JP2003256362A - Message communication apparatus, and community forming method using same, as well as client apparatus, message communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote exchanges between web community sites and users, and achieve simplification of information search and browsing in the users to the web community sites. <P>SOLUTION: In a grouping by a time base, a message communication apparatus 1 automatically forms a user group, which accesses the same media substantially at the same time. Also, metadata to pre-registered media are associated with other metadata in a metadata-based grouping, and a new community is generated between the users accessing association. Further, in the grouping between the metadata-registered users and the users, the users attaching metadata such as memorandums and the users referring to the metadata are grouped with regard to arbitrary media. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message suitable for use in a client server system which is connected to one or more client devices having a media reproducing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client devices. The present invention relates to a communication device, a community forming method using the device, a client device, and a message communication program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, it has become possible to connect a broadband network to general households, and rich contents such as moving images and audio have come to be distributed. By the way, chat and electronic bulletin board (BBS) are known as communication tools between participants on the Web.
These tools can be tools for exchanging opinions, for example, by forming a group of users who are interested in a certain problem and exchanging messages with message descriptions in real time. FIG. 9 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional client / server system for exchanging messages. Each constituent block and the like will be described in comparison with the embodiment of the present invention in the section of detailed description of the invention.

[0003]

What can be done with the above-mentioned communication tool between participants on the Web is an exchange of opinions performed by individually activating a message board and writing a message on the board. Therefore, there are problems listed in (1) and (2) below. (1) If you do not have knowledge about the media being discussed, it takes time and effort to start the information reference tool separately from the message communication device, perform information search / reference, and return to the message communication device. , The operability is bad. (2) Since it is an exchange of opinions only with message descriptions, it may be difficult for participants to point to and explain a problem or a specific part of a topic that they are interested in. Further, regarding the grouping in these tools, a link is set in the community created by the operator in advance, and the participants perform the grouping by clicking the link. Therefore, since the grouping is done only from the operator's point of view, it may not match the information needs of the participants.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and creates a new community by grouping users with the time axis as a key, or creates a new community by grouping users with a metadata as a key. By creating a new community by grouping it between the registered users of metadata and the users who use metadata, it is possible to create a new community by using media distribution technology. Exchange promotion, user information search,
Achieving simplification of browsing, and in the business scene,
An object of the present invention is to provide a message communication device, a community forming method using the device, a client device, and a message communication program, which are capable of providing information tailored to customers.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is connected to one or more client devices having a media reproducing function via a communication network and distributes media to the client devices. A message communication device for performing, receiving a parameter including a user ID from the client device, generating a new community and a URL assigned to the community, accepting access by another user for an arbitrary time, and transmitting to the same medium. Community generating means for guiding a user who has accessed at approximately the same time to the URL and closing acceptance of access after the lapse of time, and media distributing means for distributing media to the accessing user via the client device, It is characterized by having.

Further, the present invention is a message communication device which is connected to one or more client devices having a media reproducing function through a communication network and delivers media to the client device. , Obtains a parameter including the media ID of the medium being viewed when the user causes the event, and associates the metadata of the medium registered in the metadata management database with the metadata based on the parameter. On the system, a new community, a community generation unit that generates a URL assigned to the community and guides the user to the URL while searching for other metadata and transmitting the metadata name to the client device. Client of said user Location with respect to, characterized in that prompting access to notify the URL assigned the community name of the new community the generated is equipped with, and to update information notification means.

The present invention is also a message communication device which is connected to at least one client device having a media reproducing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device. , Acquiring a parameter including the media ID in the medium being browsed when the user causes the event, and acquiring metadata of the scene in which the user caused the event from the metadata management database based on the acquired parameter. While transmitting the metadata ID and the metadata name to the client device,
A new community, a community generation unit that generates a URL assigned to the community, and a user ID of a user who owns the metadata on the system from the user information management database based on the metadata, and the acquired user Updater information notifying means for notifying the client device corresponding to the ID of the new community name and its URL and urging the assessment.
It is characterized by having.

