Electrical Engineering Department Software Systems Lab TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Persistent chat room Authors: Hazanovitch Evgeny Hazanovitch.

Electrical EngineeringDepartment

SoftwareSystems

Lab

TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Persistent chat roomAuthors: Hazanovitch Evgeny

Hazanovitch AlexInstructor: Eddie Bortnikov

Project backgroundProject 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 Create chat room application that records all messages in chat and gives users ability to messages in chat and gives users ability to see a history of the messages. see a history of the messages.

Develop a framework for automated software Develop a framework for automated software agents that will allow implementing more agents that will allow implementing more services for rich collaboration experienceservices for rich collaboration experience

GoalGoal

Problem and SolutionProblem and Solution

NetworkProblem:In the middle of important conferenceOne of users may want to leaveSo 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 DeliverablesProject Deliverables Automated Software AgentsAutomated Software Agents

Join the session as regular usersJoin the session as regular users Can perform standard chat functions Can perform standard chat functions Perform specific functionsPerform specific functions Modular approach for developing rich Modular approach for developing rich

servicesservices Do not require extensions of existing Do not require extensions of existing

softwaresoftware Persistent Chat room ApplicationPersistent Chat room Application

Uses a SW agent for recording & Uses a SW agent for recording & retrieving chat dataretrieving chat data

Features enabled by Features enabled by the SW agents the SW agents

technologytechnology Persistent chatPersistent chat GamesGames Online translationOnline translation Photo sharingPhoto sharing Voice and Video conferencingVoice and Video conferencing CensoringCensoring

What is Persistent chat room application?

Instant messaging Chat creation Friends list managing

Persistent chat Persistent chat roomroom

Persistent chat room application is a standard application for multi-user conferencing, with new feature.

Standard features:

Messages recording

New feature:

UsersUsers• 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.

ImplementationImplementation

• 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 SW agent implementationimplementation

SW agent requires new message SW agent requires new message types to perform specific functionstypes to perform specific functions

In spite of that there is no need to In spite of that there is no need to extend server’s softwareextend server’s software

Message semantics are transparent Message semantics are transparent to serverto server

New messages will be handled by New messages will be handled by client application client application

So we may need to install plug-in So we may need to install plug-in on client application on client application

Recording tool as example of Recording tool as example of SW agentSW 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 beforwarded to recipient. Message of new type must beforwarded to recipient.

The message will be handled by client application.

User’s request for chat history

Recording tool Recording tool implementationimplementation

Software Agent.Software Agent. Invited to chat.Invited to chat. Receives and stores all the messages in Receives and stores all the messages in

chat.chat. Stores messages in blocks.Stores messages in blocks. Uses MySql database.Uses MySql database.

Receives requests from users for chat Receives requests from users for chat history.history. Current block is sent to every user when he enters Current block is sent to every user when he enters

chat. chat. Every user can request for other blocksEvery user can request for other blocks

Chat host can archive current block.Chat host can archive current block.

Future workFuture work

Voice and video conferencingVoice and video conferencing Recording of voice & video conferencesRecording of voice & video conferences

That is a goal of our next project.....