US6446112B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
IRC name translation protocol
Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
•
Filing: 1999-03-17
•
Granted: 2002-09-03
•
Expires: 2019-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A network comprising at least one server (1) and a plurality of user terminals (3), wherein the user terminals (3) can communicate with each other by means of an IRC server (40). The user terminal (3) can send a command to a chat proxy (39). The chat proxy (39) is connected with a session manager (23) to translate any address longer than nine characters (limit of the IRC protocol) to a code with a maximum length of nine characters. The chat proxy (39) can cache the result of the conversion in a storage device (42). The chat proxy (39) then sends (41) an IRC command to the IRC server (40) together with a code having a maximum number of nine characters. The chat proxy (39) according to the present invention therefore allows a translation process, the provision of semi-private chat rooms with an additional access control and a supply of supplemental chat room attributes.
Inventors
- 👤 William Bunney
- 👤 Steve Knox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1813; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/30; H04L61/58; H04L2101/00; H04L2101/60; H04L2101/604; H04L61/301
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate with each other in a network, comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a command with a sender address from said user terminal to converting means for converting said sender address into a code having up to nine characters; b) transmitting an internet relay chat command with said code to an internet relay chat server having at least one chat channel; and c) caching said code in storage means included in said converting means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for a plurality of user terminals to communicate with each other in a network, comprising the steps of: a) transmitting a command with a sender address from said user terminal to converting means for converting said sender address into a code having up to nine characters; b) transmitting an internet relay chat command with said code to an internet relay chat server having at least one chat channel; and c) caching said code in storage means included in said converting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said converting means contacts a session manager to obtain said code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said session manager is connected to a session database having the sender addresses of said user terminals, said database stored in an object-oriented approach on said server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said storage means cache said code when the session manager is contacted for the conversion of said sender address.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of said session manager accessing the internet relay chat server with access control means by checking access information stored in an access control database.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein information about said chat channel is supplied to said user terminal by said converting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A communication network for a plurality of user terminals to communicate with each other, comprising: a) an internet relay chat server; b) converting means for converting a sender address, received along with a command from said user terminal, into a code having up to nine characters; and c) storage means included in said converting means for caching said code.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A communication network for a plurality of user terminals to communicate with each other, comprising: a) an internet relay chat server; b) converting means for converting a sender address, received along with a command from said user terminal, into a code having up to nine characters; and c) storage means included in said converting means for caching said code.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication network of claim 7 , further comprising a session manager connected to said converting means, wherein said converting means contacts said session manager to obtain said code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication network of claim 8 , wherein said session manager is further connected to a session database, said session database stored in an object-oriented approach on a server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The communication network of claim 8 , wherein said storage means cache said code when the session manager is contacted for the conversion of said sender address.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The communication network of claim 7 , further comprising an access control database connected to said converting means, wherein said access control database controls access to said internet relay chat server based on information stored on said access control database.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5307494A
Cited
US5245656A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |