: 02 as AHV 292022228 ZQFAQQZDEEOU QJQZEME REEF Q<Z=>Emrr Emmi Ada/22mm; DZOUmm Adi/mam? IE2 1
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 2 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 2 UNIFIED COMMUNICATION / \_, 210 TOOL PROVIDER G 250 /\_, STORAGE UNIT <:> MULTI-LOGIN MANAGER /\ 220 G TERMINAL DETERMINING /\ 23O UNIT G COMMUNICATION UNIT /\,240
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 3 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 3 300 Log-in state: @ Online Y ID PW Log in D Automatically execute at StElI't 5 Automatically log in lfvalo l
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 4 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 4 400 HMuIti-login state You can verify log-in state for multiple terminals. Current terminal First terminal @All log out J. K E Second terminal Log out i K 410 Third terminal Log out _ i/l @ Fourth terminal i Log out i Fifth terminal l Log out : l i z i h_@_is{see QHTIE1SQ E>Y Héihllitiiiégiaétéé n i 1 when multiple terminals are logged in. i H
i Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 5 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 5 500 Environmental setting @ Basic I executlon window Basic Setting Set real-tlme Set alarm to conversatlon received @Set online friends view window to basic window OSet alarms View window to basic window Alarm lzilimit conversation requesting pop-up in whole screen mode mode @Limit alarming pop-up in Whole screen mode @Sound alarming in response to conversation request @Sound alarming in response to noti?cation Alarm and conversation thin '21] thick window transparency Alarming window display time EEsecond Log-in setting l1 Automatically execute at start géntomatiqalll log in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, a c tuautomatically log out of nate-on of another PC 1 in response to log-in : i@display multiple log-ins state veri?cation window i i in response to log-ins ot'multiple PCs m 1 Verify PC in log-in state I confirm cancel
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 6 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 6 ( START ) II PROVIDE UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR AT LEAST ONE COMMUNICATION SERVER ASSOCIATED \/ 610 WITH USER II MANAGE INFORMATION ABOUT MULTIPLE LOG-IN OF USER WHEN USER PERFORMS MULTIPLE N 620 LOG-IN THROUGH UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOLS OPERATING IN DIFFERENT RESPECTIVE TERMINALS II DETERMINE AT LEAST ONE TERMINAL TO WHICH DATA ASSOCIATED WITH USER IS TO BE,v 630 TRANSMITTED BASED ON INFORMATION ABOUT MULTIPLE LOO-IN II TRANSMIT DATA TO AT LEAST ONE,\/ 640 TERMINAL DETERMINED v END
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 7 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 7 700 DISPLAY UNIT "AV 710 G DATA TRANSCEIVER "" V 720 CONTROLLER "AV 730
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 8 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 8 820 830 8 840 8 8180 880 870 860 850
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 9 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 9 900 F Post in my community W Text name Post Write tag \ J \/ Community New message 1n Friends in Environmental community log-m status settmg < 2 8 8 9 10 920 930 940
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 10 of 16 US 2012/0278462 Al FIG. 10 900 F Friends associated with this text(l l) View all associated people First friend Second friend Third friend Fourth friend Fifth friend Sixth friend V J
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 11 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 11 900 C? Write comments in mezday Post Community \/ New message in community Friends in log-1n status Environmental setting 920
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 12 of 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 12 900 rfriends in log-in state/ \ neighbors(35) Zodiac O online V First friend Second friend Third friend Fifth friend Fourth friend Sixth friend k \/ - New m SSag6 in commumty community Friends in log-in status Environmental setting E J
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 13 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 13 900 r I I \ QConversation with Surang Are you available? Can We ~11 talk for a While? What should I do to get my iphone repaired? 1 minute ago fi% [5] send \ J Community New 111655386 in community Friends in log-1n status Environmental setting 8 930
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 14 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 I. l I / L i i i i i i i i i iii\ : I / - < I L a w/\/ v < I!-4 l-l #1 IF l /'L I\ H K w; : I 1 - < i L 11111111111111 if 2% w v <
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 15 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 15 1500 VHHHcame-r? 10:40AM @ V / note blog mezday Open A 2010.04.24(Sun) E Wedding at Mok-dong wedding hall at 1 pm i? of this Saturday @1 I am on a picnic at Everland. i1? Too many people. Q I am afraid summer will come around soon k 2010.04.22(Fri) E Prepare for two Weddings next week * E Stop by market. Water, milk, Eggs,?uit, ee1'eal* qlllck write comcast 0 online setting //A $338 1510 1520 1530 1540
Patent Application Publication Nov. 1, 2012 Sheet 16 0f 16 US 2012/0278462 A1 FIG. 16 I START I DISPLAY, ON SCREEN, AT LEAST ONE OF USER INTERFACES OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOL @1610 II TRANSMIT, TO UNIFIED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, DATA INPUT THROUGH USER INTERFACE OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOL, AND RECEIVE, /'\/ 1620 FROM UNIFIED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, DATA FOR OPERATION OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOL CONTROL OPERATION OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATION /_\/ 1630 TOOL USING RECEIVED DATA v END
