JP2005063219A - Electronic message display device, electronic message display system, and user interface of electronic message display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic message technique capable of easily managing summary creation requests, acquisition of summary requests, creation of summaries, and the like.
A message database 110 for storing electronic messages, message display means (one function of a user interface 101) for displaying one or a plurality of messages stored in the message database, and messages stored in the message database Display message selecting means (one function of the user interface 101) for selecting a message to be displayed on the message display means, a summary request issuing means (one function of the user interface 101) for issuing a summary request, and a summary And a summary request database 108 for storing summary requests issued by the request issuing means.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic message display device, an electronic message display system, and a user interface for an electronic message display device that can easily manage summary creation requests, acquisition of summary requests, summary creation, and the like.

  In recent years, many users such as computers use asynchronous communication tools such as electronic mail (E-mail), news group, electronic forum, and electronic bulletin board. In newsgroups, electronic forums, and bulletin boards, questions, answers, and related matters are often viewed as threads by specific or unspecified persons. Such questions, answers, and related matters can be searched and sorted in many ways such as time, author, theme, etc., usually as clear articles and messages, and the inner part of the communication is from a short greeting to a long communication A wide range of texts and expanded discussions.

  For many computer users, the opportunity for such communication is increasing, making it difficult to remember previous messages and consider all the different answers to a single thread at a time. . In such a case, the user can effectively utilize a set of messages or a set of threads. In addition, people who participated in discussions late, users who have not participated but only searched for information in the forum, and users who have viewed inboxes that have been overloaded because they have not opened for a while will effectively use the summary. it can.

  However, current communication tools have little support for requesting and writing summaries. A user who wants to use a summary may, for example, ask a summary creator (who has the appropriate conditions to create a summary) to create a summary. Read through.

  In addition, since a summary creation fitter does not feel much necessity for creating a summary, a summary is not created for many messages that require a summary. In addition, even if a summary is created for a certain message, the summary is mixed in with other messages and is hardly noticed by those who need the summary (Patent Documents 1 and 2). reference).

Under these circumstances, it is desirable to provide technology that allows people to request and write summaries more easily.
JP2002-41740 JP 9-2331040

  However, newsgroups and discussion forums often have summaries in the form of FAQ (Frequency Asked Question), but these documents summarize answers to frequently asked questions and are something users want to know. Information cannot often be obtained from FAQ summary information.

  Some e-mail authors leave only the most important parts, organize the contents of previous mails, and summarize ongoing discussions, but these summaries are usually other messages in the thread. Even though are related, these summaries only contain articles within a single thread.

  An electronic message display device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a message database for storing electronic messages, message display means for displaying one or a plurality of messages stored in the message database, and stored in the message database. Display message selection means (by drag and drop or the like) for selecting a message to be displayed on the message display means from among the received messages, summary request issue means for issuing a summary request, and summary request issue means And a summary request database for storing the summary request issued by, and an asynchronous communication device for communicating with another electronic message display device.

  The electronic message display device according to the second aspect of the present invention is a message display means for displaying one or more messages, a summary request database for storing the summary request issued by the summary request issue means, A summary request means for indicating (asserting or notifying) a summary request, and an asynchronous communication device for communicating with other electronic message display devices, comprising a label or icon displayed next to the message for which a summary is requested It is also characterized by having.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided highlighting means for highlighting (for example, highlighting) all messages related to the summary request relating to the label or icon when the label or icon is selected. It is characterized by.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide summary creation means that is activated when the label or icon is selected.

  An electronic message display device according to a third aspect of the present invention includes summary request means for clearly indicating a summary request for displaying one or more messages, message display means for displaying one or more messages, A summary creation means that is activated when a summary request is received, a summary editor for creating a summary, a summary database that accumulates summary data, and an asynchronous communication device that communicates with other electronic message display devices It is characterized by that.

  The electronic message display device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention comprises a message display means for displaying one or a plurality of messages and a label or icon displayed next to the message to which the summary is attached. The present invention is characterized by comprising summary specifying means for specifying and an asynchronous communication device for communicating with another electronic message display device.

  In a fourth aspect of the invention, the summary can be displayed below, above or next to the message or messages for which the summary is being created. In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the message for which the summary is created can be hidden from view.

  Further, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of messages for which a summary is created can be displayed below or next to the summary.

An electronic message display device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention automatically starts creating a summary, message display means for displaying one or more messages, message designating means for specifying one or more messages, and so on. A summary creation start means, a summary creation processing means for automatically creating a summary, a summary database for storing summary data, and an asynchronous communication device for communicating with other electronic message display devices, To do.

