Group messaging system and method for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0010357, filed on Feb. 1, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

00021. Field

0003The present invention relates to a file sharing system and method through an instant messenger, and more particularly, through a group messaging system through a bidirectional interlock between a messenger server and a cloud server.

00042. Discussion of the Background

0005Generally, the Internet is an open network configured to apply a common protocol called a Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to participant computers. Users of the Internet may use various services, such as, exchange multimedia information, exchange an e-mail, exchange a file, navigate the World Wide Web (WWW), and the like, as well as, exchange basic character information.

0006With a rapid increase in the use of the Internet domestically and globally, importance of the Internet as a strategic tool for increasing efficiency and productivity over all of the existing industries has rapidly increased. New business opportunities through the Internet have also been continuously created and fields of the new business opportunities through the Internet have expanded. Operators using the Internet have also gradually increased.

0007Users use a homepage, an e-mail, a telephone auto response service (ARS), or the like. However, the homepage and the e-mail feature low real time customer communication. The telephone ARS imposes a high communication cost on the user.

0008Instant messaging (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘messenger’) is useful for transferring information in real time using the Internet. An object of the messenger is to transfer a simple message between users in real time. When the messenger is used, two users may talk in real time through characters transferred, as if they directly converse with each other. The messenger's real time feature transfers an input content of the message immediately to the participant.

0009A messenger client program also transmits emoticons, flashcons, giftcons, or the like, to a chat participant through a messenger chatting window. The messenger client program also transmits a file using the chatting window as well as a function of simply transferring a message.

0010There is also a group chatting function where several persons may chat through a single chatting window as well as 1:1 chatting. In order to perform the group chatting, the user selects a plurality of chatting participants in the messenger client program to request the plurality of chatting participants for the chatting, thereby creating a group chatting window or adding chat to a created chatting window.

0011In order to transmit a file to the plurality of chatting participants, the user drags and drops a file to be transmitted in the group chatting window or selects a file transmission command in the messenger client program. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a method for transmitting a file in a group chatting window according to the related art. When the transmission of the file to the participants in the messenger chatting group is executed, a file transmission state <b>220</b> for group members <b>210</b> is displayed in a group chatting window <b>200</b>. When one of the group members <b>210</b> requests file transmission, the file is transmitted to each of other group members <b>210</b>. The transmission of the file is displayed to each of the group members <b>210</b> and starts when corresponding group members <b>210</b> allow file transmission.

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a system for sharing a file in a messenger according to the related art. A sender accesses a messenger server <b>120</b> using a terminal <b>110</b>, for example, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, or the like, to execute a messenger program and create a group chatting window. The sender transmits a file <b>101</b> stored in a terminal <b>110</b> or a personal cloud server <b>100</b><i>a </i>to the participants participating in group chatting through the group chatting window shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

0013The file <b>101</b> transmitted by the sender is transmitted to user terminals <b>130</b> of the recipients in a peer to peer (P2P) scheme or a temporary storage of the messenger server <b>120</b>. The recipients accept a file to be received through the group chatting window, and the file is transmission starts. The respective recipients may receive the file through a mobile client program and store the received file in a personal cloud server <b>100</b><i>b, </i>or store the received file in a local device or a personal cloud server <b>100</b><i>c </i>through a desktop client installed in the PC, or the like. The recipients may store the received file in a local device or a personal cloud server <b>100</b><i>d </i>through a web client.

0014The method for sharing a file through a messenger according to the related art has the following problems. First, a single file is repeatedly transmitted to each of a plurality of recipients, such that an overload may be incurred in a network. When the number of users participating in the group increases, network load is generated, and the same file is repeatedly copied in the local devices or the personal cloud servers of several users.

0015Further, in the related art, complexity of a group activity process like file synchronization is high. Because transmitted individual files are present in the local devices or the personal clouds of each of the users. When a specific recipient modifies the stored file, synchronization between the modified file and files stored in the local devices or the personal clouds of other users is not performed. In an environment in which a file transfer client is not installed in the messenger, group file sharing becomes inconvenient.

0016A method for compressing and transmitting a file in a cloud system has been described in Korean Patent No. 10-1035302 entitled “Cloud System and Method of Compressing and Transmitting Files in Cloud System” by ESTsoft Corp. However, Korean Patent No. 10-1035302 does not provide a method for sharing a file between users formed as a group through a messenger, and does not solve problems, such as, overload in a network and an increase in complexity of a group activity process for a shared file, even though the technology disclosed is combined with the messenger.

