Single account automatic processing cross-type multi-party online communication method

Abstract

The present application provides a single-account cross-type multi-party online communication method which can automatically handle the communication. The user only needs a single account to receive several online requests to achieve the effect of multi-party online communication. In addition, the communication method provided by the present application can switch between different types of communication, such as switching the user from audio communication to video communication. Furthermore, the communication method provided by the present application can automatically execute certain processing procedures according to the user's pre-set parameters and the user's current communication state before establishing the communication online or before switching the communication online to provide convenience for the user during communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for multi-party online communication with a single account, and more particularly to a method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication. Background Technology

[0002] In modern life, due to the advanced use of personal communication devices and the year-by-year increase in network bandwidth, the frequency of communication between people is also increasing.

[0003] In communication applications, common types include video communication, audio communication, and text communication, each requiring varying degrees of user attention. For example, when chatting with multiple friends via text, the amount of text is usually small, and the urgency to reply is not high, making it easy to chat with multiple friends simultaneously. However, when chatting via audio, regardless of the amount of text, the urgency to respond is generally higher than with text. Furthermore, when conversing via video, because both parties' images and audio are simultaneously displayed, both require more focused attention and mental effort to communicate.

[0004] However, among the currently known communication methods, very few applications offer users the ability to communicate with multiple parties. In other words, service providers in the market have not recognized that users may also have a need to communicate with multiple objects.

[0005] In view of this, how to enable users in need to communicate with multiple different objects, or even across different communication types, has become a research direction for those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main objective of this invention is to provide a method for automatic cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account, which can enable users to communicate with multiple different objects and can communicate across different types.

[0007] Another objective of this invention is to provide a method for automatic cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account, which can automatically execute certain processing procedures based on user-preset parameters and the user's current communication status to provide convenience for the user during communication.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an automated cross-type multi-party online communication method for a single account, applicable to an environment comprising a communication server, a user device, and multiple client devices, wherein the user device and the multiple client devices are electrically connected to the communication server, and includes the following steps:

[0009] (A) Provide a communication type and quantity table, wherein the communication type and quantity table contains a user-defined number of connections corresponding to different communication types;

[0010] (B) The user operates the user device to establish a first communication connection with a client device and generate a first communication state;

[0011] (C) Record the first communication status in the communication server;

[0012] (D) The communication server receives a connection request from another client device for the user device;

[0013] (E) The communication server automatically executes a processing procedure based on the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, and the online request from the other client device.

[0014] The features, advantages, or similar expressions mentioned in this specification do not imply that all features and advantages achievable with this invention should be included in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, it should be understood that expressions of features and advantages refer to specific features, advantages, or characteristics described in connection with a particular embodiment that are included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the discussion of features, advantages, and similar expressions in this specification relates to the same embodiments, but is not essential.

[0015] These features and advantages of the invention will become clearer by referring to the following description and the accompanying patent claims or by utilizing the embodiments of the invention described below. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The invention, its features, shape, and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the drawings. The drawings are not drawn to scale; their purpose is to illustrate the gist of the invention.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system architecture for automatically processed cross-type multi-party online communication of a single account in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of a method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the description of this disclosure more detailed and complete, illustrative descriptions of embodiments and specific examples of this invention are provided below; however, this is not the only form of implementing or utilizing the specific examples of this invention. The embodiments cover features of multiple specific embodiments and methods and steps for constructing and operating these specific embodiments, and their order. However, other specific embodiments may also be used to achieve the same or equivalent functions and order of steps.

[0020] It should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, all functions described herein can be executed in hardware or as software instructions enabling a computer to perform predetermined operations, wherein such software instructions are implemented in computer-readable storage media, such as RAM, hard disk drives, flash memory, or other types of computer-readable storage media known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the predetermined operations of the computer are executed by a processor, such as a computer, or program code according to computer program code, software, firmware, and in some embodiments, by an integrated circuit encoded to perform these functions. Furthermore, it should be understood that the various operations described herein performed by a user can be performed manually by the user, or can be performed automatically with or without user-provided instructions.

