JP2003022244A - Conversation supporting method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support conversations in a virtual space on a network. SOLUTION: A user whose access counter value is 100 among users who have accessed a conversation supporting server 1 and the following 9 users who accessed it are notified of a message displayed at a Web browser 21 that their accesses are the 100th access by a counter part 11. Thus, all the 10 users are able to recognize that their own accesses are the 100th access. Therefore, all the 10 users are able to have common experiences that they have performed the 100th access. Then, all the 10 users are guided to the chat room of a home page newly generated in a Web server 13 by a generating part 12. In this case, the 10 users are able to make conversations with each other in the chat room, and to easily have chances to start conversations even when they are strangers since they have had the common experiences.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for promoting communication between users on a network.

In the present invention, the chat system is
A system in which users on a network share a virtual space set up on the network and can communicate by sending and receiving messages in the virtual space. As an example of the chat system, IRC (Internet Relay Chat, RF
C1459), web chat, Nifty forum, etc.

The IRC is composed of an IRC server and an IRC client connected by the Internet. The IRC server sets up a virtual space called a channel on the Internet, and delivers messages to IRC clients in the same channel. The IRC client sends / receives messages to / from other IRC clients in the same channel via the IRC server. In IRC, each IRC client is identified by identification information called a nickname.

The web chat is composed of a web server and a web browser connected by the Internet. Web
The browser shares the home page as one virtual space. This home page is stored by the web server. When a message is written to the home page from the web browser, the web server updates the home page. The Web browser acquires the updated home page at regular intervals and updates the display of the conversation content between the users. CGI (Common Gatew
Use an external program such as ay Interface) or Java applet.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, on a network, an encounter service has been provided in which users who are not acquainted with each other can meet and have a conversation. For example, it is a service in which users who have met on a website are guided to one homepage and have conversations on the homepage. In order to support the conversation between the users who have met each other for the first time, services such as preparing a home page with a theme of hobby are provided. There is also provided a method of guiding a user to a home page to which the user may agree based on the profile information of the user.

[0006]

When a home page is prepared with the above hobby as a theme, only users who have common hobbies can have a conversation. The other users must participate in the home page for which the theme is not set and actively engage in conversation. However, it is difficult for the user to create an opportunity to have a conversation with another user, and the psychological burden for starting the conversation is heavy.

Further, when a user is guided to a home page of users who have a common hobby, it is difficult for the home page to enjoy conversations on topics other than the theme. When a user wants to enjoy a conversation with a free theme, it is necessary to participate in a homepage where the theme is not set and create an opportunity for the conversation, which is a heavy psychological burden. Even if the user participates in the existing virtual space halfway, there are often existing conversation flows and human relationships. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to participate in the conversation from the middle, and it is particularly difficult for the user to actively speak. This is because a poor statement can disturb the flow of conversation and the atmosphere of the channel. Therefore, in the conventional encounter service, the psychological burden that is spent until a user who first encounters has a conversation is large, which is an obstacle in developing active communication.

An object of the present invention is to support a conversation between users who first meet on a network.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the first invention of the present application provides a conversation support method for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network. The method includes the following steps. A: Accepting step for accepting access from a user terminal having identification information, B: Judging whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition, and if not, increase the number of apparent accesses according to the acceptance. An updating step of stopping the increase of the apparent access number when satisfying, C: a symbol providing step of providing a symbol that changes according to the apparent access number to the accessed user terminal, D: the updating stop A grouping step of grouping user terminal groups that have accessed the conditions, E: a space generating step of generating a new virtual space for the grouped user terminal groups to talk, F: the grouped The user terminal group is guided to the virtual space, and in the symbol providing step, the user terminal is Providing step of providing the symbols offered, and the identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal groups, to the user terminal groups commonly.

A description will be given by taking Web chat as an example. The order of access to the dating site on the Web is 100
The user terminals Nos. 109 to 109 display whether or not all users have accessed the 100th at the same time. In other words, the apparent number of accesses is rendered to 100. Each user recognizes that he is the 100th accessor. Here, the update stop condition is that the access order is 100 to 109.

Next, "100th guest room"
Generate a new web page that posts a message such as and provide it to each user terminal. Also, on this web page, a user list in the web page, for example, identification information of user terminals, is posted. Each user has their own 10
There is a common recognition that 0th access was made simultaneously. The common understanding of sharing a common experience allows users to meet for the first time on a web page to start a conversation.

