JP2008046911A - Group management system and group management method in bidirectional communication service - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system allowing users utilizing bidirectional communication service to belong to any groups similarly to real society and suitably managing these groups and a system for supporting a service provider (supervisor) to perform various businesses to users in each group. <P>SOLUTION: In a communication system 1, user terminal apparatuses 16 to 18 used by users and a supervisor terminal apparatus 15 used by a supervisor are connected to a data center 10 respectively through a network 14. A supervisor's application server 12 installed in the data center 10 registers one or more groups to which users belong in a database 13 and manages at least service application authority or restriction. The supervisor can take various actions such as the transmission of news and messages, the distribution of advertisement and the proposal of article sales to an optional group and users belonging to the group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a communication service represented by a social networking service (SNS) that can be used on the Internet or the like, in which a service provider individually groups multiple users who want to give different user rights and restrictions. The present invention relates to a novel system and method.

  Currently, there are many interactive communication services represented by social networking services (SNS) and systems for realizing them on the Internet. Compared to writing on an Internet bulletin board or the like, they are easy to give continuity to communication between users, and are characterized by being able to realize stronger ties between users.

  These interactive communication services are characterized by the fact that the user's friendship is open to other users and that messages can be exchanged between arbitrary users, and that the user or administrator can select any theme (or genre). ) Users can participate in one or more virtual spaces (interaction areas) called communities, and users can freely communicate with each other along the theme (genre) on the community. It is realized by that.

  Many of these services employ a so-called “invitation system” in which new user registration is permitted by being invited from an existing user in the user registration method. In some cases, the registration method “registration system” is adopted.

  For example, in an existing service that uses an invitation system, a newly registered user on the invited side usually participates freely in any community regardless of the community to which the existing user on the invited side belongs, and within that community. It is possible to search for members, exchange opinions, and share information. There are already services that allow registered users to form new communities.

On the other hand, a system has been proposed in which user preference information sent from a terminal device is received and managed by a server to automate the formation of a community (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-245212 A

  According to the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a service provider can refer to information exchanged in a community automatically formed by a server and can provide necessary information to the community. Has been. Further, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the server performs user clustering based on user preference information, and recognizes the formed class as a community.

  In general, interactive communication services represented by social networking services (SNS) can be compared to the “virtual society on the net”, but users are treated uniformly in actual services. Currently. That is, the rights and restrictions granted to individual users who access the site in a single community system are uniform and are not distinguished at all. On the other hand, in the real world, people usually belong to some group, and various rights and restrictions are usually given to each group.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for allowing a user who uses an interactive communication service to belong to some group as in the real world and appropriately manage those groups. .

  Another object of the present invention is not only to make the interactive communication service easy to adapt to a real community such as an actual member organization, but also for the service provider (administrator) to respond to the rights of each group. The administrator conducts various businesses for users in each group, such as restricting the range of service usage, and performing various actions related to services (advertising, sales of goods, etc.) for users in each group. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for supporting this.

  In order to achieve the above object, the group management system of the present invention is an interactive type that provides a communication service between a plurality of user terminal devices via a communication line from an information center device including an application server and a database. A group management system in a communication system, comprising an administrator terminal device connected to the information center device via the communication line, wherein the application server assigns one or more groups to which a user belongs to each user Group registration means for determining and registering in the database, and for each group registered in the database based on management information input from the administrator terminal device, at least service usage authority of users belonging to the group or Manage constraints, Serial and group management means for controlling the service usage limitations of the user on the application server, characterized in that it comprises a.

According to the present invention, at least service usage authority or restrictions can be given to users on the community system in units of groups separately from the community, so that a hierarchical society similar to the real world can be virtually realized. . That is, it is possible to limit access to various services (user search, friend registration, message exchange, community participation, etc.) on the community system in units of groups to which the user belongs. This means that according to the present invention, one virtual community system can be realized for each group. Therefore, it is possible to improve the system investment effect and apply it to a plurality of member organizations (groups) with one system. Note that since there is no need to particularly limit the number of groups that can be registered by the administrator, it is possible to arbitrarily register an optimum group for an actual member organization or the like that introduces the community system.
In addition, according to the present invention, when a company operating a plurality of existing member organizations newly introduces community service, each member organization can be managed as a group. There is no loss of sex.

  In the group management system of the present invention, when receiving registration of a newly registered user, group distribution means for distributing the newly registered user to any one or a plurality of groups registered in advance by the group registration means Further, it may be included.

