WO2001039007A1

WO2001039007A1 - Integrated browser and server system

Info

Publication number: WO2001039007A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/001347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byung Kuk Min
Original assignee: Impact Online Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-11-26
Filing date: 2000-11-23
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: AU1898101A; KR20010048347A

Abstract

An integrated browser and server system for providing chatting, file transfer protocol (FTP), bulletin board system (BBS) services and the like on the Internet in an integrated manner. The integrated browser and server system includes the Internet, an integrated browser including a port manager and clients to be provided with a plurality of services in an integrated manner, and a web server system including servers corresponding to the clients of the integrated browser and connected to the integrated browser through the Internet to provide the plurality of services. The integrated browser includes a file transfer protocol (FTP) client for file transfer, a chatting client for chatting, a bulletin board system (BBS) client for executing BBS, a pager client for user log-in and friend management, and a port manager for connection with the server. Therefore, since various services such as Search, Chatting, FTP, BBS and so on can be provided from the same web browser screen in an integrated manner, the internet services can be conveniently utilized. Also, a user can identify other users on the web page so that interactive communication and information exchange can be executed. Further, since the user can communicate with other users while surfing together to the web sites, mutual responses among the users can be performed on virtual spaces.

Description

INTEGRATED BROWSER AND SERVER SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an integrated browser and server system for

providing chatting, file transfer protocol (FTP), bulletin board system (BBS) services and

the like on the Internet in an integrated manner, and a recording medium on which the

program thereof is recorded.

Background Art

Recently, along with explosive growth in the number of Internet users, a variety of

services are provided through the Internet. In other words, according to the development of

electronic commerce techniques, numerous types of sites for home shopping, information

search, news, auction, web hosting and so on, have been established to render a variety of Internet services.

However, the services offered by existing Internet sites are unilaterally provided

from the Internet sites to multiple users in a non real time basis. That is to say, real-time,

user-to-user interactive services are not allowed in the conventional system. For example,

in the case of a "Clubs" service provided by the existing Internet site, a user must visit the

home page of the corresponding site and then connects to the "Club" page to search for the

information posted on the BBS or to post his/her message or opinion into the BBS, while

real-time execution of opinion/information exchange or applications cannot still be

achieved. Disclosure of the Invention

To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an

integrated browser and server system which allows a user to identify another users on the

web page on the Internet to chat with them or to perform application programs together with the other users in a real-time basis, which allows user-to-user connection for data

exchange and web surfing on the Internet together with the other users, and a recording

medium on which the program of the integrated browser and server system is recorded.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided an integrated browser and server system including the Internet, an integrated browser

including a port manager and clients to be provided with a plurality of services in an

integrated manner, and a web server system including servers corresponding to the clients

of the integrated browser and connected to the integrated browser through the Internet to provide the plurality of services.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which an integrated browser program including a file transfer protocol (FTP)

client for file transfer, a chatting client for chatting, a bulletin board system (BBS) client

for executing BBS, a pager client for management of users, and a port manager for

connecting the respective clients with the network.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above object and advantages of the present invention will become more

apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an integrated browser and server system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the procedure of user's network connection in the system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the procedure of user-to-user connection in the system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is schematic representation of the procedure of user-to-user client/server

construction according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the operation of a location server according

to the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates the connection between an FTP client and a FTP server

according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates socket layers used in the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the operation of a message relay server according to

the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a login screen according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a pager window screen according to the present

invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a basic browser screen according to the present

invention.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network system according to the present

invention, showing a user A computer 110a and a user B computer 11 Ob connected through

the Internet, a web site 120, a location server 130 and a relocator 140. Referring to FIG. 1,

the integrated browsers 112a and 112b according to the present invention (each designated

by Net'meet Browser in the drawing), are loaded and executed on the user A computer

110a and the user B computer 110b. The integrated browsers 112a and 112b include

chatting clients 113a and 113b, file transfer protocol (FTP) clients 114a and 114b, bulletin

board system (BBS) clients 115a and 115b, pager clients 116a and 116b, and port managers

117a and 117b. The web site 120, which is a server system according to the present

invention, includes a web server 121, and a chatting server 122, a pager server 123, a BBS

server 124 and an FTP server 125 arranged around the web server 121, and provides

integrated services through the integrated browsers 112a and 112b.