0017Therefore, a method for effectively sharing a file between group chatterers of a messenger and a method for effectively controlling a group activity for a shared file would be useful.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0018A group messaging system, method, and computer readable recording medium for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server is described. The sharing of a file through the cloud server between chat participants by allowing a messenger server and the cloud server to interlock with each other and setting a sharing group to be mapped to a chat room of a messenger in the cloud server is described.

0019A group messaging system, method, and computer readable recording medium for managing a group file through a messenger by allowing a messenger server and the cloud server to interlock with each other and informing that an activity is generated for a file managed within a sharing group in the cloud server through a chat room of a messenger mapped to the sharing group is described.

0020Additional 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.

0021According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a group messaging system including: a messenger server configured to receive a request providing group members of a group chatting room to be created, configured to create the group chatting room, and configured to instruct a user terminal corresponding to one or more of the group members to create a group chatting window; and a cloud server configured to interlock with the messenger server, configured to receive information about the creation of the group chatting room from the messenger server, and configured to create a sharing group mapped to the group chatting room in a one-to-one scheme.

0022According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a messenger server including: a group chatting room managing unit configured to receive a request providing group members of a group chatting room to be created, configured to create the group chatting room, and configured to instruct a user terminal corresponding to one or more of the group members to create the group chatting window; a storage configured to store the group chatting group and the group members; and a cloud server interlock processing module configured to interlock with a cloud server and configured to request the cloud server to create a sharing group mapped to the created group chatting room in a one-to-one scheme, when the group chatting room is created through the group chatting room managing unit.

0023According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a cloud server including: group sharing folder managing unit configured to create a sharing group according to a request from a user terminal, wherein the request includes group members of the sharing group; a storage configured to store the sharing group chatting; and a messenger server interlock processing module configured to interlock with a messenger server, and configured to request the messenger server to create a group chatting room mapped to the sharing group in a one-to-one scheme when the sharing group is created through the group sharing folder managing unit.

0024According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a group messaging method performed by a messenger server, the group messaging method including: receiving, at the messenger server, a request providing group members of a group chatting room to be created; creating the group chatting room; instructing a user terminal corresponding to one or more of the group members to create the group chatting window; and requesting, from the messenger server, an interlock with a cloud server to create a sharing group mapped to the group chatting room in a one-to-one scheme.

0025According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a group messaging method performed by a user terminal, the group messaging method including: receiving, on the user terminal, information related to creation of a group chatting window including group members from a messenger server and creating the group chatting window based on the information; and receiving selection of a file and uploading the selected file, on the user terminal, through the group chatting window, wherein the uploaded file is stored in a sharing group folder mapped to the group chatting room of a cloud server, wherein the sharing group and the group chatting room are in a one-to-one scheme, and wherein when activity for the file stored in the sharing group folder is generated, the activity information is received and displayed on a chatting window of the created group chatting window.

0026According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium including an executable program which, when executed, performs a method for group messaging of a messenger server, the method including: receiving, at the messenger server, a request providing group members of a group chatting room to be created; creating the group chatting room; instructing a user terminal corresponding to one or more of the group members to create the group chatting window; and requesting, from the messenger server, an interlock with a cloud server to create a sharing group mapped to the group chatting room in a one-to-one scheme.

0027Information for receiving the group messaging method for providing file sharing is through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server may be stored in a server computer readable recording medium. The recording medium may include all kinds of recording media in which a program and data are stored so as to be readable by a computer system. The recording medium may include a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a compact disk (CD), a digital video disk (DVD) ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage, or the like, and a medium implemented in a form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission through the Internet). The recording medium may be distributed in a computer system connected by a network, such that a computer readable code may be stored and executed in a distributed scheme.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0028The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

0029<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a system for sharing a file in a messenger according to the related art.

0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a method for transmitting a file in a group chatting window according to the related art.

0031<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates an interlock between a messenger server and a cloud server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates interlock between a messenger chatting group and a cloud sharing group according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0033<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a group messaging system for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0034<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a messenger server according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0035<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> illustrates a cloud server according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0036<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrates a group messaging signal flow chart for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> illustrates a group messaging signal flow chart for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0038<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> illustrates file sharing through a group chatting window according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0039<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> illustrates group activity notification through the group chatting window according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0040<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> illustrates a cloud group sharing room according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

0041The 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 embodiments 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 will be understood that for the purposes of this disclosure, “at least one of X, Y, and Z” can be construed as X only, Y only, Z only, or any combination of two or more items X, Y, and Z (e.g., XYZ, XZ, XYY, YZ, ZZ). Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals are understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity.

