JP2013167996A - Message generation support device, message generation support method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a message generation support device, a message generation support method and a program that can present appropriate difference contents according to a user receiving a document.SOLUTION: Message generation means generates a third message with a transmission destination of a second user to which a second document formed by revising a first document in response to operation by a first user is attached as a reply to a second message. Extraction means extracts a character string representing a range in the first document from the second message. Difference generation means generates a difference between the first document and the second document. Difference processing means processes the difference on the basis of the range in the first document represented by the character string extracted and adds the processed difference to the third message.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a message creation support apparatus, a message creation support method, and a program that support creation of a message.

  In recent business, it is common to use electronic mail. Particularly in an atypical business, a business document (hereinafter simply referred to as a document) is attached to a message such as an e-mail, and the contents of the document are frequently exchanged and discussed.

  A document creator edits a document while reflecting the comments of many discussion participants (users who exchange messages), and registers the document in a document management system after obtaining approval.

  Also, in a system related to a document application or the like, there is often a discussion or return of document correction or improvement at each stage of the application process.

  By the way, as the number of participants in the discussion increases, the contents of revisions become diversified and the number of times increases, it becomes difficult for the participants to check the entire contents of the document itself.

  For this reason, when the document creator sends the document as an attachment to the message, the document's change contents (change points) are described in the message, so that the recipient of the document (the user who receives the document) ) May be made to understand the changes quickly and accurately.

  However, the task of describing the changes in the message so that the recipient can quickly and accurately understand is complicated.

  In addition, because the location of the document that the recipient has confirmed or is interested in (that is, the location of interest) is unknown, the changes are made so that the recipient can quickly and accurately understand the changes. Is difficult to describe in the message. Even if the contents of the change are described in the message, for example, if the outline of the contents of the change is described but the important details of the details are not described, the receiver may not be able to understand the contents of the change accurately. Similarly, when there are many descriptions of details of the change contents, there is a possibility that the entire change contents cannot be accurately understood. Further, the creator (writer) of the document may not be able to grasp all the changes of the document.

  For example, a technique for automatically obtaining a difference between a document before and after revision (a previous version document and a latest version document) is known. According to this, it is possible to easily grasp a place added, deleted, or replaced between two documents.

JP 2008-134833 A

  As described above, when the difference between two documents is acquired, the changed part between the two documents can be grasped, but the contents of the discussion so far and the part that the receiver is interested in are not considered. The recipient may not be able to understand the contents of the change quickly and accurately only by presenting the difference.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a message creation support apparatus, a message creation support method, and a program capable of presenting appropriate difference contents according to a user who receives a document.

  According to the embodiment, the storage unit, the message creation unit, the extraction unit, the difference generation unit, and the difference processing unit are provided.

  The message storage means includes the first document attached to the first message transmitted from the first user to the second user, and the second user as a reply to the first message. A second message including a character string transmitted to one user is stored.

  The message creating means sends a third message to the second user as a transmission destination, to which a second document that has been revised from the first document according to an operation of the first user is attached. Created as a reply to the second message.

  The extraction unit extracts a character string representing a range in the first document from the second message.

  The difference generation unit generates a difference between the first document and the second document.

  The difference processing means processes the generated difference based on the range in the first document represented by the extracted character string, and adds the processed difference to the third message.

The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the client-server system containing the message preparation assistance apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The block diagram which mainly shows a function structure of the message preparation assistance apparatus 50 shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of the user information storage part 43 shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of the message storage part 44 shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of the document storage part 45 shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of the access information storage part 46 shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the message preparation assistance apparatus 50 which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the main reply destination determination process shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of the difference production | generation process shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the document type document used as the object of a difference production | generation process. The figure which shows an example of the presentation type | mold document used as the object of a difference production | generation process. The figure for demonstrating the flow of the reply relation of a message. The figure which shows an example of the message M1 which the user A transmitted to the user B. The figure which shows an example of the message M2 which the user A transmitted as a reply with respect to the message M1. The figure which shows an example of the message M4 which the user A transmitted as a reply with respect to the message M2. The figure which shows an example of the message M5 which the user B transmitted as a reply with respect to the message M4. The figure which shows an example of the document D1 attached to the message M1. The figure which shows an example of the document D3 attached to the message M4. The figure which shows an example of the document D5 attached to the message M5. The figure which shows an example of the reply message preparation screen displayed on the client terminal 20 which the user A uses. The figure which shows an example of the message M8 to which the processed difference was added.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a client-server system including a message creation support apparatus according to an embodiment.

  The client-server system shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a computer 10 and a plurality of client terminals (user terminals) 20 used by a plurality of users. In FIG. 1, only one client terminal 20 is shown for convenience. On the client terminal 20, client software that uses the computer 10 operates. Examples of client software include a browser and a mailer. The client terminal 20 is connected to the computer 10 via a network 30 such as a local area network (LAN).

  The computer 10 is connected to an external storage device 40 such as a hard disk drive (HDD). The external storage device 40 stores a program 41 executed by the computer 10. The computer 10 and the external storage device 40 constitute a message creation support device 50.