Referring to FIG. 1, the user A computer 110a and the user B computer 110b

connect to the web server 121 of the web site 120 through the Internet 100 and then

connect to the chatting server 122, the BBS server 124, the FTP server 125 and the pager

server 123 to be presented with the corresponding services. In particular, in the present

invention, each of the user A computer 110a and the user B computer 110b on the web site

120 can recognize the other party and can chat with each other or exchange files while

browsing the web site 120. As shown in FIG. 3, peer-to-peer connection is also allowed on

occasion. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, one of users may be a server to then invite other users to be interconnected. The relocator 140 and the location server 130, as shown in FIG. 5, trace user's

changing addresses and change the same into permanent ID.

Referring to FIG. 1, the integrated browsers 112a and 112b run on the user A

computer 110a and the user B computer 110b, can provide various functions such as

chatting, link, BBS, FTP, web browser, applications and so on.

In the browser function, menu items including Menu, Home, Top, Reset, Mark,

Favorites, Package, Room setting, Chatting mode, Search, Print, Options, Friends, Check

mail, Go together and Myhome, are provided. In the charting function, menu items

including Chat menu, Room list, Room swap, Chat option, Room mark, Application and

Exit, are provided. In the user function, menu items including User list, Share link bar,

Provider link bar and Support link bar, are provided.

The "Menu" of browser function includes all menu items associated with

browsing. "Home" allows the default page set on the Microsoft Internet Explorer to be

activated. "Top" allows the user to link to the web page showing a list of rooms available from the web site 120. "Reset" allows the currently displayed page to be reset. "Mark"

allows the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) address of the currently displayed page to

be stored. "Favorites" displays pages stored in Microsoft Internet Explorer as menus.

"Package" activates a back-pack in which various links and files are stored. "Room

setting" provides pull-down menu including "Create", "Destroy", "Enter", "Exit", "Register" and "Cancel". An HTTP area and a chatting area are subdivisions of "Chatting

mode". "Search" allows the user to access to the search page provided by the web site 120.

"Print" allows the current page to be printed. "Option" displays the Internet options

available from the Explorer. "Friends" activates the pager. "Check mail" activates an e- mail inbox, as implemented in Microsoft Outlook Express. "Go together" allows any

friend who is surfing on the web site to move to the web page that is currently viewed by the user. "Myhome" allows the user to move to the home page provided by the accessed

chatting room. The "Menu" of the chatting function displays a chatting related menu. "Room

listings" displays listings of chatting rooms registered on the server of the pertinent room.

"Room transfer" is provided to transfer a shared room and a local room created by a local

server, if any. "Option" displays a dialog box containing various functions, that is, Change

Font, Change Background Color, Change icon representing user's face, and so on. "Mark"

is provided to store the address of the pertinent room in the back-pack. "Application" is

provided to execute the applications provided by the web site. "Exit" allows the user to

exit the room.

"User list" of the user function displays a list of people connected to the room.

"Share link bar" displays the link bar that can be established by any one linked to the room.

"Provider link bar" displays only the link bar that can be established by the chief of the

room. "Support link bar" displays the link bars provided by the web site 120.

The FTP service according to the present invention is provided by the interaction

between the FTP clients 114a and 114b of the user A computer 110a and the user B

computer 110b and the FTP server 125 of the web site 120. In the FTP, as shown in FIG. 6,

messages, a link file, a BBS file and so on are downloaded to the user upon the request of the client, and a file transfer function and file relay function are provided.

Referring to FIG. 6, when an FTP client 114 connects to an FTP server 125, the

FTP server 125 transmits file information to the FTP client 114. Then, the FPT client 114 checks whether a file for receiving the information exists in a local computer system. If

exists, the FTP client 114 sends the position of the existent file to the FTP server 125, and

if not, the FTP client 114 sends a zero position to the FTP server 125. Then, the FTP

server 125 transfers the file to the FTP client 114 by referring to the sent position.

In the above-described FTP, the FPT client 114 and the FTP server 125 use two

connections: one is control connection for processing controls and commands necessary for

file transfer; and the other is data connection for actual data transfer. The control connection, which is continuously activated while a file is being transferred, enables

controls or commands to be processed. The data connection, which is connected when a

file is transferred, is deactivated when file transfer is completed.

The BBS service according to the present invention is provided by the interaction

between the BBS clients 115a and 115b of the user A computer 110a and the user B

computer 110b and the BBS server 124 of the web site 120. The BBS service provides functions of BBS management and Message management. The menu items of the BBS

management include Create, Delete and Change BBS name. The menu items of the

Message management include Read, Write, Reply, Delete and Edit.