Further, in the present invention, the content posted to the message board, which is transmitted when a link is set in the message content via the client device, the range in which the link is set, the medium to which the link is set, and the content to be played A message receiving means for taking in link designation information including time and user ID; a link information obtaining means for generating a URL from the posted content and link designation information;
And a message display unit that displays the posted content linked to the RL, the poster, and the posted time in the order of posted time.

Further, in the present invention, the URL is re-read every time a predetermined time elapses, display updating means for displaying the content posted on the message board, and an event for link setting generated by the user are received. A message display means for transmitting the linked URL, the user ID, and the community ID to the media distribution means, and the U
Media distribution means for acquiring a media file specified by RL from a media file management database, searching a reproduction time point of the media file according to the media reproduction time, and distributing the media file to the client device for media reproduction. It is characterized by that.

Further, in the present invention, a user event for instructing to return to the previously browsed media is fetched together with the user ID, and the user ID, community ID, media ID, and media playback time are retrieved from the media playback time management database. A media file URL from the media file management database using the media playback time management means to be acquired and the media ID as a key.
And a media distribution unit that searches for the reproduction time of the media file according to the media reproduction time and distributes the media file to the client device for reproduction of the media from the reproduction time.

According to the present invention, the message communication device can perform message communication while grouping users according to the above-mentioned criteria and playing the media, and depending on the type of the media, the user operates the media. That is, in (1) grouping using the time axis as a key, a user group that accesses the same medium at approximately the same time is automatically formed. Further, (2) grouping using metadata as a key associates the metadata with respect to the media registered in advance with other metadata, and a user who has accessed the association creates a new community. On the other hand, (3) grouping between a metadata registration user and a user is performed by grouping a user who attaches metadata such as memo writing and a user who refers to the metadata to an arbitrary medium. Since the grouping according to the above (2) and (3) has a property of being formed while the user refers to the media, it is possible to dynamically create a new community for the target user. The user will also be notified of the reason why the user was qualified to participate in the community and the details.

On the other hand, user grouping is performed by the above-mentioned message communication device, and further,
After the user selects the group, the message communication device and the client device incorporating the media player for playing the media are activated. Then, the message is written (posted) on the message board and the message is displayed. Also, the user asks the other user to refer to the write message,
It is possible to link media information (media file name, link to media file, time to refer to, etc.). At this time, the user determines the range to set the link and also determines the media information to be linked. After the determination, the message is transmitted to the message communication device, and the link is set in the writing message displayed on the message board at that time.

When an event that follows the link occurs, the reproduction time of the medium currently browsed is recorded, the medium to which the link is set is reproduced, and messages can be exchanged while referring to the reproduction time. After the browsing of the reference medium is completed, by causing an event for the user to return, it is possible to reproduce the medium before the reference from the time when the medium was viewed before the reference.

In the present invention, the "message communication device" means an electronic bulletin board, a chat, etc.
Real-time message exchange system This is the server part of the system. In addition, "communication" is defined as exchanging messages among multiple people by exchanging messages using any language. Furthermore, the "user" means a user who participates in message communication.

Further, the "message board" means a bulletin board for writing and displaying a message of the user, and the "metadata" is generally defined as data of data, but here, it is a meta in a broad sense. The data refers to configuration information that describes a certain object, such as configuration elements and configuration attributes. For example, Mr. Yamada's metadata includes "male", "20's", "working at NTT COMWARE", and the like. In addition to this, for example, information customized by the user, such as memo writing for an arbitrary object, is also defined as metadata. The metadata of memo writing changes depending on the hobby and preference of the user, but the fact that the information indicates an arbitrary object does not replace the user. The “media” refers to a moving image, a sound, a still image having time information, and a text document.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
A message communication device for media distribution is a client device having a media playback function, which is connected via a communication network, and has a media ID, an event occurrence time, and an area in a medium being browsed when a user causes an event. A link consisting of an event absorbing means for fetching the coordinates inside and transmitting it to the message communication device, a range for setting a link, a medium for setting a link, a time for playing, and a user ID for a document posted on a message board. Link pasting means for fetching designated information and transmitting it to the message communication device, a community name of a new community generated and notified by the message communication device, and link information to be selected by the user Characterized by comprising a to update the information display means prompting the the work.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
A method for forming a community in a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media playing function via a communication network and distributes media to the client device, the method comprising specifying a message distributed by the message communication device. The above-mentioned media are grouped by users operating the client device at approximately the same time to form a community.

