JP5449513B2 - Server device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting and receiving messages using an information processing terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called chat service that performs real-time character communication using an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) terminal or a portable terminal has been provided.
Examples of the chat mode include a user-to-user chat performed one-on-one, a group chat performed between a plurality of users belonging to a specific group, and a group chat. Conventionally, a patent document disclosing a technique for forming a group between users and chatting has been disclosed.
There are many services that apply chat between users, chat within a group, and chat between groups, but these services are subject to a predetermined approval process such as friend registration and group registration before starting chat. It becomes.
Since 2010, multifunctional mobile terminals called smartphones have rapidly spread, and many chat services have been provided on the assumption that they will be used on mobile terminals, and the number of users is increasing. With the spread of such services, services and functions are expected that can increase new friends and acquaintances that have never been acquainted.

JP 2000-022706 A

  However, in the conventional technology, since friends on the chat service are only targeted for users registered in the service, unregistered users cannot be made friends.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a server device, a method, and a program that can register a user as a friend in the chat service even if the user is not registered in the chat service. It is to provide.

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to a server apparatus. This server device controls transmission / reception of messages between registered users registered in the chat service, and controls transmission / reception of messages between registered users and unregistered users. In addition, the server device includes a friend list management unit that manages a friend list of registered users in the server memory, a suggestion unit that recommends other users to be added to the friend list in the server memory for the registered user, Is provided. The suggestion section is an unregistered user who is not registered in the chat service, and if the user information of the unregistered user is included in the user information managed by the registered user, the unregistered user is designated as the registered user. Decide as another user to recommend.

  If the contact information related to mobile is included in the user information managed by the registered user, the suggestion unit may determine the unregistered user as another user to be recommended to the registered user.

  The user information managed by the registered user may be information uploaded from the user terminal of the registered user.

  The suggestion unit may recommend another user to be added to the friend list when the user information managed by the pre-record user is uploaded from the user terminal.

  User information managed by a registered user may be uploaded when the registered user downloads the chat service.

  The suggestion unit is already in the friend list when it is unregistered as another registered user that should be recommended after the first user becomes a registered user for the first user who is an unregistered user. You may determine the registered user who has added the user.

  The suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service, and when the registered user is included in the user's friend list, the user is determined as another user to be recommended to the registered user. May be.

  If the suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service and has sent or received a message between the user and the registered user on the chat service at present or in the past, the user May be determined as another user to be recommended to the registered user.

  A group setting unit for setting a plurality of groups each having a specific property, and a group management for managing a group selected by a registered user among the plurality of groups set by the group setting unit and the registered user in association with each other And a section. If the suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service and the user and the registered user are both associated with the same group managed by the group management unit, the suggestion unit is assigned to the registered user. It may be determined as another user to be recommended.

  If the suggestion section is a user registered in the chat service and one or more common users are included in the friend list of the user and the registered user, the user is recommended to the registered user. You may decide as another user who should be.

  When the user registered in the chat service and the registered user are friends on an arbitrary SNS, the suggestion unit may register the user in the friend list of the registered user.

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to a server apparatus. This server device is a server device that controls the transmission and reception of messages between registered users registered in the chat service and controls the transmission and reception of messages between registered users and unregistered users. A server memory for uploading and managing user information of users other than the registered user stored in the user terminal of the registered user, a friend list management unit for managing the friend list of the registered user in the server memory, and a registered user On the other hand, a suggestion unit that determines another user to be added to the friend list, and a control unit that notifies the user terminal of the registered user of the other user determined by the suggestion unit. The suggestion unit determines other users to be recommended as registered users from the user information managed in the server memory, using predetermined conditions set according to the presence or absence of registration in the chat service. .

  According to such an aspect, an unregistered user is registered as a friend in the friend list by determining other users to be recommended using predetermined conditions set in accordance with the presence or absence of registration in the chat service. can do.

  The server device may further include a suggestion list management unit that registers user information of other users recommended by the suggestion unit in a suggestion list in the server memory. The friend list management unit may add the user information selected by the registered user among the user information included in the suggestion list to the friend list. Further, the suggestion list management unit may delete the user information from the suggestion list as the user information is added to the friend list.

  According to such an aspect, by adding the user information related to the other user selected by the registered user to the friend list, the other user can be easily registered as a friend. Further, by deleting the user information from the suggestion list as it is added to the friend list, it is possible to prevent misrecommendation such as recommending another user registered as a friend again.

  In this server device, the suggestion unit is an unregistered user who is not registered in the chat service, and the user information of the unregistered user is included in the user information uploaded from the registered user. The unregistered user may be determined as another user to be recommended to the registered user.

  According to such an aspect, when user information of an unregistered user is included in the user information managed by the registered user, the unregistered user is determined as another user to be recommended to the registered user. Even unregistered users can be friends.

  In this server apparatus, the suggestion unit includes unregistered user information of an unregistered user in user information uploaded from a registered user, and the unregistered user information includes mobile contact information. May be determined as another user that should be recommended to the registered user.

  According to such an aspect, when contact information related to mobile is included in the user information of an unregistered user, the unregistered user is determined as another user that should be recommended to the registered user. The chat system that is often used can be used frequently.

  In this server apparatus, when the suggestion unit is not registered as another registered user to be recommended after the first user becomes a registered user with respect to the first user who is an unregistered user. A registered user who has already added the first user to the friend list may be determined.

  According to such an aspect, when the first user who is an unregistered user is not registered as another registered user to be recommended after the first user becomes a registered user, the friend list has already been registered. By determining the registered users who have added the first user to the list, a large number of friends are recommended from the time of new registration to unregistered users, so it is easy to form friendships and motivate to use the chat service. Can be increased.

  In this server device, the suggestion unit recommends the registered user to the registered user when the user is registered in the chat service and the user's friend list includes the registered user. You may determine as another user who should be.

  According to such an aspect, when a registered user is included in the friend list, by determining the user as another user to be recommended to the registered user, it is possible to register with the friend list as friends with each other. The chat can be carried out smoothly.

  Further, in this server device, the suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service, and has transmitted or received a message between the user and the registered user on the chat service at present or in the past. In some cases, the user may be determined as another user to be recommended to the registered user.

  According to such an aspect, when a message has been transmitted and received between the user and the registered user on the chat service at present or in the past, the other user who should recommend the user to the registered user. As a result, it is possible to easily register a user who met through chat as a friend.

  Further, the server device includes a group setting unit that sets a plurality of groups each having a specific property, a group selected by a registered user among the plurality of groups set by the group setting unit, and the registered user And a group management unit that manages them in association with each other. If the suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service and the user and the registered user are both associated with the same group managed by the group management unit, the suggestion unit is assigned to the registered user. It may be determined as another user to be recommended.

  According to such an aspect, when the user and the registered user are both associated with the same group managed by the group management unit, the user is determined as another user to be recommended to the registered user. Users who belong to the same group can be easily registered as friends.

  Further, in this server device, the suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service, and when one or more common users are included in each friend list of the user and the registered user, The user may be determined as another user who should be recommended to the registered user.

  According to such an aspect, when one or more common users are included in the friend list, a user who has many common friends is determined by determining that user as another user who should be recommended to the registered user. Can be easily registered.

  In this server apparatus, the suggestion unit registers a user who is registered in the chat service and the user and the registered user are friends on SNS (Social Networking Service). You may determine as another user which should be recommended to a user.

  According to such an aspect, if the user is a friend on the SNS, the friend on the SNS can be easily registered as a friend in the chat system by determining the user as another user to be recommended to the registered user. .