0042The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. does not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first”, “second”, and the like does not imply any particular order, but they are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Although some features may be described with respect to individual exemplary embodiments, aspects need not be limited thereto such that features from one or more exemplary embodiments may be combinable with other features from one or more exemplary embodiments.

0043In addition, embodiments described in the specification are wholly hardware, and may be partially software or wholly software. In the specification, “unit”, “module”, “device”, “system”, or the like represents a computer related entity such as hardware, combination of hardware and software, or software. For example, in the specification, the unit, the module, the device, the system, or the like may be an executed process, a processor, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer, but are not limited thereto. For example, both of an application which is being executed in the computer and a computer may correspond to the unit, the module, the device, the system, or the like in the specification.

0044Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

0045A method for transmitting a file to all of group members and sharing the file with all of the group members using a group messaging function is described. The group messaging function can include a chatting function between multiple parties through a group chatting window of an Internet messenger. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, cloud file sharing through group messaging is enabled by allowing a messenger server and a cloud server to utilize an interlock protocol with each other by mapping a chatting group and a cloud sharing group to each other.

0046When a group chatting room (or a group chatting window) is created, a sharing group in the cloud server interlocking with the group chatting room may be automatically created. In some embodiments, the sharing group can be manually created in response to a command, prompt or pop up window request. When a file to be shared is transmitted through the group chatting room, the transmitted file is stored in a storing space allocated to the sharing group in the cloud server. The members of the group chatting may read an uploaded file shared in the cloud server and perform various activities, for example, group work, reading, opinion exchange, evaluation, comment registration, and the like, related to the uploaded file.

0047According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the sharing group is set in the cloud server, various activities performed in the sharing group may be notified by the group chatting window.

0048Although the present invention has been described for a mobile messenger in a mobile terminal, the present invention may also be applied to any terminal capable of providing a function of the present invention. For example, the present invention may be applied to all user terminals capable of executing an application, including a fixed terminal, such as, a desktop computer, a television, or the like, and a mobile terminal, such as, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation apparatus, or the like. The present invention is applied to a terminal that may access at least one of a wired and wireless network.

0049Concept of group messaging interlocking with cloud storage

0050<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates an interlock between a messenger server and a cloud server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A user may execute a messenger client program through a terminal <b>300</b> (for example, a smart phone, a desktop computer, or the like) to access a messenger server <b>310</b> and create a chatting room (or a chatting window). When a plurality of chatting participants is selected, a group chatting room may be created and a plurality of users may perform chatting in a group chatting room.

0051The messenger server <b>310</b> may be synchronized with a cloud server <b>320</b>, and a cloud sharing group corresponding to the group chatting room created through the messenger server <b>310</b> may be created through the cloud server <b>320</b>. A work space of the cloud sharing group is allocated to a cloud storage <b>330</b> to enable a file to be shared, read, and worked on.

0052When a specific user (sender) selects a file stored in the user terminal <b>300</b>, which is a local device, and transmits the selected file through the group chatting room using the terminal <b>300</b>, the transmitted file is mapped to a chatting group of the messenger through the messenger server <b>310</b> and the cloud server <b>320</b> in a one-to-one scheme to be stored in an allocated space (that is, a space allocated to a set cloud sharing group in the cloud storage <b>330</b>) of the set cloud sharing group.

0053The respective sharing group members may access the file stored in the cloud storage <b>330</b> through the group chatting room of the messenger client program using their user terminals <b>300</b>. To use the file stored in the cloud storage <b>330</b> the group members may directly log in and access the cloud server <b>320</b>, rather than access through the group chatting room. The messenger server <b>310</b> and the cloud server <b>320</b> may interlock with each other and the user may be authenticated through an authentication server <b>340</b>.

0054A service operator of the messenger server <b>310</b> and a service operator of the cloud server <b>320</b> may be the same operator or may be different operators. The operators may simultaneously authenticate the users using the same authentication server <b>340</b>. The operators may authenticate the users by sharing information with each other.