[0021] This invention proposes an automated cross-type multi-party online communication method with a single account, allowing users to receive multiple connection requests with just one account, thus achieving multi-party online communication. Furthermore, the communication method provided by this invention can switch between different types of communication, for example, switching a user from audio to video communication. Moreover, the communication method proposed in this invention can automatically execute certain processing procedures based on user-preset parameters and the user's current communication status before establishing a communication connection or before switching communication connections, thereby providing convenience for the user during communication.

[0022] Please see Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a system architecture for automatically processed cross-type multi-party online communication using a single account, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The following will first explain the purpose of each device and its functional unit within the system, and then further explain the system's operation flow. Figure 1 The system includes a communication server 10, a user device 20, and a plurality of client devices 30, 40, and 50. The user device 20 and the plurality of client devices 30, 40, and 50 can be electrically connected to the communication server 10 via a network.

[0023] User device 20 and multiple client devices 30, 40, and 50 can be desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, traditional telephones, etc. User device 20 and multiple client devices 30, 40, and 50 can send communication connection requests to other devices, and can also receive communication connection requests to establish communication connections with other devices. In addition, when user device 20 and multiple client devices 30, 40, and 50 are computers or smartphones, applications or apps can be installed, and further, setting commands or receiving query messages, prompt messages, etc. can be sent through applications or apps; while if user device 20 and multiple client devices 30, 40, and 50 are traditional telephones, setting commands can be sent through buttons, or query messages, prompt messages, etc. can be received through sound, but the present invention is not limited to these.

[0024] The communication server 10 includes a control module 101, a status module 102, a video service module 103, and an audio service module 104. The control module 101 can receive connection requests from client devices 30, 40, and 50 to user device 20; automatically execute a processing program based on a combination of a communication type and quantity table, a first communication status, a communication object and priority table, and the connection requests from client devices 30, 40, and 50; and execute a user-specified program according to a first set command.

[0025] The status module 102 can be used to store a communication type and quantity table, and a communication object and priority table. The communication type and quantity table contains the number of connections set by the user for different communication types, and its contents include at least one or a combination of communication type and quantity. The communication object and priority table contains the priority levels set by the user for different communication objects, and its contents include at least one or a combination of communication object and priority. The status module 102 can also be used to record communication status.

[0026] The video service module 103 can be used to establish video communication links between user device 20 and multiple client devices 30, 40, and 50; the audio service module 104 can be used to establish audio communication links between user device 20 and multiple client devices 30, 40, and 50.

[0027] Figure 2 This diagram shows a preferred embodiment of the method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication using a single account. Please refer to the following description. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The purpose of each device will be described in detail in the flowchart below. It should be understood that the order of the steps in this flowchart may be changed or some steps may be omitted depending on different needs.

[0028] First, in step S01, a communication type and quantity table is provided, wherein the communication type and quantity table contains the number of connections set by the user for different communication types. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user can operate the user device 20 to provide the communication type and quantity table and store it in the status module 102. For example, the user can set the number of connections allowed for different communication types through the user interface on the user device 20. For example, the number of connections allowed for audio communication is set to 3, and the number of connections allowed for video communication is set to 2. It should be understood that setting the number of connections allowed for audio communication to 3 does not mean that the user is having audio conversations with 3 connected objects at the same time. Rather, the user may only have an audio conversation with one object, but retain audio communication connections with the other 2 objects so that they can switch to either of the other 2 objects for audio conversations at any time later. In step S01, the user may also operate the user device 20 to provide a communication object and priority table, which is then stored in the status module 102. The communication object and priority table includes priority levels set by the user for different communication objects. For example, in one embodiment, the communication object and priority table records customer A, customer B, and customer C, where customer A has a priority level of "first," customer B has a priority level of "normal," and customer C has a priority level of "normal." The application of the communication object and priority table will be further described later.

[0029] Furthermore, the user can set the number of video communication connections allowed to be 2. This can mean that the user establishes one-to-one video communication connections with two other objects respectively. The user can switch between video communication with one of these two objects at any time while retaining the video communication connection with the other. In the case of having 2 video communication connections, one video communication connection may be that the user participates in a video conference room with 8 participants, and the other video communication connection is a one-to-one video communication connection between the user and another person. It should be understood that the present invention does not limit the communication connection to one-to-one or one-to-many communication connections.