  An electronic message display system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a message database for storing one message, and an algorithm using a message identification database for identifying one or more messages marked with a summary request. And a summary request database for storing the summary requests, and an asynchronous communication device for communicating with another electronic message display device.

  An electronic message display system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes a message database for storing messages, message display means for displaying one or a plurality of messages stored in the message database, and automatic summary creation processing. A summary creation processing means for performing, an algorithm using an automatic creation decision database for deciding whether to automatically create a summary, and an asynchronous communication device for communicating with other electronic message display devices And

  An electronic message display system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes a message database for storing messages, message creator contact means for directly contacting a message creator, and summary creation for determining a creator for creating a summary. And a person database.

  The user interface according to the eighth aspect of the present invention displays the summary request and the summary separately from other messages.

  Summary creation requests, summary request acquisition, summary creation, etc. can be easily managed.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a computer system 100 as an electronic message display device includes a user interface 101, an asynchronous communication application (asynchronous communication device of the present invention) 102, a summary editor 103, automatic summary generation means 104, and automatic summary request means. 105, automatic summary creation processing means 106, automatic summary creation instruction means 107, summary request database 108, summary database 109, message database 110, and user database 111.

  The user interface 101 has a function as a message display unit and a function as a message selection unit. The message display means can display one or a plurality of messages stored in the message database, and the display message selection means can display a message to be displayed on the message display means from among the messages stored in the message database 101. Can be selected by a mouse operation (drag and drop, etc.).

The user interface 101 has a function of clearly indicating a summary request means, and can display a label or icon as a summary request means next to a message for which a summary is requested. In the present embodiment, when the summary request means (label or icon) is selected, the user interface 101 highlights (for example, highlights) all messages related to the summary request related to the label or icon. A display means can be provided.

  Asynchronous communication application 102 can communicate with other computer systems to send and receive e-mails and access electronic bulletin boards. The contents of the summary request database 108 can be changed (deletion / addition of summary requests, etc.) from the user interface 101. Further, the asynchronous communication application 102 can store the summary received from the other computer in the summary database 109, and can transmit the summary created by the summary editor 103 to the other computer.

  The user can use the summary editor 103 to receive a summary draft from the automatic summary generation means 104 or the asynchronous communication application 102 and edit it. The automatic summary generation unit 104 reads a message from the message database 109 in response to a request from the user interface 101 and generates a summary. The automatic summary request means 105 identifies a message having a predetermined condition from the message database and stores it in the summary request database 108. When the summary is created by the automatic summary creation means 106, the contents of the summary request database 108 are updated (for example, the request is invalidated).

  The automatic summary creation means 106 can receive a message having a condition for automatically creating a summary from the message database 110 and create a summary. When the summary is created, the automatic summary creation means 106 notifies the automatic summary request means 105, and the automatic summary request means 105 updates the summary request database. Specifically, the automatic summary creation means 106 creates an automatic summary in response to a user summary request or command. This makes it possible to create instant summaries or automatically summarize messages that users do not have time to create summaries.

  The automatic summary creation instructing unit 107 receives a message having a condition for instructing creation of a summary from the message database 110 and determines a user who instructs the creation of the message with reference to the user database 111. In this embodiment, it is possible to provide summary creation means that is activated when a label or icon is selected. In this case, the summary is created manually or automatically.

  The electronic message display device (computer 100) of the present invention can be configured by combining manual creation and automatic creation of summaries, and can be used for any type of asynchronous communication system. In addition, these technologies can be configured to create a summary for any set of articles and threads.

  In some manual techniques, a user can select a set of messages or threads and execute a summary request command to indicate that they are interested in a summary (issue a summary request by assertion or notification). . As a result, an icon or label is attached (or attached) to the message, and the person who created the summary can know that there was a summary request.

In another manual technique, a summary is created by the user by means of a summary request (by selecting one of messages or threads and issuing a summary request (write command)). When the summary request is issued, the summary editor 108 is activated. When the message writing is completed, the summary is automatically stored in association with the message (for example, in the content portion of the corresponding message). The summary storage location is specifically the summary database 109.
When the user finishes writing the summary, the user interface 101 can display the complete summary in a manner that allows easy visual observation. For example, an icon indicating a summary can be displayed under a plurality of messages for which a summary is created. In addition, a message for which a summary has been created can be placed under the summary.

  In automated technology, an automatic summary request agent can be provided based on the nature of the communication, such as the type of communication tool, the number of reply messages, communication consistency, number of participants, message size, number of links, etc. These summary requests can be labeled in the same manner as manual requests.

  Another automated technique may include an automated agent that requests or directs summary creation, such as sending an email to one or more communication participants in response to a summary request. The agent is assigned one or more participants (the creator of the first message, the creator of almost all messages, all participants, random participants, using one of several strategies) The creator of the summary, or the participant who wants the summary).