0055When sharing groups are mapped to each other in the one-to-one scheme by interlock between the messenger server <b>310</b> and the cloud server <b>320</b>, various interlock functions according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be provided. When a cloud authentication recipient accesses the cloud server <b>320</b> to perform various activities using a shared file, the cloud server <b>320</b> and the messenger <b>310</b> of a user included in the shared corresponding group may be notified. Therefore, the respective members participating in the group chatting room may confirm an activity situation for the shared file in real time.

0056An example of the notified file sharing activity may include creating of a sharing group, uploading or downloading of the file, reading, modifying editing of the file (for example, moving picture viewing, document editing, or the like), adding of meta information to the shared file, reply or comment to the file, evaluation mark registration, and the like.

0057When the user accesses the cloud server <b>320</b> to upload the file and create the sharing group, information on the sharing group may be transmitted to the messenger server <b>310</b> interlocking with the cloud server <b>320</b>. The messenger server <b>310</b> creates a group chatting room corresponding to the cloud sharing group created in the cloud server <b>320</b> in the one-to-one scheme and notifies the cloud server <b>320</b> of various file related activities performed in the cloud sharing group. When creating a group, the messenger server <b>310</b> may simultaneously notify group members logged in the messenger server <b>310</b> that the group chatting room has been created.

0058All activities generated in a space allocated to a sharing group of the sharing cloud storage <b>330</b> may be transmitted to the messenger server <b>310</b> through the cloud server <b>320</b>, and the messenger server <b>310</b> may notify members in the group of all activities through a group chatting window, individual chatting windows, notifying windows, or the like.

0059When sharing group members are set by accessing the cloud server <b>320</b> and a specific member uploads a file, the messenger server <b>310</b> interlocking with the cloud server <b>320</b> may automatically create the group chatting room and notify the members of the file uploaded in the sharing cloud storage <b>330</b> through the group chatting room of the messenger.

0060<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates interlock between a messenger chatting group and a cloud sharing group according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A messenger chatting group <b>410</b> created through the messenger server <b>310</b> and a cloud sharing group <b>420</b> created through the cloud server <b>320</b> interlocking with the messenger server <b>310</b> are mapped to each other. The mapping can be in a one-to-one scheme to exchange information with each other. For example, when a messenger chatting group <b>410</b> (group sharing room) is created through the messenger server <b>310</b>, a corresponding cloud sharing group <b>420</b> is created through the cloud server <b>320</b>. Likewise, when a cloud sharing group <b>420</b> is created through the cloud server <b>320</b>, a corresponding messenger chatting group <b>410</b> is created through the messenger server <b>310</b>. According to the creation of the messenger chatting group <b>410</b>, a group chatting room (or a group chatting window) may be created in the terminals of users logged in by executing a messenger client program.

0061A group ID, an ID of a group creator, an ID of a group member, ID information of a chatting window, and the like, can be generated, stored, and managed in the messenger chatting group <b>410</b>. A group ID, an ID of a group creator, an ID of a group member, and the like, may also be generated, stored, and managed in the cloud sharing group <b>420</b>. The messenger chatting group <b>410</b> and the cloud sharing group <b>420</b> may share information with each other and use the same information, or map different information to each other by a mapping table, or use different information. The cloud sharing group <b>420</b> may include sharing folder position information of the cloud sharing group.

0062Hereinafter, structures of a system and an apparatus according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> and a service procedure according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> and <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>.

0063Group Messaging System

0064<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a group messaging system for providing file sharing through a bidirectional interlock with a cloud server according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A service server <b>500</b> of a service operator is connected to a plurality of user terminals <b>560</b> in which a messenger program, a cloud sharing program, or the like, is executed through a communication network <b>550</b>. The service server <b>500</b> may include a messenger server <b>510</b>, a cloud server <b>520</b>, a cloud storage <b>530</b>, an authentication server <b>540</b>, and the like, wherein the messenger server <b>510</b> and the cloud server <b>520</b> interlock with each other according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The authentication server <b>540</b> may authenticate an access of the user terminal to the cloud server <b>520</b> either concurrently or simultaneously with authenticating an access of the user terminal to the messenger server <b>510</b>.

0065Although the case in which the messenger server <b>510</b> and the cloud server <b>520</b> are included in the service server <b>500</b> of the same operator is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the present invention is not limited thereto. The messenger server <b>510</b> and the cloud server <b>520</b> may be operated by different operators and interlock with each other.

0066The communication network <b>550</b> may include wired communication, wireless communication and the like. The communication network <b>550</b> may include various communication networks, such as, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), and the like. The communication network <b>550</b> may be the known World Wide Web (WWW) and use a wireless transmission technology used in short range communication, such as, infrared data association (IrDA) or Bluetooth.