[0030] Step S02 involves the user operating their user device to establish a first communication connection with a client device and generate a first communication state. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, a user might wish to establish a video conference room with several people. Therefore, the user sends a video connection request via user device 20 to the invited parties, such as client devices 30 and 40, through communication server 10. When any one of them (e.g., client device 30) responds to the request and establishes a first communication connection with the user, a first communication state is generated, indicating that the user has established a video communication connection. In addition, step S02 may also include the user operating user device 20 to generate a first setting command. This first setting command is used to set a user-specified program to be executed by the control module 101 of communication server 10. The user-specified program may include, for example, setting an entry time limit for a group conference room, setting an invitation reminder time interval for a group conference room, or a combination thereof. The application of the user-specified program will be further explained later.

[0031] Regarding an example of establishing a communication connection between a user device and a client device, in another embodiment of the present invention, a user of a client device (e.g., client device 30) may call a user of user device 20, wishing to establish a communication connection with user device 20. Therefore, the user at the receiving end operates user device 20 to establish a first communication connection and generate a first communication state with client device 30. It should be understood that the first communication connection described herein can be a video communication connection or an audio communication connection, and within a communication connection, a user can establish a one-to-one or one-to-many communication connection with other users.

[0032] Step S03: Record the first communication status in the communication server 10. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first communication status may be recorded by the status module 102 in the communication server 10, thereby determining whether a user has exceeded the allowed number of connections for a particular communication type. Furthermore, step S03 may also include the user device 20 transmitting a first setting command to the communication server 10, causing the control module 101 of the communication server 10 to execute the user-specified program.

[0033] Regarding the application of user-defined procedures, for example, user device 20 sends a video connection request via communication server 10 to invited client devices 30 and 40, requesting the establishment of a video conference room, and generates a first setting command to restrict client devices 30 and 40 to enter the video conference room within 5 minutes of receiving the invitation. Therefore, control module 101 will control video service module 103 to prohibit client devices 30 and 40 from entering the video conference room after 5 minutes. Another example of the application of user-defined procedures is that a user operates user device 20 to generate a first setting command to set the invitation reminder interval to once every 5 minutes, causing control module 101 to send a reminder message to client devices 30 and 40 every 5 minutes to remind them to enter the video conference room.

[0034] In step S04, the communication server 10 receives a connection request from another client device to the user device 20. In one embodiment of the present invention, for example, as described in step S02 above, although the user sends a video connection request to the invited party, namely client devices 30 and 40, through the user device 20, and has also established a first communication connection with client device 30 (client device 40 has not yet responded to the request) and generated a first communication state, at this time, client device 50 also happens to send a connection request to the user device 20, so that the communication server 10 receives the connection request from client device 50 to the user device 20.

[0035] For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, a user of a client device (e.g., client device 30) makes a call to a user of user device 20, wishing to establish a communication connection with user device 20. Therefore, the user on the receiving end operates user device 20 to establish a first communication connection and generate a first communication state with client device 30, and client device 50 also happens to send a connection request to user device 20, causing communication server 10 to receive the connection request from client device 50 to user device 20.

[0036] In step S05, the communication server 10 automatically executes a processing procedure based on the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, and the connection request from another client device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control module 101 of the communication server 10 automatically executes a processing procedure based on the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, and the connection request from another client device. The processing procedure may include at least one or a combination of: switching the communication type of the other client device and establishing a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device, sending an inquiry message to the user device, sending a prompt message to the user device, sending an inquiry message to the other client device, and sending a prompt message to the other client device.

