JP2005092579A - Message sending process device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a message sending process device and a method capable of sending messages even to unknown people, while preferentially sending messages to people who value the messages. <P>SOLUTION: A message link device which selects the destination of a message sent via a communication network between a plurality of terminal devices used by a plurality of users has a link strength management table storage part 42 for storing link strength serving as the degree of linkage between a plurality of users about a predetermined subject, and a destination selecting process part 33 for selecting the destination of the message based on the link strength related to the user who is the sender of the message. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a message transmission processing apparatus that transmits a message between computers connected to a communication network, and in particular, transmits a message to an unknown person while preferentially transmitting a message to a person who appreciates the content of the message. The present invention relates to a message transmission processing apparatus capable of performing the above. The present invention also relates to a message transmission processing method applied to such a message transmission processing device.

  In recent years, the so-called Internet is spreading to ordinary households due to the progress of computer technology and communication technology. In the Internet, there are an electronic bulletin board, an electronic mail, etc. as a communication tool between people using the Internet.

  An electronic bulletin board is a web page on which sentences written according to a certain format are posted in order. Anyone who can access the web page can view the electronic bulletin board. An e-mail is a system that distributes a communication signal in which a message is recorded to a person who can connect to a computer network. In the e-mail, a sender specifies a recipient and sends a message.

A technique related to the electronic bulletin board is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In the optimum bulletin board automatic selection service method described in Patent Document 1, the content of the received electronic mail is analyzed by the mail content analysis unit based on the content analysis dictionary, and the bulletin board to be posted by the optimal bulletin board selection unit based on the analysis result Posted in Thus, when posting an article on a bulletin board using e-mail, the user does not need to perform a complicated process of searching for an optimal bulletin board. It will not be posted. Moreover, the technique regarding an electronic mail is disclosed by patent document 2, for example. The message processing device described in Patent Document 2 determines whether or not the condition C stored in advance in the processing decision information storage unit is appropriate for an incoming e-mail, and if it matches, is stored in the processing storage unit. The process is executed according to the corresponding processing method. As a result, the message processing device described in Patent Document 2 automatically saves incoming e-mails in a folder or attaches predetermined additional information to automatically organize rational e-mails. Do.
JP 05-227203 A JP 05-046513 A

  By the way, in an electronic bulletin board, since an unspecified person can browse a message as described above, not only a person who has sympathy for the message described on the bulletin board but also a person who has a dislike can browse the electronic bulletin board. There is a problem that courage is required to write a message and the mental burden is great. On the other hand, in e-mail, it is necessary to select a person who is interested and search for the e-mail address of the person, so it is troublesome to select a person who seems to be interested or to search for the e-mail address of the selected person. There is a problem, and since the message is delivered only to the e-mail addressee, there is a problem that people who sympathize with the message do not spread.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and by sending a message preferentially to a person who has sympathy for the content of the message and also sending the message to an unknown person, It is an object of the present invention to provide a message transmission processing apparatus and a message transmission processing method capable of efficiently transmitting a message to a person who is more sympathetic to the message content while expanding the transmission destination.

  In order to achieve the above object, a message transmission processing device according to the present invention, which selects a transmission destination of a message transmitted via a communication network between a plurality of terminal devices respectively used by a plurality of users, A link strength storage unit that stores a link strength that is a degree of connection between the plurality of users with respect to the subject, and a transmission destination selection that selects a transmission destination of the message based on a link strength related to the user of the transmission source of the message A processing unit. Further, according to the present invention, a message transmission processing method for selecting a transmission destination of a message transmitted via a communication network between a plurality of terminal devices respectively used by a plurality of users is obtained from a terminal device used by one user. Receiving a message to be transmitted via a communication network; and determining a destination of the message based on a link strength related to the one user in a link strength that is a degree of connection between the plurality of users with respect to a predetermined subject. Selecting.

  In the above-described message transmission processing device, the transmission destination selection processing unit further selects a predetermined number as a transmission destination of the message from among terminal devices not selected as the transmission destination of the message.

  In these message transmission processing devices, the transmission destination selection processing unit selects the transmission destination of the message when the transmission probability calculated based on the link strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined first threshold.

  Further, in the above-described message transmission processing devices, the predetermined first threshold value is input in a changeable manner from a transmission source terminal device that transmits the message.

  In these message transmission processing devices described above, there are a plurality of predetermined subjects, and the link strength storage unit stores a plurality of link strengths for each user according to each predetermined subject. .

  Further, in the above message transmission processing device, a link between the message transmission source and the evaluation transmission source based on the received evaluation is received from the terminal device that has received the message. A link strength processing unit for updating the strength is further provided.

  Furthermore, in these message transmission processing devices described above, a community that reads a link strength from the input unit for inputting a predetermined second threshold value and the link strength storage unit and extracts users whose link strength is equal to or greater than the predetermined second threshold value. An analysis processing unit; and a display unit that displays an analysis result of the community analysis processing unit.

  In the message transmission processing device and the message transmission processing method configured as described above, a message transmission destination is selected based on a link strength that is a degree of connection between a plurality of users regarding a predetermined subject. Send messages preferentially to people with This reduces the courage to send messages and also reduces the mental burden. In addition, troublesomeness such as selection of a person who is likely to be interested and retrieval of an e-mail address of the selected person is reduced.