  In addition, when searching based on a request from a registered user, the server device targets all user information stored in the server device, and if there is no request from the registered user, the server device stores it in the registered user's suggestion list. A search unit for searching for one or more users to be displayed for included users, a display order determination unit for determining a display order of one or more user information searched by the search unit, and a display order determination A display control unit that displays the user information of the users searched by the search unit on the chat screen of the registered user in the order determined by the unit.

  According to such an aspect, by determining the display order of one or more searched user information, it is possible to preferentially display users who are closely related to registered users.

  Moreover, in this server apparatus, when there are a plurality of users searched by the search unit, the display order determination unit determines the priority order of the users whose registered users are included in the friend list among the plurality of searched users. The display order may be determined so as to be higher.

  According to such an aspect, the user who has added himself / herself to the friend list is given priority by determining the display order so that the priority of the user whose registered user is included in the friend list is higher. Since it can be displayed, the registered user can efficiently know a user with higher intimacy.

  Further, in this server device, when there are a plurality of users searched by the search unit, the display order determination unit is configured to display the messages made with the registered user at present or in the past among the plurality of searched users. The display order may be determined so that a user with a higher number of transmissions / receptions has a higher priority.

  According to such an aspect, by displaying according to the number of chats at present or in the past, the registered user can efficiently know the user who is estimated to be more intimate.

  Further, the server device includes a group setting unit that sets a plurality of groups each having a specific property, a group selected by a registered user among the plurality of groups set by the group setting unit, and the registered user And a group management unit that manages them in association with each other. When there are a plurality of users searched by the search unit, the display order determination unit has a higher priority for a user with a larger number of groups associated with the registered user among the plurality of searched users. The display order may be determined.

  According to such an aspect, by displaying the users having a large number of groups registered with each other at the top, the registered users can efficiently know the users who are estimated to be more intimate.

Further, in this server device, the display order determination unit is a condition for determining the display order,
(Condition 1) Presence / absence of the registered user in the friend list (Condition 2) Number A of messages transmitted / received to / from the registered user
(Condition 3) Number of groups B associated with the registered user
(Condition 4) Number C of common users in each other's friend list
Is set, and priority points P1 to P4 are set for each condition,
P1 + A × P2 + B × P3 + C × P4
The display order may be determined according to the magnitude of the value calculated by. In this server apparatus, the display order determination unit may be set as a priority point such that P1 ≧ P2 ≧ P3 ≧ P4.

  According to such an aspect, the registered user can efficiently know a user who is estimated to be more intimate.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a method. This method controls transmission / reception of messages between registered users registered in the chat service, and controls transmission / reception of messages between registered users and unregistered users. Including a step of managing the list and a step of recommending other users to be added to the friend list to the registered user, using a predetermined condition set in accordance with the presence or absence of registration in the chat service And determine other users to recommend to the registered user.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a program. This program is a method for controlling the transmission and reception of messages between registered users registered in the chat service, and for controlling the transmission and reception of messages between registered users and unregistered users. Including a step of managing the list and a step of recommending other users to be added to the friend list to the registered user, using a predetermined condition set in accordance with the presence or absence of registration in the chat service , Causing the computer to execute processing for determining other users to be recommended to the registered user.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a representation of the present invention converted between a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, even a non-registered user can be registered as a friend on the chat service.

  Before describing the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the present invention will be described first. The present invention relates to a chat service for transmitting and receiving messages between information communication terminal devices. Users who register with the chat service (hereinafter referred to as “registered users”) do not have to know whether the other party has registered with the chat service when exchanging messages using the chat service. Chat with the other party.

  In addition, a registered user registers an acquaintance (hereinafter referred to as “friend” or “friend”) on a server that manages a chat service (hereinafter also referred to as “chat server”) in a friend list, thereby identifying a chat partner. You can search efficiently and browse the user information recorded about the chat partner. The friend list is managed by the server for each registered user.

  Registration to the friend list is performed by selecting one of the users included in the suggestion list based on a list of friend candidates recommended from the chat server (hereinafter referred to as “suggest list”). Although the details will be described later, the recommended criterion is “intimacy” with the registered user on the chat service, and the higher this is, the higher the priority is added to the suggestion list. The suggestion list also includes users who are not registered in the chat service (hereinafter referred to as “unregistered users”). The suggestion list is managed by the server for each registered user.

  In the suggestion list, a list displayed by entering the name of an acquaintance on the chat screen and searching, or a list displayed by uploading the phone book stored in the user's terminal to the chat server, etc. Can be included. The user can be registered in the friend list by selecting another user who wants to register as a friend from the suggested list generated in this way. Note that the order in which the suggestion list is displayed on the user terminal is a standard corresponding to the recommended standard “intimacy” described above.

  Here, even if it is an unregistered user, there is a possibility that it is registered in the friend list. You may have already added users to your friends list. In such a case, after the unregistered user becomes a registered user, by recommending the registered user who has already been added to the friend list when not registered as a friend, Many friends are recommended from the time of new registration, so it is easy to form friendships and increase the willingness to use the chat service.

  In the conventional chat service, although registered in the service, there is a problem that the friend does not increase as expected, the frequency of use of the service is low, or the service is stopped. Since the problem has been solved and there is a chance to acquire a plurality of friends from the beginning of the chat, the willingness to use the chat service can be increased and the chat service as a whole can be excited. Hereinafter, an example will be described.

  First, Example 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a chat system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The chat system 100 includes a server 10, a network 30 that connects the server 10 and the base station 40 via a wired line, a first base station 40 a to a third base station 40 c represented by the base station 40, and a mobile terminal 50. The first mobile terminal 50a to the third mobile terminal 50c, which are represented, and the PC terminal 70 are included.

  For convenience of illustration, only three base stations 40 and mobile terminals 50 are shown, but the number of base stations 40 and mobile terminals 50 may be more than that. The same applies to the PC terminal 70. The first mobile terminal 50a to the third mobile terminal 50c are illustrated as being connected to different base stations 50, but not limited to this, a plurality of mobile terminals 50 are connected to one base station 50. Needless to say, the present invention is applicable.

  The server 10 is a device for implementing and providing a chat service. The server 10 executes communication processing for chat processing between the mobile terminal 50 and the PC terminal 70 via the network 30 and the base station 40. In the following, in order to simplify the description, it is simply expressed as “execution of communication processing between the server 10 and the mobile terminal 40 or the PC terminal 70” and the like via the network 30 and the base station 40. The description is omitted. In the following, the mobile terminal 50 and the PC terminal 70 may be collectively referred to as a user terminal.

  The server 10 downloads the application according to the request from the user terminal. Thereafter, the user can start using the chat service by uploading the contact information stored in the memory in the user terminal and importing the contact information into the memory in the server 10. Here, the server 10 has a friend recommendation function that recommends friends in the chat system, a friend list management function that manages a list of friends, a search function that searches for friends and the like, and a chat partner. A mail integration function for chatting.

  The friend recommendation function has a function for introducing and recommending users to be registered in the friend list (hereinafter referred to as “suggest function”). Although the details will be described later, the suggest function determines another user to be recommended to the registered user. The friend list management function has a function of registering the user selected by the registered user among the recommended users in the friend list. The search function searches for user information stored in the server 10 and displays the searched one or more user information on the user terminal in a predetermined order. The user information includes a registered user ID, a group ID to which the user belongs, a user ID of a past chat partner, an ID on the SNS, and the like.

  The mail integration function is a function for performing a chat with a desired user without causing the user to consider whether or not the chat partner is a registered user. When there is a request for starting the chat service from the user terminal, the server 10 determines a communication method to the other party of the chat service. Specifically, according to the priority information of the communication method, the most suitable communication method is determined from the registration information stored in the memory in the server 10, and the message transmitted from the user terminal is transmitted to the communication method, for example, e-mail. Convert to the format and send it to the other party.