  In the group management system of the present invention, when the group distribution unit accepts registration of a newly registered user, the group to which the registered user who invited or solicited the newly registered user belongs is assigned to the group of the newly registered user. You may make it determine to a group.

  According to the present invention, in the case of new user registration by invitation system, the group to which the inviting user belongs is automatically assigned as the group to which the invited user belongs, so the administrator's effort is required In addition, it is possible to increase the number of users in the affiliated group accurately and efficiently with reasonable reasoning for the users.

  Further, in the group management system of the present invention, when the group distribution unit accepts registration of a newly registered user, it is determined whether or not a group group selection right by the newly registered user is permitted by the administrator. If it is, the group registration input by the newly registered user may be accepted to determine the group to which the newly registered user belongs.

  According to the present invention, a new registered user (for example, an invited third party) selects himself and belongs to one or more groups on the community system on the condition that the administrator has prior permission. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to build a virtual society closer to the real world while on the community system.

  In the group management system of the present invention, the group registration unit may determine a group to which the user belongs based on information on a target user selection input and an affiliation group selection input from an administrator terminal device. good.

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to perform grouping for users on the community system selected by the administrator, the administrator in the case of newly creating a member organization (group) or dividing the member organization The work efficiency can be greatly improved.

  In the group management system of the present invention, the application server receives an administrator action selection input and a target group selection input from an administrator terminal device, and a user belonging to the target group based on the received input May further include action executing means for executing the manager action.

  According to the present invention, the administrator of the community system can perform various actions desired by the administrator in units of groups for users belonging to each group. This includes, for example, sending news and messages from a manager to a specific group, distributing advertisements, selling goods, and granting privileges. As a result, the administrator can not only provide community services to the user, but also have an opportunity to perform various businesses for the user for each group.

  Further, in the group management system of the present invention, the application server adds or deletes a group to the database, or inputs an input for correcting a group name or the service use authority or restriction for each group registered in the database. Further, it may further include group correction / deletion means that receives and executes from the administrator terminal device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to modify a management item of a group registered by an administrator, modify an authority item such as access restriction, or delete the group itself.

  The group management method of the present invention is a group management method in a bidirectional communication system that provides a communication service between a plurality of user terminal devices via a communication line from an information center device including an application server and a database. A step of determining one or a plurality of groups to which the user belongs for each user and registering the group in the database, and input from the administrator terminal device connected to the information center device via the communication line Receiving group management information; for each group registered in the database based on the received group management information, managing at least service use authority or restrictions of users belonging to the group; and on the application server so Characterized in that it comprises a step of controlling the service usage limitations over THE, the.

  As described above, according to the present invention, generally, a user on the community system can be given at least service usage authority or usage restrictions in units called groups separately from the community, so that a hierarchical society similar to the real society can be virtualized. There is an advantage that can be realized.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the administrator of the community system can perform various actions desired by the administrator for each user belonging to each group.

  The above objects and advantages of the present invention and other objects and advantages will be more clearly understood through the following description of embodiments. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a community system 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the community system 1 includes a data center 10 for processing and storing data for providing an interactive community service. The data center 10 includes a user application server 11, an administrator application server 12, and a database 13.

  The community system 1 also includes user terminal devices 16, 17, 18 used by users who use the service, and an administrator terminal device 15 used by an administrator who manages the system. The user terminal devices 16, 17, and 18 can access the user application server 11 of the data center 10 via the network 14 and use the data stored in the database 13. Similarly, the administrator terminal device 15 can access the administrator application server 12 of the data center 10 via the network 14 and use the data stored in the database 13.

  The user application server 11 is a server device that transmits and receives data to and from the user terminal devices 16, 17, and 18 according to various protocols via the network 14, and provides a user screen to the user. The user application server 11 is a web page stored in a built-in storage device (not shown) in response to requests from the user terminal devices 16, 17, and 18 in accordance with management settings and control of the administrator application server 12 described later. Are transmitted via the network 14. In addition, the user application server 11 statically or dynamically creates a web page including data stored in the database 13 in response to a request from the user terminal devices 16, 17, and 18, and the terminal device that has issued the request Send to.

  The administrator application server 12 is a server device that transmits / receives data to / from the administrator terminal device 15 via the network 14 according to various protocols, and provides an administrator screen to the administrator. In response to a request from the administrator terminal device 15, the manager application server 12 transmits web page data stored in a built-in storage device (not shown) via the network 14. Further, the administrator application server 12 statically or dynamically creates a web page including data stored in the database 13 in response to a request from the administrator terminal device 15, and sends it to the terminal device that issued the request. Send to.