  The message creation support apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment is used when a message is transmitted / received among a plurality of users using the plurality of client terminals 20 described above.

  A user who uses the message creation support apparatus 50 can create a message with another user as a transmission destination using the client terminal 20. The message created by the user is transmitted to the user who is the transmission destination of the message via the message creation support device 50. Thereby, the user using the message creation support device 50 can transmit a message to other users. When sending a message to another user, a document or the like can be attached to the message.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing a functional configuration of the message creation support device 50 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the message creation support apparatus 50 includes a message creation unit 51, a main reply destination determination unit 52, an interest range determination unit 53, a document difference generation unit 54, a document difference processing unit 55, a message reception unit 56, a message. A registration unit 57, a message transmission unit 58, a message browsing unit 59, and an access control unit 60 are included. In the present embodiment, these units 51 to 60 are realized by the computer 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 executing a program 41 stored in the external storage device 40. This program 41 can be stored in advance in a computer-readable storage medium and distributed. Further, this program 41 may be downloaded to the computer 10 via, for example, a network.

  In addition, the message creation support device 50 includes a storage unit 42. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 42 is stored in, for example, the external storage device 40. The storage unit 42 includes a user information storage unit 43, a message storage unit 44, a document storage unit 45, and an access information storage unit 46.

  The user information storage unit 43 stores information (user information) regarding a plurality of users who use the message creation support device 50. Specifically, in the user information storage unit 43, a mail address assigned to the user (hereinafter simply referred to as a user's mail address) and a display name (user name) representing the user are stored in advance in association with each other. Is done. Further, as will be described later, the user information storage unit 43 stores information related to authority for browsing messages and documents (hereinafter referred to as browsing authority information) and the like.

  The message storage unit 44 stores a plurality of messages transmitted by a plurality of users using the message creation support device 50 described above. Specifically, in the message storage unit 44, as described above, a message (hereinafter referred to as a second user) transmitted from a user (hereinafter referred to as a first user) to another user (hereinafter referred to as a second user). A plurality of messages including a message (hereinafter referred to as a second message) transmitted from the second user to the first user as a reply to the first message. Is stored. Note that the first message is, for example, a message transmitted with a document (hereinafter referred to as a first document) attached.

  Each of the plurality of messages stored in the message storage unit 44 includes, for example, a message ID for identifying the message, a mail address of the user who is the sender of the message, and a mail address of the user who is the destination of the message Etc. are included. Further, when the message stored in the message storage unit 44 is a message transmitted as a reply to another message, the other message (that is, a message to be a reply destination) is identified in the message. Message ID (reply destination message ID). Further, when a document is attached to the message stored in the message storage unit 44 as described above, the message has a document ID (hereinafter referred to as an attached document ID) for identifying the document. included.

  The document storage unit 45 stores a document attached to the message stored in the message storage unit 44 (that is, a document identified by the attached document ID included in the message). That is, as described above, when the first document is attached to the first message, the first document is stored in the document storage unit 45. The document (file) stored in the document storage unit 45 is, for example, a plain text file, a test file with structure written in XML or HTML, or a binary file. The binary file can extract text with a structure such as a page number by using, for example, text extraction filter software.

  In the access information storage unit 46, the access status (that is, the browsing status) of the user who uses the message creation support device 50 for the message stored in the message storage unit 44 and the document stored in the document storage unit 45 is displayed. The access information indicated is stored. Specifically, the access information stored in the access information storage unit 46 is information indicating a message or document accessed (viewed) by the user.

  The message creation unit 51 creates a message (hereinafter referred to as a third message) as a reply to the second message stored in the message storage unit 44, for example, in response to a first user operation on the client terminal 20. To do. In addition, a document in which the first document is revised (hereinafter referred to as a second document) can be attached to the third message created by the message creating unit 51.

  The third message created by the message creation unit 51 includes a message ID for identifying the third message, an email address of the first user who is the sender of the third message, The second user's mail address as the destination of the third message, the reply destination message ID for identifying the second message as the reply destination of the third message, and the attachment for identifying the second document Document ID and the like are included.

  The main reply destination determination unit 52 appears at the beginning of the third message based on the display name representing the user stored in the user information storage unit 43 and the third message created by the message creation unit 51. The second user represented by the character string is specified as the main reply destination user.

  The range-of-interest determination unit 53 receives the second transmitted from the second user identified as the main reply destination user by the main reply destination determination unit 52 to the first user who is the sender of the third message. Message (that is, the second message transmitted from the second user to the first user as a reply to the first message transmitted from the first user to the second user). Obtained from the message storage unit 44. The range-of-interest determination unit 53 determines the range in the first document attached to the first message from the acquired second message (that is, the range of the first document in which the second user is interested). Extract the character string that represents.

  The document difference generation unit 54 is attached to the first document (the document before the second document attached to the first message is revised) and the third message stored in the document storage unit 45. The difference of the second document being generated is generated.