If the "Create" item is chosen from the menu list of the BBS management of the BBS clients 115a and 115b, the name of the BBS to be created is entered to then put into a

packet and transmitted to the BBS server 124. The BBS server 124 creates a table having

the same name as that of the BBS and then transmits a response packet with an execution

result code to the BBS clients 115a and 115b. Then, the BBS clients 115a and 115b display

the BBS name on the display screen. If the "Delete" item is chosen, the name of the BBS to be deleted is put into a packet to be transmitted to the BBS server 124. Then, the BBS server 124 deletes the corresponding table. Subsequently, the BBS server 124 transmits a response packet with an execution result code to the BBS clients 115a and 115b to then

delete the corresponding BBS from the display screen. If the "Change BBS name" item is

chosen, the name of the BBS to be newly changed is entered and then the previous name

and the new name are put into a packet to then be transmitted to the BBS server 124. Then,

the BBS server 124 changes the name of the table having the same name as that of the

corresponding BBS. Then, the BBS server 124 transmits a response packet with an

execution result code to the BBS clients 115a and 115b. The BBS clients 115a and 115b display the changed BBS name on the display screen.

If the "Read" item is chosen from the menu list of the Message management, the

corresponding request is put into a packet and transmitted to the BBS server 124. The BBS

server 124 transmits a response packet with an execution result code and corresponding

content to the BBS clients 115a and 115b. Accordingly, the BBS clients 115a and 115b

display the content of corresponding message on the display screen. If the "Write" item is

chosen, the title, password, content and attachments of a message to be written are entered

and then put into a packet to be transmitted to the BBS server 124. If there is any attached

file, the BBS server 124 and the BBS clients 115a and 115b execute the FTP to exchange

the corresponding attached file. Then, the BBS server 124 transmits a response packet

with an execution result code and the BBS clients 115a and 115b display the corresponding message on the display screen accordingly. If the "Reply" item is chosen, the title,

password, content and attachments of a message to be replied are entered and then put into a packet to be transmitted to the BBS server 124. If there is any attached file, the BBS

server 124 and the BBS clients 115a and 115b execute the FTP to exchange the corresponding attached file. Then, the BBS server 124 transmits a response packet with an

execution result code and the BBS clients 115a and 115b display the corresponding reply

on the display screen accordingly. If the "Delete" item is chosen, the position of a record to be deleted, that is, the name and serial number of the table, is put into a packet to be

transmitted to the BBS server 124. Then, the BBS server 124 transmits a response packet

with an execution result code to the BBS clients 115a and 115b to then delete the

corresponding message from the display screen. If the "Edit" item is chosen, the title, password, content and attachments of a message to be edited are entered and then put into a

packet to then be transmitted to the BBS server 124. If there is any attached file, the BBS

server 124 and the BBS clients 115a and 115b execute the FTP to exchange the

corresponding attached file, as described above. Then, the BBS server 124 transmits a response packet with an execution result code to the BBS clients 115a and 115b to then

display the corresponding edited message on the display screen accordingly.

In FIG. 1, the pager clients 116a and 116b manage those who have met through

the integrated browser on the Internet, communicate with them and allow them to use the

network applications together, while interacting with the pager server 123 of the web site

120. People who have been registered as friends on the pager clients 116a and 116b can

more conveniently communicate and share information with one another, allowing

communication with friends without a limitation in distance or area.

The "Register" item of Pager management is provided to add a new user. The

"Log-in" item is provided to allow another user to log in when the pager is activated and

when one pager is shared by more than two people. The "Offline" item is provided for prohibiting the network from being used when the network is not identified. The "Change profile information" item of Profile information management is

provided to change the profile information stored in the pager server 123. The "Change password" item is provided to change the password used to log-in.

The "Delete" item of a Friend management function is provided to delete

registered friends, the "View friend information" item is provided to allow the friend

information to be viewed in the form of business card. The "Check friend's access" item is

provided to check whether the friend is on line. The "Find friend" item is provided to find

user's friend using information including ID, Registration number, e-mail address and the like.

The "Send message" item of a Message function is provided to send a message to

a selected friend. The "Message box" item is provided to open a message box.

Socket layers for communication allow data to be accurately transmitted and/or

received over the Internet, and include LPsock, RawSock and CsocketBase. In the

"LPsock", the application structure is formed into a CIolL packet and then sent to the

counter-party's LPsock. In the "RawSock", the CIolL packet is regarded as a data stream

for data integrity, and 8 bit packets are shifted into 7 bit packets with the MSB of 0. Then,

a flag is inserted into each of the head and tail of the data stream. In the "CSoketBase",

principle functions related to Send stream, Receive stream and Socket are performed. These sockets are basically constructed on the TCP/IP, and, as shown in FIG. 7, data is

transmitted and/or received through multiple socket classes.