The second invention of the present application provides a conversation support device for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network, the conversation support device comprising the following means. A: Receiving means for receiving an access from a user terminal having identification information, B: Judging whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition, and if not, increase the apparent access number according to the reception. Update means for stopping the increase in the apparent access number when the conditions are satisfied, C: a symbol providing means for providing a symbol that changes according to the apparent access number to the accessed user terminal, D: the update stop Grouping means for grouping user terminal groups that have accessed the conditions, E: Space generating means for generating a new virtual space for the grouped user terminal groups to talk, F: The grouped The user terminal group is guided to the virtual space, and is commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step. And symbols, provide means for the identification information of each user terminal, provides to the user terminal groups included in the user terminal groups.

This device has the same effects as the conversation support method of the first invention. A third invention of the present application provides a computer-readable recording medium recording a conversation support program for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network. This program executes each step of the first invention. Here, examples of the recording medium include a computer readable / writable floppy (registered trademark) disk, a semiconductor memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD, an MO, and others.

The fourth invention of the present application provides a conversation support program for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network. This program causes a computer to function as the following means. A: Receiving means for receiving an access from a user terminal having identification information, B: Judging whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition, and if not, increase the apparent access number according to the reception. Update means for stopping the increase in the apparent access number when the conditions are satisfied, C: a symbol providing means for providing a symbol that changes according to the apparent access number to the accessed user terminal, D: the update stop Grouping means for grouping user terminal groups that have accessed the conditions, E: Space generating means for generating a new virtual space for the grouped user terminal groups to talk, F: The grouped The user terminal group is guided to the virtual space, and is commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step. And symbols, provide means for the identification information of each user terminal, provides to the user terminal groups included in the user terminal groups.

This invention has the same effects as the first invention. A fifth invention of the present application provides a conversation support method used for a conversation device capable of conversation by participating in a virtual space on a network. The method includes the following steps. A: a symbol display step of displaying a symbol according to the number of accesses to the first virtual space when accessing the first virtual space, B: another symbol that apparently simultaneously accessed the conversation device and the first virtual space Participation step of participating in the second virtual space for talking with the conversation device, C: Identification information of the conversation device group in the second virtual space, and the conversation measure group apparently simultaneously accessed the first virtual space. Spatial display step to display common symbols that were sometimes provided.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION <Outline of the Invention> A conversation support system according to the present invention groups users who have accessed a home page based on the number of accesses to the home page and guides each group to a virtual space for each group. Show common symbols to users who are grouped, and give them a common experience of seeing the same symbols. The user guided to the virtual space can use the common experience as a clue for conversation, and can easily grasp the trigger of conversation.

[0017] For example, to a certain dating site, almost 1
Consider grouping the ten users who accessed the 00-109th. The same symbol is displayed to 10 users, for example, the message "You have accessed 100th". All 10 of these users recognize that they have the 100th access. In other words, all 10 users perform as if they made the 100th simultaneous access. Then
Generate a web page as a virtual space for conversation
Induce one user. A symbol is displayed on this web page to indicate that 10 people have a common experience.
For example, displaying the message "100th visitor room". With this message, the ten users commonly recognize that they have a common experience of "100th access". This common recognition makes it easier for first-time users to grasp the trigger of a conversation.

<First Embodiment> [Configuration] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a conversation support system according to the present invention. This system is configured by connecting a conversation support server 1 and a user terminal 2 via a network 3 such as the Internet. The conversation support server 1 provides the encounter terminal to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2
It has a web browser 21. By operating the web browser 21 and accessing the encounter site, the user can meet a new user and exchange messages. Although a plurality of user terminals 2 can be connected, only one user terminal 2 will be described for the sake of simplicity.

The conversation support server 1 will be described in more detail. The conversation support server 1 has a counter unit 11, a generation unit 12, and a Web server 13. Web server 1
3 provides the homepage of the encounter site and the homepage for conversation. The counter unit 11 has an access counter. The access counter stores the apparent number of accesses to the encounter site (hereinafter referred to as the apparent number of accesses). The apparent access count is used to direct the user to the access count to the encounter site and does not represent the actual access count. The generation unit 12 generates a user group and a new home page for conversation, and guides the user group here. The generation unit 12 has a member number counter. The number of members is used to determine whether to group the users.

[Conversation Support Processing] FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a flow of conversation support processing performed by the generation unit 12 and For ease of explanation, the following 10
Description will be made by taking an example of grouping human users. Further, "n" represents the apparent number of accesses and "m" represents the number of members. In the following processing, for example, 100 to 109
The th access user is made to appear as if he / she accessed the 100 th access, and the users are grouped and guided to the virtual space.