US 2012/0278462 A1 Nov. 1, 2012 UNIFIED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND UNIFIED COMMUNICATION METHOD USING MULTI-LOGIN, TERMINAL FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF UNIFIED COMMUNICATION TOOL, AND COMMUNICATION METHOD IN TERMINAL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority from and the bene?t of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0107272,?led on Oct. 29, 2010, Which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. BACKGROUND Technical Field [0002] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a uni?ed communication system and a uni?ed com munication method using multi-login, a terminal for control ling an operation of a uni?ed communication tool, and a communication method in a terminal. Discussion of the Background [0003] A portal site may provide a service such as an infor mation search service and a community service, Which lead to an Internet business that may be regularly used by users so as to attract regular visitors. In addition to the portal site, several Web pages may provide various community sites such as an e-mail, a blog, an Internet cafe, and the like. [0004] HoWever, users may directly access each portal site to be provided With a service of a community site. As such, a conversation provided as a service between members may not proceed When a user desires to use another terminal, and a real-time conversation except a chatting service may be dif?cult to be provided. As an example, When a membera posts a message on an Internet cafe, a member B may not recognize the message before accessing the corresponding Internet cafe and thus, it may be dif?cult to have a real-time conversation. As another example, it is presumed that a member A and a member B are having a conversation through a Wired terminal such as a personal computer (PC). In this case, When the member A moves to an outdoor location and desires to con tinue the conversation With the member B, the membera may repeatedly attempt access to the member B or the correspond ing Website through a Wireless terminal. SUMMARY [0005] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for uni?ed communication that may provide a communication service any time Without the need of directly accessing the corresponding service by pro viding a uni?ed communication tool for at least one commu nication service associated With the user. [0006] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a method and system for uni?ed communication that may provide a uni?ed communication service by trans mitting data based on multi-login information of a user man aged by the system When the user is multi-logged in through uni?ed communication tools operating in different respective terminals. [0007] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a method and system for uni?ed communication that may provide a uni?ed communication service regardless of Whether a terminal used by a user is a Wired terminal or a Wireless terminal, Whether a uni?ed communication tool is directly installed in a terminal, and the like. [0008] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a terminal and a communication method that may control an operation of a uni?ed communication tool used for multi-login and a uni?ed communication service. [0009] Additional features of the invention Will be set forth in the description Which follows, and in part Will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. [0010] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a uni?ed communication system, comprising: a communication tool provider to provide a communication tool for at least one communication server associated With a user; a login manager to manage lo gin information of the user When the user is logged in to two or more terminals simulta neously through respective communication tools on the two or more terminals, respectively, the lo gin manager storing the login information of the user in a storage unit; a terminal determining unit to determine, among the two or more termi nals, at least one terminal to Which data associated With the user is to be transmitted based on the login information; and a communication unit to transmit the data to the at least one determined terminal. [0011] Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal, comprising: a display unit to display, on a screen, at least one of user interfaces of a uni?ed communication tool; a data transceiver to transmit, to a uni?ed communication system, input data entered through a user interface of the uni?ed communication tool, and to receive, from the uni?ed communication system, data for an operation of the uni?ed communication tool; and a controller to control the operation of the uni?ed communication tool using the received data, Wherein, When the user is multi-logged in through uni?ed communication tools on different respective terminals, the data for the operation of the uni?ed communi cation tool is transmitted to a determined terminal among the different respective terminals based on multi-login informa tion of the user. [0012] Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method that uses a processor for a uni?ed communication, the method comprising: providing a com munication tool for at least one communication server asso ciated With a user; managing by the processor, login informa tion of the user When the user is logged in to two or more terminals simultaneously through respective communication tools on the two or more terminals, respectively; determining by the processor, among the two or more terminals, at least one terminal to Which data associated With the user is to be transmitted based on the login information; and transmitting the data to the at least one determined terminal. [0013] Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for a uni?ed communication, the method comprising: displaying, on a screen, at least one of user interfaces of a uni?ed communication tool; transmitting, to a uni?ed communication system, input data entered through a user interface of the uni?ed communication tool, and receiving, from the uni?ed communication system, data for an operation of the uni?ed communication tool; [0014] and controlling the operation of the uni?ed commu nication tool using the received data, Wherein, When the user is multi-logged in through uni?ed communication tools on