  The document difference processing unit 55 processes the difference generated by the document difference generation unit 54 based on the range in the first document represented by the character string extracted by the range-of-interest determination unit 53. The document difference processing unit 55 processes the difference generated by the document difference generation unit 54 into an appropriate format according to the range in which the second user is interested.

  Note that the difference processed by the document difference processing unit 55 is added to the third message and transmitted from the client terminal 20.

  The message receiving unit 56 receives, for example, a third message (a third message to which a difference processed by the document difference processing unit 55 is added) transmitted from the client terminal 20 used by the first user. The third message received by the message receiving unit 51 is attached with a document (hereinafter, second document) in which the first document is revised as described above.

  The message registration unit 57 stores the third message received by the message reception unit 56 in the message storage unit 44. In addition, the message registration unit 57 stores the second document attached to the third message received by the message reception unit 56 in the document storage unit 45.

  A user who uses the message creation support device 50 can access and browse the message stored in the message storage unit 44 and the document stored in the document storage unit 45 via the message browsing unit 59. it can. The message browsing unit 59 typically takes the form of a Web site that provides an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) screen to the Web browser.

  In this case, the access control unit 60 controls access (browsing) to messages and documents performed via the message browsing unit 59 based on the browsing authority information stored in the user information storage unit 43 described above. Specifically, the access control unit 60 determines whether a user who intends to access the message and the document via the message browsing unit 59 has the authority to access the message and the document. The access control unit 60 permits browsing when it is determined that there is an authority to access, and rejects browsing when it is determined that there is no authority to access.

  When a message or document is browsed (accessed) by the user via the message browsing unit 59, access information indicating that the user has accessed the message or document is stored in the access information storage unit 46 described above. .

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the user information storage unit 43 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, for each user who uses the message creation support device 50, the user information storage unit 43 stores the mail address, password, display name, and alias of the user in association with each other.

  The mail address is uniquely assigned to the user, and is also used as an identifier for identifying the user in this embodiment. The password is, for example, a character string set for the user as browsing authority information in the access control described above. The display name is a character string (user name) representing the user, and the alias is a character string representing the user and is a character string different from the display name.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the user information storage unit 43 stores, for example, a mail address “mail address A”, a password “password A”, a display name “user A”, and an alias “user A ′” in association with each other. Yes. According to this, the mail address of the user whose display name is “user A” and the alias name “user A ′” is “mail address A”, and “password A” is set as the password for the user. It shows that.

  Here, the user whose mail address is “mail address A” has been described, but the same applies to other users.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the data structure of the message storage unit 44 shown in FIG. The message storage unit 44 stores a message transmitted by the user via the message creation support device 50 as described above. As shown in FIG. 4, the message storage unit 44 associates a message ID for identifying a message with a transmission date and time, a sender mail address, a destination mail address, a reply destination message ID, an attached document ID, and a body text. Is stored.

  The transmission date / time indicates the date / time when the message identified by the associated message ID is transmitted. The sender mail address indicates the mail address of the user who transmitted the message identified by the associated message ID. The transmission destination mail address indicates the mail address of the user that is the transmission destination of the message identified by the associated message ID. The reply destination message ID indicates a message ID for identifying another message when the message identified by the associated message ID is a message transmitted as a reply to the other message. The attached document ID indicates a document ID for identifying the document when the document is attached to the message identified by the associated message ID. The text indicates the text included in the message identified by the associated message ID. Note that the text includes a character string. If the message is an e-mail, the body is customarily composed of contents such as destination (destination), reference (CC), sender name, summary, details, signature, etc. Often written in a canonical form.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the message storage unit 44 is associated with, for example, the message ID “M01”, the transmission date and time “transmission date and time 1”, the sender mail address “mail address A”, and the destination mail address “mail address”. “B”, “Mail address C”, attached document ID “D01”, and text “Text 1” are stored. According to this, the message identified by the message ID “M01” is changed from a user whose mail address is “mail address A” to a user whose mail address is “mail address B” and a user whose mail address is “mail address C”. On the other hand, it indicates that it was transmitted at “transmission date and time 1”. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of message destinations can be used.

  Further, it is indicated that the document attached to the message identified by the message ID “M01” is a document identified by the attached document ID “D01”, and the body of the message is “body 1”. .

  When the message identified by the message ID “M01” is not a reply to another message, the reply message ID is blank as shown in FIG.

  In the message storage unit 44, for example, the transmission date “transmission date 2”, the sender mail address “mail address B”, the destination mail address “mail address A”, “mail” are associated with the message ID “M02”. Address C ”, reply destination message ID“ M01 ”, and text“ text 1 ”are stored. According to this, the message identified by the message ID “M02” is transmitted from the user whose mail address is “mail address B” to the user whose mail address is “mail address A” and the user whose mail address is “mail address C”. On the other hand, it indicates that it was transmitted at “transmission date 2”.

  Further, it is indicated that the message identified by the message ID “M02” is a message transmitted as a reply to the message identified by the reply destination message ID “M01”, and the body of the message is “body 1”. ing.