Step S1: The Web server 13 accepts access from the user terminal 2 to the encounter site. Further, the generation unit 12 acquires, from the access source user terminal 2, a member ID that uniquely identifies the user on the encounter site.

Step S2: The counter section 11 increments the apparent access number "n". When there is the 100th access, “n” is increased from 99 to 100.

Step S3: The counter section 11 judges whether or not the remainder obtained by dividing the apparent access number "n" by 100 is 0. That is, the counter unit 11 determines whether or not the apparent access number “n” is a multiple of 100. "N" is 1
If it is a multiple of 00, the process proceeds to step S4. In other cases, the process proceeds to step S13 described below.

Step S4: The counter section 11 initializes the number of members "m". Step S5: The web server 13 provides the home page of the encounter site, which shows the apparent number of accesses “n”, to the web browser of the user terminal 2. Figure 3 (a) shows the Web
It is an example of the homepage of the encounter site displayed by the browser 21. A message indicating that the user has accessed 100th is displayed on this screen.

Step S6: The generation unit 12 temporarily stores the member ID of the accessing user in the buffer. This is for displaying the member ID list in the newly created virtual space, as will be described later.

Step S7: The generation unit 12 increments the member number "m". Step S8: The generation unit 12 determines that the number of members “m” is 10
Or not. If "No" is determined, the process proceeds to step S9. If "Yes" is determined, the process proceeds to step S10 described later.

Step S9: When the number of members "m" is less than 10 in step S8, the Web server 1 waits for access from the user terminal 2 and accepts it.
For example, the Web server 1 performs the 101st to 109th accesses in step S after the 100th access.
Accept at 9. During this time, the apparent number of accesses “n” is 1
It is held at 00. The 110th access is accepted in step S1, and then the apparent number of accesses is “n”.
Becomes 101 (step S2).

Step S10: The number of members "m" is 10
Then, the generation unit 12 generates a new web page.
This web page displays the conversation content display area, the apparent number of accesses "n", and the member I accumulated in the buffer.
Includes D list. FIG. 3B is an example of a Web page generated by the generation unit 12. In the conversation display area 41, W
The message written by the user is displayed after the eb page is generated. The message 42 indicates the apparent access number “n”. In this example, n = 100. The member ID list 43 shows a list of member IDs of the user who apparently accessed 100th. In other words, this is a list of member IDs of the 100th to 109th accessed users.

Step S11: The Web server 13 provides the newly created Web page to the user terminal 2 specified by the member ID stored in the buffer. The web browser 21 of the user terminal 2 displays the web page illustrated in FIG.

Step S12: The generation unit 12 deletes the member ID accumulated in the buffer and clears the buffer. Step S13: If the apparent access number “n” is not divisible by 100, the Web server 1 provides the home page of the encounter site showing the apparent access number “n” to the Web browser 21, and returns to Step S1. That is, the apparent access number “n” is 1 to 99, 101 to 199, 2
No new Web page is generated between 01 and 299.

By the above processing, for example, the actual 100-
The 10th user who accessed 109th is guided to the place of conversation with the knowledge that everyone accessed 100th at the same time. Therefore, the users can smoothly start the conversation by using the common experience that they made the 100th access at the same time.

It is to be noted that there is no particular limitation on what percentage of all the accessing users will be provided with a place for conversation. If there are too many opportunities to provide space, the joy and happiness of "simultaneous access" shared by users is reduced. On the contrary, if there are too few opportunities to provide a place, it cannot promote the activation of communication. In consideration of both of these, it is preferable to appropriately set the frequency of providing the place.

<Second Embodiment> A reference table in which the reference value of the apparent access number and the number of people in the group, which are the triggers for guiding the user to the conversation place, are stored in association with each other is created, and the conversation place is provided based on this table. You may. Figure 4
It is a conceptual explanatory view of a reference table. When the apparent access count matches the “reference value”, a user group is created. The number of members of the user group is the number set in the "group number". In this figure, 10 users are grouped when the apparent number of accesses is 100, 200 ... And 20 users are grouped when the apparent number of accesses is 1000.

When the reference table is used, the apparent access number "n" is reached in step S3 of the conversation support process.
It suffices to determine whether or not matches with any of the reference values. If they match, a home page displaying "n" is provided to the user terminal 2 (S5). Further, whether or not the grouping is completed is determined by whether or not "m" matches the group number corresponding to the reference value (S8).