0067According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the user terminal <b>560</b> may access the messenger server <b>510</b> to receive various messenger related services (particularly, a group messaging service) and access the cloud server <b>520</b> through the messenger server <b>510</b>. The user terminal <b>560</b> may access the cloud server <b>520</b> to receive various cloud related services and access the messenger server <b>510</b> through the cloud server <b>520</b>.

0068The authentication server <b>540</b> may perform authentication, or the like, for the user terminals <b>560</b> and simultaneously perform authentication for access to the messenger server <b>510</b> and access to the cloud server <b>520</b>. As the messenger server <b>510</b> and the cloud server <b>520</b> interlock with each other, the authentication server may share authentication information for the respective servers and perform the authentication of the user terminal <b>560</b> by the same authentication information. In some embodiments, the authentication server <b>540</b> may use different authentication information for authenticating a user for each of the messenger server <b>510</b> and the cloud server <b>520</b>.

0069The cloud storage <b>530</b> provides a storing space allocated to a cloud sharing group created through the cloud server <b>520</b> according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The cloud storage <b>530</b> may store files uploaded for each sharing group and may store information, for example, evaluation information, comment information, and the like, related to the stored files. The cloud storage <b>530</b> may include information related to the sharing group and separately store the files and the file related information for each sharing group. The cloud storage <b>530</b> may include a plurality of databases. The cloud storage <b>530</b> may include a database including partial information or the entire information may be positioned at another database, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>.

0070The user terminal <b>560</b> according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be a digital device including an input/output function for communicating with the service server <b>500</b> through the communication network <b>500</b> in order for the user to perform messenger access, file sharing, and the like. The user terminal <b>560</b> may include a memory unit and a microprocessor, such as, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a workstation, a palmtop computer, a personal digital assistance (PDA), a web pad, a mobile communication terminal including a smart phone, and the like.

0071<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a messenger server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The messenger server <b>510</b> may include a messenger processing module <b>610</b>, databases storing various related data, and a cloud server interlock processing module <b>630</b> performing an interlock function with the cloud server <b>520</b>. The messenger processing module <b>610</b> may include a group chatting room managing unit <b>611</b>, a group member managing unit <b>612</b>, a file sharing processing unit <b>613</b>, a group activity notifying unit <b>614</b>, a cloud server accessing unit <b>615</b>, and the like. All or some of detailed functional units included in the messenger processing module <b>610</b> of the messenger server <b>510</b> may be included in a client program installed in the user terminal, and some of the detailed functional units may interlock with each other or be distributed and processed by a server and a client system.

0072The group chatting room managing unit <b>611</b> provides creation of a group chatting room, creation of a chatting window, and the like, when the user requests or allows the creation of the group chatting room. A group chatting room creator may select a plurality of chatting participants to create the group chatting room. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when a sharing group is created through the cloud server <b>520</b> interlocking with the messenger server <b>510</b>, the group chatting room managing unit <b>611</b> can automatically create a group chatting room mapped to the created sharing group in, for example, a one-to-one scheme.

0073The group member managing unit <b>612</b> manages group members included in the group selected by the group creator. The group member managing unit <b>612</b> adds, deletes or updates a group member according to a request of the group creator.

0074When a specific user in the group requests sharing of the file, the file sharing processing unit <b>613</b> transmits a file to the cloud server <b>520</b> through the cloud server interlock processing module <b>630</b> to store the file in a cloud sharing group, for example, in a sharing folder of the corresponding group. All group members may share the file with one another and use the file without transmitting the file individually to the respective group members as in the related art.

0075The group activity notifying unit <b>614</b> receives information on an activity for the file stored in the cloud sharing group from the cloud server <b>520</b> through the cloud server interlock processing module <b>630</b>. The group activity notifying unit <b>614</b> may notifies the created group chatting window of the received information.

0076The cloud server accessing unit <b>615</b> provides an interface so that the user terminals accessing the messenger server <b>510</b> may access the cloud server <b>520</b>. The user accessing the messenger server <b>510</b> through the cloud server accessing unit <b>615</b> may easily access the cloud server <b>520</b> without performing a separate cloud server <b>520</b> accessing or log-in procedure. The access interface may be included in a predetermined position, menu, or the like, of the messenger client program and may select link information in the group chatting window. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cloud server accessing unit <b>615</b> may be included in the authentication server <b>540</b> that includes a messenger server accessing unit (not shown), a member information database <b>621</b>, and/or a member information database <b>721</b>. The cloud server accessing unit <b>615</b> may provide an authentication function for accessing the messenger server <b>510</b> and/or the cloud server <b>520</b> through the authentication server <b>540</b>.

