Electrical Engineering Department Software Systems Lab TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Persistent chat room Authors: Hazanovitch Evgeny Hazanovitch Alex Instructor: Eddie Bortnikov

Project background Synchronous collaboration (Chat) - conversation in real time, history of messages is not recorded Problem: User is not able to see messages that were sent since he was absent Asynchronous collaboration (Forum) - the history of messages is recorded Problem: Non real-time experience Our goal: Get the best of all worlds Now there are two types of multi-user collaboration:

Create chat room application that records all messages in chat and gives users ability to see a history of the messages. Create chat room application that records all messages in chat and gives users ability to see a history of the messages. Develop a framework for automated software agents that will allow implementing more services for rich collaboration experience Develop a framework for automated software agents that will allow implementing more services for rich collaboration experience Goal

Problem and Solution Network Problem: In the middle of important conference One of users may want to leave So he will lose the important dialogue Solution:  Lets connect Software Agent  Software that runs on remote computer  Connects to chat like regular user  Receives and records chat messages

Project Deliverables Automated Software Agents Automated Software Agents Join the session as regular users Join the session as regular users Can perform standard chat functions Can perform standard chat functions Perform specific functions Perform specific functions Modular approach for developing rich services Modular approach for developing rich services Do not require extensions of existing software Do not require extensions of existing software Persistent Chat room Application Persistent Chat room Application Uses a SW agent for recording & retrieving chat data Uses a SW agent for recording & retrieving chat data

Features enabled by the SW agents technology Persistent chat Persistent chat Games Games Online translation Online translation Photo sharing Photo sharing Voice and Video conferencing Voice and Video conferencing Censoring Censoring

What is Persistent chat room application?  Instant messaging  Chat creation  Friends list managing Persistent chat room Persistent chat room application is a standard application for multi-user conferencing, with new feature. Standard features:  Messages recording New feature:

Users Administrator Can block other users. Chat host Can be any user. Can invite other users to chat. Can kick users out of chat. Can save history of chat messages. User Creates friends list. Can send private messages. Can enter any chat. Can request chat messages history.

Implementation Server based groupware application. Uses SIP (Session initiation protocol). The protocol is used for:  Session initiation.  Sending short text messages. Messages divided into different types (Chat message, Private message etc.) Uses MySql database to store information.

SW agent implementation SW agent requires new message types to perform specific functions SW agent requires new message types to perform specific functions In spite of that there is no need to extend server’s software In spite of that there is no need to extend server’s software Message semantics are transparent to server Message semantics are transparent to server New messages will be handled by client application New messages will be handled by client application So we may need to install plug-in on client application So we may need to install plug-in on client application

Recording tool as example of SW agent “View history” New message type Recipient is SW agent “History” New message type Contains history block Recipient is Evgeny Message of new type must be forwarded to recipient. Message of new type must be forwarded to recipient. The message will be handled by client application. User’s request for chat history

Recording tool implementation Software Agent. Software Agent. Invited to chat. Invited to chat. Receives and stores all the messages in chat. Receives and stores all the messages in chat.  Stores messages in blocks.  Uses MySql database. Receives requests from users for chat history. Receives requests from users for chat history.  Current block is sent to every user when he enters chat.  Every user can request for other blocks Chat host can archive current block. Chat host can archive current block.

Future work Voice and video conferencing Voice and video conferencing Recording of voice & video conferences Recording of voice & video conferences That is a goal of our next project.....