<Third Embodiment> On the homepage of the encounter site, the symbol indicating the timing for providing the place of conversation need not be the apparent access count itself. It suffices to be able to provide a symbol that changes regularly or irregularly in association with the number of apparent accesses and that everyone will feel good at the timing of providing a place for conversation. For ease of explanation, the case where the timing at which the apparent access number “n” becomes a multiple of 100 is displayed will be taken as an example below.

(1) Example of Regularly Changing Symbols FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a symbol table that stores symbols that regularly change according to the number of apparent accesses. In this table, the apparent number of accesses “n” is 100
The numerical value range of the remainder R divided by and the symbol 1 and the symbol 2 to be displayed are stored in association with each other. Symbol 1
Is set so that the flower grows with an increase in the remainder R. Symbol 2 is an explanatory message of symbol 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the conversation support process, the display of the apparent access number "n" is changed to the symbols 1 and 2 corresponding to the value of the remainder R, which are displayed on the home page (S5, S13). FIG. 6A is an example of the homepage of the encounter site displayed on the user terminal 2 when the remainder R = 0. Remainder R = 0, that is, n = 100,
When it is 200 ..., a flower symbol in full bloom and a corresponding message are displayed on the home page. When the remainder R ≠ 0, a flower mark in the process of growth and a corresponding message are displayed as the apparent access number n increases (not shown). FIG. 6B is a display example of a new Web page displayed together with the flower mark in full bloom.

[0038] In this way, the user groups that access with the remainder R = 0 can have the common experience of simultaneously accessing when the flowers are in full bloom. Users who are guided to a conversation can share the experience of simultaneous access when they are in full bloom and start a conversation.

(2) Examples of symbols that change irregularly FIG. 7 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a symbol table that stores symbols 1 and 2 in association with each other.

Based on FIG. 7, when the apparent access number "n" is a multiple of 100 in the conversation support process (S
5), the sunny weather mark with symbol ID = 1 and "Sunday Shining" will be posted on the website. FIG. 8 is a display example of a clear weather mark on the home page of the encounter site. When the apparent access number "n" is not a multiple of 100 (S13), symbols other than the symbol ID = 1 are randomly selected as display targets by random numbers or the like. For example,
Any of the marks such as "cloudy", "rain", and "lightning" and the corresponding message are displayed. FIG. 9 is a display example of a rain mark on the homepage of the encounter site.
Weather marks other than the clear weather mark change irregularly. Of course, it may be changed regularly, but when a weather mark is used as a symbol, it is considered that irregular changes are more realistic. FIG. 10 is an example of a new web page displayed in the user group accessed when the weather mark is clear.

In this way, the user group who has accessed during fine weather can be fortunately recognized that he / she was able to access during "fine weather" and can start a conversation with this.

<Fourth Embodiment> The step S11 of deleting the member ID accumulated in the conversation support process of the first embodiment may be omitted and a virtual space table for storing this may be created. In this case, not only the member ID but also the URL of the newly created Web page may be written.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a virtual space table that further stores member IDs and topics in addition to URLs of Web pages. By storing the generated Web pages, it is possible to set topics for each Web page. The topic may be set by the user in each web page, or may be set by the administrator of the web page. By setting topics, accidentally generated Web pages can be continuously used as a communication space with a certain purpose even after that. Further, by using the member ID registered in each URL as the authentication information, it is possible to prevent other members from participating.

<Other Embodiments> (A) The virtual space as a place of conversation in the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments is realized by a Web page. In addition to this, a forum for conversation may be provided, for example, on an IRC channel or a Nifty forum. For example, if an IRC server is used instead of the Web server 13 and an IRC client is used instead of a Web browser, conversation support on the channel can be supported.

(B) In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, it is assumed that a plurality of users access the encounter site almost at the same time. However, if access is not concentrated, it may not be possible to create a place for conversation. Specifically, in the conversation support process, 10
The increase in the number of apparent accesses is stopped until it is accessed by people. However, when 10 people do not access within a predetermined time, for example, within 10 seconds after the access by the first user, only the user who accesses within 10 seconds may be guided to the conversation place. By doing this, among the users who are guided to the Web page, the difference in access time between the user who accessed first and the user who accessed last is suppressed, and the time required to guide the user from a meeting site to a conversation site. Can be shortened.

