JP2007047887A - Method and software for providing chat service - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chat service equipped with an access notification function of a desired user. <P>SOLUTION: Each user registers his or her favorite user in a favorite list (72). This registration is performed by clicking a button for favorite user registration in a chat, or selecting a desired user from the retrieval result of the user retrieving function. When any favorite user (access person) enters any chat room, all users registering the access person in the favorite list (74) as the favorite users are informed of the fact of entry as well as the ID of the entry room. At that time, a user to be rejected is registered in a refusal list (76) so that any access notification can be prevented from being transmitted to any user who registers the access person in the refusal list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for providing a chat service to a user who can communicate via a network.

As one of the communication forms used on the Internet, a plurality of users who can communicate via a network enter (enter a room) in one virtual common room (called a chat room) by a predetermined procedure. In addition, there is a chat that allows users in the same room to communicate with each other in real time by simultaneously transmitting the contents of texts and voices of the users who have entered the room to other users in the same room. Such a chat service is often provided by a web (abbreviation of world wide web) server of a dating site that provides an opportunity for an unspecified number of users to meet each other.
The chat system includes a type in which a predetermined chat room is prepared in advance and a type in which a new chat room can be opened when the user does not want to enter an existing chat room. In both types, a two-person chat is called a two-shot chat. The present invention relates to any of these chat rooms, but is particularly useful for two-shot chat.
As users of chat service feel that there is a difference in liking for each chat partner as they chat with various other parties, if possible, it is recommended that users with high liking ("favorites" or "favorite users") It is preferable to be able to chat. A chat system that pays attention to this point has been proposed (see FIG. 8, abstract). In this system, when a user opens a chat room or enters a chat room, the user enters an email address of a desired (favorite) user, or is in a favorite user list registered in advance. When a desired user is designated, the chat room ID is notified to the mail address that there is a user who has opened or entered the room.
In this chat system, the user waits for access of the user who has received the entry notification after entering the chat room. Since there is only one person to whom the entry notification is sent, access may not be possible immediately depending on the convenience of the notification recipient, and there is a possibility that waiting time after entering the room will be wasted.
JP 2004-199134 A

Instead of waiting for you to enter the room, if someone knows when you enter a chat room, you can talk to the favorite user who entered the room in a timely manner. Convenient without wasting.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and software for providing a chat service having a function of notifying a desired user of entering a room.

  In one aspect, the present invention provides a favorite registration step that allows a first user to register a favorite second user, and the second user enters a chat room or newly And a notification step of notifying the first user of the fact of entering or opening the chat room when the chat room is opened. A method for providing a chat service is provided.

In one embodiment, the notifying step is notified by e-mail.
In a preferred embodiment, the notifying step displays the fact on the display screen of the access terminal of the first user when the first user is logged in to the website providing the chat service. Including a fact display step.
In a preferred embodiment, the notifying step includes a step of notifying by e-mail when the first user is not logged in to the Web site providing the chat service.

  An order setting step that allows the first user to set an order for the plurality of second users when the first user registers a plurality of favorite second users; In addition, the fact display step may include a second user who is ranked higher than the chat partner entering a chat room or a new chat room while the first user is chatting with the chat service. Only in the case of opening, you may comprise the step of displaying the entry or opening fact on the display screen of the access terminal of the first user.

  Enabling the first or second user to register a chat partner to be avoided when he / she wants to avoid subsequent communication with the chat partner during the chat by the chat service; When the second user registered by the user registers the first user as a chat partner to be repelled, the second user repels it in the favorite user list of the first user. A message indicating that the message is registered as a chat partner to be included in the second user field, and when the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room, A non-notification step for avoiding execution of the notification step may be further included.

  In response to a predetermined command by the second user, displaying the first user who has registered the second user as a favorite as a favorite registrant list; Further comprising the step of allowing the second user to rank the first user included, wherein the notifying step includes entering the chat room by the second user, Alternatively, when a new chat room is opened, it may include a step of notifying the first user of the fact of entry or opening with a time difference from the higher rank in the order.

In the favorite registration step, when the first user clicks a predetermined button or a predetermined button related to the second user during the chat, the second user is changed according to the button. A step of registering may be included.
The method further includes the step of allowing each user to search for a user who satisfies a desired condition from a user table that stores various types of information about each user for each user, and the favorite registration step includes: A step of selecting the second user from the searched users may be included.