  When no document is attached to the message identified by the message ID “M02”, the attached document ID is blank as shown in FIG.

  Although the messages identified by the message IDs “M01” and “M02” have been described here, the same applies to other messages.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the data structure of the document storage unit 45 shown in FIG. The document storage unit 45 stores a document attached to the message stored in the message storage unit 44. As shown in FIG. 5, the document storage unit 45 stores a document ID and a document (contents thereof) in association with each other.

  The document ID is an identifier for identifying the document, and indicates the attached document ID stored in the message storage unit 44 described above. The document indicates a document identified by the associated document ID.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the document storage unit 45 stores, for example, a document ID “D01” and a document “document 1” in association with each other. This indicates that the document identified by the document ID “D01” is “document 1”.

  For the above-described access control, the message storage unit 44 may be set with information on a user who can access the message for each message stored in the message storage unit 44. In addition, in the document storage unit 45, information regarding a user who can access the document may be set for each document stored in the document storage unit 45.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of the access information storage unit 46 shown in FIG. The access information storage unit 46 stores access information indicating a user's access status to the message stored in the message storage unit 44 and the document stored in the document storage unit 45. As shown in FIG. 6, the access information stored in the access information storage unit 46 stores an email address, an access date and time, and an access target in association with each other.

  The mail address indicates the mail address of the user who accessed the message or document. The access date and time indicates the date and time when the user accessed the message or document. The access target indicates a message ID for identifying a message accessed by the user or a document ID for identifying a document.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the access information stored in the access information storage unit 46 includes, for example, a mail address “mail address A”, an access date “access date 1”, and an access target “M01”. According to this, it is indicated that the user whose mail address is “mail address A” accessed the message identified by the access target “M01” on “access date 1” (that is, viewed the message). Yes.

  Further, the access information stored in the access information storage unit 46 includes, for example, a mail address “mail address B”, an access date “access date 2”, and an access target “D01” in association with each other. According to this, it is indicated that the user whose mail address is “mail address B” accessed the document identified by the access target “D01” at “access date 2” (that is, viewed the document). Yes.

  Next, a processing procedure of the message creation support device 50 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Here, it is assumed that the first user has already transmitted the first message to which the first document is attached to the second user. In addition, the second user responds to the first user with a second message as a reply to the first message (the second user includes a second user's comment on the first document attached to the first message). Message) has already been sent. That is, it is assumed that the message storage unit 44 stores the first and second messages, and the document storage unit 45 stores the first document. Hereinafter, a case where the first user transmits a reply message to the second message transmitted by the second user will be described.

  First, the message creation unit 51 creates a third message as a reply to the above-described second message in response to the operation of the first user on the client terminal 20 (step S1). In this case, for example, the first user refers to the second document that is a revision of the first document with reference to the comment of the second user included in the second message (comment on the first document). Can be attached to a message. In addition, when the third message with the second document attached is created as a reply to the second message in this way, the first user gives a difference generation instruction (hereinafter referred to as a difference generation instruction). Notation). Further, the first user designates the second user (mail address) to be the transmission destination of the third message. Note that, for example, a plurality of mail addresses including the mail address of the second user may be designated as the destination of the third message. Hereinafter, the third message created by the message creation unit 51 is simply referred to as a third message.

  The third message includes a message ID for identifying the third message, a transmission date and time when the third message is transmitted, and an email address of the user who transmitted the third message (sender mail). Address), the user's email address (destination email address) as the destination of the third message, and the message ID (reply destination message ID) for identifying the second message as the reply destination of the third message ), A document ID (attached document ID) for identifying the second document attached to the third message and the text of the third message are included.

  Next, when the third message is created, it is determined whether or not the above difference generation instruction has been issued (step S2).

  If it is determined that a difference generation instruction has been issued (YES in step S2), the main reply destination determination unit 52 displays the user display name and alias stored in the user information storage unit 43 and the third message (its body). Based on the above, a main reply destination determination process is executed (step S3). According to the main reply destination determination process, the main reply destination determination unit 52 specifies (determines) the second user (main reply destination user) that is the most important reply destination. The main reply destination user specified by the main reply destination determination unit 52 is a user who expects to read the third message in particular (expects a reply). Details of this main reply destination determination process will be described later.

  Next, the range-of-interest determination unit 53 is a range in which the main reply destination user specified by the main reply destination determination unit 52 is interested (interested) in the first document attached to the first message. Is specified (step S4). In this case, the range-of-interest determination unit 53 includes the character string (that is, the first message attached to the first message) included in the second message (its body) transmitted as a reply to the first message by the main reply destination user. The character string representing the range of the first document is extracted from the comment of the main reply destination user for one document. The interest range determination unit 53 identifies the range of the first document represented by the extracted character string as the range in which the main reply destination user is interested in the first document. Hereinafter, the range specified by the range-of-interest determination unit 53 is simply referred to as the range of interest in the first document.

