Multi-User Chat Archive System with Centralized Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant messaging systems are limited to communications between two participants, requiring users to switch between multiple windows to interact with multiple users and offering limited archiving capabilities with inaccessible archives.
Innovation Solution
A computer network-based system that enables multi-user chat archiving by hosting live chats with three or more participants, using a multi-user instant messaging server, state manager, archive database, and archive manager to record and retrieve archived chats centrally accessible by all participants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing IM services are used for multi-user communication, then users can communicate with multiple participants, but users must switch between multiple windows and transfer text manually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate chat windows into a single unified chat interface that accommodates three or more participants simultaneously. The IM server consolidates messaging functionality for multiple users into one shared conversation space, eliminating the need for users to switch between separate windows and manually transfer text.
Solution Approach 2:
The chat interface is designed to serve multiple functions within a single window: it handles messaging between any number of participants, maintains chat history, provides archiving capabilities, and enables information sharing all within one unified interface rather than requiring separate tools for each function.
2Loss of information
If existing IM services provide archiving capability, then chat records can be stored, but archives are not easily accessible from multiple locations
Solution Approach 1:
The archive system is designed with universal accessibility, allowing any participant in the chat to retrieve archived chat records from any remote location. The IM server maintains centralized archives that are accessible to all users through the chat interface, eliminating location and user-specific restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The IM server acts as an intermediary that maintains centralized chat archives and facilitates access for all participants. Rather than storing archives locally on individual user devices, the server mediates between the chat records and any participating user, enabling universal access from any location.
3Reliability
If separate chats are opened for each user interaction, then one-to-one communication is maintained, but information sharing across chats becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple one-to-one communication channels into a single multi-user chat interface. Participants can share information directly within the unified chat, eliminating the need to switch between separate chats and manually transfer information, thereby improving productivity while maintaining communication clarity through structured message display.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a computer network-based live chat having three or more participants is hosted. A record of the live chat is archived in a central location accessible by each participant. The archived record is provided to a requesting participant after completion of and/or during the live chat. The requesting participant may be, for example, any one of the three or more participants. The requesting participant may make the request from any remote location in communication with the central location. In another embodiment, a system for enabling access to a multi-user chat archive includes a multi-user instant messaging (IM) server, a state manager, an archive database, and an archive manager. The archive database is configured to store an archived record of the live chat in a central location. In this embodiment, the central location is accessible by each of the chat participants from any remote location in communication with the central location.