(C) A program for executing the method described above and a recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention. Here, as the recording medium, a computer-readable / writable floppy disk, semiconductor memory,
CD-ROM, DVD, MO, and others. <Supplementary Note> (Supplementary Note 1) A conversation supporting method for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network, which includes a step of receiving an access from a user terminal having identification information, and whether the access satisfies an update stop condition. And if not, increase the number of apparent accesses according to the reception, and if satisfied, an updating step of stopping the increase of the number of apparent accesses; A symbol providing step of providing a symbol that changes according to the number of accesses, a grouping step of grouping user terminals that have accessed the update stop condition, and a grouping user terminal group for conversation. A space generation step of generating a new virtual space, and the grouped user terminals The end group is guided to the virtual space, and the symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step and the identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal group are provided to the user terminal group. And a conversation supporting method including a providing step.

(Supplementary Note 2) The method further includes a storage step of storing a symbol to be provided to a user terminal that has accessed the update stop condition and a symbol to be provided to a user terminal that has not accessed the update stop condition.
The conversation support method described in appendix 1.

By using this method, it is possible to display not the apparent access number itself but an image that changes according to the change of the apparent access number. Examples of the image include a mark indicating weather such as sunny, rainy, and cloudy, a mark indicating a growing process from seeds to buds and flowers, and a mark indicating phases of the moon. It is desired that the symbol provided to the access user who satisfies the update condition is a symbol that everyone will feel good. Good numbers, clear weather marks, full bloom marks, full moon marks, etc.

(Supplementary Note 3) In the grouping step, a counting step of counting the number of user terminals that have accessed the update stop condition and waiting until the counted number of user terminals reaches the group number,
The conversation support method according to appendix 1, further comprising a group generation step of generating a user group group including the user terminals.

(Supplementary Note 4) The conversation according to Supplementary Note 1, further including a storage step of storing the identification information of the user terminal that has accessed the update stop condition and the identification information of the new virtual space in association with each other. How to help.

The accumulated identification information can be used, for example, as authentication information for making the virtual space once generated exclusively for the user guided to the virtual space. (Supplementary note 5) The conversation support method according to supplementary note 1, further comprising a grouping condition storage step of storing the update stop condition and the number of people in the group in association with each other.

For example, a plurality of reference values for the number of apparent accesses and the number of persons in a group may be stored in association with each other. (Supplementary note 6) A conversation support device for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network, comprising: acceptance means for accepting access from a user terminal having identification information; and determining whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition. However, if not satisfied, the apparent access number is increased according to the reception, and if satisfied, the updating means for stopping the increase of the apparent access number, and the apparent access number for the accessed user terminal. A symbol providing unit that provides a symbol that changes according to the change, a grouping unit that groups user terminals that have accessed the update stop condition, and a new virtual group for the grouped user terminals to talk. Space generation means for generating a space, and guide the grouped user terminals to the virtual space, A conversation support device comprising: a symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step; and a providing unit that provides the user terminal group with identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal group. .

(Supplementary Note 7) A receiving step of receiving an access from a user terminal having identification information, which is a computer-readable recording medium recording a conversation supporting program for supporting a conversation in a virtual space on a network. An update step of determining whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition, and increasing the apparent access number according to the reception if the access is not satisfied, and stopping the increase of the apparent access number if the access is satisfied. A symbol providing step of providing a symbol that changes according to the apparent access number to the accessed user terminal, a grouping step of grouping user terminal groups that have accessed the update stop condition, and the group New virtual sky for conversation of computerized user terminals A space generation step for generating the grouped user terminal group, guiding the grouped user terminal group to the virtual space, and a symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step, and each of the symbols included in the user terminal group. A computer-readable recording medium in which a conversation support program for executing the providing step of providing the identification information of the user terminal to the user terminal group.

(Supplementary Note 8) A conversation support program for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network, which is a reception means for receiving an access from a user terminal having identification information, and whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition. If it is not satisfied, the apparent access number is increased according to the reception, and if it is satisfied, the updating means for stopping the increase in the apparent access number, and the apparent Symbol providing means for providing a symbol that changes according to the number of accesses, grouping means for grouping the user terminal groups that have accessed the update stop condition, and the grouped user terminal group for conversation The space generation means for generating a new virtual space, and the grouped user terminal group A providing unit that guides the user to a virtual space and provides the user terminal group with the symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step and the identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal group; A conversation support program that makes a computer function as.