  As a communication method applied when communicating with a transmission destination, a chat method is selected in principle when the transmission partner is a registered user. On the other hand, when the transmission partner is an unregistered user, a method corresponding to information registered in the memory regarding the unregistered user is selected. Details will be described later. By taking such an aspect, even if the other party is an unregistered user, the user can chat without being aware of it.

  When using the chat service, the user terminal first accesses the server 10 to download and install the application. Next, in accordance with a request from the server 10, the contact information registered in the terminal is uploaded. After that, when using the chat service, launch the app, specify the friend registered in the friend list, or the user searched by the search function as the destination, and create a message to the destination , Send. As described above, the user of the user terminal is not asked whether the destination user is an unregistered user when using the chat system 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server 10 in the chat system 100 of FIG. The server 10 includes a server reception unit 12, a chat control unit 14, a server transmission unit 16, and a server memory 20.

  The server reception unit 12 receives a signal from the user terminal, performs a predetermined demodulation process, and sends the demodulated signal to the chat control unit 14. The server transmission unit 16 transmits a predetermined message to the transmission partner using the communication method selected by the chat control unit 14. In addition, the server transmission unit 16 acquires a friend list or a suggestion list stored in the server memory 20 through the chat control unit 14 at a predetermined timing, and the user terminal of the user associated with the list. Send to. Conventional modulation / demodulation techniques may be used for the modulation / demodulation processing in the server reception unit 12 and the server transmission unit 16, and those skilled in the art can apply the present invention even in such a mode. Is understood.

  The chat control unit 14 receives a signal from the server reception unit 12, performs processing according to the content, accesses the server memory 20, and instructs the server transmission unit 16 to perform transmission. The signal received from the server receiving unit 12 is a signal from the user terminal. For example, a download request for an application for using a chat service (hereinafter referred to as a chat application), information uploaded from the user terminal, a chat partner or a friend For example, selection of a user to be registered and a message to a transmission destination.

  In addition, the chat control unit 14 reads out a chat application for the user to download to the server memory 20, imports contact information transmitted from the user terminal, and determines information for determining a communication method. Access. The chat control unit 14 causes the user terminal to download the application in accordance with a request from the user. After downloading to the user terminal, the chat control unit 14 makes an inquiry to the user terminal as to whether or not the server 10 should import the contact information stored in the user terminal. If the import permission is given, contact information is sent from the user terminal, so the chat control unit 14 writes the information in the server memory 20.

  In addition, the chat control unit 14 has a friend recommendation function, and determines other users to be recommended to the registered user as friend candidates using a predetermined condition set in accordance with the presence or absence of registration in the chat service. Then, it is registered in the suggestion list in the server memory 20. The predetermined condition set in accordance with the presence / absence of registration in the chat service indicates that the recommended user is a registered user and the unregistered user is a different condition. This condition is a condition for estimating the closeness with the recommended user.

  In addition, the chat control unit 14 has a friend list management function, and among the users registered in the suggestion list as friend candidates, the user selected from the registered users accepted via the server receiving unit 12 is stored in the server memory 20. Register in the friends list. The friend list is managed for each registered user in the server memory 20.

  Further, the chat control unit 14 has a search function, and when there is no request from a registered user, the chat control unit 14 targets a user included in the registered user's suggestion list stored in the server memory 20 as a display target. Search for one or more users. The user searched here is displayed on the user terminal as a friend candidate.

  When a plurality of users are searched, the display order is determined by a predetermined algorithm and displayed on the chat screen of the user terminal. That is, a list of friend candidates is displayed on the user terminal as “Friends”. The search timing and display timing may be performed at regular intervals when the chat service application is activated or after activation. Thereby, it is possible to give the user an opportunity to increase friends.

  Further, the chat control unit 14 receives a real name search request from the registered user from the server receiving unit 12, acquires the real name to be searched, and stores all user information stored in the server memory 20 for the real name. Search for. The search may use a conventional search technique such as forward matching or partial matching.

  When a plurality of users are searched, the display order is determined by a predetermined algorithm determined according to the familiarity with the registered user, transmitted via the server transmission unit 16, and displayed on the chat screen of the user terminal Let The suggest list is managed for each registered user in the server memory 20.

  In addition, when determining the communication method to the transmission destination, the chat control unit 14 indicates the priority of the communication method to be applied from one or more communication methods registered in the server memory 20 with respect to the transmission destination. One communication method is selected according to the information. The “information indicating the priority order of communication methods to be applied” and the details of selection will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the chat control unit 14 of FIG. Chat control unit 14 includes friend registration unit 200, search display unit 300, and mail integration unit 400. The friend control unit 200 has a friend list management function, and manages a suggest list and a friend list in the server memory 20.

  The search display unit 300 has a search function, searches using a suggestion list or user information in the server memory 20, and displays search results on the chat screen of the user terminal in a display order determined by a predetermined algorithm. To do. The mail integration unit 400 determines a communication method to the transmission destination based on the transmission message received from the user and the transmission destination. The mail integration unit 400 has a mail integration function, and manages events based on requests from user terminals. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in order.

(1) Friend list management function First, the friend list management function by the friend registration part 200 of FIG. 3 is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the friend registration unit 200 of FIG. The friend registration unit 200 includes a group setting unit 210, a group management unit 212, a suggestion unit 214, a friend list management unit 216, and a suggestion list management unit 218.

  The group setting unit 210 sets a plurality of groups each having a specific property. The group management unit 212 manages on the server memory 20 the group selected by the registered user among the plurality of groups set by the group setting unit 210 and the registered user in association with each other.

  Here, the “group” is created by an arbitrary user triggered by the existence of arbitrary common items among users such as the same hobbies and common areas. Joining a group can be done by invitation from a user belonging to the group or by self-selection. When joining a group, the group ID of the joined group is added to its own user information. When this group ID is used, it becomes easy to perform chatting between specific friends and to generate and manage events, which will be described later.

  The friend list management unit 216 manages the friend list on the server memory 20 for each registered user. The suggestion unit 214 recommends other users to be added to the friend list in consideration of closeness with the registered user. Here, the suggestion unit 214 determines other users to be recommended as registered users by using a predetermined condition set in accordance with the presence / absence of registration in the chat service. Details will be described later. The suggestion list management unit 218 registers the user information of other users determined by the suggestion unit 214 in the suggestion list in the server memory 20.

  Here, the friend list management unit 216 adds the user information selected by the registered user among the user information included in the suggestion list to the friend list in the server memory 20. The suggestion list management unit 218 deletes the user information from the suggestion list in the server memory 20 as the user information is added to the friend list.

  Here, operation examples (A) to (G) in the suggest unit 214 will be described in order. In any case, a user to be recommended to the registered user is determined according to the degree of closeness with the registered user. In addition, (A) is an operation example when an unregistered user is a recommendation target, and (B) to (G) are operation examples when a registered user is a recommendation target.

  (A) The suggestion unit 214 is an unregistered user who is not registered in the chat service, and the contact information stored in the user terminal includes information on the user not included in the friend list. If so, the user is added as a friend candidate to the suggestion list in the server memory 20. Even registered users may be added to the suggestion list. Further, the user to be added may be limited to a case where contact information related to mobile, for example, a phone number or an e-mail address of a mobile terminal is included in contact information.

  This operation example (A) may be implemented, for example, when the contact information in the user terminal is uploaded to the server 10. The upload is performed when the chat application is downloaded, or when new information is added to the contact information or periodically. Thereby, the user can register the friend registered in the user terminal as a friend on the chat service.