Referring to FIG. 7, the RawSock checks whether the data sent from the counterparty is complete or not, and prevents an error due to overlapping packets. The error can

be prevented by forming a new string with the MSB of 0 by cutting every 7 bits in the order of bytes, and adding a starting byte and a terminating byte thereto. The LPSock provides a common connection path for the respective applications, e.g., FTP, chatting or BBS, to be

operable under the integrated condition of a variety of applications.

As described above, the Back-pack, activated by the "Package" item of the integrated browser, stores user link, FTP link, room link and web link and displays an

Upload file, Download file and messages. The menu items of the Link function include

Web link, Room link, FTP link and History. The menu items of the file function include

Download and Upload. The menu items of the Message function include Outbox,

Temporary storage box and Inbox.

In the Back-pack, if the "Web link" item is chosen, the HTTP link is stored. If the

"Room link" item is chosen, the ITP link is stored. If the "FTP link" item is chosen, the

FTP link is stored. If the "History" item is chosen, the connected ITP/HTTP is stored. If

the "Download" item of the File function is chosen, the downloaded file is stored. If

the"Upload" item is chosen, the file to be uploaded is stored. If the "Outbox" item of the

Message function is chosen, the message to be sent is stored. If the "Temporary storage

box" item is chosen, all the received messages are stored. If the "Inbox" item is chosen,

the received messages are stored.

As described above, the web site 120 according to the present invention undergoes

web extension to the chatting server 122, the pager server 123, the BBS server 124 and to

the FTP server 125, and is connected to the user's integrated browser to render various services according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the pager server 123 of the web site 120 is a server residing on the

Internet, and manages the user information of the integrated browser according to the present invention. Also, the pager server 123 shares authentication information, exchanges data with users on the pager network, and maintains and manages the connection with other

users on the Internet. In other words, the integrated web browser is a combined program of

chatting, FTP, HTTP, ITP and BBS for sharing information with the Internet pager. In

order to share information, communication with other people connected with the Internet is

necessary. To this end, the pager server 123 adds a new user, identifies the integrated browser user who is connected to the Internet 100, helps the user communicate or share

information with other user registered as the friend, and manages the user information.

Thus, the pager server 123 performs network log-in management, sharing information

among users and data management in cooperation with the pager clients 116a and 116b. In

particular, the pager server 123 of the present invention has greatly improved, compared to

conventional single server system such as Internet Go Server (IGS) or Ultima On-line

Server or conventional tree-structured server system such as Internet Relay Chat (IRC) or

BattleNet, in that it has embedded functions of Detour, by which local congestion of the Internet can be avoided, and real-time use of the minimum network path using multiple

accessing as well as distributed resource management. Therefore, the pager server 123 of the present invention can adaptively cope with fast changing Internet environments.

The pager server 123 executes functions of User add, that is, the user's asked

information is stored in the database and then added, and User delete, that is, the log-in ID

and password are entered by the user and the user information is deleted from the database.

Also, the pager server 123 executes functions of User search, that is, the database is searched by the user to find his/her desired friend and the search result is output, User

authenticate and User connection management. Here, the User connection management allows the friend list of users who are using the pager to be updated in real-time in such a

manner that the IP address is recorded whenever the user connects to the pager server 123.

Thus, the users are able to acquire updated information of IP addresses of the listed friends.

In addition, since a unique ID is allocated to each of pager servers 123 to be managed, the

pager server 123 performs a User distribution function, by which the network composed of

several pager servers 123 can be used just like a single server, and a message relay server

(MRS) function of relaying a message to offline users. The operators of the respective

pager servers can transfer information such as official announcements to users by using the

MRS function. The pager server 123 consists of CMPd, RDBMS, management and statistics

script, and monitoring tools. Also, in the network consisting of the pager servers 123,

database for managing a group of pager servers, and functions of administration, and

generation and management of registration number for securing the unique ID, are

additionally provided. Optionally, an automatic relocator system based on various

languages and a logging system or monitoring system for measuring the system

performance may be further provided.

Directories of the pager server 123 are configured by using "/netsmeet" as one

partition. This is because the load applied to a partition increases as the number of users increases. All programs and libraries used in the pager server 123 exist in the

subordinate level of "/netsmeet".

