JP2002009948A - Genre-sorted conversation party selection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to simply retrieve a conversation party sorted in each genre and to execute direct voice conversation with the retrieved party. SOLUTION: The system has prescribed genre-sorted information, and when a user accesses any one of genres by retrieving the genre-sorted information, the ID numbers of users accessing the same genre is displayed. When one user looking the display specifies the ID of the other user required to talk with and selects the other user as a conversation party on the basis of the message of the other user, direct voice conversation between both the users can be enabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of selecting a conversation partner by genre, and in particular, it is possible to easily select only one conversation partner from among a large number of persons in the same genre, and to make a one-on-one conversation with that person. It relates to a conversation partner selection method by genre that can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, young people have a wide range of places to play an active role in society, and therefore have many friends. However, as they become older, the places of activity become narrower, and the number of friends decreases in proportion to them.

[0003] For this reason, elderly people, especially those living alone, are hungry for conversation and may make various attempts in search of a conversation partner.

[0004] For example, there are chats using personal computers and conversations using amateur radio.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Of these, chat by a personal computer is a conversation using characters using a personal computer connected via a predetermined network, for example, the Internet.

[0007] According to this chat, the text of the conversation input from the keyboard of one personal computer is immediately displayed on the screen of the other personal computer through the Internet, so that real-time communication can be established with each other.

[0008] However, the chat is a conversation using the characters input by the keys as described above, and therefore, it is difficult for the elderly who are generally not good at operating the keys to become familiar with the operations.

[0009] In addition, chat is a conversation between many people in N-to-N characters, and is generally not preferable for elderly people who often desire one-to-one conversation.

[0010] On the other hand, an amateur radio conversation is a conversation in which two persons who have a license communicate with each other by voice, and there is no need for key operation for character input as in the above-mentioned chat.

[0011] However, the conversation by amateur radio requires a license as described above, and it is generally difficult for the elderly to obtain a license.

[0012] The conversation by amateur radio is almost the same as that of amateur radio, and the genre of the conversation is not suitable for elderly people whose genres are diverse such as haiku, calligraphy, and travel.

[0013] Further, the conversation by amateur radio is an N-to-N conversation like a chat, and as described above, 1
This is not desirable for elderly people seeking one-on-one conversation partners.

Other means for finding a conversation partner include an electronic conference room and a bulletin board of a personal computer, but these have the same problems as the chat described above.

An object of the present invention is to easily find a conversation partner for each genre, and make a one-on-one conversation with the person.
Have a conversation.

[0016]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, predetermined genre-specific information J (FIG. 3)
The user searches the genre-specific information J (see FIG. 4).
(A)) When one of the genres is called, the users a, b, and
The IDs of c, d, and e are displayed, and one user a who sees the display designates the ID of the other user d who wants to have a conversation and, based on the message (FIG. 4C), the other user a When the user d is selected as a conversation partner, a means is provided in which a one-to-one voice conversation can be performed between the two users.

According to the present invention, for example, the terminal 2A of the user a (FIG. 1) is constituted by a personal computer, and the personal computer 2A
By using a touch panel as the input unit 2A2 (FIG. 2), the users a, b, c, d, and e who call the same genre (for example, bird watching (FIG. 4B)) through the touch panel 2A2. Is displayed.

Therefore, one user, eg, a, looking at the screen is the other user, eg, d, who wants to have a conversation.
By pressing the ID portion of the touch panel 2A2, the ID is designated, and the screen is switched accordingly (FIG. 4C).
Since the message of the other user d, that is, the message is displayed, the user can view this message and determine whether the other user d is suitable as a conversation partner. If it is determined that the other user is appropriate as the conversation partner, the other user d can be selected as the conversation partner by pressing the selection switch C1 of the touch panel 2A2, and the line is connected, and the voice communication between the two users a and d is performed. Have one-on-one conversations.

Thus, the conversation partner can be selected by a simple operation such as pressing the ID portion of the other user d on the touch panel 2A2 or pressing the (FIG. 4 (B)) selection switch C1 (FIG. 4 (C)). Even an elderly person can easily find a conversation partner by genre, and can make a one-on-one conversation by voice.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of the present invention, in which the illustrated genre-based conversation partner selection system is applied to the Internet 1, and a user terminal is connected to a public line and a server as shown in FIG. Radially connected via the Internet 1.