  The document difference generation unit 54 calculates the difference between the first document attached to the first message (the first document stored in the document storage unit 45) and the second document attached to the third message. Is generated (hereinafter referred to as difference generation processing) (step S5). The first document attached to the first message specifies the message (second message) identified by the reply destination message ID included in the third message, and is included in the specified message. The message can be identified by the attached document ID stored in the message storage unit 44 in association with the message ID for identifying the message (first message) identified by the reply destination message ID. The difference generated by the document difference generation unit 54 includes all the contents of changes in the range resulting from revision from the first document to the second document.

  In addition, here, for the sake of convenience, the description has been made assuming that the difference is generated using the first document attached to the first message. However, a plurality of revisions have been made until the first document is reached. There may be. In other words, there may be a plurality of versions including the first document before being revised to the second document attached to the third message, for example. In this case, the document to be subjected to the difference generation process is a document that has been accessed last by the main reply destination user among a plurality of versions of the document including the first document.

  Note that a plurality of versions of the document including the first document are, for example, each message in a plurality of messages connected by a reply message ID included in the third message (that is, a message thread resulting from repeated message replies). It is a plurality of documents attached to. In addition, the document last accessed by the main reply destination user is specified based on the access information stored in the access information storage unit 46. Specifically, the document last accessed by the main reply destination user corresponds to the mail address of the main reply destination user and the latest access date and time among the document IDs for identifying each of the plurality of versions of the document. It is specified by the document ID included in the access information.

  Next, the document difference processing unit 55 processes the difference generated by the document difference generation unit 55 based on the range of interest in the first document (step S6).

  Here, the processing for processing the difference by the document difference processing unit 55 will be specifically described. The document difference processing unit 55 processes the difference generated by the document difference generation unit 54 into a difference in an interest range (that is, a range in which the main reply destination user is interested) in the first document. In other words, the document difference processing unit 55 sets the difference generated by the document difference generation unit 55 as a difference limited only to the range of the first document specified by the range-of-interest determination unit 53.

  Further, the document difference processing unit 55 converts the difference (change contents) of the interest range in the first document into a format that is highly readable for the main reply destination user, for example. In this case, for example, the difference in the range of interest in the first document may be converted into a sentence format in which the content of the difference is extracted or summarized. Specifically, even if it is converted into a character string (fixed sentence) such as “Two lines starting with XX have been changed”, which represents the point of difference (change contents) of the range of interest in the first document Alternatively, it may be converted into a format in which the pre-change document and the post-change document are arranged side by side, and the addition / deletion / replacement portions of each other are presented (visualized) side by side. Furthermore, when there is a change amount of a certain level or more in the difference in the range of interest in the first document, it may be converted into a fixed sentence such as “substantially changed”. In addition, a character string that prompts to supplement the content of the third message in accordance with the content of the difference in the range of interest in the first document (for example, “describing the intention of changing the range of interest in the first document It is recommended that the

  Here, when the difference is processed by the document difference processing unit 55 as described above, the processed difference is converted into a third message (difference limited to only the range of interest of the first document and converted into a highly readable format. Added difference) is added. The third message to which the difference processed by the document difference processing unit 55 is added is transmitted from the client terminal 20 used by the first user to the message creation support device 50. Here, the difference limited to only the range of interest of the first document and the difference converted to a highly readable format have been described as being added to the third message, but only one of these is added. Such a configuration may be used.

  The message receiving unit 56 receives the third message (third message to which the processed difference is added) transmitted by the client terminal 20 (step S7). A second document is attached to the third message received by the message receiving unit 56.

  The message registration unit 57 registers (stores) the third message received by the message reception unit 51 in the message storage unit 44 (step S8). The message registration unit 57 registers (stores) the second document attached to the third message in the document storage unit 45. Note that the third message stored in the message storage unit 44 and the second document stored in the document storage unit 45 can be browsed later by a user having browsing authority.

  The message transmitting unit 58 transmits the third message received by the message receiving unit 56 to the second user that is the transmission destination of the third message (step S9). At this time, the message transmission unit 58 executes the transmission process using the transmission destination mail address included in the third message. Even when there are a plurality of destination mail addresses included in the third message, the third message with the processed difference added to the plurality of destination mail addresses is transmitted. In other words, in the present embodiment, the third message to which the difference processed according to the main reply destination user is added is transmitted to all users as the transmission destinations.

  When the third message is transmitted by the message transmitting unit 58, an access specifier (for example, URL) for browsing the body of the third message through, for example, the message browsing unit 59 is added to the message. It may be a configuration. Further, in order to reduce the network bandwidth at the time of transmitting the third message and the storage area of the user terminal, the attached document (here, the second document) may be replaced with an access URL or the like.

  As described above, by sending the third message to which the difference limited to only the range of interest of the first document and the difference converted to a highly readable format is added, the main reply destination user can The change contents (difference) in the range in which the previous user is interested can be easily recognized.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the processing procedure of the main reply destination determination process (the process of step S4 shown in FIG. 7) will be described. The main reply destination determination process is a process executed by the main reply destination determination unit 52 as described above. Here, a description will be given on the assumption that there are a plurality of second users as transmission destinations of the third message described above.