  The database 13 stores various data according to the control of the user application server 11 and the administrator application server 12.

  The network 14 is configured to include various communication lines such as a dedicated line, a public telephone line, a satellite communication line, and various servers (not shown), and the specific mode is not particularly limited. Between the data center 10, user terminal devices 16, 17, and 18 and the administrator terminal device 15 and the network 14, an ISP (Internet Service Provider), an NSP (Network Service Provider), a mobile phone operator Although various devices such as servers, firewalls, gateway devices, etc. provided by the network may be provided, they are not shown here. A typical example of the network 14 is the Internet, but it may be a LAN (Local Area Network) or another network.

  The user terminal devices 16, 17, 18 and the administrator terminal device 15 are terminal devices including a web browser for browsing web pages. The user terminal devices 16, 17, 18 and the administrator terminal device 15 are a communication function unit for transmitting and receiving various data via the network 14, one or more display screens for displaying an operation screen of a web page, and an input operation. A key operation unit and the like are provided. The web browsers provided in the user terminal devices 16, 17, 18 and the administrator terminal device 15 can be operated by an operation in the key operation unit or by a predetermined command.

  Here, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), Compact HTML, DHTML (Dynamic HTML), WML (Wireless Markup Language L), HDML (Handheld DeviceL) These are described in an extended language, but are not particularly limited. For example, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), and the like. External programs are provided by those that include image data files that conform to various standards such as MP (bitmap), those that contain audio data files and moving image data files, CGI (Common Gateway Interface), ASP (Active Server Pages), etc. Or a description including a description in a script language. It should be noted that the various standards described above are merely examples, and the scope of application of the present invention naturally includes standards compliant with standards other than the above and standards that are expanded from the above standards in the present and future.

  As described above, the user terminal devices 16, 17, and 18 are terminal devices used by the user, but as shown in FIG. 1, the users 161, 171, and 181 are personal computers 162, 172, and a mobile phone 182. Either may be used.

  The personal computers 162 and 172 are, for example, desktop or notebook personal computers, and include a web browser capable of browsing the web page. The personal computers 162 and 172 include a communication function unit for transmitting and receiving various data via the network 14, an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch pad, a display having a display screen, and the like. The web browsers provided in the personal computers 162 and 172 can be operated by an operation on an input device or by inputting a predetermined command.

  The mobile phone 182 is a mobile phone including the web browser, and includes a communication function unit for transmitting / receiving various data via the network 14, a display screen, a keyboard operation unit, and the like. The web browser included in the mobile phone 182 can be operated by an operation in the key operation unit or by inputting a predetermined command.

  The administrator terminal device 15 is a terminal device used by the system administrator 151 as described above. The administrator terminal device 15 is a computer 152, for example, a desktop or notebook personal computer, and includes a web browser capable of browsing the web page. The administrator terminal device 15 includes a communication function unit for transmitting and receiving various data via the network 14, an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch pad, a display including a display screen, and the like. The web browser provided in the administrator terminal device 15 can be operated by an operation on the input device or by inputting a predetermined command.

  Note that detailed configurations of the user terminal devices 16, 17, 18 and the administrator terminal device 15 are not shown here.

  An overview of the community system 1 configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall concept of a user usage space in the community system 1.

  The virtual space 20 on the community system mainly includes a group 21 for a user to belong to, a user 24, a community 23 that is a small communication space for the user 24 to participate in, a category 22 that is a set of communities, and the like. There are multiple of each. That is, in the virtual space 20 on the community system, there are a plurality of groups 21A, 21B, 21C, a plurality of categories 221, 222, and a plurality of communities 231, 232, 233, 234 included in these categories as illustrated. Exists.

  In the virtual space 20 on the community system, the user 24 communicates with other users 24 permitted to contact by a message or the like, and the access is permitted to the community 23 in the category 22 permitted to access. Participating and communicating with other users 24 who are further allowed to contact in a small space called community 23.

  The above shows only the main elements existing in the virtual space 20 on the community system, and the outline of the service is described as an example. In addition to this, small individual elements and services constituting the virtual space on the community system However, since it is naturally included in the present invention regarding the handling thereof, it is not shown here.