US 2012/0278462 A1 Nov. 1, 2012 different respective terminals, the data for the operation of the uni?ed communication tool is transmitted to a determined terminal among the different respective terminals based on multi-login information of the user. [0015] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exem plary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed descrip tion, the drawings, and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this speci?cation, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and along with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. [0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram to illustrate a uni?ed communi cation system and a plurality of terminals according to exem plary embodiments of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram to illustrate an internal con?guration of a uni?ed communication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface for login according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram to illustrate an example ofa user interface to provide information about terminals in a multi login state according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface to determine an environmental setting according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0022] FIG. 6 is a?owchart to illustrate a method for uni?ed communication according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0023] FIG. 7 is a block diagram to illustrate an internal con?guration of a terminal according to exemplary embodi ments of the present invention. [0024] FIG. 8 is a diagram to illustrate a plurality of Internet windows activated via a web browser and user interfaces of a uni?ed communication tool according to exemplary embodi ments of the present invention. [0025] FIG. 9 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface to post a message associated with a web document in a commu nity according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0026] FIG. 10 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface to provide information about other users associated with a web document according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0027] FIG. 11 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface to post a comment in response to a message in a community according to exemplary embodiments of the present inven tion. [0028] FIG. 12 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface to provide information about other users associated with a user according to exemplary embodiments of the present inven tion. [0029] FIG. 13 is a diagram to illustrate a user interface for a conversation with another user according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0030] FIG. 14 is a diagram to illustrate screens of two different wired terminals according to exemplary embodi ments of the present invention. [0031] FIG. 15 is a diagram to illustrate a screen ofa wire less terminal according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. [0032] FIG. 16 is a?owchart to illustrate a communication method according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS [0033] The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodi ments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that any element, operation or com mand described herein is not to be construed as being an essential or principle feature of the present disclosure unless otherwise explicitly described. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well unless otherwise indicated. If only a single item is intended, the term one or similar terms will be used herein. Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals are understood to refer to the same elements, fea tures, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. [0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram to illustrate a uni?ed communi cation system and a plurality of terminals according to exem plary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a uni?ed communication system 110, a plurality of terminals 120, and a uni?ed communication tool 130. Here, the uni?ed communication system 110 may enable a user to participate in a community activity through the uni?ed communication tool 130 without the need of directly accessing the corre sponding community site (or communication server). [0035] The uni?ed communication tool 130 may operate in several different types of environments. For example, the uni?ed communication tool may operate as an overlay mod ule on a web browser in a terminal capable of utilizing the web browser. In other examples, the uni?ed communication tool 130 may operate in an environment where the uni?ed com munication tool is installed and operates in a wired terminal, and in an environment where the uni?ed communication tool is installed and operates in a wireless terminal. For example, when the uni?ed communication tool 130 operates as an overlay module on a web browser, the uni?ed communication tool 130 may be provided in a form of application software that may be used on the web browser via the Internet or an Intranet connection. The application software does not need to be installed in the terminal, and may operate as an overlay module on a web browser. The uni?ed communication tool 130 may be provided in a form of application software installed in a wired terminal or a wireless terminal. [0036] The uni?ed communication system 110 may enable services of a community site to be provided to the plurality of terminals 120 anytime and anywhere. To provide services anytime and anywhere, the uni?ed communication system
US 2012/0278462 A1 Nov. 1, 2012 110 may enable a user to be multi-logged in, and may manage multi-login information so as to enable the user to receive information associated With a community or upload informa tion about the user through any terminal among the plurality of terminals 120. [0037] The communication functionality described above may be provided to multiple terminals in a uni?ed manner through multi-login. For example, let s assume that usera is having a real-time conversation With user B at home through the uni?ed communication tool 130 installed in a Wired ter minal such as a personal computer (PC). In this case, When user A moves to an outdoor location during the real-time conversation, usera may continue the conversation With user B by multi-login through the uni?ed communication tool 130 installed in a Wireless terminal. If multi-login is not available, the Wired terminal Will be switched to a log-out state in response to login through the uni?ed communication tool 13 0 