  (B) The suggestion unit 214 is already a friend when the first user who is an unregistered user is unregistered as another registered user to be recommended after the first user becomes a registered user. The registered user who has added the first user to the list is added to the suggestion list in the server memory 20. Thereby, the 1st user who is a newly registered user can register many friends to a friend list immediately after starting a chat service.

  (C) When there is another user who has added an arbitrary user to the friend list, the suggestion unit 214 suggests the other user as a friend candidate as a recommended user in the server memory 20. Let them be added to the list.

  In the operation example of (C), for example, when another user newly registers in the friend list, another user of the registration executor is registered in the registered user's suggestion list. As a result, each other is registered as a friend, and subsequent communication can be easily performed, and the entire chat service can be activated.

  (D) When there is a user who has transmitted and received a message on the chat system in the present or in the past, the suggestion unit 214 proposes the suggestion in the server memory 20 as a recommended user as a friend candidate. Let them be added to the list.

  The operation example of (D) has been entered before the registered user enters the chat room in which the registered user enters in the virtual space on the chat system called the chat room for starting the chat, for example. When a user or a new user enters after a registered user enters, the user is registered in the registered user's suggestion list. In addition, a user who has lived in a chat room with a registered user in the past is also a target to be registered in the suggestion list. As described above, when living together in the chat room at present or in the past, the user ID of the living user is stored in the user information of the registered user, and based on this, the suggestion unit 214 executes the recommendation process. It will be. The chat room may be formed by users belonging to the same group, or may be formed by users belonging to a plurality of groups, for example, users belonging to the same group and users belonging to other groups. . The suggestion unit 214 may make the user a recommended target when having chatted or lived with a registered user in the chat room regardless of the group to which the suggestion unit 214 belongs.

  (E) If there are users who belong to the same group, the suggestion unit 214 adds the user as a friend candidate to the suggestion list in the server memory 20 as a recommended friend.

  The operation example of (E) is newly entered when the registered user newly registers in the group or when another user registers in the group registered by the registered user. The registered user is registered in the suggested list of registered users. Thereby, communication within the group can be activated, and even a user who has joined the group later can actively participate in the group. The suggestion unit 214 may be recommended under the conditions combined with the above (D). That is, the suggestion unit 214 may recommend a user who has chatted with a registered user or who has lived together and is in the same group.

  (F) The suggestion unit 214 causes a user who has a common friend in the friend list to be added to the suggestion list in the server memory 20 as a friend candidate. The operation example of (F) may be executed when the number of common friends becomes a predetermined number, for example, three or more.

  (G) When the friend on the SNS is a registered user, the suggestion unit 214 adds the friend as a friend candidate on the chat service to the suggestion list in the server memory 20 as a recommended user. This process may be executed when an SNS cooperation request is received from the user terminal via the server reception unit 12. The SNS includes a community on a network such as Facebook (registered trademark). As a result, friends on the SNS can easily register as friends on the chat service.

  In the above, seven cases have been listed, but not limited to this, the same age and date of birth are the same, the search user and the residence are the same, have participated together in events managed by the event management function described later, etc. When there is a user who has a common matter that is estimated to be close to each other, the user may be registered in the suggested list of registered users.

  In addition, when the friend registration unit 200 is a friend on the SNS of the registered user and the friend is not registered in the chat service, the friend registration unit 200 may notify the friend to register for the chat service. . The notification may be performed by e-mail, and includes a message for guiding to a URL that can be registered. Thereby, the registrant of a chat service can be increased efficiently.

(2) Search Function Next, the search function by the search display unit 300 in FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the search display unit 300 of FIG. The search display unit 300 includes a search unit 310, a display order determination unit 312, and a display control unit 314. In the following, a registered user who executes a search is referred to as a search user.

  When the search unit 310 performs a search based on a search request from a registered user, such as inputting some character in a search window displayed on the search user's user terminal, all user information stored in the server device As a target, one or more users to be displayed are searched. If there is no request from a registered user, one or more users to be displayed are searched for users included in the registered user's suggestion list when the chat application is activated or periodically.

  When a plurality of users are searched by the search unit 310, the display order determination unit 312 determines the display order of the user information using a predetermined condition. This predetermined order is determined according to the degree of closeness with the search user. The display control unit 314 displays the user information of the users searched by the search unit 310 on the registered user chat screen in the order determined by the display order determination unit 312.

  Here, the predetermined conditions in the display order determination unit 312 will be described.

(Condition 1) Presence / absence of a search user in the friend list The display order determination unit 312 includes a search user in the friend list among a plurality of searched users (the search user is registered in the friend list). The display order is determined so that the user priority is higher.

(Condition 2) Number of times of message transmission / reception with search user In addition, the display order determination unit 312 determines the number of times of message transmission / reception with the search user at present or in the past among the plurality of searched users. The display order is determined so that the priority is higher in the number of users.

(Condition 3) Number of groups associated with the search user In addition, the display order determination unit 312 has a higher priority for a user with a larger number of groups associated with the search user among the plurality of retrieved users. As such, the display order is determined.

(Condition 4) Number of common users in each friend list The display order determination unit 312 is a user who is registered in the friend list in common with the search user among the plurality of searched users. The display order is determined so that the higher the number of users, the higher the priority.

  The above four conditions have been listed, but not limited to this, the same age and date of birth as the search user, the same residence as the search user, and participation in the event managed by the event management function described later together with the search user For example, the display order may be determined on the condition that there is a common matter that is estimated to be close to the search user.

  The display order determination unit 312 may set priority points P1 to P4 for the conditions 1 to 4 for determining the display order. At this time, the “number of times of transmission / reception” in condition 2 is A, the “number of groups associated with registered users” in condition 3 is B, and the “number of common users in each other's friend list” in condition 4 is In the case of C, the display order determination unit 312 may calculate the score according to the formula “P1 + A × P2 + B × P3 + C × P4”, and may set the display order higher in order of increasing score. The display order determination unit 312 may set the priority points so that P1 ≧ P2 ≧ P3 ≧ P4. P1 to P4 are real numbers, and A to C are positive integers.

(3) Mail Integration Function Finally, the mail integration function by the mail integration unit 400 in FIG. 3 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mail integration unit 400 of FIG. In the mail integration unit 400, the chat control unit 14 includes a registration control unit 22, a selection unit 24, a conversion unit 26, and an event management unit 80.

  The registration control unit 22 performs processing for registering the contact information acquired from the user terminal in the server memory 20. In response to a chat request from the user terminal, the selection unit 24 accesses the server memory 20 to acquire transmission destination information, determines a communication method for the transmission destination, and notifies the conversion unit 26 of the communication method. The conversion unit 26 converts the message to the transmission destination received from the user terminal into the format of the communication method transmitted from the conversion unit 26. The conversion by the conversion unit 26 may be performed by a known method.

  The event management unit 80 accesses the server memory 20 according to an instruction regarding an event from a user received via the server reception unit 12 and manages information regarding the event. The instruction regarding the event includes input of information regarding the event from the user, information regarding the user who wants to promote event participation, and the like. Further, the event management unit 80 displays a predetermined screen on the chat interface screen of the display of the user terminal in accordance with an instruction related to the event from the user. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in order.

  The registration control unit 22 registers the contact information in the server memory 20 when the chat application is installed in the user terminal and the contact information in the user terminal is uploaded. At that time, the registration control unit 22 first assigns an ID to the user terminal that is the subject of the upload.