  Prior to the group registration processing by the administrator shown in FIG. 3, information on the administrator 151 who uses the administrator terminal device 15 is registered in the administrator application server 12 and the database 13. This information includes, for example, the name of the administrator who uses the computer 152, the e-mail address, the administrator ID and password assigned to the administrator, etc., when there is access to the data center 10 from the computer 152. Information notified from the device to the data center 10 is included.

With reference to FIG. 3, the details of the group registration processing by the administrator will be described first.
In order to perform group registration input (step S11), the administrator accesses the administrator application server 12 by operating the administrator terminal device 15, and displays the group registration input page by the web browser of the administrator terminal device 15. Browsing and performing group registration input for newly registering information such as a group name on the group registration input page (step S12). The administrator application server 12 acquires the information input in step S12 and registers it in the database 13 (step S13). When registering a plurality of groups, the above process is repeated.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a group registration process for newly registered users will be described. When the user registration method is set to the invitation system on the community system, the user application server 11 provides an invitation message for the user 24 to invite the third party 25 by operating the user terminal device. Input is made on the user screen (step S21). The user application server 11 refers to the database 13 to check the group to which the invited user belongs (steps S22 and S23), and then transmits an invitation message to the third party 25 (step S24). When the third party 25 receiving the invitation message accepts the invitation (step S25), the third party 25 inputs new user information on the user screen provided by the user application server 11 (step S26). The user application server 11 acquires the information input in step S 26, and automatically assigns the group to which the third party 25 belongs to the same group as the group to which the invited user 24 belongs. Register as a new user (step S27).

  By the way, in the community system of the present invention, the administrator can limit the use range of various services (user search, friend registration, message exchange, community participation, etc.) on the community system for each group.

With reference to FIG. 5, the restriction management process of various service usage ranges on the community system will be described.
First, the administrator operates the administrator terminal device 15 to access the administrator application server 12 in order to perform a group use restriction input (step S31) for each group, and the group is displayed by the web browser of the administrator terminal device 15. The usage restriction input page is browsed, and the group usage restriction input is performed on the group usage restriction input page (step S32). Group usage restrictions include, but are not limited to, access conditions for various services on the community system, such as user search, friend registration, message exchange, community participation, etc. It means a user's authority to use services or restrictions. The administrator application server 12 acquires the management information (group usage restriction input) input in step S32 and registers it in the database 13 (step S33). The user application server 11 controls actual usage restrictions on the user application server 11 based on the registered management information (step S34). Thereby, the administrator can manage and specify the access conditions for various services on the community system in detail for each group, for example.

  As for various services on the community system subject to restriction of the scope of use, the above-mentioned services are only examples of the main services, and there are other various services. Are not included here.

  In the community system of the present invention, while the user 24 is registered as a user, the user 24 must belong to any group, but as shown in the user 24AB of FIG. 2, the user must belong to a plurality of groups at the same time. Is also possible. The method for causing a user to belong to a plurality of groups at the same time is the same as the group automatically invited when a third party is invited from a user belonging to a plurality of groups, as in the flow shown in FIG. And a method for registering a user to a plurality of groups by an operation of an administrator described below.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, the affiliation registration process of a user to a plurality of groups by the operation of the administrator will be described in detail.
The administrator operates the administrator terminal device 15 to access the administrator application server 12 and browses a user selection page on the administrator screen in order to select a target user (step S41) ( Step S42). When the corresponding user is designated on the user selection page, the administrator application server 12 refers to the database 13 and calls the user data of the designated user (step S43).

  When a user is selected by the above steps, the administrator then browses the group selection page and selects one or more groups to which the user belongs in order to select the group to which the user belongs (step S44). Is selected (step S45). The administrator application server 12 acquires the information on the selected group that was input in step S45, and registers the acquired information in the database 13 or updates the information on the group that has already been stored ( Step S46) and the process is completed.

  When the user belongs to a plurality of groups instead of one group, the system usage range restriction on the community system set for each group according to the flow shown in FIG. Applied. However, as a condition for applying the system use range limitation of a plurality of groups, the administrator can select whether to apply an AND condition or an OR condition for each of various services (step S35). The administrator application server 12 acquires management information set by the administrator for a plurality of groups and registers it in the database 13 (step S33). The user application server 11 controls actual usage restrictions on the user application server 11 based on the registered management information (step S34).

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the belonging group selection processing by a third party when a user belonging to a plurality of groups (for example, the user AB) invites the third party 25 will be described.
In the community system of the present invention, in addition to the above-described method of automatically registering a third party in the same group as the group to which the invited user belongs (FIG. 4), the third party belongs to his / her own will. A method of selecting a group (FIG. 7) is provided.