  In the message transmission processing device including the configuration in which the transmission destination selection processing unit further selects a predetermined number as the message transmission destination from the terminal devices not selected as the message transmission destination, while expanding the message transmission destination. It is possible to efficiently send a message to a person who is more sympathetic to the content of the message. For this reason, people who sympathize with the message can spread.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in each figure shows that it is the same structure, The description is abbreviate | omitted.
(Configuration of the embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a message link system according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the message link device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the user management table. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a link strength management table.

  In FIG. 1, the message link system 10 includes a plurality of terminal devices 12 (12-1, 12-2,..., 12-m, 12-m + 1,..., 12-n, 12− n + 1,...) and a message link device 11 that selectively transmits a message from a certain terminal device 12 to another terminal device 12 according to a predetermined index, and the terminal device 12 and the message link device 11 is communicably connected via a communication network 13.

  The terminal device 12 is a computer that transmits and receives messages via the message link device 11 and includes a web browser function for browsing web pages on the Internet and a mailer function for transmitting and receiving e-mails. The terminal device 12 includes, for example, such a web browser function and a mailer function that transmits / receives an electronic mail, and further includes a mobile phone 12 that includes a communication function that transmits / receives a communication signal to / from the message link device 11 via the communication network 13. -1, 12-2,..., Notebook computers 12-m, 12-m + 1,..., Desktop computers 12-n, 12-n + 1, PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) (not shown), etc. is there.

  The communication network 13 is a transmission path such as a telephone network, a digital communication network, and a wireless communication network, and data is transmitted using a predetermined communication protocol. The communication network 13 constitutes the Internet using, for example, Internet protocol groups such as HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) as communication protocols.

  The message link device 11 transmits a message preferentially to a terminal device 12 used by a person who has sympathy for the content of the message received from the certain terminal device 12 received via the communication network 13, and an unknown person This is a computer that transmits a message to the terminal device 12 used by, and extracts a group of people who are sympathetic to a certain subject. A group of people who are sympathetic to a message about a subject is referred to herein as a community. For example, a baseball community that is a group that sympathizes with messages about baseball, a travel community that sympathizes with messages about content about travel, a community of idols who group sympathizes with messages about content about idols, It is a game community, etc. that is a group that sympathizes with messages about the contents of the game. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the message link device 11 includes a central processing unit 21, a communication interface 22, an input unit 23, a display unit 24, an internal storage unit 25, an external storage unit 26, an auxiliary storage unit 27, and a bus 28. It is prepared for.

  The central processing unit 21 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor and the like, and includes a main processing unit 31 that performs main control, and a user authentication that performs processing for determining whether or not to log in the terminal device 12 that has requested the message link device 11 to log in A processing unit 32, a destination selection processing unit 33 that performs processing for selecting another terminal device 12 to be transmitted in response to a message transmitted from a certain terminal device 12 according to the probability based on link strength, and a certain terminal device A link strength processing unit 34 that performs processing related to link strength between the terminal device 12 and the other terminal device 12, and a community analysis processing unit 35 that performs processing of extracting a group of people who are sympathetic to a certain subject, According to the program, the communication interface 22, the input unit 23, the display unit 24, the internal storage unit 25, the external storage unit 26, and the auxiliary storage unit 27 To your.

  The input unit 23 is a device that inputs various commands such as an activation instruction of the message link device 11 and various data such as a social value described later to the message link device 11, and is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. The display unit 24 is a device that displays commands, data, community analysis results, the operation status of the message link device 11 and the like input from the input unit 23, and is a CRT display, LCD, organic EL display, plasma display, or the like. .

  The internal storage unit 25 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) that reads a program executed by the central processing unit 21 from the auxiliary storage unit 27 and temporarily stores each data being executed. The external storage unit 26 reads and / or reads data from / to a storage medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), and a DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc ReWritable). Alternatively, it is a writing device, such as a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, a CD-R drive, and a DVD-R drive.

  The auxiliary storage unit 27 is a device that stores data such as a hard disk, for example, a user management table storage unit 41 that stores a user management table, a link strength management table storage unit 42 that stores a link strength management table, and a transmission message. In addition to a transmission message storage unit 43 and a reception message storage unit 44 for storing received messages, each program (not shown) such as a program for operating the message link device 11 and data after execution of each program (not shown) Etc.) are stored. If each program is not stored, it is installed in the auxiliary storage unit 27 via the external storage unit 26 from the recording medium on which these programs are recorded. In addition, you may comprise so that it may download via the communication network 13 and the communication interface 22 from the server computer (not shown) which manages these programs.

  The user management table is a database for registering information about users who can use the message link device 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the user management table 101 includes a management number field 111 for registering a number assigned to each record, a user ID field 112 for registering a user ID that is an identifier for identifying a user, A password field 113 for registering a password corresponding to the user ID, a user name field 114 for registering a user name corresponding to the user ID, an e-mail address field 115 for registering an e-mail address of the user corresponding to the user ID, and Each field includes a transmission number field 116 for registering the number of times a message corresponding to the user ID is transmitted (transmission number), and a record is created for each management number.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, in the record with the management number “1”, “aaa” is registered in the user ID field 112, “Passaa” is registered in the password field 113, and “Oda” is registered in the user name field 114. "Nobuko" is registered, "nobu@den.co.jp" is registered in the e-mail address field 115, and "T1" is registered in the transmission count field 116. T1 is an integer of 0 or more.