  First, the main reply destination determination unit 52 acquires a third message (step S11). Next, the main reply destination determination unit 52 acquires the display name (and alias) stored in the user information storage unit 43 in association with each of the transmission destination email addresses included in the acquired third message. (Step S12).

  Next, the processes in steps S13 and S14 are executed for each display name (and alias) acquired in step S12. Hereinafter, the display name on which the processes of steps S13 and S14 are executed is set as the target display name.

  The main reply destination determination unit 52 searches for the target display name from the beginning portion (character string) of the third message (its body) acquired in step S11. Thereby, the main reply destination determination unit 52 determines whether or not there is a target display name at the beginning of the third message (step S13). Note that, as the beginning part of the third message in step S13, the first few lines of the body of the third message are set in advance.

  When it is determined that there is no target display name at the beginning of the third message (NO in step S13), a process in step S15 described later is executed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a target display name at the beginning of the third message (YES in step S13), the main reply destination determination unit 52 displays the target display name (second user represented by). It adds as a main reply destination candidate (step S14).

  If the process of step S14 is performed, it will be determined whether the process of above-mentioned step S13 and S14 was performed about all the display names acquired in step S12 (step S15).

  If it is determined that the processing has not been executed for all display names (NO in step S15), the process returns to the above-described step S13 and is repeated. In this case, the process is repeated with the display name for which the processes of steps S13 and S14 have not been executed as the target display name.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing has been executed for all display names (YES in step S15), the main reply destination determination unit 52 begins with the third message among the display names added as the main reply destination candidates. The user represented by the display name appearing in is identified as the main reply destination user (step S16).

  That is, in the main reply destination determination process, by scanning the beginning part (the first few lines) of the body of the third message, the user who is the transmission destination of the third message is the first in the beginning part. The user represented by the displayed display name is determined as the main reply destination user.

  Next, a processing procedure of the above-described difference generation process (the process of step S6 shown in FIG. 7) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, in the difference generation process, for example, the first document attached to the first message and the second document attached to the third message (the second document in which the first document is revised). ) Is generated. Here, for convenience, the first document attached to the first message will be described as the old document, and the second document attached to the third message will be described as the new document. Note that the difference generation processing is executed by the document difference generation unit 55 as described above.

  First, the document difference generation unit 54 acquires an old document and a new document that are targets of difference generation processing (step S21). It is assumed that the document (old document and new document) that is the target of the difference generation process can be obtained by analyzing the structure (information) of the document, for example.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, a document that is a target of the difference generation processing will be specifically described. Note that the document that is the target of the difference generation processing includes, for example, a document type document such as a business document and a presentation type document such as a presentation material.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a document type document. A document type document 100 shown in FIG. 10 has a hierarchical structure such as a chapter 101 and a section 102 included in the chapter 101.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, the chapter 101 included in the document type document 100 includes a chapter number 103, a chapter title 104, and a body text 105 of the chapter 101. The section 102 included in the chapter 101 can be regarded as the text of the chapter 101.

  The section 102 included in the chapter 101 included in the document type document 100 includes a section number 106, a section title 107, and a body text 108 of the section 102.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a presentation type document. A presentation type document 200 shown in FIG. 11 has a hierarchical structure such as a page 201 and a large in-page item 202 included in the page 201 instead of the chapter 101 and the section 102 of the document type document 100 described above. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, the page 201 included in the presentation-type document 200 includes a page number 203, a page title 204, and an in-page large item 202.

  The large page item 202 included in the presentation type document 200 includes a large item mark 205, a large item title 206, and a body 207.

  Hereinafter, in order to standardize the handling of the document type document and the presentation type document, the chapters of the document type document and the pages of the presentation type document are large blocks, the sections of the document type document, and the pages of the presentation type document. The inner large item is called a middle block. A chapter title included in the document type document and a page title included in the presentation type document are referred to as a large block title, and a section title included in the document type document and a large item title included in the presentation type document are referred to as a medium block title.

  Returning to FIG. 9 again, the document difference generation unit 54 determines the large block and the medium block from the old document and the new document by analyzing the acquired old document and new document, respectively. Thereby, the document difference generation unit 54 acquires the large block and large block title of the old document and the new document, and the medium block and medium block title of the old document and the new document (step S22).

  Next, the document difference generation unit 54 executes the processes of steps S23 to S31 for each of the large block titles of the new document acquired in step S22.

  In this case, the document difference generation unit 54 acquires the large block title of one new document from the large block titles of the new document acquired in step S22 (step S23). Hereinafter, the large block title of the new document acquired here is referred to as a target large block title of the new document. A large block of a new document whose title is the target large block title of the new document is referred to as a target large block of the new document.

  Next, the document difference generation unit 54 executes the processes of steps S24 to S28 for each of the large block titles of the old document acquired in step S22.