The present invention is also a method for forming a community in a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media reproducing function via a communication network and performs media distribution to the client device. The metadata for the media registered in advance in the metadata management database is associated with other metadata, and the user who accessed the association through the client device groups the association to form a community, and the target user Is notified dynamically that a new community has been formed.

The present invention is also a method for forming a community in a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media playing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device. A user is formed by grouping a user who accesses any media distributed by the message communication device through the client device and attaches a memo, and a user who refers to the metadata of the media to form a community. It is characterized in that the user is dynamically notified that a new community has been formed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
A message communication program for a message communication device that is connected to one or more client devices having a media playback function via a communication network and performs media distribution to the client device. A new community and a URL assigned to the community are generated by receiving the parameters including the parameters, the access by another user is accepted at an arbitrary time, and the user who accessed the same medium at substantially the same time is guided to the URL. After a lapse of time, the computer is made to execute a community generation step of closing access acceptance and a media distribution step of distributing media to the access user via the client device.

The present invention is also a message communication program for a message communication device, which is connected to one or more client devices having a media reproducing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client devices. Then, from the client terminal, a parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the user causes an event is acquired, and the metadata of the medium registered in the metadata management database based on the parameter, A community generation for searching the metadata and other related metadata and transmitting the metadata name to the client terminal, generating a new community and a URL assigned to the community, and guiding a user to the URL Su And-up, the client device of the user in the system, the community name assigned URL of the new community the generated
And an update information notifying step of notifying of and prompting access to the computer.

The present invention is also a message communication program for a message communication device, which is connected to one or more client devices having a media reproducing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client devices. Then, a parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the user causes an event is acquired from the client device, and the metadata of the scene in which the user causes the event is managed based on the acquired parameter. Acquired from the database, the metadata ID and the metadata name are transmitted to the client device, and a new community and a U assigned to the community are transmitted.
A community generation step of generating an RL, and acquiring the user ID of the user who owns the metadata on the system from the user information management database based on the metadata, and the client device corresponding to the acquired user ID, It is characterized by causing a computer to execute an updater information notifying step of notifying a new community name and its URL and prompting an assessment.

[0023]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a message communication device according to the present invention, and illustrates a client server system. In FIG. 1, 1 is a message communication device of the present invention, which is installed on the server side. A client device 2 is connected to each other via a communication network such as an IP (Internet Protocol) network.

The blocks shown below are specifically CPs.
U, a peripheral LSI including a memory, and the CPU reads and executes a program recorded in the memory to realize the function of the block. The message communication device 1 of the present invention includes a community generation unit 11, a media distribution unit 12, an update information notification unit 13, a message reception unit 14, a link information acquisition unit 15, a message display unit 16, and a display update unit. 17, a media reproduction time management unit 18, a metadata updating unit 19, and various database (DB) groups 20. The various DB groups 20 include a community information DB 201, a media playback time management DB 202, a media file management DB 203, and a user information management DB 20.
4, metadata management DB205, message log DB2
06, each data item will be described later.

The community generation unit 11 receives a parameter including a user ID from the client device 2, generates a new community and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) assigned to the new community, and allows the user to generate a new community and a URL. It has a function of accepting access, guiding a user who has accessed the same medium at approximately the same time to the previous URL, and closing the acceptance of access after a lapse of a predetermined time. Further, a parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the user causes an event is acquired from the client device 2, and the metadata of the medium registered in the metadata management DB 205 based on the parameter and its A function of searching the metadata and other related metadata and transmitting the metadata name to the client device 2 and generating a new community and a URL assigned to the community to guide the user to the previous URL. To have.

Further, a parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the user causes an event is acquired from the client device 2, and the metadata of the scene in which the user caused the event is acquired based on the acquired parameter. Acquired from the metadata management DB 205,
It has a function of transmitting the metadata ID and the metadata name to the client device 2 and also a function of generating a new community and a URL assigned to the new community.