  The link strength management table is a database for registering link strength, which is a degree of connection of a certain user from another user regarding a certain subject when a message is transmitted, and is created for each user. As shown in FIG. 4, the link strength management table 102 includes a management number field 121 for registering a number assigned to each record, a user name field 122 for registering a user name, and a user's electronic name corresponding to the user name. Each field includes an email address field 123 for registering an email address and a link strength field 124 for registering a link strength for another user in the user corresponding to the user name, and a record is created for each management number. The Such a link strength management table 102 is created for each user. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the link strength management table 102 is a link strength management table 102-1 for a user whose user name is “Oda Nobuko”, and a user whose user name is “Kinoshita Fujiko”. There are a plurality of link strength management tables 102-2, a link strength management table 102-3 for a user whose name is “Hideshi Hashiba”, and so on. One or more link strength fields 124 are prepared for each community. In the example shown in FIG. 4, three fields are prepared for registering link strengths for three different types of communities. That is, the link strength field 124 includes an A community link strength field 124-1 for registering link strength in the A community, a B community link strength field 124-2 for registering link strength in the B community, and a link strength in the C community. It consists of a C community link strength field 124-3 to be registered. In the example shown in FIG. 4, three link strength fields 124 are prepared, but the number is not particularly limited, and may be a number corresponding to the number of communities set for one user. The number of communities depends on the specifications of the message link device 11.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, for example, in the link strength management table 102-1 of “Oda Nobuko”, “Yuzuki Kisaragi” is registered in the user name field 122 in the record with the management number “1”, and the e-mail address “Kisaragi@matsu.co.jp” is registered in the field 115, “A1” is registered in the A community link strength field 124-1, “B1” is registered in the B community link strength field 124-2, and “C1” is registered in the C community link strength field 124-3. A1, B1, and C1 are arbitrary numbers, and depend on a link strength calculation method described later.

  Here, the configuration in which the link strength management table 102 includes the e-mail address field 123 has been described. However, the e-mail address is searched from the user management table 101 using the user name as a search key without including the e-mail address field 123. It may be. Alternatively, the link strength management table 102 may be configured to include a user ID field instead of the user name field 122, and an email address may be searched from the user management table 101 using the user ID as a search key.

  The communication interface 22 is connected to the communication network 13 and is a device for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the terminal device 12 via the communication network 13. The central processing unit 21, communication interface 22, input unit 23, display unit 24, internal storage unit 25, external storage unit 26, and auxiliary storage unit 27 are connected to the bus 28 so that data can be exchanged with each other. Each is connected.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
(Operation of the embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of transmitting a message in the message link device. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a login screen displayed on the terminal device. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transmission message input screen displayed on the terminal device. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a message transmission state and an evaluation value reception state. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a received message display screen displayed on the terminal device. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of calculating the link strength in the message link device.

  In FIG. 5, when there is a login request from a certain terminal device 12, the main processing unit 31 in the central processing unit 21 of the message link device 11 sends data related to the web page for performing user authentication to the certain terminal device 12. (S11). Note that communication signals are transmitted and received between the message link device 11 and the terminal device 12 via the communication interface 22 and the communication network 13, but this description is omitted in the description of the operation.

  For example, a login screen 201 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on a certain terminal device 12 that has received this web page by the web browser function. The login screen 201 includes a user ID input field 211 for inputting a user ID of a user who is logging in to the message link device 11 using a certain terminal device 12, a password input field 212 for inputting the password of the user, An “OK” button 213 for confirming data input in the user ID input field 211 and password input field 212 and inputting an instruction to transmit the data to the message link device 11, and a user ID input field 211 and / or password A “cancel” button 214 for inputting an instruction to delete (clear) the data input in the input field 212 is provided.

  The user inputs the user ID in the user ID input field 211 of the login screen 201, inputs the password in the password input field 212, and operates the “OK” button 213. A certain terminal device 12 transmits user authentication data including the input user ID and password to the message link device 11. For example, the user “Noda Oda” makes a login request using the terminal device 12 (12-A) being used, and uses the user ID “aaa” in the user ID input field 211 of the login screen 201 using the keyboard. ”Is entered, and the password“ Passaa ”is entered in the password entry field 212, and the“ OK ”button 213 is pressed using the mouse.

  When receiving the user authentication data from a certain terminal device 12, the main processing unit 31 of the message link device 11 notifies the user authentication processing unit 32 of the received user authentication data (S12).

  Based on the user authentication data, the user authentication processing unit 32 determines whether or not the user who has requested the login is a regular user who can use the message link device 11. While the process of S21 is executed for No), the process of S14 is executed for the authorized user (Yes) (S13). More specifically, for example, the user authentication processing unit 32 searches the registered content in the user ID field 112 of the user management table 101 based on the received user ID. As a result of the search, when there is no user ID field 112 for registering the received user ID (No in S13), the user authentication processing unit 32 executes the process of S21. On the other hand, when there is a user ID field 112 for registering the received user ID, the user authentication processing unit 32 compares the registered content of the password field 113 in the record with the received password. As a result of the comparison, the process of S21 is also executed when there is a mismatch (No in S113). If the comparison results in a match (Yes in S13), the process of S14 is executed. In the example of the above-mentioned user “Noda Oda”, the user authentication processing unit 32 searches the registered content in the user ID field 112 of the user management table 101 based on the received user ID “aaa”. As a result of the search, since there is a record for registering the same content as the received user ID “aaa” in the user ID field 112, the user authentication processing unit 32 has received the registered content “Passaa” in the password field 113 in the record. Compare the password "Passasaa". And as a result, since it corresponds, the user authentication process part 32 performs the process of S14.