  The processing flow in which the user invites a third party when the user registration method is set to the invitation system is as shown in FIG. 4, but in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. Only when invited by a user belonging to a group and the administrator has permitted the group selection by the third party, the third party will be assigned to any of the groups to which the invited user belongs. The processing flow shown in FIG. 4 can be modified so as to select whether it belongs (step S56). In this case, the group selected by the third party is registered as a belonging group in the database 13 (step S58). Note that the processing in steps S51 to S55 in FIG. 7 corresponds to the processing in steps S21 to S25 in FIG. 4, and the processing in step S57 corresponds to the processing in step S26 in FIG. A detailed explanation is not given here.

  According to the above processing, when a plurality of groups and registration / affiliation groups for each user are registered in the database 13, the administrator of the community system targets any group among the groups registered so far. It is possible to take various actions such as sending news and messages, distributing advertisements, offering goods sales, offering contents sales, granting privileges, and requesting questionnaires to the group and affiliated users.

With reference to FIG. 8, a description will be given of a process in which the administrator executes various actions for an arbitrary group.
First, the administrator operates the administrator terminal device 15 to access the administrator application server 12, and selects an administrator action on the administrator screen in order to select an action he / she wants to take (step S61). The page is browsed (step S62). When the corresponding administrator action is selected on the administrator action selection page, the administrator application server 12 refers to the database 13 and calls the selected administrator action data (step S63).

  When the administrator action to be executed is selected by the above steps, the administrator then browses the target group selection page in order to select the target group by operating the administrator terminal device 15 (step S64). A group to be executed is designated and selected (step S65). When the target group is selected on the target group selection page, the manager application server 12 refers to the database 13 and calls the group data (step S66).

  Next, the administrator operates the administrator terminal device 15 and browses the action content setting / input page to set and input specific action contents (step S67). In step S68, setting and input are performed. The administrator application server 12 acquires the information input in step S68 and registers it in the database 13 (step S69). The user application server 11 controls and executes the action content selected by the administrator on the user application server 11 based on the action content registered in the database 13 (step S70).

  In the present invention, it should be noted that the target users who pass the action selected by the administrator are only users belonging to the group specifically selected in steps S64 to S66. In this way, the user belonging to the group that passively acts from the administrator passively acts by the administrator (step S71), and performs a reaction as necessary (step S72).

  Here, examples of actions that can be performed by the administrator include news and message transmission, advertisement distribution, goods sales offer, content sales offer, privilege grant, questionnaire request, etc. Although only the behavior is shown, there are various other behaviors, but their handling is naturally included in the present invention and is not listed here.

  Also, depending on the actions that can be performed by the administrator, some of the processes shown in FIG. 8, for example, omitting the step of setting and inputting the action contents, the order of the process flow may be changed, etc. Since the handling of the above does not naturally affect the gist of the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted.

  In the community system of the present invention, group correction processing and deletion processing are realized as group management functions by the administrator (FIG. 9).

  Referring to FIG. 9, the group correction process includes a group name correction process, which will be described later, and a group usage restriction correction process for correcting the usage restriction by the same process as the restriction management process shown in FIG. First, the administrator operates the administrator terminal device 15 to access the administrator application server 12. The administrator application server 12 receives a group correction request (step S80) from the administrator terminal device 15, and when it is a request to correct a group name that has already been created, the administrator application server 12 stores necessary data on the group name correction page. It transmits to the administrator terminal device 15. In order to correct the created group name (step S81), the administrator browses the group name correction page and performs correction input of the group name on the group name correction page (step S82). The administrator application server 12 acquires the management information corrected in step S82 and registers it in the database 13 (step S83). The user application server 11 controls actual usage restrictions on the user application server 11 based on the management information that has been corrected and registered.

  Next, the group deletion process will be described. When there is a group deletion request from the administrator terminal device (step S84), the administrator application server 12 checks the database 13 to confirm whether the user belongs to the group that the administrator wants to delete. (Steps S85 and S86), and the result is returned to the administrator terminal device. If there is a user who belongs, the administrator moves the group to another group and updates the group (steps S90, S91), or withdraws from the community service and the user Either one of the processes of deleting registration (steps S92 and S93) is selected and input by itself (steps S87 and S88). In addition, the administrator notifies the user belonging to the group scheduled to be deleted that the group is to be deleted, and selects either moving or withdrawing of the belonging group by operating the user terminal device by the user (step S89). ) Can be arbitrarily selected (step S88).