0077The member information database <b>621</b> may store member related information of users subscribing to the messenger server <b>510</b>. The member information database <b>621</b> may be shared with the member information database <b>721</b> included in the cloud server <b>520</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>. A chatting information database <b>622</b> may store information, such as, various texts, images, files, and the like, chatted in the chatting room. A group information database <b>623</b> may store information, for example, a group ID, a group member ID, and the like, related to the creation of the group chatting room. The group information database <b>623</b> may be shared with a group information database <b>723</b> included in the cloud server <b>520</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>. The group information database <b>623</b> and the group information database <b>723</b> may be present as a single database and be stored in a separate storing space that may be accessed by both of the messenger server <b>510</b> and the cloud server <b>520</b>. A notification information database <b>624</b> may store file sharing activity related notification contents received from the cloud server <b>520</b> and display the notification contents through the group chatting window.

0078The cloud server interlock processing module <b>630</b> performs a function of interlocking with the cloud server <b>520</b> in the messenger server <b>510</b> to process various data, when the group chatting room or the cloud sharing group is created. In some embodiments, interlocking can include a hardware or software method of coordinating and/or synchronizing multiple processes in a computer or computer network. The process is used, for example, when a certain process should not begin until another process has completely terminated, like a creating of cloud sharing group should not begin until the message sharing group has completed. In some embodiments, the interlock is implemented using a flag, a semaphore, a mutex, and the like.

0079<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> a cloud server according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The cloud server <b>520</b> may include a group processing module <b>710</b> processing a group sharing function of the cloud, databases storing various related data, and a messenger server interlock processing module <b>730</b> performing an interlock function with the messenger server <b>510</b>. The group processing module <b>710</b> may be configured to include a group sharing folder managing unit <b>711</b>, a group member managing unit <b>712</b>, a file registration managing unit <b>713</b>, a file edition managing unit <b>714</b>, a meta information managing unit <b>715</b>, a group activity notifying unit <b>716</b>, and the like.

0080The group sharing folder managing unit <b>711</b> manages a sharing folder for a group when a group is created by users accessing the cloud server <b>520</b>. The group sharing folder managing unit <b>711</b> receives information related to the messenger chatting group from the messenger server <b>510</b> to automatically create a cloud sharing group.

0081The group member managing unit <b>712</b> manages group members included in the group selected by the group creator and adds or deletes a group member according to a request of a user, for example, the group creator. The group member managing unit <b>712</b> receives changed information on the group members managed through the messenger server <b>510</b> to update the group information database <b>723</b>.

0082The file registration managing unit <b>713</b> receives a file registered through the group chatting room in the messenger program from the messenger server <b>510</b> (or in a P2P scheme) and stores the received shared file in a file information database <b>722</b>. The file registration managing unit <b>713</b> may store an uploaded file in the file information database <b>722</b> when the user directly accesses the cloud server <b>520</b> to upload the file.

0083The file edition managing unit <b>714</b> may allow the members in the sharing group to edit the uploaded shared file and disallow other members from editing the file while editing. For example, a plurality of users may be disallowed from either simultaneously or concurrently editing a specific through a control, for example, by using a semaphore or a Mutex scheme.

0084The meta information managing unit <b>715</b> may register and process meta information with respect to the uploaded file. The meta information may be separately added and stored in connection with a file rather than in the actual content of the file. The meta information may be information, such as, a file creation date, a file modification data, a file creator, a file modifier, a file size, a file storing path, a comment for the file, an evaluation mark, or the like.

0085The group activity notifying unit <b>716</b> may notify the messenger server <b>510</b> that a group activity for the file has been generated, for example, through the messenger server interlock processing module <b>730</b>, when group activity is generated through the file registration managing unit <b>713</b>, the file edition managing unit <b>714</b>, the meta information managing unit <b>715</b>, and the like. The group activity may include, for example, a modification of the file (a modification of the group document, or the like), a meta activity for the file (for example, a comment, evaluation registration, or the like), and the like.