  The document difference generation unit 54 acquires the large block title of one old document from the large block titles of the old document acquired in step S22 (step S24). Hereinafter, the large block title of the old document acquired here is referred to as a target large block title of the old document. A large block of the old document whose title is the target large block title of the old document is referred to as a target large block of the old document.

  The document difference generation unit 54 compares the target large block title of the new document and the target large block title of the old document. Thereby, the document difference generation unit 54 determines whether or not the target large block title of the new document matches the target large block title of the old document (step S25).

  When it is determined that the target large block title of the new document and the target large block title of the old document do not match (NO in step S25), the document difference generation unit 54 determines the medium block title of the new document acquired in step S22. The medium block title included in the target large block of the new document is acquired from the inside (step S26). Hereinafter, the middle block title acquired in step S26 is referred to as a target middle block title of the new document.

  On the other hand, the document difference generation unit 54 acquires the middle block title included in the target large block of the old document from the middle block titles of the old document acquired in step S22 (step S27). Hereinafter, the middle block title acquired in step S27 is referred to as a target middle block title of the old document.

  Next, the document difference generation unit 54 calculates the similarity between the target block title of the new document and the target block title of the old document. Note that the similarity between the target block title of the new document and the target block title of the old document is calculated by using an index such as edit distance / character string length, for example. A numerical value indicating the degree of difference between the two character strings is used for the edit distance. Specifically, it is expressed by the minimum number of procedures necessary to transform one character string into another character string by inserting, deleting or replacing characters. When the edit distance is used, the similarity is higher when the numerical value indicating the degree of difference between the two character strings (the minimum number of steps necessary to transform one character string into another character string) is small. .

  The document difference generation unit 54 determines whether the target block title of the new document is similar to the target block title of the old document based on the calculated similarity (step S28). In this case, the document difference generation unit 54 determines that the target block title of the new document and the target block title of the old document are similar when the calculated similarity is, for example, a predetermined value or more.

  If it is determined that the target block title of the new document and the target block title of the old document are not similar (NO in step S28), the document difference generation unit 54 performs step S24 described above for all large block titles of the old document. It is determined whether or not the processing of S28 has been executed (step S29).

  If it is determined that the processing has not been executed for all the large block titles of the old document (NO in step S29), the process returns to step S24 described above, and the large block title of the old document for which the processing has not been executed. The process is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the processing has been executed for the large block titles of all the old documents (YES in step S29), the document difference generation unit 54 sets the target large block of the new document as a new block (that is, corresponds to the old document) Is determined as a large block for which there is no large block (step S30).

  If it is determined in step S25 that the target large block title of the new document and the target large block title of the old document match, the document difference generation unit 54 determines the target large block of the new document and the target large block of the old document. Are associated with each other (step S31).

  If it is determined in step S28 that the target block title of the new document and the target block title of the old document are similar, the process of step S31 is executed.

  When the process of step S30 or S31 is executed, the document difference generation unit 54 determines whether or not the processes of steps S23 to S31 have been executed for the large block titles of all new documents (step S32).

  When it is determined that the processing has not been executed for all the large block titles of the new document (NO in step S32), the process returns to the above-described step S23, and the large block title of the new document for which the processing has not been executed. The process is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the processing has been executed for the large block titles of all the new documents (YES in step S32), the document difference generation unit 54 determines the large block (large size of the new document) associated in step S31 described above. A difference is generated between the block and the large block of the old document (step S33). Note that for the large block of the new document determined as a new block in step S30 described above, the large block of the new document itself is the difference.

  As described above, in the difference generation process, the correspondence between each large block of the new document and each large block of the old document is determined, and the correspondence between the large block of the new document and the large block of the old document is determined. The difference is generated.

  In step S25, when the large block title of the new document does not match the large block title of the old document, the similarity between the medium block title of the new document and the medium block title of the old document is calculated. However, for example, the configuration may be such that the similarity between the large block title of the new document and the large block title of the old document is calculated.

  In addition, when there is no medium block in the new document and the old document, it is possible to determine the correspondence relationship using only the large block (title) of the new document and the old document as described above.

  In step S28, the similarity between the middle block titles is calculated to determine whether or not they are similar. For example, the similarity between the titles of the middle blocks and between the texts is calculated, The similarity may be determined based on the similarity between the title and the text. In this case, since the title has more influence on the content similarity, it is preferable to perform the determination process after applying different weighting factors to the similarity of the title and the similarity of the text.

  Hereinafter, a specific example of a message to which a processed difference transmitted to a transmission destination user is added will be described.

  Here, it is assumed that each message has already been transmitted in the flow (reply relation) as shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, M represents a message, A, B, and C represent users, and D represents an attached document. Moreover, the arrow represents the reply relationship. 12 can be identified based on the message created by the message creation unit 51 and the reply destination message ID included in the message stored in the message storage unit 44.

  According to the example shown in FIG. 12, the message M1 is transmitted from the user A to the users B and C, and the document D1 is attached.