  In S21, the user authentication processing unit 32 notifies the main processing unit 31 that the user who has requested the login is not a regular user, and the main processing unit 31 performs error processing and ends the processing. The error processing includes, for example, processing for returning the processing to S11 to prompt re-input of the user ID and password, processing for transmitting data to disconnect the online connection with a certain terminal device 12, and processing of the message link device 11 For example, a process of transmitting data indicating solicitation for regular use to a certain terminal device 12.

  In S <b> 14, the user authentication processing unit 32 notifies the main processing unit 31 that the user who has requested the login is a regular user and permits login, and the main processing unit 31 inputs a message to be transmitted. For this purpose, data related to the web page is transmitted to the certain terminal device 12.

  For example, a transmission message input screen 202 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on a certain terminal device 12 that has received this web page by the web browser function. This transmission message input screen 202 includes a transmission message entry field 223 for entering a transmission message to be sent, a community entry field 221 for entering a community to send a transmission message, a friendly value entry field 222 for entering a friendly value, and a transmission message. "Save" button 224 for inputting an instruction to save the message, "Read" button 225 for inputting an instruction to read the saved transmission message, and an instruction for sending the transmission message described in the transmission message entry field 223 to the message link device 11 “Send” button 226 is input. The transmission message entry field 223 includes an entry field 223-1 that describes the transmission message itself and a scroll bar 223-2 that changes the display area of the described transmission message. In the above-described example of the user “Noda Oda”, the transmission message input screen 202 is displayed on the terminal device 12-A.

  The user describes the transmission message in the transmission message entry field 223 of the transmission message input screen 202, inputs the community in the community input field 221, inputs the friendly value in the friendly value input field 222, and the “Send” button 226 To operate. A certain terminal device 12 transmits transmission message data including the input transmission message, community, and friendly value to the message link device 11. For example, the user “Nobuko Oda” uses a keyboard to send a message to the send message entry field 223 “How to make a XX cake. Today we will introduce how to make a XX cake. Fill in 3 eggs, 150g sugar, 150g soft flour, 30g butter, ... ", enter" A community "in the community input field 221 to send a send message to the A community, and send the send message In order to define the transmission range, “7” is selected as the friendly value, “7” is entered in the friendly value input field 222, and the “Send” button 226 is pressed using the mouse.

  When receiving the transmission message data from a certain terminal device 12, the main processing unit 31 of the message link device 11 notifies the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 of the received transmission message data (S15).

  The transmission destination selection processing unit 33 first searches the link strength management table storage unit 42 for the link strength management table 102 corresponding to the user name permitted to log in in order to select and determine the transmission destination of the transmission message. Next, in order to select and determine a transmission destination for the community of the transmission message data, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 sets the community link strength field 124 corresponding to the community of the transmission message data in the searched link strength management table 102. Select. Then, in order to determine whether or not to transmit a transmission message to each user registered in the retrieved link strength management table 102, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 selects each of the retrieved link strength management tables 102. For the records, the transmission probability P is calculated based on the link strength registered in the selected community link strength field 124 in order, and it is determined whether or not the calculated transmission probability P is greater than the friendly value of the transmission message data. (S16).

For example, in the above-described example of the user “Noda Oda”, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 first searches the link strength management table storage unit 42 for the link strength management table 102-1 of “Oda Nobuko”. Next, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 selects the A community link strength field 124-1 corresponding to “A community” in the link strength management table 102-1. Then, in order to determine whether or not to transmit a transmission message to each user such as “Yuzuki Kisaragi” and “Yutsuki Yayoi” registered in the link strength management table 102-1 of this “Oda Nobuko” The selection processing unit 33 sequentially links each record in the link strength management table 102-1 of “Oda Nobuko” with link strengths “A1”, “A2” registered in the A community link strength field 124-1. The transmission probability P is calculated based on “An”, and it is determined whether or not the calculated transmission probability P is greater than the friendly value “7”. In other words, in order to determine whether or not to send a transmission message to “Yuzuki Kisaragi”, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 records “Management of Yuzuki Kisaragi” in the link strength management table 102-1 of “Oda Nobuko”. the transmission probability P _AF and calculated on the basis of the number "1" link strength registered in the a community link strength field 124-1 in the record) of "A1", the calculated transmission probability P _AF is more friendly value "7" It is judged whether it is also large. In addition, in order to determine whether or not to send a transmission message to “Yuyo Satsuki”, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 records “Management of Yayoi Satsuki” in the link strength management table 102-1 of “Noda Oda”. the transmission probability P _AD is calculated on the basis of the number link strength registered in the a community link strength field 124-1 in the record) "2", "A2", the calculated transmission probability P _AD is more friendly value "7" It is judged whether it is also large. Hereinafter, similarly, the transmission probability P is calculated in order from “Minazuki Satsuki”, “Fumizuki Hazuki”,..., “Nagatsuki Jinzu”, respectively, and whether or not the transmission probability P is greater than the friendly value “7”. Respectively.

  Here, the transmission probability P based on the link strength is, for example, a ratio to the maximum value of the link strength. That is, the transmission probability P is calculated as shown in Equation 1, where Lij is the link strength when a message is transmitted from user i to user j, and Lmax is the maximum value of link strength Lij.