  In another aspect, the present invention provides software for providing a chat service to a user via a network by being stored and executed and used in a Web server. The software registers a favorite list prepared for each user so that each user can register other favorite users, and a second user favorite by the first user in the favorite list. When the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room, the fact that the user has entered or opened is registered as the first user. And a notification code sequence for notifying to the user.

In one embodiment, the notification code sequence includes a code sequence for notifying by e-mail.
In a preferred embodiment, the notification code sequence indicates the fact on the display screen of the access terminal of the first user when the first user is logged in to the website providing the chat service. Contains a fact display code sequence for display.
In a preferred embodiment, the notification code sequence includes a code sequence for notifying by e-mail when the first user is not logged in to the Web site providing the chat service.

  When the first user registers a plurality of favorite second users in the favorite list, the first user can set an order for the plurality of second users. The fact display code sequence further includes an order setting code sequence, wherein the second user who is ranked higher than the chat partner enters the chat room while the first user is chatting with the chat service. Alternatively, only when a new chat room is opened, it may be constituted by a code sequence for displaying the fact of entering or opening on the display screen of the access terminal of the first user.

  A rejection list prepared for each user to register other users who want to avoid communication with each user, and the first or second user during the chat by the chat service, When a subsequent communication with a chat partner is to be avoided, a code sequence that allows a chat partner to be avoided to be registered in the rejection list and the second user registered in the favorite list of the first user. When the user registers the first user in the rejection list, a message indicating that the user has been registered in the rejection list of the second user in the favorite list of the first user. Code sequence for inclusion in the second user column and the second user entering a chat room or opening a new chat room And optionally further may comprise a code sequence to avoid execution of said notification code sequence.

  A code sequence for displaying the first user who has registered the second user as a favorite as a favorite registrant list in response to a predetermined command by the second user, and the favorite registration And a code sequence that allows the second user to rank the first user included in the user list, wherein the notification code sequence includes a chat room for the second user When a new chat room is entered or a new chat room is opened, a code sequence may be included for notifying the first user of the fact of entry or opening with a time difference from the top of the order. .

When the first user clicks a predetermined button or a predetermined button associated with the second user during a chat, the second user is responded accordingly. May include a code sequence for registering.
Further including a code sequence that allows each user to search for a user who satisfies a desired condition from a user table that stores various information about each user for each user, the favorite registration code sequence, A code sequence for selecting the second user from among the searched users may be included.

According to the present invention, when each user registers a favorite user, when any of the favorite users enters any chat room, the fact of the entry is notified together with the ID of the room entered. Therefore, since it is possible to talk with the favorite user who entered the room in a timely manner, it is convenient without wasting waiting time.
In addition, for users who have already entered the room (entrances), the entry notification will be sent to all users who have registered the entry as favorites (except for those who have been registered as refusal by the entry). Can be obtained relatively quickly.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. In addition, when showing the same element in several drawing, the same referential mark is attached | subjected.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a chat system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a chat system according to the present invention comprises an Internet 2, a terminal 3 of a user who can access the Internet, and a Web server 1 such as a dating site that provides a chat service to a user who can access the Internet. . The user terminal 3 may be anything such as various form information terminals (PDA) 3a, personal computers (PC) 3b, and mobile phones as long as they can access the Internet 2. The Web server 1 may be any computer as long as it has sufficient performance to achieve the object of the present invention. The Web server 1 includes a secondary storage device 10, which includes a site description HTML text 20 describing a Web site that provides a chat service, as well as chat (provides a service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention). Software). The chat software includes various programs 40 to be described later, a chat room table 60 for storing information on a chat room being opened, and user tables 70a and 70b for storing various information related to users by gender. The user tables 70a and 70b do not necessarily need to be separated by gender, and may be integrated into one table 70.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a field configuration example of the record of each user accommodated in the male and female user table 70 of FIG. The male and female user tables 70 are structurally the same. Each user record in the user table 70 is used for registering a user ID, password, user profile data, and favorite user (user ID) of the user to be used in the website or chat service. A list (for example, “favorite list”) 72, a list (for example, “favorite user registration list”) 74 for registering a user who has registered the user in his / her favorite list, and the user is a chat partner As a list (for example, a “rejection list”) 76 for registering users to be avoided.
Thus, according to the present invention, each user can know other users who have registered themselves as favorites.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the system accompanying registration and deletion in the favorite list 72. According to the present invention, each user A can register another user B as a favorite. This registration is performed by one of the following methods, for example.
(1) Click a predetermined button during a two-shot chat.
(2) Click a predetermined button associated with a desired user during a normal chat (3 or more people).
(3) A user who satisfies a desired condition is searched from the user table 70, and a desired user is selected from the searched users.
As shown in FIG. 3, when a user A registers another user B as a favorite, the user B's ID is added to the user A's favorite list 72, and then the user A who has registered as a favorite is registered. The ID is added to the user B's favorite registrant list 74. Similarly, when the user A deletes the user B from the favorite list 72, the ID of the deleted user A is deleted from the favorite registrant list 74 of the user B.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying how the display of the favorite list 72 changes. According to the present invention, the user registered in the favorite list 72 can be given an order by setting the priority according to the degree of favorite. For example, in FIG. 4A, priority 1 is set for user E and priority 2 is set for user C. It is determined that the priority of the user who has not set a value for the priority is the lowest. By clicking the sort button, it is possible to sort in the order of priority as shown in (B). Since each user has a delete button, it can be deleted at any time.