0086The group processing module <b>710</b> may further include a messenger server accessing unit (not shown). The messenger server accessing unit may provide an interface so that the terminals accessing the cloud server <b>520</b> may access the messenger server <b>510</b> through the cloud server <b>520</b>. The user accessing the cloud server <b>520</b> through the messenger server accessing unit may access the messenger server <b>510</b> without performing a separate messenger server <b>510</b> accessing or log-in procedure. The access interface may be disposed in a predetermined position, menu, or the like, of a cloud service program.

0087The member information database <b>721</b> may store member information that may be shared with the member information database <b>621</b> included in the messenger server <b>510</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. The file information database <b>722</b> may store a file uploaded in the corresponding cloud sharing group. The file information database <b>722</b> may store the respective members included in the corresponding group authorized to read and edit the file. A group information database <b>723</b> may store information, for example, a group ID, a group member ID, and the like, related to the group. Group information database <b>723</b> may be shared with the group information database <b>623</b> included in the messenger server <b>510</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. A meta information database <b>724</b> may store meta information for the registered file as described above.

0088The messenger server interlock processing module <b>730</b> performs a function of interlocking with the messenger server <b>510</b> in the cloud server <b>520</b> to process various data, when the group chatting room is created, the cloud sharing group is created, or various sharing activities are generated according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

0089Group Messaging Method

0090<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrates a group messaging signal flow chart for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The respective users in the sharing group may share the file with one another through the group chatting window created on a user terminal and confirm an activity for the shared file in real time. When a user logs in the messenger server <b>510</b> through the user terminal <b>560</b> (S<b>801</b>) and requests creation of a group chatting room (S<b>802</b>). The messenger server <b>510</b> creates the group chatting room (S<b>803</b>) and stores various group related information in a database. The group chatting room information related to the creation of the group is the provided to the user terminal <b>560</b> (S<b>804</b>), and the user terminal <b>560</b> creates a group chatting window based on the group chatting room information (S<b>808</b>). In some embodiments, the user may either simultaneously or concurrently perform the chatting with members in the corresponding group through the created group chatting window or transmit the file.

0091The messenger server <b>510</b> transmits a group creation request (S<b>805</b>) information to the cloud server <b>520</b> interlocking with the messenger server <b>510</b>. The cloud server <b>520</b> creates a cloud sharing group based on corresponding group related information according to the group creation request. For example, the cloud server <b>520</b> may create a group sharing folder corresponding to the created group (S<b>806</b>) and allocates a storing space to the created group sharing folder.

0092The messenger server <b>510</b> may instruct the user terminals of the group members of the group chatting room to create the group chatting window (S<b>807</b>). In some embodiments, the group chatting window is automatically created in the user terminals of the group members.

0093According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when a file is uploaded through the created group chatting window (S<b>809</b>), the uploaded file is transmitted to the cloud server <b>520</b> interlocking with the messenger server <b>510</b> through the messenger server <b>510</b> (or in the P2P scheme) (S<b>810</b> and S<b>811</b>). The cloud server <b>520</b> may store the transmitted shared file in the created corresponding group sharing folder (S<b>812</b>). The file stored in the group sharing folder is set to be accessible by members of the corresponding group.

0094When a group activity for the stored file is generated (S<b>813</b>), the generated group activity is transmitted to the user terminals <b>560</b> of the members of the corresponding group through the messenger server <b>510</b> (S<b>814</b> and S<b>815</b>). The respective user terminals <b>560</b> may display contents of the transmitted group activity on the created group chatting window (S<b>816</b>).

0095<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> illustrates a signal flow chart for providing file sharing through bidirectional interlock with a cloud server according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. When a user terminal A <b>560</b><i>a </i>accesses and logs in the cloud server <b>520</b> (S<b>901</b>) and requests creation of a sharing group (S<b>902</b>), the cloud server <b>520</b> creates the sharing group according to the request (S<b>903</b>).

0096According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, information on the created sharing group is transmitted to the messenger server <b>510</b> interlocking with the cloud server <b>520</b> (S<b>904</b>). The messenger server <b>510</b> may create the group chatting room with reference to the transmitted information on the sharing group (S<b>905</b>) and may instruct the user terminals of the members included in the created group to create the group chatting window (S<b>906</b>). Therefore, information on the group chatting room is transmitted to a plurality of user terminals BS <b>560</b><i>b </i>(S<b>907</b>), and the respective user terminals <b>560</b> automatically creates the group chatting window through the transmitted information (S<b>908</b>). The group chatting window may be created in the messenger program of a user terminal logged in as a member of the group.