また例えば、送信確率Ｐは、メッセージを送信するユーザｉにおける当該コミュニティのリンク強度の総和に対する割合でもよい。即ち、送信確率Ｐは、式２のように演算される。

Further, for example, the transmission probability P may be a ratio to the total link strength of the community of the user i who transmits the message. That is, the transmission probability P is calculated as shown in Equation 2.

また例えば、送信確率Ｐは、メッセージの送信先のユーザｊにおける当該コミュニティのリンク強度の総和に対する割合でもよい。即ち、送信確率Ｐは、式３のように演算される。

Further, for example, the transmission probability P may be a ratio with respect to the sum of the link strengths of the community in the user j who is the message transmission destination. That is, the transmission probability P is calculated as shown in Equation 3.

Ｓ１６の判断の結果、送信確率Ｐがフレンドリ値よりも大きい場合（Ｙｅｓ）には、送信先選択処理部３３は、判断対象となっているレコードのユーザを送信先として選択し、当該レコードにおけるＥメールアドレスフィールド１２３に登録されている電子メールアドレスを送信先に設定した送信メッセージの電子メールを生成し、送信メッセージ記憶部４３に記憶する。一方、判断の結果、送信確率Ｐがフレンドリ値以下の場合（Ｎｏ）には、Ｓ１８の処理を実行する。

As a result of the determination in S16, when the transmission probability P is greater than the friendly value (Yes), the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 selects the user of the record that is the determination target as the transmission destination, and the E in the record. An e-mail of a transmission message in which the e-mail address registered in the e-mail address field 123 is set as a transmission destination is generated and stored in the transmission message storage unit 43. On the other hand, if it is determined that the transmission probability P is equal to or less than the friendly value (No), the process of S18 is executed.

For example, in the above-mentioned example of the user “Nobuko Oda” (A), the transmission probability P _{AH of} “Bunzuki Hazuki” (H), the transmission probability P _{AB of} “Kinoshita Fujiko” (B), “Hideshi Hashiba” (C) Transmission probability P _AC and transmission probability P _{AE of} “Nagatsuki Jinmu” (E) are greater than the friendly value “7”, and are selected as the transmission destination of the transmission message as shown in FIG. Are respectively generated and stored in the transmission message storage unit 43. The transmission probability P _XY indicates the transmission probability P of the user X for the user Y.

  As described above, the message link device 11 has the link strength defined as described above, calculates the transmission probability P based on the link strength, and gives priority to the user whose transmission probability P is greater than the friendly value. Since the transmission message is transmitted, the transmission message can be automatically transmitted preferentially to a user who is sympathetic to the content of the transmission message. For this reason, in the message link device 11 according to the present invention, when transmitting a message, the psychological burden on the transmitting user is reduced, and the time and effort for selecting an e-mail address can be saved.

  And although you may comprise so that a friendly value may be memorize | stored beforehand as a fixed value in the message link apparatus 11, in this embodiment, the user of a transmission source may input a friendly value when transmitting a message. Since it is possible, the transmission range which transmits a message can be changed. That is, when a small value is input as the friendly value, the number of users having a transmission probability P greater than the friendly value in S16 increases, so the transmission range is expanded. On the other hand, when a large value is input as the friendly value, the number of users having a transmission probability P greater than the friendly value in S16 decreases, and the transmission range becomes narrow. The friendly value is a threshold value that determines the transmission range of the transmission message.

  The link strength management table includes a management number field for registering a number assigned to each record, a sender user email address field for registering a sender user email address, and a destination user email address. It is also possible to provide a destination user e-mail address field to be registered and a link strength field for registering a link strength for the destination user in the source user, and a record may be created for each management number. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, since it is configured to be created for each transmission source user, it is only necessary to refer to the link strength management table of the transmission source user as described above. The previous selection process can be easily executed.

  In S18, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 determines whether or not transmission messages need to be transmitted to all users registered in the searched link strength management table 102, that is, the searched link strength management. It is determined whether or not transmission messages need to be transmitted for all the records in the table 102. As a result of the determination, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 returns the process to S16 when it is not determined whether or not the transmission message needs to be transmitted to all users. On the other hand, as a result of the determination, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 randomly determines from the users who have not been selected as the transmission destination when the necessity of transmission of the transmission message has been determined for all the users. A predetermined number of users are selected, and an e-mail of a transmission message in which the e-mail address of the selected user is set as a transmission destination is generated and stored in the transmission message storage unit 43 (S19). The predetermined number is an arbitrary number and depends on the specifications of the message link device 11.

For example, in the above-described example of the user “Nobuko Oda”, the transmission probability P _AF of “Yuzuki Kisaragi” (F), the transmission probability P _AD of “Yutsuki Yayoi” (D), and the transmission probability P of “Minazuki Satsuki” (G) The transmission probability P _{AI of AG} and “Yoko Toyotomi” (I) is less than or equal to the friendly value “7”, and as shown in FIG. 8, it is not selected as the transmission destination of the transmission message. One user is selected. In the example shown in FIG. 8, “Mizuki Minazuki” is selected, an e-mail of a transmission message is generated, and this is stored in the transmission message storage unit 43.

  Thus, since the message link device 11 randomly selects a predetermined number of transmission destinations for the users who are not selected as transmission destinations in the processes of S16 and S17, a new transmission destination can be pioneered. It is possible to expand the transmission destination to unknown users who do not know whether or not they feel sympathy with the content of the message.

