Computer-readable storage medium having display control program stored therein, display control device, and display control system

A display control device for displaying, in a first computer included in a plurality of computers on a network, communication states of the plurality of computers, the display control device comprising:

• a registration information storage configured to store therein pieces of individual information about computers that are registered as communication partners, which are partners with which the first computer communicates via the network, and pieces of distinguishing information, about the computers, associated with the pieces of individual information;
• a connection determiner configured to determine whether or not a second computer, which is a computer that corresponds to at least one of the pieces of individual information stored in the registration information storage, is connected to the network;
• a first acquisition structure configured to, when the connection determiner has determined that the second computer is connected to the network, acquire a piece of individual information about a third computer that is communicating with the second computer;
• and
• a communication state display configured to visibly display before the first computer communicates with the second computer or the third computer, based on the piece of individual information about the third computer acquired by the first acquisition structure and the piece of individual information about the second computer, state of communication of the second computer with the third computer, and for also displaying information about the second computer, based on a piece of distinguishing information about the second computer, so as to be distinguishable from other computers.

A display control system, provided with a plurality of computers and a server on a network, for displaying, in a first computer included in the plurality of computers, communication states of the plurality of computers:

• the server comprising
• communication partner storage configured to store therein a piece of individual information about each of the plurality of computers in association with pieces of individual information about others of the plurality of computers that are communicating with each of the plurality of computers;
• and
• the first computer comprising
• registration information storage configured to store therein pieces of individual information about computers that are registered as communication partners, which are partners with which the first computer communicates via the network, and pieces of distinguishing information, about the computers, associated with the pieces of individual information,
• a connection determiner configured to determine whether or not a second computer, which is a computer that corresponds to at least one of the pieces of individual information stored in the registration information storage, is connected to the network,
• a first acquisition structure that is configured so that, when the connection determination determiner has determined that the second computer is connected to the network, the first acquisition structure acquires a piece of individual information, stored in the communication partner storage of the server, about a third computer that is communicating with the second computer, and
• a communication state display configured to visibly display before the first computer communicates with the second computer or the third computer, based on the piece of individual information about the third computer acquired by the first acquisition structure and the piece of individual information about the second computer, state of communication of the second computer with the third computer, and for also displaying information about the second computer, based on a piece of distinguishing information about the second computer, so as to be distinguishable from other computers.

A method for use with a first computer included in a plurality of computers on a network, the method comprising:

• storing, with the first computer, pieces of individual information about computers that are registered as communication partners, which are partners with which the first computer communicates via the network, and pieces of distinguishing information, about the computers, associated with the pieces of individual information;
• determining whether or not a second computer, which is a computer that corresponds to at least one of the pieces of individual information stored in the registration information storage means, is connected to the network;
• acquiring, when the connection determining has determined that the second computer is connected to the network, a piece of individual information about a third computer that is communicating with the second computer;
• and
• before the first computer communicates with the second computer or the third computer, visibly displaying, based on the piece of individual information about the third computer acquired by the acquiring and the piece of individual information about the second computer, state of communication of the second computer with the third computer, and for also displaying information about the second computer, based on a piece of distinguishing information about the second computer, so as to be distinguishable from other computers.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a display control program, the program when executed by display a first computer included in a plurality of computers on a network, control the first computer to display communication states of the plurality of computers, the display control program comprising instructions that cause the first computer to:

• store therein pieces of individual information about computers that are registered as communication partners, which are partners with which the first computer communicates via the network, and pieces of distinguishing information, about the computers, associated with the pieces of individual information;
• determining whether or not a second computer, which is a computer that corresponds to at least one of the stored pieces of individual information is connected to the network;
• acquiring, when the connection determining has determined that the second computer is connected to the network, a piece of individual information about a third computer that is communicating with the second computer;
• and
• before the first computer participates in a group communication with the second computer and the third computer, visibly displaying, based on the piece of individual information about the third computer acquired by the acquiring and the piece of individual information about the second computer, states of communication between the second computer and the third computer.