(Supplementary Note 9) A conversation support method used in a conversation device capable of participating in a conversation and participating in a virtual space on a network, wherein when the first virtual space is accessed, the number of accesses to the first virtual space is calculated. A symbol display step of displaying a corresponding symbol; a participation step of participating in a second virtual space for having a conversation with the conversation device and another conversation device that apparently simultaneously accessed the first virtual space; and the second virtual space. A conversation support method comprising: a space display step of displaying identification information of a conversation device group in the space and a common symbol provided when the conversation measure group apparently simultaneously accesses the first virtual space.

[0056]

According to the present invention, in a conversation between members who first meet each other, it is possible to reduce the psychological load spent for grasping the trigger of the conversation and to support the conversation in the virtual space on the network. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a conversation support system according to a first embodiment example.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of conversation support processing performed by the system of FIG.

FIG. 3A is a display example of symbols (apparent access count) in the first embodiment. (B) A display example of the generated Web page in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory view of a reference table in the second embodiment example.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a symbol table in the third embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a display example (regular change) of symbols in the third embodiment. (B) Display example of the Web page generated in the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a display example of a symbol table (irregular change) in the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a display example of a symbol (clear weather mark) in the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a display example of a symbol (rain mark) in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a display example of a Web page generated in the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a virtual space table in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Conversation support server 2: User terminal 3: Network

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A conversation support method for supporting a conversation in a virtual space on a network, comprising a step of accepting an access from a user terminal having identification information, and whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition. If the judgment is not satisfied, the apparent access count is increased according to the reception, and if it is satisfied, the updating step of stopping the increase of the apparent access count; and the apparent access count for the accessed user terminal. A symbol providing step of providing a symbol that changes in accordance with the above, a grouping step of grouping user terminal groups that have accessed the update stop condition, and a new group for the grouped user terminal group to talk. A space generation step of generating a virtual space, and the grouped user terminals Providing to the user terminal group the symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step and the identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal group. A conversation support method including steps and. 2. A conversation support device for supporting a conversation in a virtual space on a network, wherein the reception means receives an access from a user terminal having identification information, and whether or not the access satisfies an update stop condition. Judgment, if not satisfied, increase the apparent access number according to the reception, and if satisfied, update means for stopping the increase of the apparent access number; and the apparent access number for the accessed user terminal. A symbol providing unit that provides a symbol that changes according to the group, a grouping unit that groups the user terminals that have accessed the update stop condition, and a new group for the grouped user terminals to talk. Space generation means for generating a virtual space, and the grouped user terminals are invited to the virtual space. And a providing unit that provides the user terminal group with the symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step and the identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal group. Support device. 3. A computer-readable recording medium in which a conversation support program for supporting conversation in a virtual space on a network is recorded, the receiving step of receiving access from a user terminal having identification information, and the access. Determines whether or not the update stop condition is satisfied, if not satisfied, the apparent access number is increased according to the reception, and if satisfied, an update step of stopping the increase of the apparent access number, and A symbol providing step of providing a symbol that changes according to the apparent access number to the accessed user terminal; a grouping step of grouping user terminal groups that have accessed the update stop condition, and the grouping Create a new virtual space for user terminals to talk A space generation step for guiding the grouped user terminals to the virtual space, and a symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step, and each user terminal included in the user terminal group And a computer-readable recording medium recording a conversation support program for executing the providing step of providing the identification information of 1. to the user terminal group. 4. A conversation support program for supporting a conversation in a virtual space on a network, said acceptance means accepting an access from a user terminal having identification information, and whether or not said access satisfies an update stop condition. Judgment, if not satisfied, increase the apparent access number according to the reception, and if satisfied, update means for stopping the increase of the apparent access number; and the apparent access number for the accessed user terminal. A symbol providing unit that provides a symbol that changes according to the group, a grouping unit that groups the user terminals that have accessed the update stop condition, and a new group for the grouped user terminals to talk. Space generation means for generating a virtual space; and the grouped user terminal group in the virtual space. And providing means for providing, to the user terminal group, the symbol commonly provided to the user terminal group in the symbol providing step and the identification information of each user terminal included in the user terminal group, A conversation support program that makes a computer function. 5. A conversation support method used for a conversation device capable of participating in a conversation by participating in a virtual space on a network, wherein when the first virtual space is accessed, the number of accesses to the first virtual space is determined. A symbol displaying step of displaying a symbol, a joining step of participating in a second virtual space for having a conversation with the conversation device and another conversation device that apparently simultaneously accessed the first virtual space, and in the second virtual space And a space display step of displaying the identification information of the conversation device group and the common symbol provided when the conversation measure group apparently simultaneously accesses the first virtual space.