The media distribution unit 12 has a function of distributing media to the access user via the client device 2. The media distribution unit 12 also has a media ID.
It also has a function of acquiring the URL of the media file from the media file management DB 203 with the key as a key, searching the reproduction time of the media file in accordance with the media reproduction time, and delivering from the reproduction time to the client device 2 for media reproduction. The updater information notifying unit 13 has a function of notifying the user's client device on the system of two, the community name of the generated new community and the assigned URL to prompt access. Further, the user ID of the user who owns the metadata on the system is acquired from the user information management DB 205 based on the metadata, and the new community name and its URL are given to the client device 2 corresponding to the acquired user ID. It also has the function of notifying and prompting the assessment.

The message receiving unit 14 transmits the contents posted to the message board 22 when the link is set to the message contents via the client device 2, the range for setting the link, the medium for which the link is set, and the reproduction. It has a function of taking in desired time and link designation information including a user ID. Further, the link information acquisition unit 15 has a function of generating a URL from the posted content and the link designation information, and the message display unit 16 has a function of displaying the posted content linked to the URL, the contributor, and the posted time in the order of the posted time. Hold. The message display unit 16 also has a function of receiving an event for link setting generated by the user and transmitting the linked URL, the user ID, and the community ID to the media distribution unit 12.

The display updating unit 17 has a function of re-reading the URL every time a predetermined time elapses and displaying the content posted on the message board 22 of the client device 2. In addition, the media playback time management unit 18 determines that the user event for instructing to return to the previously browsed media is the user I
It has a function of importing together with D and acquiring the user ID, community ID, media ID, and media playback time from the media playback time management DB 202. The metadata updating unit 19 has a function of updating the metadata by referring to the user information management DB 204 and the metadata management DB 205. Reference numeral 30 denotes a communication unit, which is connected to an IP network as a communication network, so that TCP / IP (Tr
Ansport Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) is implemented.

The client device 2 includes the event absorbing unit 2
1, message board 22 and link attachment 2
3, an update information display unit 24, a community selection unit 25, and a login unit 26. The event absorbing unit 21 also includes a media reproducing unit 210 in which a media player, a real player, or the like is mounted.

The event absorbing unit 21 is a medium I in the medium being browsed when the user causes an event.
D, event occurrence time, and coordinates in the area are imported,
It has a function of transmitting to the message communication device 1. In addition, the link pasting unit 23 takes in link specification information including a range for setting a link, a medium for which a link is set, a time for playing, and a user ID for a document posted on the message board 22,
It has a function of transmitting to the message communication device 1.

The update information display section 24 has a function of displaying the community name of a new community generated and notified by the message communication device 1 and the link information, and urging the user to make a selection operation via the community selection section 25. To have. In addition, the login unit 26
Has a function of accessing the message communication device 1 in response to a login operation by a user. In addition, the above-mentioned event absorbing unit 21 (media reproducing unit 21
0), the message board 22, the link pasting unit 23, the update information display unit 24, and the community selection unit 25 are implemented in the web browser activated by the client device 1. Further, 40 is a communication device, and 50
Is a display device, and 60 is an input device equipped with a pointing device such as a mouse.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts quoted to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, between users who have accessed the same medium at approximately the same time. In the case of generating a community (FIG. 2), in the case of generating a community using metadata as a key (FIG. 3), and in the case of generating a community between a metadata registrant and a metadata user (FIG. 4). , Shows the processing procedure of the message communication program. 5 to 8 are also flowcharts quoted to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, when changing the browsed medium from the message content (FIG. 5), When the user causes an event for the link registered in the message board (Fig. 6), when returning to the browsing from the time when browsing the original media rather than browsing the reference media (Fig. 7), leaving the community (Fig. The processing procedure of the message communication program in each of 8) is shown.

The operation of the message communication device shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. The present invention provides (1) a function in which the message communication device 1 and the client device 2 work together, and (2) a write message,
New function to link media information you want other users to reference, time information of the media you want to play, and (3) A function that allows you to browse media from the previous history after browsing the reference media. Is provided to.
For this purpose, the user grouping function with the time axis as the key, the user grouping function with the metadata as the key,
For media, a function to group between users who have attached metadata and users who use metadata, notification of new community participation qualification dynamically generated for target users, reason for obtaining qualification, new Each of the functions for notifying the contents of the community is newly provided.

First, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2, an operation for creating a community between users who have accessed the same medium at approximately the same time will be described. Message communication device 1
Sends the existing media category to the client device 2 and prompts the user to select the category (S201).
When the user selects a category (S202),
The message communication device 1 uses the client device 2 as the media name belonging to the category selected by the user.
(S203). The above operation is similar to the conventional one. The event absorbing unit 21 of the client device 2 acquires the media ID and the access time of the media accessed by the user, and transmits the media ID and the access time to the community generation unit 11 and the media distribution unit 12 of the message communication device 1 (S204).

The message communication device 1 is
The community generation unit 11 generates a community and a URL, and assigns the URL to the community (S2
05). The community generation unit 11 also guides the access user to the newly generated community (S20).
6) Furthermore, the access of another user is accepted at any time. Then, each time the access is received, the user is guided to the community URL. The community generation unit 11 also closes acceptance of community participation by other users after a lapse of a predetermined time (S207). The media delivery unit 12
The media is distributed to the client device 2 of the access user (S208).

Next, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, the operation in the case of generating a community between access users using metadata as a key will be described. First, the user causes an event at an arbitrary reproduction time and an arbitrary location of the medium being browsed (S301). The event absorbing unit 21 of the client device 2 acquires the media ID of the media clicked by the user, the reproduction time at which the user caused an event, and the coordinate data (or area), and transmits the acquired information to the message communication device 1 ( S302). The community generation unit 11 of the message communication device 1 uses the client device 2
Based on the information acquired from the metadata management DB 205, the registered metadata and other metadata related to the metadata are acquired (S303). And
The community generation unit 11 transmits the metadata to the client device 2 (S304).

The community selection unit 25 of the client device 2 displays the metadata transmitted from the message communication device 1 (S305), records the metadata selected by the user, and transmits it to the message communication device 1 (S306). . On the other hand, the community generation unit 11 generates a new community, a community ID and a URL and assigns the URL to the community (S307). Also, the community generation unit 11
Guides the access user to a new community (S30
8). The community generation unit 11 further transmits the community ID, community URL, and community name of the new community to the update information notification unit 13 (S3).
09). The update information notification unit 13 sends the community URL and the community name to the update information display unit 24 of the client device 2 on the system (S
310). The update information display unit 24 displays the community name and community URL transmitted from the message communication device 1 (S311). In addition, the update information display unit 24 guides the user to a new community when the user clicks the link of the community URL.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the operation of changing the browsed media from the message contents will be described. Specifically, a case where a link is set in the message content will be exemplified. First, the user operates the input device 60 to display the content posted and posted on the message board 22 (S501). Here, the link pasting unit 22 of the client device 2 receives the link pasting event caused by the user (S502).
The link pasting unit 22 fetches the range of the link pasting, the medium to which the link is to be pasted, the time to be played and the user ID, which the user has designated for the document posted by the user via the input device 60 (S503). Then, the fetched link designation information is transmitted to the message communication device 1 (S504).

The message receiving unit 14 in the message communication device 1 uses the writing contents, the link designation information and the user I sent from the client device 2.
D, the posting time is transmitted to the link information acquisition unit 15 (S5
05). The message receiving unit 14 writes the written contents,
The posting time and the user ID are written in the community information and message log DB 206 (S506). On the other hand, the link information acquisition unit 15 generates a URL from the writing content, the link pasting range, and the pasting information (media ID, media playback time) transmitted from the message receiving unit 14 (S507). Then, the write content linked to the generated URL is transmitted to the message display unit 16 (S
508). The message display unit 16 displays the written contents, the contributor, and the posted time transmitted from the link information acquisition unit 15 in the order of posted time (S509). Further, the display updating unit 17 updates the message when an arbitrary time has passed.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, when the user causes an event for the link registered in the message board, specifically, the user clicks the message to which the link is set. The operation when referring to another medium will be described. First, the display update unit 17 of the message communication device 1 reloads the URL of the message display unit 16 every time a fixed time elapses, and displays the written content (S601). The message display unit 16 receives an event such as the user clicking a linked message via the input device 60 (S602), and sends the linked URL, user ID, and community ID to the media distribution unit 12. Yes (S603).