On the Internet 1, genre-specific information J (FIG. 3) described later is established as a homepage, and when a user searches for genre-specific information J (FIG. 4).
(A)) Any genre can be called.

Then, the users a, b, who call the same genre, for example, bird watching (FIG. 4B)
The IDs of c, d, and e are displayed via the touch panel 2A2 described later.

In FIG. 1, each user, for example, a terminal 2A of a is connected to a certain server 4A via a public line 3A, and the server 4A is connected to another server 4B via the Internet 1. ing.

The terminal 2A is, for example, a personal computer, the details of which are shown in FIG. 2, and the same applies to the other terminals 2B.

In FIG. 2, a personal computer 2A includes a control unit 2
A1, an input unit 2A2, a line connection unit 2A3, an audio processing unit 2A4, a microphone 2A5, a speaker 2A6, a storage unit 2A7, and a display unit 2A8.

The control section 2A1 controls the entire apparatus of FIG. 1 according to the operation procedure of the present invention (for example, FIG. 5).

It is preferable that the input section 2A2 be constituted by a touch panel in addition to a mouse or the like.

The touch panel 2A2 can be operated by simply pressing a user ID displayed on a display unit 2A8, which will be described later, or a menu (FIG. 4C) such as a selection switch C1 (FIG. 4B). Since the predetermined operation is performed via, the operation can be extremely easily performed even by the elderly.

Therefore, by using the touch panel 2A2, even the elderly can easily find a conversation partner by genre.

The line connection unit 2A3 is connected to an external public line 3A.
The audio processing unit 2A4 is connected to the line connection unit 2A3 via the control unit 2A1, and the microphone 2A5 and the speaker 2A6 are connected to the audio processing unit 2A4.

With this configuration, the audio processing unit 2A4 converts the audio input from the microphone 2A5 to digital and sends it to the public line 3A via the line connection unit 2A3, and from the public line 3A via the line connection unit 2A3. Audio processing such as converting the input digital information and outputting audio from the speaker 2A6 is performed.

Thus, when a conversation partner is selected as described later (YES in step 105 of FIG. 5) and the line is connected (step 106 of FIG. 5), the microphone 2A5
A one-to-one conversation by voice can be made using an Internet telephone constituted by the telephone and the speaker 2A6, and the conversation can be made at a lower call charge than a normal telephone.

The storage unit 2A7 stores programs for implementing the present invention, software dedicated to the Internet telephone,
Other necessary data and the like are stored.

The display section 2A8 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays genre-specific information J (FIG. 3) described later.

On the other hand, as described above, the genre-specific information J shown in FIG. 3 is established as a home page of the Internet 1 in the server 4A (FIG. 1), and the other servers 4B and the like are the same.

As shown in FIG. 3, the genre-specific information J is composed of various genres, IDs of users belonging to the genres, and messages of the users regarding the genres, that is, messages.

Each genre is composed of bird watching, calligraphy, etc., as shown in the figure, and is, for example, a genre of a hobby preferred by the elderly.

In the present invention, as described above, the user searches the genre-specific information J (FIG. 4).
(A)), when the same genre is called (FIG. 4)
(B)), the ID of the calling user is displayed as a conversation partner candidate via the touch panel 2A2.

For example, each user a in FIG. 1 searches for each genre of the genre-specific information J (FIG. 4A), and a plurality of users a, b, c, d, and e are birds. When the same genre called watching is called, that is, when connected to bird watching (FIG. 4 (B)), the ID of one user a and the I of the other users b, c, d, e
D is displayed as a conversation partner candidate.

In this case, the user's real name is not displayed for confidentiality, and only the ID is displayed as described above.

Then, for the users a, b, c, d, and e connected to the same bird watching, the screens shown in FIG. 4B are all the same, and the ID of the user a who is watching the screen is displayed. The only difference is that the text 355 is displayed as a dummy.

For example, if one user looking at the screen
In the case of (3), the yah 123, which is the ID of the user b, is apparently displayed.

Also, as the genre information J (FIG. 3),
As mentioned above, there is a message of the user, for example, I
The message of the user d whose D corresponds to N125 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), it is the ecology of the goshawk, which includes photographs and descriptions of the goshawk.

In this case, when the user d puts such a message on the homepage, the user d (FIG. 1) may post the above-mentioned photograph or description to a provider having the server 4D by mail or the like. The provider stores the photograph, the description, and the like in the server 4D.