0097According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the user terminal A <b>560</b><i>a </i>uploads the file in the sharing group of the cloud server <b>520</b> (S<b>909</b>), the uploaded file is stored in the sharing group folder (S<b>910</b>). The messenger server <b>510</b> and the user terminal BS <b>560</b><i>b </i>of all corresponding members may be notified of the file upload (S<b>911</b>, S<b>912</b>). The respective user terminals <b>560</b> receiving the file upload notification may display the contents for the file upload on the created group chatting window (S<b>913</b>), for example, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>.

0098According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when various sharing activities for the uploaded shared file are generated in the user terminal A <b>560</b><i>a </i>through the cloud server <b>520</b> (S<b>914</b> and S<b>915</b>), the generated sharing activities are notified to the messenger server <b>510</b> (S<b>916</b>). The messenger server <b>510</b> notifies the user terminals BS <b>560</b><i>b </i>of all members in the corresponding group of the sharing activity (S<b>917</b>). The respective user terminals <b>560</b> receiving the sharing activity notification displays contents for the sharing activity on the created group chatting window (S<b>918</b>), for example, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>.

EXAMPLE

0099<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> illustrates file sharing through a group chatting window according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. When a plurality of chatting targets are selected to perform group chatting, a group chatting room with a corresponding group chatting window <b>1000</b> is created. The group chatting window <b>1000</b> may display information on a group creator <b>1010</b> and information on chatting participants <b>1020</b> (that is, group members).

0100According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the group chatting window <b>1000</b> is created, a cloud group sharing folder mapped to a chatting group in a cloud storage in the one-to-one scheme may be automatically created through the cloud server interlocking with the messenger server. In some embodiments, it is also possible to access the corresponding sharing folder through a folder shortcut menu in the chatting window. Information <b>1030</b> informing the creation of the cloud group sharing folder may be displayed on the group chatting window <b>1000</b>.

0101A specific file stored in a local device or a personal cloud server of the user may be uploaded through the group chatting window. When the file is uploaded it is created in the cloud group sharing folder, and a state of a file upload <b>1040</b> may be displayed on the group chatting window <b>1000</b> of all members in the group. All members in the corresponding group may access the uploaded file to perform various activity works including reading or editing.

0102For example, when a member ‘AAA’ among the group members uploads a file “FF.doc” through the group chatting window, the state of the file upload <b>1040</b>, such as, “[AAA] uploads a file in a cloud group sharing folder” is displayed on the group chatting window <b>1000</b> of all group members.

0103<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> illustrates group activity notification through the group chatting window according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A group activity for a shared file may be notified through the created group chatting window <b>1100</b>. When a modification or a comment is registered for the file uploaded in the cloud group sharing folder, a name of the member performing the corresponding activity and a content of the corresponding activity may be displayed on the group chatting window <b>1100</b>.

0104For example, when a member ‘BBB’ among the group members modifies a file ‘FF.doc’, a file modifying notification <b>1110</b>, such as, “File FF.doc has been modified by [BBB]” may be displayed on the group chatting window <b>1100</b> of all group members. A shortcut to the cloud sharing folder in which the corresponding file is stored may be executed or the corresponding file may be directly accessed.

0105When a member ‘CCC’ among the group members registers a comment in a file ‘FF2.hwp’, a comment registering notification <b>1120</b>, such as, “Comment has been registered in file FF2.hwp by [CCC]” may be displayed on the group chatting window <b>1100</b> of all group members. This permits all group members to confirm an activity for the file.

0106<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> illustrates a cloud group sharing room according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Basic information, for example, group creator information <b>1210</b>, group member information <b>1220</b>, and the like, related to the group and a list of files uploaded in a sharing folder <b>1240</b> and information on the respective uploaded files may be displayed on a created cloud group sharing room <b>1200</b>. The file information can include, for example, a file name, a file registrant, a current state, a final modifying date, an evaluation mark, a replay, and the like.

0107In some embodiments, a shortcut to the group chatting window of the messenger may be mapped to the cloud group in the one-to-one scheme through a group chatting window shortcut <b>1230</b> menu.

0108Hereinabove, although the present invention is described by specific matters such as concrete components, and the like, exemplary embodiments, and drawings, they are provided only for assisting in the entire understanding of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from this description.

0109Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and the following claims as well as all modified equally or equivalently to the claims are intended to fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.