The media distribution unit 12 sends the media ID, media reproduction time, user ID, and community ID of the media that have been sent to the media reproduction time management unit 18 (S604). The media reproduction time management unit 18 holds the user ID, community ID, media ID, and media reproduction time transmitted from the media distribution unit 12 in the media reproduction time management DB 202 (S605). on the other hand,
The media delivery unit 12 acquires the media file specified by the URL from the media file management DB 203, and searches for the playback point of the media file by relying on the media playback time (S606, S607). Further, the media distribution unit 12 distributes the media to the client device 2 from the reproduction time (S608). Then, the playback of the media file is prompted via the media playback unit 210 incorporated in the client device 2 (S60).
9).

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the operation for returning from the reference medium browsing to the browsing from the time of browsing the original medium will be described. First, the browser incorporated in the client device 2 receives an event that the user wakes up via the input device 60 to return to the original media browsing (S701). Then, this event is transmitted to the message communication device 1 together with the user ID (S702). At this time, the media reproduction time management unit 18 acquires the user ID, the community ID, the media ID, and the media reproduction time from the media reproduction time management DB 202, and acquires the acquired data from the media distribution unit 1.
2 to S2 (S703, S704).

The media distribution unit 12 acquires the URL of the media file from the media file management DB 203 using the media ID as a key, and depending on the media playback time,
Search for playback time of media file (S705, S
706). The media distribution unit 12 further transmits the media to the client device 2 from the playback time (S70).
7). The client device 2 can reproduce the media file transmitted from the message communication device 1 from the reproduction time of the medium viewed before the reference, via the media reproduction unit 210 incorporated in the browser (S708). .

Now, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4, an operation when a community is created between a metadata registrant and a metadata user will be described. First, it is assumed that the user causes an event for an area (region) at arbitrary coordinates and arbitrary reproduction time of the medium being browsed (S401). Client device 2
The event absorbing unit 21 of the media ID of the media in which the user has caused the event, the time when the user has caused the event (synonymous with the reproduction time of the media when the event has occurred, and is defined here as the event occurrence time) , Acquiring the coordinates (area) that generated the event (S40
2). Then, the event absorption unit 21 transmits the acquired information to the message communication device 1 (S40).
3).

The community generation unit 11 of the message communication device 1 uses the media ID, the event occurrence time, and the event occurrence coordinates, which are acquired via the event absorption unit 21 of the client device 2, as a key to generate a scene in which the user has caused an event. The metadata of is acquired from the metadata management DB 205 (S404). The community generation unit 11 further transmits the acquired metadata to the update information notification unit 13 (S405), generates a new community and a URL, and assigns the URL to this new community (S406).

On the other hand, the update information notifying unit 13 searches for and acquires the user ID of the user who owns the metadata on the system from the user information management DB 204 using the metadata as a key (S407). The update information notification unit 13 further acquires the acquired user ID.
The new community name and the URL of the new community are transmitted to the update information display unit 24 of the client device 2 having the user corresponding to (S408). If the user is offline (S409), the update information communication unit 13 notifies the update information display unit 24 of the client device 2 of the user who has created the new community that the metadata registrant is absent (S410).

Finally, the operation when leaving the community will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the client device 2 is operated by the user through the input device 6
A logout and window closing event that occurs via 0 is received (S801). Client device 2
Transmits an event that the user has logged out to the message communication device 1 together with the user ID (S802).

The metadata updating unit 19 of the message communication device 1 receives the event transmitted from the client device 2, and uses the user ID as a key to see the event that occurred while the user logged in. DB201, message log DB206
From, the user refers to, creates the community (community ID), browsed media information (media ID)
Is acquired (S803). The metadata updating unit 19 further stores the acquired community ID and media ID in the user information DB 204 as user information, updates and ends (S804).