In the database of the pager server 123, a user table contains user information and network information. Whenever a new user, if any, is added, such information are

added to the table. A cookie table contains the user's cookie information. A cookie is generally valid for two hours, and the user must recharge the valid time of the cookie or must be issued with a new cookie for the duration of two hours. A register pool table

contains a list of usable registration numbers, and the user is assigned a registration

number from the register pool table. When most of registration numbers contained in

the register pool table are used, new registration numbers are issued from the main pager

server to replenish the table.

In the database of a message relay server (MRS), a message table stores user's

messages, immediately transfers the message to the user according to the function of the

MRS and then deletes the message. The link table of the MRS contains link information

attached to each message.

The program loaded on the pager server 123 largely consists of an initialization

routine, a main loop routine for connection, a parsing module for analyzing various

kinds of network packets, a Structured Query Language (SQL) module for

communicating with databases, a Hash/Cache module for guaranteeing fast data

processing, a cookie module for processing cookies, an MRS module for processing

MRS, a debugging module and a utility module for tracking.

In the initialization routine, configuration files according to server are read and

preparation of a memory and initialization of variables such as cache are performed.

The main loop routine is a routine in which connection of digits allowed in the system is processed using poll. In this routine, statistic information is stored periodically and connection of pending packets are processed.

In the parsing module, ServerParse is called and commands therefore are

processed in the case where the type of a packet is determined to be a server, and uc_parse is called and commands therefore are processed in the case where the type of a packet is determined to be a client.

In the SQL module, SQL front end functions of databases to be used in the respective parsing modules are collected at the SQL front end, and functions for CMP

and MRS are independently defined.

In the hash/cache module, in order to attaining high-speed data processing and to obviate unnecessary disk accessing, the data, which has been read once, are cached

using hash indexing. Here, a registration number is used in hashing and the simplest

hashing technique is employed. The hashing table and cache size can be set to run time,

and a file to be set is given in cmpd.cfg as a keyword.

In the network packet processing module, when the network function needs to

be executed, the pager server makes network packets and distributes the same to the

network. In this case, discrete, non-overlapping operations can be performed using

serial number and cmp_id. Routines for processing network jobs and serial numbers are

collected in the network packet processing module.

In the CMP_LIST module, connection is processed to store the optimum path

and a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) application used in Internet packet routing is

designed.

In the cookie module, a cookie, which is valid for two hours, is produced and

cached at the user's log-in time. In preparation for system crash, images are formed in

the database, and the cookie whose validity has expired is not used. A cookie is a 16- character text string and is randomly produced. Unless a user contacts the pager server, authentication cannot be processed. Thus, a wrongful act can be avoided over the Internet.

The MRS module is a module for relaying a message to a user being off-line,

and stores and manages a note saying 'by way of server' for off-line users. In this case, a considerably large amount of hard disk capacity is needed due to the size of a database.

In addition, a configuration file processor, a random string generator, and other

logging and debugging routines are loaded on the pager server.

A link file system includes an FTP link, an ITP link, an HTTP link, a user link

and a folder link. The FTP link, the ITP link, the HTTP link, the user link and the folder

link are in the form of files that can exchange information simply and conveniently, and

are employed to the link bar, back-pack and message of the integrated browser. The link

has menu items of Create by link edit, Create by drag and drop, and Delete. The "Create

by link edit" item is displayed by clicking on the link bar to open an Edit window, filling

in the corresponding blank and then pressing the button of "Create". The "Create by

drag and drop" item is displayed by dragging the file to be placed on the link bar, so that

the file is stored in the corresponding directory and then a link file is created.

The MRS is implemented in the pager server 123 and transfers messages

between users or between the MRS and a user, through the procedure shown in FIG. 8. In other words, if a message is transmitted to a recipient while the integrated browser is

being used, the MRS receives the message and determines whether the recipient is in a

log-in state, and immediately relays the message to the recipient if the recipient is in a log-in state. If the recipient is in a log-out state, the MRS stores the message and then relays the same as soon as the recipient logs in. Referring to FIG. 8, the user of the integrated browser designates a recipient,

writes a message and then asks message transfer (step SI). The MRS determines

whether the recipient is in a log-in state or in a log-out state, stores the message to be

relayed to the recipient if in a log-out state (steps S2 and S3). If in a log-out state, the

MRS immediately relays the message to the logged-in recipient (step S6).

If the user logs in, the pager server 123 asks the MRS whether there is a

message stored therein to be relayed to the user. The asked MRS checks whether there is a message to be relayed to the logged-in user among messages stored therein. If there is

a message to be relayed to the user, the MRS relays the message to the logged-in user

(recipient), confirms the normal relay of the message and then deletes the message (steps

S4 and S5).