[0037] For example, a user is operating user device 20 to establish a first communication connection and generate a first communication state with client device 30 via communication server 10. The first communication connection is a video communication connection established through video service module 103. The user sets the number of allowed audio communication connections to 3 and the number of allowed video communication connections to 2 in the communication type and quantity table. When the connection request sent by client device 50 to user device 20 is also a video communication connection, the control module 101 of communication server 10 automatically executes a processing program according to the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, and the connection request of client device 50. For example, it sends an inquiry message to user device 20, asking whether the user operating user device 20 wants to integrate the video communication connection of client device 50 with the existing video communication connection of client device 30 into the same video conference room (i.e., user devices 20, 30, and 50 can conduct video communication connections with each other). If the user of user device 20 agrees, the control module 101 sends another inquiry message to client device 50, asking whether the user operating client device 50 agrees to establish a video communication connection with user device 20 and client device 50 in the same video conference room. If the user of client device 50 agrees, the video service module 103 establishes a video communication connection between user device 20 and client devices 30 and 50. It should be understood that if user device 20 and client devices 30 and 50 are in the same video conference room, the first communication state of user device 20 should still be counted as a connection using one video communication.

[0038] For example, if the user operating user device 20 is asked whether they want to integrate the video communication connection of client device 50 with the existing video communication connection of client device 30 into the same video conference room, and the user of user device 20 does not agree to integrate them into the same video conference room but agrees to establish a video communication connection with client device 50, then control module 101 will immediately establish another video communication connection between user device 20 and client device 50 through video service module 10 (in other words, at this time user device 20 establishes a second communication connection and generates a second communication state stored in state module 102). It should be understood that at this time user device 20 has a first and a second communication state, which will be counted as using two video communication connections.

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, user device 20 has already established video communication connections with client devices 30 and 50 respectively, that is, user device 20 has used two video communication connections at this time. When client device 40 sends a connection request to user device 20 for a video communication connection, the control module 101 of communication server 10 can, for example, send an inquiry message to user device 20, asking the user operating user device 20 to choose one of the following: 1) integrate the video communication connection of client device 40 with one of the existing client devices 30 and 50 into the same video conference room; 2) ask the user of client device 40 whether they agree to change the video communication connection to an audio communication connection; 3) refuse to answer the call.

[0040] If the user operating user device 20 selects option 1, control module 101 queries the user operating client device 40 to confirm whether they agree to establish a video communication connection with user device 20 and another client device (one of client devices 30 or 50) in the same video conference room. If the user of client device 40 agrees, a three-way video conference room is established. If the user operating user device 20 selects option 2, control module 101 sends a query message to client device 40, inquiring whether the user of client device 40 agrees to establish an audio communication connection with user device 20 instead. If the user of client device 40 agrees, audio service module 104 establishes an audio communication connection between user device 20 and client device 40. If the user operating user device 20 selects option 3, control module 101 sends a notification message to client device 40, informing user device 20 that the line is busy. In addition to the above-described implementation, in this invention, control module 101 may also simply send a notification message to user device 20, informing client device 40 that a video communication connection was requested. It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the above-described processing procedure.

[0041] If, in step S01, the user operates the user device 20 to provide a communication object and priority table stored in the status module 102, then in step S05, the control module 101 of the communication server 10 can also automatically execute a processing procedure based on the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, the communication object and priority table, and the connection request from another client device. This processing procedure may include: maintaining the first communication connection between the user device and the client device and establishing a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device; terminating the first communication connection between the user device and the client device and establishing a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device; or querying the user whether they agree to establish a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device—at least one of these, or a combination thereof.

[0042] For example, in one embodiment, the communication object and priority table records items including customer A corresponding to client device 30, customer B corresponding to client device 40, and customer C corresponding to client device 50, where customer A has a priority level of "first", and customers B and C have a priority level of "general". When a user is operating user device 20 to establish a first communication connection (e.g., a video communication connection) and generate a first communication state with customer B of client device 40 via communication server 10, and when communication server 10 receives a connection request (e.g., also a video communication connection) from customer A's client device 30, in step S05, the control module 101 of communication server 10 will automatically execute a processing procedure according to the communication type and quantity table, the first communication state, the communication object and priority table, and the connection request from client device 30.

[0043] For example, if user device 20 is using only one video communication connection, and client B's priority level is "normal," then, given that the allowed number of video communication connections in the communication type and quantity table is 2, and client A's priority level in the communication object and priority table is "first," the processing procedure executed by control module 101 will cause video service module 103 to retain the first communication connection between user device 20 and client device 40 and establish a second communication connection between user device 20 and client device 30, allowing the user to talk to client A, who has a higher priority level, first. Alternatively, if client A has a "first" priority level, the processing procedure executed by control module 101 will cause video service module 103 to terminate the first communication connection between user device 20 and client device 40 and establish a second communication connection between user device 20 and client device 30, allowing the user to talk to client A, who has a higher priority level, without any issues.