  Furthermore, the registration control unit 22 collates the uploaded contact information with the contact information of the registered user. The registered user contact information is contact information of a user who is already registered in the chat service. Further, the registration control unit 22 may collate the uploaded contact information with the registered contact information. The registered contact information is contact information that is stored in the server memory 20 and includes contact information of an unregistered user that has already been imported by another registered user.

  The contact information includes name, reading, phone number, mobile phone number, e-mail address, SNS information, user information, and the like. There may be a plurality of telephone numbers, mobile phone numbers, e-mail addresses, or SNS information. The SNS information includes one or more pieces of information necessary for identifying a user in an SNS such as facebook, twitter, mixi, and Linkedin (all four are registered trademarks) and for contacting the user. The user information is information indicating whether an application for using the chat system is installed, and is a flag for determining whether the user is a registered user or an unregistered user.

  If there is a common part in the two contact information as a result of the collation, the registration control unit 22 integrates and stores the two contact information. For example, if there are two pieces of contact information as shown below, the name and the mobile phone number are the same in both pieces of contact information. Therefore, it can be estimated that both contact information is for the same person.

Contact information uploaded Name A
Mobile phone number 090-XXX-YYYY
Email address b@ppp.co.jp
Registered contact information Name A
Mobile phone number 090-XXX-YYYY
Phone number 03-mmmm-nnnn
Email address a@qqq.ne.jp

  Therefore, the registration control unit 22 integrates the two pieces of contact information and stores them in the server memory 20 as one piece of contact information as described below.

Contact information after integration Name A
Mobile phone number 090-XXX-YYYY
Phone number 03-mmmm-nnnn
Email address a@qqq.ne.jp
Email address b@ppp.co.jp

  Note that if the two pieces of contact information completely match, the registration control unit 22 may not perform the integration process. This is because there is no information to be interpolated. Further, when integrating, the number of common parts may be used as a condition for whether or not to integrate, may be set as a condition that one or more pieces of predetermined information match, or a combination thereof. . This is because as the number increases, the probability that the same person is concerned increases. In addition, by making one or more pieces of predetermined information, such as name and mobile phone number, contact information that remains unchanged or difficult to change can be used as a judgment criterion, so that the probability of being related to the same person is further increased. Can do. It should be noted that the viewpoint of processing speed and processing load and increasing the probability are in a trade-off relationship, but in view of these, it can be said that the number is preferably 2 to 3, and the predetermined information is: A combination of name and mobile phone number and / or phone number may be preferred.

  Next, the selection unit 24 will be described. The selection unit 24 selects one communication method from one or more communication methods registered in the server memory 20 with respect to the received transmission destination user according to information indicating the priority order of the communication method to be applied. . However, the operation of the selector 24 differs depending on whether the message received from the server receiver 12 is in the chat format or not. This is because the message is a message from a registered user in the chat format, and a message from an unregistered user in a format other than the chat format.

  Here, first, a case where the message received from the server reception unit 12 is in a chat format will be described using an example. In this example, it is assumed that contact information of the following users A, B, and C is stored in the server memory 20.

User A
Name E-mail address Registered user User B
Name E-mail address SNS information Unregistered user User C
Name E-mail address 1
Email address 2
Unregistered user

  Further, it is assumed that information indicating the priority order of communication methods to be applied (hereinafter referred to as priority information) is set as follows. The priority information is, for example, the following information. Priority 1 indicates that the priority is the highest, and the higher the number, the lower the priority.

Priority 1 Chat format Priority 2 Email format Priority 3 SNS format

  This priority information may be set for each registered user. Moreover, a registered user may set arbitrarily. Further, the chat format may always be set to have a priority of 1, and in this case, the user may arbitrarily set a format having a priority of 2 or later.

  A case where the user A is the transmission destination in the above case will be described. First, the selection unit 24 acquires user information from the contact information stored for the transmission destination. Here, the user information reveals that the destination user is a registered user, and in this case, the chat format is selected.

  Here, the selection unit 24 instructs the conversion unit 26 to convert the received message into a chat format. If the user is a registered user, the selection unit 24 may select the chat format without accessing the priority information.

  Next, a case where user B is the transmission destination will be described. Unlike user A described above, user B is an unregistered user. In such a case, the selection unit 24 refers to priority 2 in the priority information. Here, since priority 2 is in the e-mail format, the selection unit 24 checks whether or not the e-mail address exists as the contact information of the user B.

  In the above example, since the email address of user B exists, the selection unit 24 selects the email format as the communication method. If the email address of user B is not registered, it is determined whether or not it is registered for the next priority 3 SNS format. In this case, the SNS information is registered as the registration information of user B. Therefore, the selection unit 24 selects the SNS format.

  Next, a case where user C is a transmission destination will be described. According to the registration information of the user C, since the user C is an unregistered user, the selection unit 24 includes an email address in the registration information of the user C in order to determine whether or not the priority 2 email format can be selected. Check whether or not exists. Here, there are two e-mail addresses as the registration information of the user C. In such a case, the selection unit 24 preferentially selects an e-mail address addressed to the mobile phone.

  If two or more mobile phone addressed e-mail addresses are registered, an e-mail address registered at a later time may be selected. This is because an e-mail address registered at a later time may be the latest information registered more recently, and can cause the message to reach the user C more reliably.

  Further, although the e-mail format is set to priority 2 as priority information, priority may be set according to the destination as in priority example 2 below.

<Example 2 of priority information>
Priority 1 Chat format Priority 2 E-mail address destined for other than mobile phone Priority 3 E-mail address destined for mobile phone

  Also, as in the priority information example 3 below, a general-purpose email address can be set regardless of whether it is a mobile phone or other destination, such as gmail.com or a free address. Good. By setting the priority information in this way, the transmission destination can be selected more flexibly, and the message can reach the transmission destination more reliably.

<Example 3 of priority information>
Priority 1 Chat type Priority 2 General-purpose email address Priority 3 Email address addressed to mobile phone Priority 4 Email address destined for other than mobile phone

  When the transmission destination is an unregistered user, the conversion unit 26 adds URL information to the message received from the server reception unit 12. URL information is information related to a link to a Web page that prompts an unregistered user to invite to a chat system. An unregistered user can access the server 10 by clicking this information, and can download a chat application for carrying out chat from there. Next, the conversion unit 26 converts the message to be transmitted into the format of the communication method designated by the selection unit 24 and sends the message to the server transmission unit 16.

  Next, a case where the message received from the server receiving unit 12 is in a format other than the chat format will be described. The message in this case is a message from an unregistered user to a registered user. Therefore, in the server memory 20, the registration information of the destination user is a registered user. Here, the chat format has a priority 1 of priority information for the registered user. Therefore, as described above, the selection unit 24 selects a chat format as a communication method for a message addressed to a registered user.

  Next, the conversion unit 26 converts a message received from an unregistered user into a chat format. The converted message is transmitted to the user terminal 50 that is the destination via the server transmission unit 16. In the user terminal 50, the transmitted message is displayed on the chat interface screen on the display of the terminal. In the chat system 100, the communication system is appropriately converted from the contact information and the priority information recorded in the server 10 in the above manner, so that the registered user and the unregistered user can be converted to the user. Smooth chat can be realized without extra operations.

  Next, the configuration on the user terminal side will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the mobile terminal 50 or the PC terminal 70 of FIG. Here, for convenience of explanation, the configuration of the mobile terminal 50 will be described, but the PC terminal 70 has the same configuration.

  The mobile terminal 50 includes a terminal reception unit 52, a terminal control unit 54, a terminal transmission unit 56, a user interface 58, and a terminal memory 60. The terminal receiving unit 52 receives a chat application downloaded from the server 10, a suggestion list or friend list transmitted from the server 10, or a message from another user.