The reality is that the resources used for message relay are insufficient.

However, in the event that many users simultaneously log in, since the performance of

a hard disk drive (HDD) is directly related to the server performance, it is necessary to

reduce the load applied to the HDD by using Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks

(RAIDs).

Referring back to FIG. 1, the port managers 117a and 117b for management of

ports connected between the user and the server system, are classified into a redirect

mode, that is, an operation mode without firewall, and a pipe-line mode, that is, an

operation mode with firewall. In the data structure used for communication, the

"Request packet" consists of 3-byte header and 16-byte program ID. The "Response packet" consists of 3-byte header, 4-byte IP, 2-byte port, 64-byte extension and 2-byte

protocol. An "Extra packet" consists of 3-byte header and data (with variable size). A list of factors given by a navigator or console when calling network applications, include a port number, a local user ID, a remote user ID, and modes. The port

number is void for the server and is the server address for the client. A mode value of "0" represents execution without a local port manager, "1" execution with the local port

manager being in a redirect mode, and "2" execution with the local port manager being in a

pipe-line mode.

In the pipe-line mode, window sockets are employed in the Interprocess

Communication (IPC) of the port managers 117a and 117b, and the port number of the end application is provided to the remote port manager to resend data. The port manager

executes connection for data exchange between the socket externally connected and the

socket used inside for IPC, which is managed in the form of a table in the memory.

The port connection mechanism based on the server and client modes is classified

into four cases: both the server and the client being in the re-direct mode; the server being

in the pipe-line mode and the client being in the re-direct mode; the server being in the re-

direct mode and the client being in the pipe-line mode; and both the server and the client

being in the pipe-line mode.

First, in the case where both the server and the client are in the re-direct mode, the navigator or console executes a client's application, e.g., baduk, which is a game played

with white and black stone pieces, by refening to the port manager mode. If the port

number of the client's application is 5000, the client's application is executed in the redirect mode (e.g., baduk.exe/210.109.52.52/1).

Then, the server's application opens a port 5000 and listens. The client's application connects to a port 80 of the server using the address and the port number, i.e., 80. Subsequently, the client's application sends a request packet to the server's port

manager and the server's port manager checks the status and port number of the server's

application to transfer the port number, i.e., 5000, and status of the application to the

client's application in the response packet. Since the remote user is in a re-direct mode, the

client's application connects to the server's application using the address and port number,

i.e., 5000.

Second, in the case where the server is in a pipe-line mode and the client is in a re¬

direct mode, the navigator or console executes the client's application, e.g., baduk, by

referring to the port manager's mode. If the port number of the client's application is 5000,

the server's application is executed in the pipe-line mode and the client's application is executed in the re-direct mode.

Then, the server's application opens a port 5000 and listens. The client's

application connects to a port 80 of the server using the address and the port number, i.e.,

80. Subsequently, the client's application sends a request packet to the server's port

client's application in the response packet. Since the remote user is in the pipe-line mode,

the client's application sends data of the address and port number in the extra packet. The

server's port manager connects to the server's application using the received port number, i.e., 5000. Here, the server's port manager creates tables for the sockets connected to the

server's application and the client's application.

Third, in the case where the server is in a re-direct mode and the client is in a pipe¬

line mode, the navigator or console executes the client's application, e.g., baduk, by referring to the port manager's mode. If the port number of the client's application is 5000, the server's application is executed in the pipe-line mode and the client's application is

executed in the re-direct mode.

Then, the server's application opens a port 5000 and listens. The client's

application connects to a port 80 of the client using the address and the port number, i.e., 80. Subsequently, the client's application sends server address and program ID to the

client's port manager in the extra packet. The client's port manager connects to the server's

port manager (of the port 80) using the address and port number, i.e., 80. The client's port

manager sends the request packet to the server's port manager, and the server's port

manager checks the status and port number of the server's application to transfer the port

number, i.e., 5000, and status of the server's application to the client's application in the

response packet. The client's port manager connects to the server's application using the

address and port number, i.e., 5000, of the server. Here, the client's port manager creates

tables for the sockets connected to the server's application and the client's application.

Fourth, in the case where both the server and the client are in a pipe-line mode, the

navigator or console executes the client's application, e.g., baduk, by referring to the port

manager's mode. If the port number of the client's application is 5000, the server's

application is executed in the pipe-line mode.