  Next, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 increments the number of transmissions of the user who transmitted the transmission message by 1 (S20). For example, in the example of the above-mentioned user “Nobuko Oda”, 1 is added to the number of transmissions registered in the number-of-transmissions field 116 in the record of “Nobuko Oda” in the user management table 101 to be updated. That is, the registered content of the transmission count field 116 is updated at T1 ← T1 + 1. Then, the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 notifies the main processing unit 31 that the determination of the transmission destination of the transmission message has been completed.

  Since the message link device 11 operates in this manner, the message transmission destination can be determined by transmitting the message preferentially to a person who has sympathy for the content of the message and also by transmitting the message to an unknown person. The message can be efficiently transmitted to a person who is more sympathetic to the content of the message while spreading.

  Next, the operation for updating the link strength will be described.

  On the other hand, when the user activates the mailer of the terminal device 12 and instructs to receive an e-mail such as a “send / receive” button after user authentication, the e-mail is received if there is an e-mail addressed to the user. The The user reads the received electronic mail and transmits an evaluation for the electronic mail to the message link device 11. For example, an e-mail describing the evaluation value is transmitted to the message link device 11. Further, for example, when the user selects an e-mail to be read, the web browser is activated, and the message link device 11 is linked to the selection of the e-mail so that the received message display screen 203 shown in FIG. You may let them.

  In FIG. 9, a received message display screen 203 includes a community display field 231 for displaying the community of the received message, a transmission source user name field 232 for displaying the user name of the transmission source of the received message, and a received message for displaying the received message. Display field 233, evaluation input field 234 for inputting an evaluation value (evaluation value) for the received message, “link disconnection” button 235 for inputting link disconnection, and evaluation value input to link disconnection or evaluation input field 234 A “send” button 236 for inputting an instruction to send to the message link device 11 is provided. The received message display field 233 includes a display field 233-1 for displaying the received message itself and a scroll bar 233-2 for changing the display area of the displayed received message. The evaluation input field 234 includes a scale field 234-1 that displays an evaluation scale (scale) and a scale bar 234-2 that indicates the scale position selected by the user on the scale field 234-1. . When the user moves the scale bar 234-2 of the evaluation input field 234 to the scale corresponding to the evaluation value and operates the “send” button 236, the terminal device 12 receives the community of the received message, the transmission source user name, and the transmission destination. Evaluation data including the user name and the evaluation value is transmitted to the message link device 11.

  Here, the user selects the “link disconnect” button 234 and operates the “send” button 235 when he / she wants to refuse the reception of the message of the community from the sender in the future. When the “Send” button 235 is operated, the terminal device 12 transmits evaluation data including disconnection information indicating link disconnection to the message link device 11 instead of the evaluation value. The message is evaluated to the extent that the sender wishes to continue receiving messages from the community in the future, and does not necessarily have to be a subjective evaluation of the content of the message.

  For example, in the example of the above-mentioned user “Nobuko Oda”, as shown in FIG. 11, the evaluation values are obtained from “Betsuzuki Hazuki”, “Kinoshita Fujiko”, “Hashiba Hideko”, “Nagatsuki Jinzu”, and “Minazuki Tsuzuki”. The included evaluation data can be returned to the message link device 11.

  Next, the operation for updating the link strength will be described.

  In FIG. 10, when the message link device 11 receives the evaluation data (S31), the link strength processing unit 34 of the central processing unit 21 acquires the transmission source and the transmission destination from the evaluation data (S32).

  Next, the link strength processing unit 34 determines whether there is a link disconnection request by determining whether the evaluation data includes disconnection information (S33). As a result of the determination, when there is no disconnection information (No), the link strength processing unit 34 executes the process of S34. When there is disconnection information (No), the link strength processing unit 34 performs the process of S41. To end the process.

  In S34, the link strength processing unit 34 calculates the link strength based on the evaluation value. The link strength processing unit 34 then updates the community link strength corresponding to the community of the evaluation data in the record corresponding to the transmission destination with the calculated link strength in the link strength management table 101 corresponding to the transmission source.

  For example, in the above-described example of the user “Nobuko Oda”, when the evaluation data is received from “Betsuzuki Hazuki”, the link strength processing unit 34 calculates the link strength based on the evaluation value, and the link strength of “Oda Nobuko”. The contents registered in the A community link strength field 124-1 of the record of “Bengetsu Hazuki” in the management table 102-1 are updated with the calculated link strength. When the evaluation data is received from “Kinoshita Fujiko”, “Hashiba Hideko”, “Nagatsuki Jinzu” and “Minazuki Uzuki”, similarly, “Kinoshita Fujiko”, “Hashiba” in the link strength management table 102-1 of “Oda Nobuko”. The A community link strength field 124-1 of each record of “Hideko”, “Nagatsuki Jinzu”, and “Minazuki Minazuki” is updated.

For example, when the link strength when a message is transmitted from the user i to the user j is Lij and the evaluation value of the user j with respect to the content of the message of the user i is x, the link strength is, for example, an evaluation value for the link strength Lij before the update. Calculated and updated by Equation 4 which simply adds x.
Lij (n + 1) = Lij (n) + x (4)
Here, Lij (n) is the link strength Lij for the nth evaluation.

Further, for example, the link strength Lij can be calculated and updated using a piecewise linear function in Equation 1, that is, Equation 5 (Equation 5-1 and Equation 5-2), from the viewpoint of making the maximum value constant. Good.
Lij (n + 1) = Lmax; (Lmax <Lij (n) + x) (5-1)
Lij (n + 1) = Lij (n) + x; (Lij (n) + x ≦ Lmax)
... (5-2)
Here, Lmax is the maximum value of the link strength Lij. same as below.