When the ID portion displayed via touch panel 2A2 is pressed (YES in step 103 in FIG. 5), the message is switched and displayed (step 104 in FIG. 5).

Thus, one user a looking at the screen browses the displayed message (in parentheses in FIG. 5) and determines whether or not the other user d is appropriate as a conversation partner. Can be.

A selection switch C1 and a rejection switch C2 are displayed below the message (FIG. 4C).

Then, when the user browses this message and determines that the message is appropriate as his / her conversation partner, he presses the selection switch C1 (YES in step 105 in FIG. 5).

By this operation, one user a has selected the other user d as a conversation partner, and thereafter the line is connected (step 106 in FIG. 5), and the connection between the two users a and d is established. Enables one-to-one conversation by voice.

However, if the user browses this message and determines that it is not suitable as his / her conversation partner, he presses the reject switch C2 (YES in step 107 in FIG. 5).

By this operation, the screen is switched (FIG. 4 (A)), and each genre is displayed on the screen (step 101 in FIG. 5).
By connecting again to bird watching (FIG. 4B), the I of the user who called the same genre again
D can be displayed (step 102 in FIG. 5),
You will be given the opportunity to select a different user as the conversation partner.

If the terminal 2A in FIG. 1 is constituted by a portable telephone, the same operation (FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (C), FIG. 5) One-to-one conversation with the selection of the conversation partner and voice becomes possible.

Also, when, for example, the terminal 2A of each user is connected to a server of a service provider in a specific area, instead of the provider of the Internet 1 shown in FIG. By placing (FIG. 3), it is possible to select a conversation partner between users in the same manner as described above. In this case, if a normal telephone is connected to the terminal 2A or the like, a one-to-one conversation by voice can be performed. it can.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 101 of FIG. 5, each genre is displayed, and in step 102, the IDs of the users a, b, c, d, and e who have called the same genre are displayed.
In step 103, it is determined whether or not the displayed ID portion has been pressed. If it has not been pressed (NO), the same operation is repeated. If it has been pressed (YES), in step 104 the other operation is performed. Displays the user's message.

That is, when each user a (FIG. 1) or the like performs a predetermined operation to activate the terminal 2A or the like, each server 4A
For example, genre information J (FIG. 3) is sent.

Accordingly, for example, the control section 2A1 of the terminal 2A (FIG. 2) controls the display section 2A8 to display each genre of the genre-specific information J sent, and the user a displays each genre on the screen. It can be searched (FIG. 4A).

Then, among the users who searched for each genre, for example, a plurality of users a, b, c, d, and e are shown in FIG.
If it is connected to bird watching of the same genre (FIG. 4 (B)), the users a, b,
The IDs of c, d, and e are displayed.

In this case, as described above, the ID of one of the users who is watching the screen, for example, the ID of the user a, is displayed as a dummy.
The IDs of the other users b, c, d, and e can be displayed with increased brightness, and only those IDs stand out as conversation partner candidates.

In the case where a user corresponding to the displayed ID is currently in a call, the user who is looking at the screen can be identified by displaying the ID in a different color, for example. ing.

Then, when one user a presses, for example, the N125 portion which is the ID of the other user d who wants to have a conversation (FIG. 4B), the control unit 2A1 which detects this presses (FIG. 2B). 4) The display unit 2A8 is controlled to switch the screen to display a message relating to bird watching of the other user d (FIG. 4C).

As a result, one user a can browse the displayed message (in parentheses in FIG. 5), and refer to the browsing result to see if the other user d is suitable as a conversation partner. Determine whether or not.

Next, in step 105 of FIG.
It is determined whether or not the selection switch C1 has been pressed. If the selection switch C1 has been pressed (YES), the line is connected in step 106.

That is, one user a who is watching the screen,
When the user carefully reads the displayed message (FIG. 4C) and agrees with his / her hobby and determines that the other user d is suitable as a conversation partner, he / she presses a selection switch C1 below the message.

Thus, the user d is selected as the conversation partner of the user a.

At this time, the control unit 2A1 of the terminal 2A that has detected that the selection switch C1 has been pressed (FIG. 2)
Via the line connection unit 2A3 and the public line 3A (FIG. 1), the server 4A connects the line of the terminal 2A of the user a to the line of the terminal 2D of the user d selected as a conversation partner. Request to.