Then, the server's application opens a port 5000 and listens. The client's

application connects to a port 80 of the client using the address and the port number, i.e., 80. Subsequently, the client's application sends the address and program ID of the server to

the client's port manager in the extra packet. The client's port manager connects to the

server's port manager (of the port 80) using the address and the port number, i.e., 80. Here, the client's port manager creates tables for the sockets connected to the server's application and the client's application. The client's port manager sends a request packet to the

server's port manager, and the server's port manager checks the status and port number of

the server's application to transfer the port number, i.e., 5000, and application status to the client's application in the response packet. Since the remote user is in a pipe-line mode,

the client's port manager sends the data of the port 5000 to the server's port manager in the

extra packet. The server's port manager connects to the server's application, i.e., baduk,

using the received port number, i.e., 5000. Here, the server's port manager creates tables for the sockets connected to its application and the client's port manager. If connection is

established in such a manner, data exchange between both applications can be executed.

The list of applications currently running is managed by the port manager and sent

to the remote port manager that requests the list, and the requesting port manager displays

the list, or sends the list to another application that happens to need the list. For example,

if a port A manager intends to obtain the list of applications of a port B manager, the port A

manager connects to the port B manager using the address and the port number, i.e., 80,

and then inserts a program ID and null data into the request packet to then be sent to the

port B manger. The port B manager sends the record of the respective application in the

response packet. Here, if the record is not the last record, the command of a header is

"Continue (2)" and if the record is the last record, the command of a header becomes

"Response (1)".

FIG. 2 shows the procedure of the user A computer 110a (to be referred to as the

user hereinafter) accessing to the web site 120, which provides the integrated service according to the present invention on the Internet. Referring to FIG. 2, if the user 110a connects to the web site 120 using the integrated browser 112a, the integrated browser 112a connects to the BBS 124, the chatting server 122, the pager server 123 and the FTP server

125, respectively, through the port manager.

The connection procedure shown in FIG. 2 will be briefly described. If the user

110a accesses to the web server 121 by initiating the web browser, as labeled by 1 in the drawing, and then is confirmed that its accessed site is the web server 121 according to the

present invention by receiving a signal indicating the fact from the web server 121, as

labeled by 2 in the drawing, the user connects to all the servers on the web site, as labeled

by 3 in the drawing, to be provided with the integrated service.

FIG. 3 illustrates the concept of peer-to-peer communication on the web site 120

according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, when the user A computer 110a

and the user B computer 110b (to be referred to as users A and B hereinafter) connect to the

web site 120 with the integrated server system according to the present invention using an

integrated browser or a mini browser, the user A 110a and the user B 110b are connected to

each other through the web site 120. In the case where the users A and B intend to directly

interact, the user A 110a requests direct interaction to the web site 120, and then the web

site 120 asks the user B 110b whether or not it allows the user A to interact with itself.

Then, the integrated browser of the user A and the integrated browser of the user B execute

the corresponding network applications to directly connect the network application of the

requesting user A with that of the user B. In FIG. 3, la and lb denote the steps in which

the respective users access to the web server using their browsers, and 2 to 5 denote the steps in which users are directly connected for communication. FIG. 4 illustrates the communication concept in which one among subscribers

having met on the web site according to the present invention serves as a server, and the other subscribers directly access to the server for communication, that is, implementation

of a user-to-user client/server communication link. Referring to FIG. 4, when users A, B,

C, D and E 110a to HOe connect to the web site 120 with the integrated server system

according to the present invention using each integrated browser or mini browser, the users are connected with one another through the web site 120. Here, if the user D computer

HOd, for example, executes the network application to invite the other users A, B, C and E,

the integrated browser of each user executes the corresponding network application to

allow the other users A, B, C and E to meet and access to the server formed by the user D

computer HOd. Thus, the users A, B, C and E meet at the user D computer HOd to

execute the corresponding application and can directly meet each other independently of

the first web site where the users met.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a location server according to the present

invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the location server provides a service of endowing

characteristic network IDs to user's variable IPs or changing factors. Pager clients 116a

and 116b and pager server 123 interact with the location server 130 to authenticate the user.

The relocator 140 manages mapping of virtual and real addresses. In FIG. 5, reference

numeral 1 denotes the step of the user A logging in to the location server 130 and

authenticating the user A, 2 the step of connecting to the web site 120, 3 the step of the web

site 120 asking the location server 130 of authentication, 4 the step of the user B 110b

searching for the user A 110a, 5 the step of the location server 130 providing the searching result to the user B 110b, 6 the step of the user A 110a connecting to the relocator 140, and

7 the step of the user A 110a jumping to other site through the relocator 140.