Further, for example, the link strength Lij may be calculated and updated by using a sigmoid function in Equation 4, that is, by Equation 6, from the viewpoint of making the maximum value constant.
Lij (n + 1) = Lmax * (1 / (1 + exp (− (Lij (n) + x))))
... (6)
Here, * is a multiplication symbol, and exp (w) means that the base of the natural logarithm is raised to the power of w.

Further, for example, the link strength Lij may be calculated and updated by Expression 7 (Expressions 7-1 to 7-3).
Lij (n + 1) = Lij (n) + f (Lij (n) * α * x) (7-1)
Lij (n + 1) = 0; (Lij (n + 1) <0) (7-2)
Lij (1) = α * c (7-3)
Here, f (w) is an arbitrary monotonically increasing function with respect to w. For example, f (w) = a * w + b (a, b> 0). α is an arbitrary positive constant, and c is the first evaluation value x. As shown in Expression 7-2, when the link strength Lij (n + 1) becomes negative as a result of the update according to Expression 7-1, Lij (n + 1) = 0 is set.

Further, for example, from the viewpoint of making the total sum of the link strengths from the user i to all other users constant, the calculation and update may be performed according to (Expression 8-1 and Expression 8-2) in Expression 8.
Lij (n + 1) = (Lij (n) + x) * Lsum / (Lsum + x)
... (8-1)
Lik (n + 1) = Lik (n) * Lsum / (Lsum + x); (k ≠ j)
... (8-2)
Here, Lsum is the total sum of link strengths from user i to all other users. Similarly, the sum of the link strengths of all users may be made constant.

  On the other hand, in S41, the link strength processing unit 34 updates the community link strength corresponding to the community of the evaluation data in the record corresponding to the transmission destination with zero in the link strength management table corresponding to the transmission source.

  By operating in this way, the link strength between the user who sent the message and the user who received the message is calculated and updated based on the evaluation value for the message. Therefore, when the user who transmitted the message transmits the message next time, the message is transmitted with the link strength in consideration of the evaluation of the message. That is, if the evaluation is positive, the probability that the message will be transmitted next time is higher than this time, and if the evaluation is negative, the probability that the message is transmitted next time is lower than this time. Therefore, for a user who transmits a message, a message is preferentially transmitted by a person who has sympathy for the message, and for a user who receives a message, a message that is likely to have sympathy is preferentially received. Since the link strength is updated based on the evaluation value every time a message is transmitted / received, the link strength is optimized.

  Next, the operation of the community analysis tool will be described.

  Community analysis is to examine users (members) belonging to a community. In the community analysis according to the present embodiment, by extracting other users whose link strength to the analysis target user is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, other users belonging to the community of the analysis target user are examined within a predetermined range. It is.

  When the community analysis is instructed from the input unit 23 by an analyst who performs community analysis, the message link device 11 causes the community analysis processing unit 35 of the central processing unit 21 to display, for example, FIG. The community analysis screen 401 shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a community analysis screen.

  11, the community analysis screen 401 includes a key person input field 411 for inputting a key person, a social value input field 412 for inputting a social value, a community analysis result display field 413 for displaying a result of community analysis, and an analysis. And an “analysis” button 414 for instructing the start of the operation.

  The key person is a user to be analyzed, and the social value is a threshold value that determines a predetermined range of the community. The key person input field 411 may be a system in which the user name to be used as the key person is directly entered. However, when the key person entry field 411 is clicked with, for example, a mouse, the transmission registered in the transmission frequency field 116 of the user management table 101 is used. User names that can be selected based on the number of times may be displayed in a pull-down manner. For example, user names that can be sorted and sorted in descending order of the number of transmissions may be displayed in a pull-down manner. By configuring in this way, the analyst can know the user names that can be selected as the key person, and can save the trouble of direct entry. Furthermore, since the selectable user names sorted based on the number of transmissions are displayed, the analyst can easily select an information hub user who is transmitting more information as a user to be analyzed.

  In this embodiment, the community analysis result display column 413 includes an A community analysis result display column 413-A for displaying other users belonging to the A community, and a B community for displaying other users belonging to the three communities. B community analysis result display column 413-B for displaying other users belonging to C, and C community analysis result display column 413-C for displaying other users belonging to C community. And each community analysis result display column 413-A, 413-B, 413-C has member display column 413-1A, 413-1B, 413-1C which displays the user itself which belongs to a community, and the member displayed. Scroll bars 413-2A, 413-2B, and 413-2C for changing the display area are provided.

  The analyst inputs a key person and a social value on the community analysis screen 401 and operates an “analysis” button 414. When the “analysis” button 414 is operated, the community analysis processing unit 35 determines whether or not a key person and a social value are input. If at least one of the key person and the social value is not input as a result of the determination, the community analysis processing unit 35 redisplays the community analysis screen 401 to prompt the input of these values.