  FIG. 2 shows a display example of a user interface in an electronic conference (forum), FIG. 3 shows a message display example, and FIG. 4 shows a summary display example. FIG. 5 shows a display example of the summary view and the summary request view.

  6 and 7 show processing of the electronic message display device. A user A selects one or a plurality of messages or threads (S101) and issues a summary request command (S102). Thereby, a label or an icon is added to the message instructed by the system (S103).

  Next, the user C selects one of the labeled threads or messages (S103). The system highlights all other messages or threads related to this request (S104). User C issues a summary write command (S105). Then, the user C selects a thread or message that is not labeled with one or more labels (S109), and the user C can issue a summary write command (S105).

  By issuing the summary write command of user C, the system starts up the summary editor (S106). Thereby, the user C writes and saves the summary (S107). Accordingly, the system adds a label or icon and rearranges the message (S108).

  On the other hand, the system may analyze the current message (S109). The system issues a summary request for one or more messages or threads (S110), and the system adds a label or icon to the indicated message (S108). In the next process of S108, instead of S109, the system can analyze the current message (S108).

  After this, the system analyzes the current message (S111), and the system sends an email instructing the summary to one or more users (S112). User D determines whether to write a summary (S113). After the process of S111, the system can automatically generate and save the summary (S114). In this case, the system adds a label or icon and rearranges the message (S107).

  User B selects one or a plurality of messages or threads (S116), and user B issues an automatic summary command (S117). The system generates a summary (S118), and user B edits the automatic summary (S119). Next, user B saves the automatic summary (S120), the system adds a label or icon, and rearranges the message (S121).

1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the electronic conference of a user interface. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the message in the electronic conference of a user interface. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the summary in the electronic conference of a user interface. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the summary view and the summary request | requirement view in the electronic conference of a user interface. It is a figure which shows the process of an electronic message display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the process of an electronic message display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Computer (electronic message display apparatus) 101 User interface 102 Asynchronous communication application 103 Summary editor 104 Automatic summary generation means 105 Automatic summary request means 106 Automatic summary creation processing means 107 Automatic summary creation instruction means 108 Summary request database 109 Summary database 109
110 Message database 111 User database

Claims (14)

A message database for storing electronic messages;
Message display means for displaying one or more messages stored in the message database;
Display message selection means for selecting a message to be displayed on the message display means from among messages stored in the message database;
A summary request issuing means for issuing a summary request;
A summary request database for storing the summary request issued by the summary request issuing means;
An electronic message display device comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device. Message display means for displaying one or more messages;
A summary request database for storing the summary request issued by the summary request issuing means;
A summary request means for indicating the summary request, comprising a label or icon displayed next to the message for which the summary is requested;
An electronic message display device comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device.   3. The electronic message display device according to claim 2, further comprising highlighting means for highlighting all messages related to the summary request related to the label or icon when the label or icon is selected. .   4. The electronic message display device according to claim 2, further comprising a summary creation unit that is activated when the label or icon is selected. A summary request means for specifying a summary request for displaying one or more messages;
Message display means for displaying one or more messages;
A summary creation means that is activated when a summary request is received;
A summary editor for creating summaries;
A summary database for storing summary data;
An electronic message display device comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device. Message display means for displaying one or more messages;
A summary clarification means consisting of a label or icon displayed next to the message to which the summary is attached, and clearly indicating that the summary exists;
An electronic message display device comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device.   7. The electronic message display device according to claim 6, wherein the summary is displayed below, above or next to the one or more messages for which the summary is created.   8. The electronic message display device according to claim 6, wherein the message for which the summary is created is hidden from view. 7. The electronic message display device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more messages for which the summary is created are displayed below or next to the summary. Message display means for displaying one or more messages;
Message designating means for designating one or more messages;
Summary creation start means for automatically starting summary creation,
Summary creation processing means for automatically creating a summary;
A summary database that stores summary data;
An electronic message display device comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device. A message database for storing one or more messages;
An algorithm using a database to identify one or more messages marked for a summary request;
A summary request database for storing the summary requests;
An electronic message display system comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device. A message database for storing messages;
Message display means for displaying one or more messages stored in the message database;
Summary creation processing means for automatically creating a summary;
An algorithm (automatic summary creation processing means 106) using a database for determining whether to automatically create a summary;
An electronic message display system comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device. A message database for storing messages;
Message creator contact means to contact the message creator directly,
A summary creator database to determine who creates the summary;
An electronic message display system comprising: an asynchronous communication device that communicates with another electronic message display device. A user interface of an electronic message display device, wherein a summary request and a summary are displayed separately from other messages.