The above-mentioned favorite registrant list 74 also has the same function as the favorite list 72, and can set priority.
For example, when the user C registered as a favorite of the user A hates chatting with the user A and registers the user A in the above-described rejection list 76, as shown in (3), The user C's ID of the user A's favorite list 72 is displayed inconspicuously, and a message to that effect is displayed in the user C column, for example, “Please delete it because it has been registered in the rejection list.” And so on. Thereafter, even if the ID of the user C is not deleted from the favorite list 72 of the user A, the ID of the user C in the favorite list 72 of the user A is ignored.

Examples of the various programs 40 described above include the following.
・ User registration / change / deletion ・ User search ・ Favorite list management ・ Favorite registrant list display ・ Rejection list management ・ Room entry or room establishment ・ Chat processing ・ Favorite visitor monitoring

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process flow of entering a room or opening a chat room according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, when a certain user (hereinafter referred to as a room entrant) enters an existing chat room or opens a new chat room, first, in step 100, normal entry or room opening processing is performed. . Next, in step 102, it is determined whether there is a user registered in the favorite registrant list 74. If not (NO), there is no need to send a room entry notification to anyone, so the process ends. If yes (YES), the process proceeds to step 104. In step 104, a user ID with priority = 1 is read from the favorite registrant list 74, and in a determination step 106, it is determined whether or not the read user ID is in the rejection list 76. If the read user ID is in the rejection list 76 (YES), it is not necessary to send a room entry notification to the user, and the process is terminated.

  In step 106, when the read user ID is not in the rejection list 76 (NO), in a further determination step 108, the user with the read user ID determines whether chatting or logging in to the site. If the user is not chatting or logging in, in step 112, the fact that the user has entered the room is transmitted to the mail address of the user ID read together with the chat room ID that has entered the room. If the user with the read user ID is chatting, whether or not the priority of the room occupant is higher than the priority of the chat partner in the user favorite list 72 of the user with the read user ID at decision step 110. Judging. At this time, when the chat partner's ID is not in the favorites list 72, it is determined that the priority of the room entering person is higher than the priority of the chat partner. If the priority of the resident is lower than the priority of the chat partner, it is considered preferable to continue the current chat. Therefore, in step 112 described above, the entry notification is transmitted to the mail address of the user ID read out. If the priority of the room entrant is higher than the priority of the chat partner in decision step 110, the fact of entry and the chat room ID entered are displayed on the display screen of the user of the read user ID in step 114.

In the determination step 108, if the user is not chatting but is logged in to the site, the determination step 110 is omitted and the step 114 is executed.
After the end of step 112 or 114, it is determined in the determination step 116 whether or not the processing of all user IDs in the favorite registrant list 74 has been completed. If not finished, the user ID of the next priority is read from the favorite registrant list 74 in step 118 and the process returns to step 106.

As described above, according to the present invention, when each user registers a favorite user, when someone of the favorite user enters one of the chat rooms, the fact that the user has entered the room is Since it is notified together with the ID of the user, a talk can be made with the favorite user who entered the room in a timely manner, which is convenient without wasting a waiting time.
In addition, for users who have already entered the room (entrances), the entry notification will be sent to all users who have registered the entry as favorites (except for those who have been registered as refusal by the entry). Can be obtained relatively quickly.
The above is merely an example of an embodiment for explaining the present invention. Accordingly, it is easy for those skilled in the art to make various changes, modifications, or additions to the above-described embodiments in accordance with the technical idea or principle of the present invention.