As described above, according to the present invention, (1) grouping using the time axis as a key automatically forms a user group that accesses the same medium at substantially the same time, and (2). Grouping with metadata as a key associates metadata with pre-registered media with other metadata,
A user who accesses the association creates a new community. Further, (3) grouping between metadata registration user and user is to group a user who attaches metadata such as a memo and a user who refers to the metadata to an arbitrary medium. , The message communication device 1
It enables message communication by grouping users according to any one of the criteria (1), (2), and (3) described above and playing the media, and depending on the type of the media, the user operates the media. is there.

A community generation unit 11, a media distribution unit 12, an update information notification unit 13, which constitute the above-mentioned message communication device 1,
The message reception unit 14, the link information acquisition unit 15, the message display unit 16, the display update unit 17, the media reproduction time management unit 18, the metadata update unit 19, and
The event absorption unit 21, which constitutes the client device 2,
The procedure executed by each of the message board 22, the link pasting unit 23, the updater information display unit 24, the community selection unit 25, and the login unit 26 is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded in this recording medium is recorded. It is assumed that the message communication device or the client device of the present invention is realized by loading the computer system and executing it. The computer system here means O
It includes hardware such as S and peripheral devices.

Furthermore, "computer system" is a WW
If the W system is used, the homepage providing environment (or display environment) is also included. Further, "computer-readable recording medium" means RO
In addition to M, flexible disk, magneto-optical disk, C
A portable medium such as a D-ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" means a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system which is a system or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those that hold the program for a certain period of time are also included.

Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system having the program stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be a program for realizing some of the functions described above. further,
It may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design etc. within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Be done.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, a new community is generated by grouping users with a time axis as a key, or a new community is generated by grouping users with a metadata as a key. In addition, by creating a new community by grouping between users who registered metadata and users who used metadata, interaction between the web community site and users for the web community site that adopted media distribution technology. It is possible to realize promotion, simplification of information search and browsing by users, and provision of information tailored to customers in the business scene.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a message communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart cited to explain the operation of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional message communication device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Message communication device, 2 ... Client device, 11 ... Community generation part, 12 ... Media distribution part, 13 ... Update information notification part, 14 ... Message receiving part, 15 ... Message display part, 16 ... Link information acquisition part, 17 ... display update unit, 18 ... media playback time management unit, 19 ... metadata update unit, 20 ... various DB groups,
21 ... Event absorption section, 22 ... Message board, 23
… Link attachment part, 24… Updater information display part,
25 ... Community selection unit, 201 ... Community information DB, 202 ... Media playback time management DB, 203 ... Media file management DB, 204 ... User information management D
B, 205 ... Metadata management DB, 206 ... Message log DB