  In the above embodiment, the case where the data center 10 includes the user application server 11 and the administrator application server 12 has been described. However, when physically independent server devices are respectively installed, or one server Either a server program for a user application or a server program for an administrator application may be executed on the apparatus.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the database 13 can be configured by either an optical or magnetic information recording apparatus, a semiconductor memory device, or a combination thereof.

  Other components of the present invention can be modified, replaced, or changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention realizes a virtual social networking service (SNS) in units of groups for a service provider (administrator). Therefore, according to the group management mechanism of the present invention, when a company operating a plurality of existing member organizations newly introduces community services, each member organization can be managed in groups. Does not impair user independence in member organizations.

In addition, according to the present invention, a service provider (administrator) can obtain a user database in which a plurality of member organizations are integrated, and therefore can provide community services that traverse users of various service sites. Therefore, service providers (administrators) are able to sell goods, sell contents, introduce and arrange human resources, consult services by various experts, RSS (RDF
Site Management or Really Simple Syndication) distribution, marketing / research, advertisement / campaign, privilege granting, etc. are extended by group management of users of various service systems using the group management system according to the present invention. An interactive communication system can be realized.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the community system 1 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole user utilization space concept in the community system. It is a flowchart which shows the group registration process performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the affiliation group automatic distribution process of the newly registered user performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the restriction | limiting management process of the various service use range on a community system performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the affiliation registration process to the user's several group by operation of the administrator performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the third party invited from the user who belongs to the plurality of groups performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the system administrator performs various action for arbitrary groups. It is a flowchart which shows the correction process and deletion process of a group by an administrator performed by the community system 1 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Community system 10 Data center 11 User application server 12 Administrator application server 13 Database 14 Network 15 Administrator terminal device 16 User terminal device 17 User terminal device 18 User terminal device 20 Virtual space on a community system 21 Group 22 Category 23 Community 24 users 25 third parties

Claims (9)

A group management system in a bidirectional communication system that provides a communication service between a plurality of user terminal devices via a communication line from an information center device including an application server and a database,
An administrator terminal device connected to the information center device via the communication line,
The application server is
A group registration means for determining one or more groups to which the user belongs for each user and registering the group in the database;
Based on the group management information input from the administrator terminal device, for each group registered in the database, manages at least service use authority or restrictions of users belonging to the group, and on the application server A group management means for controlling user service restriction;
Including,
A group management system characterized by A group distribution unit that distributes a newly registered user to any one or a plurality of groups pre-registered by the group registration unit when registration of a newly registered user is received;
The group management system according to claim 1, further comprising:   The group distribution unit, when accepting registration of a newly registered user, determines a group to which a registered user who invited or solicited the newly registered user belongs as a group to which the newly registered user belongs. Item 3. The group management system according to Item 2.   When the group distribution unit accepts the registration of a newly registered user, the group distribution unit determines whether the affiliation group selection right by the newly registered user is permitted by the administrator, and if permitted, by the newly registered user 5. The group management system according to claim 4, wherein a group selection input is accepted and a group to which the newly registered user belongs is determined.   The group management system according to claim 1, wherein the group registration unit determines a group to which the user belongs based on information of a target user selection input and a belonging group selection input from an administrator terminal device. The application server is
An action execution means for receiving an administrator action selection input from the administrator terminal device and a target group selection input, and executing the administrator action for a user belonging to the target group based on the received input;
The group management system according to claim 1, further comprising:   The administrator behavior is any one or more of transmission of news and messages, distribution of advertisements, offer of article sales, offer of content sales, grant of privilege, and request for questionnaire. Item 6. The group management system according to Item 5. The application server is
A group correction that adds or deletes a group in the database, or receives an input for correcting a group name or the service use restriction or restriction for each group registered in the database from the administrator terminal device, The group management system according to claim 1, further comprising deletion means. A group management method in a bidirectional communication system, which provides a communication service between a plurality of user terminal devices via a communication line from an information center device including an application server and a database,
Determining one or more groups to which the user belongs for each user and registering them in the database;
Receiving group management information input from the administrator terminal connected to the information center device via the communication line;
Based on the received group management information, for each group registered in the database, manages at least service usage authority or restrictions of users belonging to the group, and controls user service usage restrictions on the application server And steps to
A group management method comprising:

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