operating in the Wireless terminal. Thus, the conversation With user B may be discontinued, user A Will have to recon nect to user B, and content of the previous conversation Will disappear unless usera stores the content separately. [0038] As another example, the uni?ed communication tool 130 may perform at least one of the following: to provide a user With noti?cation data transmitted from a communica tion server, to transmit input data by the user to the commu nication server, and to support a real-time conversation between the user and another user through the communica tion server. While it may be di?icult to have a real-time conversation through a community site such as an Internet cafe, a blog, and the like, the uni?ed communication system 110 may provide noti?cation data such as a noti?cation mes sage, a new message noti?cation, and the like in various communication sites such as an Internet cafe, a blog, and the like to the corresponding terminal using the uni?ed commu nication tool 130 to Which a user is logged in (or multi-logged in), thereby reporting updates, and the like associated With the user, and may enable a real-time conversation such as chatting between users Who are logged in through the uni?ed commu nication tool 130. In the exemplary embodiment, if the user is multi-logged in, the noti?cation data may be provided to all terminals Which the user is multi-logged in so as to rapidly provide the noti?cation data to the user. [0039] Hereinafter, the uni?ed communication system 110, the uni?ed communication tool 130, and the plurality of terminals 120 on Which the uni?ed communication tool 130 operates Will be described in more detail. [0040] FIG. 2 is a block diagram to illustrate an internal con?guration of a uni?ed communication system 200 accord ing to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the uni?ed communication system 200 may include a uni?ed communication tool pro vider 21 0, a multi-lo gin manager 220, a terminal determining unit 230, a communication unit 240, and a storage unit 250. [0042] The uni?ed communication tool provider 210 may provide a uni?ed communication tool for at least one com munication server associated With a user. Here, a communi cation server may refer to a server that provides a community site service that the user subscribes. In the exemplary embodi ment, the uni?ed communication tool may perform at least one of the following: to provide the user With noti?cation data transmitted from the communication server, to transmit input data by the user to the communication server, and to support a real-time conversation between the user and another user through the communication server. The user may be provided With services of a community site by logging-in through the uni?ed communication tool Without the need of directly accessing the community site (or communication server). If a user subscribes to a plurality of community sites (or a plural ity of communication servers) such as a blog, an e-mail, an Internet cafe, a mini-homepage, and the like, the user may receive noti?cation data for a new message or have a real-time conversation With another user (for example, a blo g neighbor) of a predetermined community site among the plurality of community sites through the uni?ed communication tool Without the need of visiting each of the plurality of commu nity sites individually. [0043] In the exemplary embodiment, a user may post a message on a personal Webpage of the user, or send a mail using the uni?ed communication tool. The user may receive a noti?cation message for a message posted on the personal Webpage by another user, or a noti?cation message reporting an arrival of a mail delivered to the user. A uniform resource locator (URL), an entire content, or a portion of content of a Webpage currently viewed by the user may be posted on the personal Webpage of the user, or may be forwarded to another user using the uni?ed communication tool. [0044] The multi-login manager 220 may manage multi login information, i.e., information about multi-login, of a user When the user is multi-logged in through uni?ed com munication tools operating in different respective terminals. For example, the multi-login manager 220 may store the multi-login information in the storage unit 250. The multi login manager 220 may manage multi-login information for each user, including information indicating Which terminals have the uni?ed communication tools currently in operation for the corresponding user Who is multi-logged in. The stor age unit 120 may include a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a Random Access Memory (RAM), and include at least one magnetic disk storage device, a?ash memory device, or a non-volatile memory such as a non-volatile solid-state memory device. [0045] In the exemplary embodiment, the uni?ed commu nication tool may operate in at least two environments among the following: in an environment Where the uni?ed commu nication tool operates as an overlay module on a Web browser, in an environment Where the uni?ed communication tool is installed and operates in a Wired terminal, and in an environ ment Where the uni?ed communication tool is installed and operates in a Wireless terminal. [0046] The terminal determining unit 230 may determine at least one terminal to Which data associated With the user is to be transmitted based on the multi-login information. [0047] In the exemplary embodiment, the terminal deter mining unit 230 may determine the at least one terminal based on at least one of a user event occurring on terminals to Which the user is multi-logged in, an operational environment of the uni?ed communication tool used for the multi-login, and information on an environmental setting of the uni?ed com munication tool. [0048] As an example, the terminal determining unit 230 may determine, as a candidate of the at least one terminal to Which data associated With the user is to be transmitted, a terminal on Which the latest user event has occurred among all terminals based on the multi-login information. [0049] As another example, the terminal determining unit 230 may determine terminals in different manners depending on operational environments of respective uni?ed communi cation tools currently in operation. In case of the uni?ed