  On the other hand, if both the key person and the social value are input as a result of the determination, the community analysis processing unit 35 searches the key person link strength management table 102. Next, the community analysis processing unit 35 determines whether or not the link strength registered in the community link strength field 124 is greater than or equal to the social value with respect to the community link strength field 124 in the searched link strength management table 102. Judgment is made sequentially for the records. In the case of the present embodiment, the community analysis processing unit 35 performs an A community link on the A community link strength field 124-1 in the searched link strength management table 102 in order to analyze other users belonging to the A community. Whether or not the link strength registered in the strength field 124-1 is greater than or equal to the social value is sequentially determined for all records. Then, the community analysis processing unit 35 performs analysis on the B community link strength field 124-2 and the C community link strength field 124-3 in order to analyze other users belonging to the B community and other users belonging to the C community. A similar process is executed.

  Next, the community analysis processing unit 35 displays the user name registered in the user name field 122 in the record whose link strength is greater than or equal to the social value in the community analysis result display field 413. In the case of the present embodiment, the analysis result for the A community is displayed in the A community analysis result display column 413-A, the analysis result for the B community is displayed in the B community analysis result display column 413-B, and the C community The analysis result for the C community is displayed in the analysis result display field 413-C.

  Since the message link device 11 operates in this way, the analyst can analyze users belonging to the key person community. Further, when commercial mail is sent, it can be used to analyze users belonging to a community related to the commercial mail. By sending the commercial email to the user of the analysis result, it is sent to the user who is interested in the commercial email. Therefore, the content of the commercial email from the sending user is more than when the user is selected and sent at random. Can expect more responses to, and can send commercial emails efficiently. In this way, it can be used for marketing.

  The social value may be configured to be stored in advance in the message link device 11 as a fixed value. However, in this embodiment, the social value can be specified, so the degree of association with the key person is changed. , Users belonging to the community can be analyzed.

  In the above-described embodiment, a message transmission / reception function for transmitting / receiving a message, a link strength management function for managing link strength, a transmission destination determination function for determining a transmission destination of a message based on the link strength, and a community analysis function for analyzing a community However, the message link device may be realized by distributing these functions to a plurality of computers and connecting the computers in a communicable manner. For example, a mail server computer that includes a storage unit corresponding to the transmission message storage unit 43 and the reception message storage unit 44 and manages transmission and reception of messages, and a storage unit that corresponds to the link strength management table storage unit 42 to manage link strength. A database computer, a processing unit corresponding to the transmission destination selection processing unit 33 and a link strength processing unit 34, a message link computer that realizes a transmission destination determination function, and a processing unit corresponding to the community analysis processing unit 35. The message link device may be realized by communicably connecting a community analysis computer that realizes a community analysis function.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the message link system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a message link apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of a user management table. It is a figure which shows a link strength management table. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which transmits the message in a message link apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the login screen displayed on a terminal device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the transmission message input screen displayed on a terminal device. It is a figure for demonstrating the transmission condition of a message, and the reception condition of an evaluation value. It is a schematic diagram which shows the received message display screen displayed on a terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which calculates the link intensity | strength in a message link apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows a community analysis screen.

Explanation of symbols

10 Message Link System 11 Message Link Device 12 Terminal Device 13 Communication Network 21 Central Processing Unit 22 Communication Interface 23 Input Unit 24 Display Unit 27 Auxiliary Storage Unit 33 Destination Selection Processing Unit 34 Link Strength Processing Unit 35 Community Analysis Processing Unit 42 Link Strength Management table storage unit 101 User management table 102 Link strength management table 115, 123 Email address field 116 Transmission count field 124 Community link strength field 202 Transmission message input screen 203 Reception message display screen 221 Community input column 222 Friendly value input column 223 Transmission Message entry field 231 Community display field 232 Transmission source user name field 233 Reception message display field 234 Evaluation input field 235 “Link disconnection” button 40 1 Community Analysis Screen 411 Key Person Input Field 412 Social Value Input Field 413 Community Analysis Result Display Field

Claims (8)

In a message transmission processing device for selecting a transmission destination of a message transmitted via a communication network between a plurality of terminal devices respectively used by a plurality of users,
A link strength storage unit that stores a link strength that is a degree of connection between the plurality of users with respect to a predetermined subject;
A message transmission processing apparatus comprising: a transmission destination selection processing unit that selects a transmission destination of the message based on a link strength related to a user who is a transmission source of the message. The message transmission processing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission destination selection processing unit further selects a predetermined number as a transmission destination of the message from among terminal devices not selected as the transmission destination of the message. . The said transmission destination selection process part selects as a transmission destination of the said message, when the transmission probability calculated based on the said link intensity | strength is more than a predetermined 1st threshold value. Message transmission processing device. The message transmission processing device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined first threshold value is input in a changeable manner from a transmission source terminal device that transmits the message. The predetermined subject matter is plural,
The message transmission according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the link strength storage unit stores a plurality of link strengths according to each predetermined subject for one user. Processing equipment. A link strength processing unit that receives an evaluation of the message from the terminal device that has received the message and updates a link strength between the transmission source of the message and the transmission source of the evaluation based on the received evaluation; The message transmission processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein An input unit for inputting a predetermined second threshold;
A community analysis processing unit that reads link strength from the link strength storage unit and extracts users whose link strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold;
The message transmission processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays an analysis result of the community analysis processing unit. In a message transmission processing method for selecting a transmission destination of a message transmitted via a communication network between a plurality of terminal devices respectively used by a plurality of users,
Receiving a message to be transmitted via a communication network from a terminal device used by one user;
Selecting a message transmission destination based on a link strength related to the one user in a link strength that is a degree of connection between the plurality of users with respect to a predetermined subject. Method.

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