Method and apparatus for displaying user comment

1. A terminal apparatus comprising:

a registration unit that registers in a user database other terminals, which are accessible through a network as participants in order to notify each participant as to the other participants status;

an acquisition unit, which acquires information indicating the status of a respective terminal registered in the user database through the network, including information indicating a status message that a participant sets for itself, and stores the information in a status information holding unit;

a list display unit, which reads a list of the terminals registered in the user database from the status information holding unit and displays the list of the registered terminals on a screen; and

a comment display unit, which displays a terminal displayed in a focus area located in a predetermined position on a screen so as to make it distinctive from the rest of the icons on a list, and if there exists information indicating the status message of a participant on the respective terminal of the terminal icon displayed, the status message is read from the status information holding unit and displayed on the screen when the terminal icon is in the focus area,

wherein the list display unit displays a plurality of terminals registered in the user database in an array-like manner so as to scroll through a list of the plurality of terminals, and when scrolling through the entire list, one terminal is displayed in the focus area upon an input instruction from a user to scroll through the list for each position scrolled within the list, and

while the user is scrolling through the list of the plurality of terminals, the comment display unit extracts information from the status information holding unit on the existence of a status message and displays a message box if a status message exists for a terminal that is being displayed in a focus area, and, when the user stops scrolling through the list of the plurality of terminals, the comment display unit displays in the message box the status message of a terminal that is being displayed in the focus area if the status message exists for the terminal being displayed.

2. The terminal apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the comment display unit acquires information indicating that a terminal registered in the user database is disconnected from the network, the comment display unit displays no comment from the terminal.

3. A communication management method for use in a terminal apparatus, comprising:

registering, in a user database, other terminals that are accessible through a network as participants in order to notify each participant as to the status of the other participants;

acquiring information indicating the status of a respective terminal registered in the user database through the network, including information indicating a status message that a participant sets for itself, and storing the information in a status information holding unit;

reading a list of terminals registered in the user database from the status information holding unit and displaying the list of the registered terminals on a screen; and

displaying a terminal displayed in a focus area located in a predetermined position on a screen so as to make the terminal distinctive from the rest of the icons on a list, and if there exists information indicating the status message of a participant on the respective terminal of the terminal icon displayed, the status message is read from the status information holding unit and displayed on the screen when the terminal icon is in the focus area

wherein the displaying of a list displays a plurality of terminals registered in the user database in an array-like manner so as to scroll through a list of the plurality of terminals, and when scrolling through the entire list, one terminal is displayed in the focus area upon an input instruction from a user to scroll through the list for each position scrolled within the list, and

while the user is scrolling through the list of the plurality of terminals, the displaying of a comment refers to the status information holding unit and displays a message box if a status message exists for a terminal that is being displayed in a focus area, and, when the user stops scrolling through the list of the plurality of terminals, the status message of a terminal that is being displayed in the focus area is displayed in the message box if the status message exists for the terminal being displayed.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for use in a terminal apparatus, comprising:

a module configured to register, in a user database, other terminals that are accessible through a network as participants in order to notify each participant as to the status of the other participants;

a module configured to acquire information indicating a status of a respective terminal registered in the user database through the network, including information indicating a status message that a participant sets for itself, and store the information in a status information holding unit;

a module configured to read a list of terminals registered in the user database from the status information holding unit display the list of the registered terminals on a screen; and

a module configured to display a terminal displayed in a focus area located in a predetermined position on a screen so as to make the terminal distinctive from the rest of the icons on a list, and if there exists information indicating the status message of a participant on the respective terminal of the terminal icon displayed, the status message is read from the status information holding unit and displayed on the screen when the terminal icon is in the focus area,

wherein the module for displaying a list displays a plurality of terminals registered in the user database an array-like manner so as to scroll through a list of the plurality of terminals, and when scrolling through the entire list, one terminal is displayed in the focus area upon an input instruction from a user to scroll through the list for each position scrolled within the list, and

while the user is scrolling through the list of the plurality of terminals, the module for displaying a comment extracts information from the status information holding unit on the existence of a status message and displays a message box if a status message exists for a terminal that is being displayed in a focus area, and, when the user stops scrolling through the list of the plurality of terminals, the module for displaying a comment displays in the message box the status message of a terminal that is being displayed in the focus area if the status message exists for the terminal being displayed.