  The terminal control unit 54 receives an instruction from the user and accesses the terminal memory 60 while controlling installation of a chat application, uploading of contact information registered in the terminal memory 60, or transmission for chatting. Select destinations, manage messages to destinations, etc.

  In addition, the user interface 58 displays a message to the user on the screen, receives an instruction from the user that is input as a result of operating a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like, and transmits the instruction to the terminal control unit 54. The message to the user may be, for example, an inquiry as to whether or not the contact information stored in the memory 60 may be imported into the server 10, a request for selection of friend candidates displayed as a suggestion list, This includes specifying a destination for chatting and editing a message to the destination. These messages may be displayed on a predetermined chat interface screen.

  Hereinafter, an overall operation of the mobile terminal 50 will be described as an example of a scene where the user A starts using the chat service.

  It is assumed that the user A has installed a chat application on the mobile terminal 50 of the user A. At that time, the terminal control unit 54 causes a pop-up message such as “Do you want to import the address book?” To be displayed on the user interface 58, and when the user presses the Yes button, the terminal memory 60 displays the pop-up message. The stored contact information is imported into the server memory 20 of the server 10.

  Note that contact information stored in the terminal memory 60 of the user A may be automatically imported into the server 10 without displaying a pop-up display or the like when installing the chat application. Further, the import process may be performed periodically, or the import process may be performed when new contact information is added to the terminal memory 60.

  Next, in the server 10, when the telephone number or the e-mail address included in the contact information is compared with the contact information of the registered user stored in the server 10, and there is a matching registered user, The contact information of the registered user and the imported address information are combined.

  In this way, if the chat application is installed, contact information regarding the user's acquaintance registered in the terminal memory 60 of the mobile terminal 50 is automatically registered as a chat partner. Therefore, the user can start using the chat service without feeling stressed.

  Next, an example of a scene in which user A exchanges messages with user B via chat will be described.

  When the user A activates the chat application, the user interface 58 displays information on users registered as friends in the friend list as transmission destination candidates. User A selects, for example, user B as a message transmission partner from the displayed candidates. The selected transmission destination is notified to the server 10 via the terminal control unit 54 and the terminal transmission unit 56.

  Next, the server 10 determines a message communication method (chat, mail, SNS) based on the contact information and priority information of the user B. As described above, the priority information is information indicating the priority order of which communication method is used to transmit a message. For example, when the priority information is in the order of chat> SNS message> email address> SMS, and user B is a registered user of the chat service, the communication method is chat. If user B is an unregistered user and only the e-mail address and telephone number are known, the communication format in the e-mail format with higher priority is selected.

  When the user A enters a message to the user B in the message field of the chat interface screen displayed on the screen by the user interface 58 and presses the send button, the fact is that the terminal control unit 54, the terminal transmission unit 56, and further A message is transmitted to the user B via the server 10. When the email method is selected as the communication method to the user B, the server 10 converts the chat message of the user A into an email format, and the email is sent to the email address of the user B imported from the terminal memory 60 as a destination. Sent from the server 10.

  When user B who is an unregistered user receives an email message from user A and replies to the message in email format, server 10 first sends the email from user B in a chat format. The message is converted into a message, transmitted to the mobile terminal 50 of the user A, and displayed on the chat interface on the display of the terminal.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a transition example of the chat interface screen in the event management unit 80 of FIG. The chat interface screen includes a global menu screen G0, an event home screen G1, a user selection screen G2, an event creation screen G3, a chat screen G4, an event details screen G5, and an event answer confirmation screen G6.

  In the chat interface screens from G0 to G6, the event information managed in the server memory 20 in the server 10 is updated according to the instruction received from the user, and as shown in FIG. Transition to the screen.

  When the user starts chatting, first, a global menu screen G0 that is an initial screen of the chat system 100 is displayed on the user terminal. If the user requests processing related to an event, the event home screen G1 is displayed. From this event home screen G1, the user creates and manages events.

  The event screen G1 is a screen that is transitioned from the global menu screen G0 and manages the events in an integrated manner, and the user can check the events that are in progress and participated in the past on this screen. As shown in the drawing, a new event creation button G10 and an event column G12 are displayed on the event screen G1. In the event column G12, an event image G14, an event participant image G16, and the like are displayed.

  The user can create an event by tapping the new event creation button G10 when creating a new event. When creating an event, a transition is made to the user selection screen G2, and a screen for allowing the user to select a user who is inquiring about event participation is displayed.

  In the event column G12, an event title, date and time, place, participant list, and the like are displayed. When the user taps an individual event column, the event details screen G5 is displayed. Newly created events are displayed at the top of the event column G12, and past events are displayed at the bottom. When the event ends or when the event itself is deleted, it is deleted from the event column G12. Note that the event displayed in the lower part may be subjected to a different display process compared to a new event, such as being displayed with a light color tone.

  In the event image G14, an image indicating an event designated in event creation is displayed. If not specified, an arbitrary image may be displayed. In the event participant image G16, an image designated by a user who has already answered that the event has been participated is displayed.

  The event creation screen G3 includes a participation inquiry user image G30, a user edit button G31, an event description field G32, a candidate addition button 33, an answer candidate button G34, a schedule candidate field G35, a time candidate field G36, A free input button G37, a map display button G38, and a search button G39 are displayed.

  In the participation inquiry user image G30, an image relating to a user who has inquired to participate is displayed. The user edit button G31 transitions to the user selection screen G2 when the user taps it. The event explanation column G32 is a column for entering the title of the event and the explanation of the event. Note that the title must be entered. The candidate addition button 33 is a button that the user taps when it is desired to increase candidates for the schedule, time, or place. When the user taps, candidates are additionally displayed as shown in the figure.

  The answer candidate button G34 is a button that is tapped by a user who has been inquired about participation, and is a button for selecting from the choices whether or not to participate in an event held on the displayed schedule, time, and place. It is. Here, three choices are assumed, such as ◯, Δ, and X, but are not limited thereto.

  The schedule candidate column G35 and the time candidate column G36 are columns for entering the date and time for holding the event. As described above, when there are a plurality of candidates by the candidate addition button 33, the entry is made for each candidate.

  The free input button G37 is a button that the user taps when entering a comment regarding the place. The map display button G38 is a button for setting information indicating the place for an event creator, and a button for displaying location information for a user who is inquired about event participation. Become. The location information may be an address or a telephone number, map information, or a combination thereof. The search button G39 is a button for making a transition to a screen for allowing a user who has been inquired to participate in an event to search for information on a location or the like using a predetermined search tool.

  The chat screen G4 is a screen displayed on the chat interface of the user who is inquired to participate in the created event. The chat screen G4 displays a single response mode field G40, an option mode field G41, an event description field G42, an option button G43, and an answer button G44.

  The single response mode column G40 is a screen displayed when only one event date / time and place are set in the created event. In the event description column G42, an event name, date and time, place, and a choice button G43 are displayed. When the user inquired to participate taps the event name, the event details screen G5 is displayed. As shown in the figure, each of the answer button G44 is displayed with ◯, Δ, and x, and the user who is inquired about participation in the event can tap any one to express his / her intention to participate in the event.

  Unlike the single response mode field G40, the option mode field 41 is a screen displayed when a plurality of dates and times are set for one created event. In the option mode, when the user taps the answer button G44, the event details screen G5 is transitioned to, and the user displays an intention to participate in each option from the event details screen G5.

  On the event detail screen G5, a scheduled participation user image G50, an unanswered user image G51, a list display button G52, an answer button G53, a store image G54, a store link G55, and a comment column G56 are displayed. .

