Display control method and device

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to methods and devices for displaying conversations on a network for ease of viewing in accordance with user preferences. Based on thread (message-group) forming instructions from users, as well as on member users' instructions, threads are created from member users' remarks. Instead of designating users, remarks that include threads may be designated. Thread information relating to the created threads is at the same time created and stored. The thread information includes predetermined information such as thread IDs, member users and authors. The created thread information is reported to other users in the network, and is in common with thread information within the network. Remarks within a thread may be displayed in a thread window 307 only, or displayed in both it and a conversation window 303 , configurable to suit according to user instructions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display control method utilized in a chat system in which users on information terminals share identical networks mutually, enabling text conversation, the display control method: 
 correlating messages within the network based on user instructions and creating message groups and predetermined message group information relating to the message groups;    sharing the created message group information with users within the network;    sending messages to the message groups out to the network; and    in accordance with user instructions displaying the message groups independently of messages within the network.    
     
     
         2 . A display control device utilized in a chat device wherein, sharing an identical network mutually, transmission/reception of text messages is possible, the display control device provided with: 
 creating means for correlating messages on the network based on user instructions and creating message groups and predetermined message group information relating to the message groups;    reporting means for transmitting/receiving the created message group information to and from other among display control devices on the network;    memory means for storing the message group information; and    input/output control means for obtaining the message groups from the chat device and in accordance with instructions from users, enabling display of the message groups independently of messages within the network.    
     
     
         3 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the creating means accepts operations directed to the message groups and updates the message group information.  
     
     
         4 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said input/output control means further accepts messages in which the message groups are designated and acquires from the network or sends to the network messages to the message groups.  
     
     
         5 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said creation means correlates messages within the network based on selection of the chat device from a user, and creates message groups out of messages from the selected chat devices and message group information containing information specifying the selected chat devices.  
     
     
         6 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , further provided with a message-list correlating messages within the network and message identifying information specifying the messages; wherein 
 said creation means creates, based on selection of the messages from a user, message groups containing the selected messages and message group information containing message-identifying information for the selected messages.    
     
     
         7 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the creation means creates message group information in which a disclosure level of the created message groups is contained.  
     
     
         8 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein message-group identifying information specifying the message groups is contained in the message group information.  
     
     
         9 . The display control device set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the input/output control means judges based on the message group information whether to display the message groups, and displays the message groups based on the judgment.  
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a display control program utilized in a chat device wherein, sharing an identical network mutually, transmission/reception of messages through text is possible, the computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded the display control program for-executing: 
 (A) a step of correlating messages on the network based on instructions from a user and creating message groups and predetermined message group information relating to the message groups;    (B) a step of transmitting/receiving the created message group information among other chat devices within the network;    (C) a step of storing the message group information; and    (D) a step of obtaining the message groups from the chat device and in accordance with instructions from users displaying the message groups independently of messages within the network.