Upon receiving this request, the server 4A (FIG. 1)
By contacting the server 4D of the other party via the Internet 1, the lines of the two terminals 2A and 2B are connected, and a one-to-one conversation can be made between the users a and d by Internet telephone (parentheses in FIG. 5). Inside).

On the other hand, if the selection switch C1 is not pressed in step 105 of FIG.
In step 07, it is determined whether the reject switch C2 has been pressed.

If the reject switch C2 is pressed (YES), the process returns to step 101 and the same operation as described above is repeated.

That is, when the reject switch C2 is pressed, the screen returns to the original state (FIG. 4 (A)), and as described above, one of the users a who is watching the screen re-enters the same genre. Can be displayed (FIG. 4B), and an opportunity to select a user different from the last time as a conversation partner is given.

If the rejection switch C2 is not pressed in step 107 of FIG. 5 (NO), the process returns to step 104, and the message remains displayed on the screen (FIG. 4C). In this case, the user a looking at the screen determines whether or not the other user d is suitable as a conversation partner based on, for example, a message.

Further, at step 106 in FIG. 5, a line is connected, a one-to-one conversation is performed by voice between the two users, and when the conversation is completed, when the conversation is detected, for example, the terminal 2A The control unit 2A1 of FIG. 1 (FIG. 2)
By controlling the display unit 2A8, the screen is returned to the initial screen (FIG. 4).
(A)), each user can search the genre information J (FIG. 3) from the beginning.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user's terminal is constituted by a personal computer, and a touch panel is used as an input unit of the personal computer. Since the ID of the user who called (watching) can be displayed, one user looking at the screen can select a conversation partner with a simple operation such as pressing the ID part of the touch panel of the other user who wants to talk. Then, the line is connected, so that one-to-one conversation can be performed between the two users.

Therefore, for example, even for an elderly person, it is possible to easily find a conversation partner by genre, and there is an effect that one-to-one conversation with the person can be made by voice.

Further, if the user's terminal is constituted by a mobile phone, the digital communication function of the mobile phone can be used, so that a conversation partner can be found while moving indoors and outdoors, and the convenience is improved accordingly. By connecting the user's terminal to the Internet, one-on-one conversation by Internet telephone becomes possible at a low call charge. Further, by using the Internet in this way, it is possible to select more conversation partners and exchange. There are various effects such as a broadening of the relationship.

[0076]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a terminal configuring the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of genre information J constituting the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Internet 2A-2E Terminal 3A-3E Public line 4A-4E Server 2A1 Control unit 2A2 Display unit 2A3 Line connection unit 2A4 Voice processing unit 2A5 Microphone 2A6 Speaker 2A7 Storage unit 2A8 Input unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Ryuichi Aida 3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Nippon Signal Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masatoshi Hata 3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Date F term (reference) in Honsha Co., Ltd. 5K024 AA71 CC03 CC14 GG01 GG03 GG05 5K101 PP03 QQ07 RR04 TT06

Claims (8)

[Claims] When the user has predetermined genre-specific information and retrieves genre-specific information and calls one of the genres, the ID of the user who called the same genre is displayed. When one user sees the ID of the other user who wants to have a conversation and selects the other user as a conversation partner based on the message, a one-to-one voice communication is performed between the two users. A genre-based conversation partner selection method characterized by conversation. 2. The genre-based conversation partner according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is constituted by a personal computer and has a touch panel, and the ID of the user who called the same genre is displayed via the touch panel. Selection method. 3. The genre-based conversation partner selection method according to claim 2, wherein said one user specifies the ID by pressing the displayed ID portion of the other user. 4. When the ID is designated, the screen is switched to display the message of the other user, and based on the message, one user determines whether the other user is suitable as a conversation partner. The genre-based conversation partner selection method according to claim 3, wherein the judgment is made. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one user selects the other user as a conversation partner by pressing a selection switch on a touch panel when the other user is determined to be suitable as a conversation partner. 4. A conversation partner selection method according to genre described in 4. 6. The one user, when judging that the other user is not suitable as a conversation partner, switches the screen by pressing a rejection switch on the touch panel, and switches the screen to the same genre again. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the ID can be displayed. 7. The genre-based conversation partner selection method according to claim 1, wherein the user terminal is constituted by a mobile phone, and a digital communication function of the mobile phone can be used. 8. The genre-based conversation partner selection method according to claim 1, wherein said user terminal is connected to the Internet, and one-to-one conversation by Internet telephone is possible.