  In the planned participation user image G50, an image designated by a user who has already announced participation is displayed. In the case of the three-choice answer format, only the users who responded with ◯ may be displayed, the users who have responded with ◯ or △ may be displayed together, and the colors may be changed between ○ and △. The display mode may be changed and displayed.

  In the unanswered user image G51, an image designated by an unanswered user is displayed. You may display in a different display mode compared with the participation planned user image G50. FIG. 14 shows an example in which the image is displayed in a slightly white color tone.

  The list display button G52 is a button for making a transition to the friend list screen. In the answer button G53, when the user taps, an answer option is displayed, and when one of the answer buttons is selected, an answer is displayed. As shown in the drawing, when there are a plurality of dates and places, a plurality of answer buttons G53 are displayed.

  The store image G54 displays an image designated in advance by the store where the event is held. In the store link G55, when the user taps, a web page showing the store information is displayed. The comment column G56 is a column for the user who made a reply to participate in the event to write a comment.

  The second display example of the chat screen G4 is an example of the first display example or a screen displayed when any user answers an event participation inquiry in the event display screen G5. In the second display example, a single response mode display column G60 and an option mode column G61 are displayed according to the event for which there was a response. In each field, a participation user image G62 designated by the user who has announced participation and a transition button G63 to the event details screen G5 are displayed.

  The event response confirmation screen G6 is a screen that can be confirmed by the user who is the event organizer who created the event, and is a screen on which the response status at that time is displayed.

  On the event response confirmation screen G6, a participation user image G64, a transition button G65 to the event creation screen G3, and an event option column G66 are displayed. In the event option column G66, event candidate locations and dates and times are displayed in the column direction according to the number of event candidates. In the row direction, for each candidate, a totaling column G68 in which the number of people who answered “O”, “Δ”, and “X” is displayed, and an answering column G69 in which answers for each respondent are displayed.

  The event organizer visually recognizes whether or not the event can be participated, determines which candidate is to be adopted, and taps the event confirmation button G67 displayed in the candidate column for adoption. When the event confirmation button G67 is tapped, a message to that effect is notified to the user who has responded that the event has been confirmed. If the message is a registered user, the message is displayed on the chat interface. If it is an unregistered user, it is notified by the converted communication method. Alternatively, the URL for notifying the determined event is notified. In addition, it may be notified to a user who answered that participation is unknown or that participation is impossible. In that case, the event organizer can notify the comment together, and the comment may be selected from some preset sentences.

  The user creates an event in the chat system, and makes the chat partner answer on the chat whether or not the event has participated. In addition, answers obtained from the chat partner are automatically tabulated, and the user can list the tabulated results.

  Further, not only whether or not the event can be participated, but also some of the date and place candidates for the event holding may be listed and the chat partner may be made to answer for each candidate. For unregistered users of the chat service, the URL of the Web page for selecting whether or not to participate in the event and the desired date is described in the mail text. Alternatively, separate URLs may be pasted for participation and non-participation in the mail text, and participation and reply may be answered by pressing the participation URL, and non-participation may be answered by pressing the non-participation URL.

  The scheduling management of this event or the like may have the following functions.

(1) The user who hosts the event can adjust the event schedule with friends and family. The organizer can make a list of the total results by answering the presence / absence of participation, desired date / time, and desired location.

(2) Can vote and tabulate the date and time of the event. There may be a plurality of date / time candidates. The same applies to the location. It may be an option for each venue where the event is held.
(3) The respondent can answer from a plurality of options such as “◯”, “△”, and “×” for each schedule.
(4) Events such as “recruitment of people who are free” can be held without specifying the date and time.

(5) A remind message can be sent to a user who has not answered by a predetermined date. In addition, a message can be sent to the participant, for example, 24 hours before the event.

(6) In addition to being able to be implemented in the chat interface, it can also be implemented in the same manner on a Web browser, and both are synchronized. Therefore, even an unregistered user of the application can easily use this function.

  In order to realize the above functions, the server that manages the chat system creates event information by combining one or more candidate dates and times and one or more candidate locations in accordance with user instructions. Inquires whether or not to participate in the event related to the event information. When inquiring to an unregistered user about whether or not to participate in an event, if a communication method other than chat is selected, URL information for accepting participation from the user may be included in the message to be transmitted. Good.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure example of the friend registration unit 200 of FIG. The process in this flowchart is for displaying friends to be recommended to the first user on the user terminal of a certain user (hereinafter referred to as the first user). In addition, this processing is performed by any one of the users stored in the server memory 20 when the friend registration unit 200 accesses the server memory 20 after the contact information uploaded from the user terminal is stored in the server memory 20. Executed when information is acquired.

  First, the friend registration part 200 confirms whether the user concerning the acquired user information has already been registered in the chat service (S50). If it has been registered (Y in S50), the process proceeds to S52, and if it has not been registered (N in S50), the process proceeds to S64.

  In S52, when the user information related to the first user is included in the friend list of the acquired user information (S52: Y), the friend registration unit 200 recommends the user related to the acquired user information to the first user. Therefore, it is added to the suggestion list (S54). If not included (N in S52), the process proceeds to S56.

  In S <b> 56, the friend registration unit 200 acquires the acquired user information when the user related to the acquired user information has performed a chat with the first user on the chat service at present or in the past (Y in S <b> 56). In order to recommend the user concerning the information to the first user, it is added to the suggestion list (S54). If the chat has never been performed (N in S56), the process proceeds to S58.

  In S <b> 58, the friend registration unit 200 selects one of the one or more group IDs registered in the acquired user information as one of the one or more groups to which the first user belongs. If it matches the group ID of one of the groups (Y in S58), the user associated with the acquired user information is added to the suggestion list in order to recommend it to the first user (S54). If the chat has never been performed (N in S58), the process proceeds to S60. Regarding S56 and S58, as another embodiment, in a chat room formed by a group to which the first user belongs and another group, the user who has performed a chat with the first user, or the first in the chat room. In order to recommend a user who lives with the user to the first user, the user can be added to the suggestion list. Note that the user to be added only needs to have a chat with the first user or have lived in the chat room with the first user, and the group to which the user belongs does not have to be asked as a condition to be added. . That is, the added user may belong to a group to which the first user belongs, or may belong to another group to which the first user does not belong. In addition, users in the same group may be preferentially recommended.

  In S60, the friend registration unit 200 has a plurality of user IDs registered in the friend list of the first user among a plurality of user IDs registered in the friend list in the acquired user information. If it matches one of the user IDs (Y in S60), the user related to the acquired user information is added to the suggestion list in order to recommend it to the first user (S54). If the chat has never been performed (N in S60), the process proceeds to S62.

  In S62, if the user related to the acquired user information is a friend of the first user on the SNS (Y of S62), the friend registration unit 200 designates the user related to the acquired user information as the first user. It is added to the suggestion list for recommendation (S54). If the chat has never been performed (N in S62), the process is terminated.

  In S64, if the acquired user information is included in the contact information uploaded from the user terminal of the first user (Y in S64), the friend registration unit 200 proceeds to the process of S66. If not included (N in S64), the process is terminated.

  In S66, when the contact information uploaded from the user terminal of the first user includes information about the mobile related to the user related to the acquired user information (Y in S66), the friend registration unit 200 acquires the user In order to recommend the user concerning the information to the first user, it is added to the suggestion list (S54). If not included (N in S66), the process ends.

  Note that the processing from S52 to S62 may be out of order, may be determined independently, or may be determined in parallel.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a first processing procedure example of the mail integration unit 400 of FIG. The first processing procedure example is started when an application is downloaded to the user terminal.

  First, the mail integration unit 400 makes an import request to the user terminal via the server transmission unit 16 (S10). The import request is for inquiring whether the contact information stored in the memory in the user terminal may be uploaded to the server 10 and stored in the server memory 20 in the server 10.