It is a figure for demonstrating the whole image of the chat system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the male and female user table of FIG. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the system accompanying registration and deletion to a favorite list. It is the figure which illustrated changing the display of a favorite list. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of entrance into a room or chat room establishment by preferable embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Web server by this invention 2 Internet 3 User's terminal 10 Secondary storage device

Claims (18)

A favorite registration step that allows a first user to register a favorite second user;
A notification step of notifying the first user of the fact of entering or opening a room when the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room. To provide a chat service. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 1, wherein the notifying step notifies by e-mail. The notification step includes a fact display step of displaying the fact on a display screen of the access terminal of the first user when the first user is logged in to the website providing the chat service. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 1. 4. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 3, wherein the notifying step includes a step of notifying by e-mail when the first user is not logged in to the website providing the chat service. . An order setting step for allowing the first user to set an order for the plurality of second users when the first user registers a plurality of favorite second users; In addition,
In the fact display step, when the first user is chatting with the chat service, a second user whose rank is higher than the chat partner enters the chat room or opens a new chat room. 4. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 3, further comprising the step of displaying the fact of entering or opening the room on a display screen of the access terminal of the first user. Enabling the first or second user to register a chat partner to be avoided if he / she wants to avoid subsequent communication with the chat partner during the chat by the chat service;
When the second user registered by the first user registers as the chat partner who wants to avoid the first user, in the favorite user list of the first user, the second user Including in the second user column a message that the user is registered as a chat partner to be avoided by the user;
3. The chat according to claim 2, further comprising a non-notification step for avoiding execution of the notification step when the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room. How to provide service. Displaying the first user who has registered the second user as a favorite as a favorite registrant list in response to a predetermined command by the second user;
Allowing the second user to rank the first user included in the favorite registrant list;
In the notification step, when the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room, the fact that the user has entered or opened the first user is notified to the first user from the top of the rank. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 2, further comprising a step of notifying with a time difference. In the favorite registration step, when the first user clicks a predetermined button or a predetermined button related to the second user during the chat, the second user is changed according to the button. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 1, further comprising a step of registering. And further comprising the step of allowing each user to search for a user who satisfies a desired condition from a user table containing various information about each user for each user,
2. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 1, wherein the favorite registration step includes a step of selecting the second user from the searched users. It is software for providing a chat service to users via a network by being stored and executed and used on a Web server.
A favorite list prepared for each user so that each user can register other favorite users,
A favorite registration code sequence that allows a first user to register a favorite second user in the favorites list;
A notification code sequence for notifying the first user of the fact of entering or opening the room when the second user enters the chat room or opens a new chat room. Software that provides a chat service characterized by 11. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 10, wherein the notification code sequence includes a code sequence for notifying by e-mail. The notification code sequence includes a fact display for displaying the fact on the display screen of the access terminal of the first user when the first user is logged in to the website providing the chat service. The method of providing a chat service according to claim 10, comprising a code sequence. 13. The chat service according to claim 12, wherein the notification code sequence includes a code sequence for notifying by e-mail when the first user is not logged in to the website providing the chat service. How to provide. When the first user registers a plurality of favorite second users in the favorite list, the first user can set an order for the plurality of second users. Further including an order setting code sequence;
In the fact display code sequence, when the first user is chatting with the chat service, a second user who is ranked higher than the chat partner enters the chat room or opens a new chat room. 13. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 12, further comprising: a code sequence for displaying the fact of entering or opening the room on a display screen of the access terminal of the first user. A rejection list prepared for each user to register other users who want to avoid communication with each user,
A code sequence enabling the first or second user to register a chat partner to be avoided in the rejection list when he / she wants to avoid subsequent communication with the chat partner during a chat by the chat service; ,
When the second user registered in the favorite list of the first user registers the first user in the rejection list, in the favorite list of the first user, the A code sequence for including, in the second user field, a message indicating that the message is registered in the rejection list of the second user;
The code sequence for avoiding execution of the notification code sequence when the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room. To provide a chat service. A code sequence for displaying the first user registering the second user as a favorite as a favorite registrant list in response to a predetermined command by the second user;
A code sequence that allows the second user to rank the first user included in the favorite registrant list;
When the second user enters a chat room or opens a new chat room, the notification code sequence indicates the fact of entering or opening the first user to the higher rank in the order. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 11, further comprising: a code sequence for notifying with a time difference. When the first user clicks a predetermined button or a predetermined button associated with the second user during a chat, the second user is responded accordingly. The method for providing a chat service according to claim 10, further comprising: a code sequence for registering. A code sequence that allows each user to search for a user that satisfies a desired condition from a user table that stores various information about each user for each user;
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the favorite registration code sequence includes a code sequence for selecting the second user from the searched users.

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