Next, a detailed example of the services provided by the integrated browser and server system according to the present invention will be described.

First, the integrated browser program according to the present invention must be

loaded on user computers. The program can be downloaded by accessing to the web site

that can provide the service according to the present invention, or installed using a CD. If the integrated browser program according to the present invention is installed, a pager icon and a browser icon are displayed on the background screen.

1. Services from pager window

If the program is executed by clicking on the pager icon, a log-in screen as shown

in FIG. 9 is displayed. Referring to FIG. 9, if a user logs in by entering the information

requested from the log-in screen, user information can be entered in the case where the user

is a new user. Then, if a new account is established, a pager window as shown in FIG. 10

is displayed. Referring to FIG. 10, various items from the pager clients 116a and 116b

appear on the pager window, as previously described. Thus, the user can be provided with

desired services by clicking on a menu item as needed.

2. Services from browser window

If the Navigator is clicked on in the pager window, the web site 120 set to a

default address is connected, and a basic browser screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed.

In the case of an automatic access mode, the basic browser screen is composed of a

'chatting window' and a 'link window' along with a 'web search window' displaying the

home page of the web site. Referring to FIG. 11 in which the functions provided by the menu items on each window are previously described, the user clicks on his/her desired item.

As described above, in a state in which the user is connecting to the web site, the

service according to the present invention is performed as follows. A. Web surfing

Surfing alone to the web site on the Internet can be accomplished by entering an

intended URL on the top page of the search window or using a key word. In order to surf

to the web site together with a friend(s), a desired user ID is clicked on from the user list

and the 'Registration of surfing friends' item is clicked on from the menu bar. If the

requested party accepts such surfing request, the desired user is registered as the surfing

friend so as to surf together to the web site. Also, if chatting with surfing is intended, the

address of a desired web site is entered. Then, surfing can be executed while chatting with

friends on the chatting room.

B. Chatting

In chatting functionalities, various types of icons representing particular meanings

are used to effectively express the user's status. Profile information of users can be

identified using business cards. Also, whispering chatting, that is, anonymous chatting can

be executed using chatting commands.

Further, a variety of applications can be executed along with chatting. For example, games provided by the web site can be executed while chatting.

As described above, according to the present invention, since various services such as Search, Chatting, FTP, BBS and so on can be provided from the same web browser

screen in an integrated manner, the internet services can be conveniently utilized. Also, a user can identify other users on the web page so that interactive communication and

information exchange can be executed. Further, since the user can communicate with other

users while surfing together to the web sites, mutual responses among the users can be performed on virtual spaces.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention can be applied to the field of computers and the

communication field using the Internet. In particular, FTP, BBS, chatting, web surfing and so on can be provided through the Internet in an integrated manner, creating a variety of

additional services.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated browser and server system comprising:

the Internet; an integrated browser including a port manager and clients to be provided with a

plurality of services in an integrated manner; and

a web server system including servers corresponding to the clients of the

integrated browser and connected to the integrated browser through the Internet to provide

the plurality of services.

2. The integrated browser and server system according to claim 1, wherein the

server system further comprises a location server for managing the positions of users on the

Internet.

3. The integrated browser and server system according to claim 1, wherein the

integrated browser includes a file transfer protocol (FTP) client for file transfer, a chatting

client for chatting, a bulletin board system (BBS) client for executing BBS, a pager client

for user log-in and friend management, and the port manager for connection with the

server.

4. The integrated browser and server system according to claim 1, wherein the

web server system includes a file transfer protocol (FTP) server for file transfer, a chatting

server for chatting, a bulletin board system (BBS) server for executing BBS, a pager server for user log-in, and a web server for providing web services.

5. The integrated browser and server system according to claim 3, wherein the

pager client includes means for item choice for registration and log-in, means for management of profile information, means for management of friends on the web and

means for management of messages.

6. The integrated browser and server system according to claim 4, wherein the

pager server includes a database for management of users in response to pager client's

request, and a message relay server for storing a message received off-line and relaying the

! 0 message to a recipient when the recipient logs in.

7. The integrated browser and server system according to claim 3, wherein the port

manager is equipped with a re-direct mode for the status without firewall and a pipe-line

mode for the status with firewall.

15

8. A recording medium in which an integrated browser program including a file

transfer protocol (FTP) client for file transfer, a chatting client for chatting, a bulletin board

system (BBS) client for executing BBS, a pager client for management of users, and a port manager for connecting the respective clients with the network.

0