  Here, when the server reception unit 12 receives a signal indicating that import is not permitted from the user terminal (No in S12), the mail integration unit 400 ends this processing. On the other hand, when a signal indicating permission of import is received from the user terminal (Yes in S12), the contact information transmitted next is acquired via the server reception unit 12.

  If there is common information as a result of collating the acquired contact information with the contact information already registered in the server memory 20 (Yes in S14), the registration control unit 22 stores the information in the server memory 20. The contact information that has been made and the acquired contact information are integrated (S16). On the other hand, when there is no common information (No in S14), the registration control unit 22 registers the acquired contact information as it is in the server memory 20 (S18). At that time, an ID or the like for specifying contact information may be attached.

  Here, when all contact information to be imported has been imported (Yes in S20), the chat control unit 14 ends this process. On the other hand, when there is other contact information (No in S20), the mail integration unit 400 returns to the process of S14 and repeats the processes of S14 to S20 until there is no contact information to be imported.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a second processing procedure example of the mail integration unit 400 of FIG. This example of the second processing procedure is started when the user terminal starts chatting.

  The mail integration unit 400 acquires a transmission destination designated by the user and a message to be transmitted to the transmission destination via the server reception unit 12 (S30). Next, the mail integration unit 400 follows the priority information indicating the priority of the communication method to be applied from one or more communication methods among the contact information registered in the server memory 20 regarding the transmission destination. One communication method is selected (S32).

  Here, when the transmission destination is an unregistered user (Yes in S34), the mail integration unit 400 adds URL information for prompting the unregistered user to participate in the chat system to the message to be transmitted (S36). . If the user is a registered user (No in S34), the process proceeds to S38.

  The mail integration unit 400 performs processing for converting the message to be transmitted into the communication method selected in S32 (S38). Next, the mail integration unit 400 causes the server transmission unit 16 to transmit the converted message to the transmission destination designated by the user (S40).

  According to the above aspect, by determining other users to be recommended using predetermined conditions set in accordance with the presence / absence of registration in the chat service, unregistered users can be added as friends to the friend list. You can register. In addition, when user information of an unregistered user is included in the user information managed by the registered user, by determining the unregistered user as another user that should be recommended to the registered user, Even users can be friends. In addition, for the first user who is an unregistered user, as the other registered user to be recommended after the first user becomes a registered user, the first user is already added to the friend list when the user has not been registered. By deciding which registered users are added, unregistered users are recommended to many friends from the time of new registration, so it is easy to form friendships and increase the willingness to use the chat service .

  In addition, when a registered user is included in the friend list, by determining that user as another user that should be recommended to the registered user, it is possible to register with the friend list as friends with each other, and to facilitate subsequent chats. Can be implemented. In addition, in the past or in the past, when a message has been sent and received between the user and the registered user on the chat service, by determining the user as another user to be recommended to the registered user Users who met through chat can be easily registered as friends.

  In addition, when the user and the registered user are associated with the same group, the user who belongs to the same group can be simplified as a friend by determining the user as another user who should be recommended to the registered user. Can be registered. Further, when one or more common users are included in the friend list, a user who has many common friends can be easily registered as friends by determining the user as another user to be recommended as the registered user. . Moreover, when it is a friend on SNS, the friend on SNS can be easily registered as a friend similarly in a chat system by determining the user as another user which should be recommended to the said registered user.

  Further, by determining the display order of one or more searched user information, it is possible to preferentially display users who are closely related to registered users. Further, by determining the display order so that the priority order of the users whose registered users are included in the friend list is higher, it is possible to preferentially display the users who have added themselves to the friend list. Therefore, the registered user can efficiently know a user with a higher familiarity. In addition, by displaying according to the number of chats at the present time or in the past, the registered user can efficiently know the user who is estimated to be more intimate. Further, by displaying the users having a large number of groups registered with each other in the upper rank, the registered users can efficiently know the users who are estimated to be more intimate.

  Further, the communication method is automatically set by selecting one communication method according to the information indicating the priority order of the communication method to be applied from one or more communication methods registered in the memory with respect to the accepted transmission destination. Therefore, the burden on the user when sending a message can be reduced. In addition, if the contact information acquired and the registered contact information are collated, and information that is common to the two contact information is included, the acquired contact information is combined with the registered contact information. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user when starting to use the service.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the contents of each embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplifications, and that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

It is a figure which shows the chat system concerning Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the server in the chat system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the chat control part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the friend registration part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the search display part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the mail integration part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a transition of the chat interface screen of the event management part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example in the mobile terminal or PC terminal of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence example of the friend registration part of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the 1st process sequence of the mail integration part of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd process sequence example of the mail integration part of FIG.

10 server, 12 server reception unit, 14 chat control unit, 16 server transmission unit, 20 server memory, 22 registration control unit, 24 selection unit, 26 conversion unit, 30 network, 40 base station, 40a first base station, 40b first 2 base station, 40c 3rd base station, 50 mobile terminal, 50a 1st mobile terminal, 50b 2nd mobile terminal, 50c 3rd mobile terminal, 52 terminal receiving part, 54 terminal control part, 56 terminal transmitting part, 58 user interface , 60 terminal memory, 70 PC terminal, 80 event management unit, 100 chat system, 200 friend registration unit, 210 group setting unit, 212 group management unit, 214 suggestion unit, 216 friend list management unit, 218 suggestion list Management unit 300 searches the display unit, 310 the search unit, 312 display order determination unit, 314 display controller, 400 mail integration unit

Claims (11)

A server device that controls transmission and reception of messages between registered users registered in the chat service, and controls transmission and reception of messages between registered users and unregistered users,
A friend list management unit for managing friend lists of registered users in the server memory;
For a registered user, a suggestion section that recommends other users to be added to the friend list in the server memory;
With
The suggestion unit is an unregistered user who is not registered in the chat service, and the user information of the unregistered user is included in the user information managed by the registered user. The server device is determined as the other user. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein when the user information managed by the registered user includes contact information related to mobile, the suggestion unit determines the unregistered user as the other user. apparatus.   The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user information managed by the registered user is information uploaded from a user terminal of the registered user.   3. The recommendation unit according to claim 1, wherein the suggestion unit recommends another user to be added to the friend list when the user information managed by the registered user is uploaded from a user terminal. 4. Server device.   5. The server apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the user information managed by the registered user is uploaded when the registered user downloads the chat service.   The suggestion unit is already registered in the friend list when it is unregistered as another registered user that should be recommended after the first user becomes a registered user. 6. The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a registered user who has added one user is determined. The suggestions section characterized in that a user is registered in the chat service, and that if it contains the registered user to that user's friends list, to determine the user as the other user A server device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The suggestion unit is a user who is registered in the chat service, and has sent or received a message between the user and the registered user on the chat service at present or in the past The server device according to claim 1, wherein the user is determined as the other user. A group setting unit for setting a plurality of groups each having a specific property;
Among the plurality of groups set by the group setting unit, a group selected by a registered user and a group management unit that manages the registered user in association with each other,
Further comprising
The suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service, and when the user and the registered user are associated with the same group managed by the group management unit, the suggestion unit the server apparatus according to any one of 6 claim, wherein determining as the other user. The suggestion unit is a user registered in the chat service, and, if the common user to each of the friend list of the registered user and the user is included one or more, the other the user The server apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the server apparatus is determined as a user.   The suggestion unit, when a user registered in the chat service and the registered user are friends on an arbitrary SNS, registers the user in the friend list of the registered user. The server apparatus in any one of 6.

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