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media playback function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device, the message communication device including a user ID from the client device. A parameter is received, a new community and a URL assigned to the community are generated, access by another user is accepted for an arbitrary time, and the user who accessed the same medium at approximately the same time is guided to the URL, and A message communication device comprising: a community generation unit that closes access acceptance after a lapse of time; and a media distribution unit that distributes media to the access user via the client device. 2. A message communication device, which is connected to one or more client devices having a media playback function via a communication network and delivers media to the client devices, wherein the user sends an event to the client device. The parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the event occurred is acquired, and the metadata of the medium registered in the metadata management database based on the parameter and other metadata related to the metadata. And a metadata name thereof is transmitted to the client device, a new community, a community generation unit that generates a URL assigned to the community and guides the user to the URL, and a user of the user on the system. To client device Message communication apparatus characterized by an notifies the community name and the assigned URL of the new community access prompting equipped with a to update information notification means that is generated. 3. A message communication device which is connected to at least one client device having a media playing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device. The parameter including the media ID in the medium being browsed when the event occurred is acquired, the metadata of the scene in which the user has caused the event is acquired from the metadata management database based on the acquired parameter, and the metadata ID and On the system, a user who owns the metadata from the user information management database based on the metadata, transmits a metadata name to the client device, and generates a new community, a URL assigned to the new community. Update information notifying means for acquiring a user ID of a user who is present and notifying the client device corresponding to the acquired user ID of the new community name and its URL to prompt an assessment. Message communication device. 4. The contents posted to the message board, the range to which the link is set, the medium to which the link is to be set, the time to be played and the user ID, which are transmitted when the link is set to the message contents via the client device. A message receiving unit that takes in the link designation information consisting of, a link information acquisition unit that generates a URL from the posted content and the link designation information, and a posted content linked to the URL, a contributor, and a posted time are displayed in order of posted time. The message communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a message display means. 5. The URL is re-read every time a predetermined time elapses, display updating means for displaying the contents posted on the message board, and an event for link setting generated by the user is received and linked. The message display means for transmitting the URL, the user ID, and the community ID to the media distribution means, the media file specified by the URL are acquired from the media file management database, and the reproduction time of the media file is determined according to the media reproduction time. The message communication device according to claim 4, further comprising: a media distribution unit that searches and distributes to the client device for media reproduction. 6. A user event for instructing to return to a previously browsed media, together with its user ID, is fetched, and a user I is retrieved from the media playback time management database.
D, community ID, media ID, media playback time management means for obtaining media playback time, and the URL of the media file from the media file management database using the media ID as a key,
5. The message communication according to claim 4, further comprising: a media distribution unit that searches a reproduction time point of the media file according to the media reproduction time and distributes the reproduction time to the client device for media reproduction. apparatus. 7. A message communication device for media distribution is a client device having a media playback function, which is connected via a communication network, and has a media ID and an event in a media being browsed when a user causes an event. Event absorption means that captures the time of occurrence and coordinates in the area and sends it to the message communication device, the range for setting the link to the document posted on the message board, the medium to which the link is set, the time to play, and A link pasting unit that takes in the link designation information including the user ID and sends it to the message communication device, the community name of the new community generated and notified by the message communication device, and the link information are displayed. A client device, comprising: update information display means for prompting a selection operation by a user. 8. A method for forming a community in a message communication device, wherein the message communication device is connected to one or more client devices having a media playback function via a communication network, and media is distributed to the client devices. A method for forming a community, characterized in that a user who operates the client device to access a specific medium distributed by the above is grouped to form a community. 9. A method of forming a community in a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media reproducing function via a communication network and performs media distribution to the client device, wherein metadata management is performed in advance. The metadata for the media registered in the database is associated with other metadata, and a group is formed by the users who have accessed the association via the client device to form a community, and the community is moved to the target user. A method of forming a community, characterized by notifying that a new community has been formed. 10. A method of forming a community in a message communication device, wherein the message communication device is connected to one or more client devices having a media playback function via a communication network and delivers media to the client devices. A user who accesses any media distributed by the client device through the client device and attaches a memo and a user who refers to the metadata of the media are grouped to form a community. A method of forming a community, characterized by notifying dynamically that a new community has been formed. 11. A message communication program for a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media playback function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device, A parameter including a user ID is received from the device, a new community and a URL assigned to the community are generated, access by another user is accepted at any time, and the user who accessed the same medium at substantially the same time is referred to as the URL. And a media distribution step of distributing media to the access user via the client device after the lapse of time, and a step of generating a community that closes acceptance of access, and a media distribution step of distributing the media to the access user. Sage communication program. 12. A message communication program for a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media playing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device, the client communication program comprising: From the terminal, a parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the user causes the event is acquired, and the metadata of the medium registered in the metadata management database based on the parameter and the metadata. Searching for other related metadata and transmitting the metadata name to the client terminal, and creating a new community and a URL assigned to the new community to guide the user to the URL; A message communication program for causing a computer to execute an update information notification step of notifying the user's client device on the system of the generated new community name and the assigned URL to prompt access. . 13. A message communication program for a message communication device, which is connected to at least one client device having a media playing function via a communication network and delivers media to the client device, the client communication program comprising: From the device, a parameter including the media ID of the medium being browsed when the user causes the event is acquired, and the metadata of the scene in which the user caused the event is acquired from the metadata management database based on the acquired parameter. , A community generation step of transmitting the metadata ID and the metadata name to the client device and generating a new community and a URL assigned to the community, and a user information management device based on the metadata. Updater information that acquires the user ID of the user who owns the metadata on the system from the database and notifies the client device corresponding to the acquired user ID of the new community name and its URL to prompt the assessment. A message communication program that causes a computer to execute the notification step.