[0044] The processing program executed by the control module 101 can also display a text window on the user device 20, asking the user whether they agree to establish a second communication connection between the user device 20 and the client device 30. In this way, the user operating the user device 20 can easily say goodbye to client B on the currently active client device 40 and end the communication connection, and then establish a communication connection with client A on the client device 30. It should be understood that, depending on the different priorities of different clients and the different number of current communication connections of the user, the processing program in this invention can have different implementations and is not limited to the examples described herein.

[0045] As described above, this invention proposes an automated cross-type multi-party online communication method with a single account, allowing users to receive multiple connection requests with just one account, thus achieving multi-party online communication. Furthermore, the communication method provided by this invention can switch between different types of communication, for example, switching a user from audio to video communication. Moreover, the communication method proposed in this invention can automatically execute certain processing procedures based on user-preset parameters and the user's current communication status before establishing a communication connection or before switching communication connections, thereby providing convenience for the user during communication.

[0046] While various examples of the disclosed techniques have been described above, it should be understood that these examples are presented by way of example and are not limiting. Similarly, various diagrams may be used to depict example architectures or other configurations of the disclosed techniques, and may be drawn to aid in understanding the features and functionalities that may be included in the disclosed techniques. The disclosed techniques are not limited to the example architectures or configurations described, but the desired features may be implemented using various alternative architectures and configurations. In fact, those skilled in the art will readily recognize how alternative functionalities, logical or entity partitions and configurations can be implemented to achieve the desired features of the techniques disclosed herein. Furthermore, regarding flowcharts, operational descriptions, and methodological solutions, the order in which the steps are presented herein should not require that the disclosed techniques be implemented in the same order to perform the enumerated functionalities, unless the context otherwise requires.

[0047] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent variations and modifications made in accordance with the shape, structure, features and spirit described in the claims of the present invention should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account, applied in an environment of a communication server, a user device, and a plurality of client devices, wherein the user device and the plurality of client devices are electrically connected to the communication server, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (A) Provide a communication type and quantity table, wherein the communication type and quantity table contains a number of connections set by a user corresponding to different communication types, the communication types including video communication, audio communication and text communication; (B) The user operates the user device to establish a first communication connection with a client device and generate a first communication state, the first communication state including communication type information to which the first communication connection belongs; (C) Record the first communication status on the communication server; (D) The communication server receives a connection request from another client device for the user device, the connection request containing communication type information requested by the other client device; (E) The communication server automatically executes a process based on the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, and the connection request of the other client device; wherein the process includes: switching the communication type of the other client device and establishing a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device.

2. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contents of this communication type and quantity table include: communication type, quantity, or at least one or a combination thereof.

3. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step (B) further includes the user operating the user device to generate a first setting command, wherein the first setting command is used to set a user-specified program to be executed by the communication server.

4. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 3, characterized in that, Step (C) also includes transmitting the first setting command to the communication server so that the communication server executes the user-specified program.

5. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 4, characterized in that, The user-specified procedure includes at least one or a combination of setting an entry time limit for a group meeting room and setting an invitation reminder time interval for a group meeting room.

6. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 1, characterized in that, Step (A) further includes providing a communication object and priority table, wherein the communication object and priority table includes the priority levels set by the user for different communication objects.

7. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 6, characterized in that, The contents of the communication object and priority table include: communication object, priority, or at least one of them or a combination thereof.

8. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 6, characterized in that, Step (E) further includes the communication server automatically executing the processing procedure based on the communication type and quantity table, the first communication status, the communication object and priority table, and the online request from the other client device.

9. The method for automatically processing cross-type multi-party online communication with a single account according to claim 8, characterized in that, The process includes: maintaining the first communication connection between the user device and the client device and establishing a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device; terminating the first communication connection between the user device and the client device and establishing a second communication connection between the user device and the other client device; and asking the user whether they agree to establish at least one or a combination of the second communication connection between the user device and the other client device.

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