  Further, according to the example shown in FIG. 12, the user B transmits the message M2 as a reply to the message M1, the user A transmits the message M4 with the document D3 attached as a reply to the message M2, It is shown that user B is sending message M5 as a reply to message M4. The message M2 is transmitted to the user and the user C, the message M4 is transmitted to the user B and the user C, and the message M5 is transmitted to the user A and the user C. To do.

  Further, according to the example shown in FIG. 12, the user C sends back a message M3 with a document D2 attached as a reply to the message M1, and the user A sends a message M6 with a document D4 attached as a reply to the message M3. It is shown that the user C is transmitting a message M7 as a reply to the message M6. The message M3 is transmitted to the user A and the user B, the message M6 is transmitted to the user C and the user B, and the message M7 is transmitted to the user A and the user B. And

  In the example shown in FIG. 12 described above, the messages M1 to M7 are stored in the message storage unit 44, and the documents D1 to D4 are stored in the document storage unit 45.

  Hereinafter, in the example illustrated in FIG. 12, a case where the user A transmits the message M8 with the document D5 attached as a reply to the message M5 will be described.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of the message M1 transmitted from the user A to the user B. FIG. 14 shows an example of a message M2 transmitted as a reply to the message M1 by the user A. FIG. 15 shows an example of a message M4 transmitted by the user A as a reply to the message M2. FIG. 16 shows an example of a message M5 transmitted by the user B as a reply to the message M4.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the document D1 attached to the message M1. FIG. 18 shows an example of the document D3 attached to the message M4. FIG. 19 shows an example of a document D5 attached to the message M5.

  As described above, when the user A transmits the message M8 with the document D5 attached as a reply to the message M5, the user A performs an operation on a reply message creation screen displayed on the client terminal 20, for example, Message M8 can be created.

  Here, FIG. 20 shows an example of a reply message creation screen displayed on the client terminal 20 used by the user A. Note that the reply message creation screen 300 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed when the user A instructs a reply to the message M5, for example.

  The reply message creation screen 300 is provided with, for example, an address field 301, a text creation field 302, and an attached document field 303.

  The destination column 301 is provided for designating the transmission destination of the message M8. In the example of the reply message creation screen 300 shown in FIG. The destination field 301 is provided with an add button 301a. User A can add a destination (transmission destination) to the destination column 301 by designating an add button 301 a on the reply message creation screen 300.

  The text creation field 302 is provided for creating the text of the message M8. The user A can create a text in the text creation field 302 by operating the client terminal 20.

  The attached document column 303 is provided for designating a document attached to the message M8. In the example of the reply message creation screen 300 shown in FIG. 20, the document D5 is designated in the attached document column 303 as a document attached to the message M8.

  The attached document column 303 includes a delete button 303a, an add button 303b, and a difference generation button 303c. User A can delete the document specified in the attached document column 303 by specifying the delete button 303 a on the reply message creation screen 300. Also, the user A can add a document to the attached document column 303 by designating an add button 303b on the reply message creation screen 300.

  Further, the user A can specify the difference generation button 303 c on the reply message creation screen 300. In this case, the process shown in FIG. 7 described above is executed.

  Here, referring to the text created in the text creation field of the reply message creation screen 300 shown in FIG. 20, the display name that first appears at the beginning of the text is user B. Therefore, the main reply destination user in this case is determined as user B.

  Further, referring to the message M2 (message M2 shown in FIG. 14) and the message M5 (message M5 shown in FIG. 16) transmitted from the user B who is the main reply destination user, the text of the message M2 and the message M5 is a document. There are “2 pages”, “3 pages”, and “4 pages” as character strings representing the range of “1”. In this case, “2 pages”, “3 pages”, and “4 pages” are specified as ranges in which the user B is interested.

  Further, when the document last accessed (viewed) by the user B is the document D3 attached to the message M4, a difference between the document D3 and the document D5 attached to the message M5 is generated. When the document that user B last accessed is not the document D3 but the document D1 attached to the message M1, a difference between the document D1 and the document D5 is generated.

  In this case, the difference between the document D3 and the document D5 is processed based on the specified range (2 pages, 3 pages, and 4 pages) as described above, and the processed difference is added to the message M8.

  Here, FIG. 21 shows an example of the message M8 to which the processed difference is added. In the example shown in FIG. 21, the processed difference 400 is added to the end of the body creation field 302 of the reply message creation screen 300 shown in FIG.

  In the processed difference 400, the difference between the 2nd to 4th pages in which the user B is interested is described by being converted into a highly readable format. Specifically, “P2 and P4 have changed significantly” and “User B was interested in P2 to P4” are described. In addition, since “it is recommended to describe the intention” is described, for example, the user A gives a comment regarding the revised content (change content) in the range in which the user B is interested, for example, the message M8 ) Can be considered.

  Further, in the processed difference 400, the difference (change contents) in the range in which the user B is interested is described as details.

  The user A can confirm the message M8 to which the processed difference 400 shown in FIG. 21 is added, and can specify the send button 304 provided on the reply message creation screen 300 shown in FIG.

  When the transmission button 304 is designated in this way, the message M8 (message M8 with the processed difference 400 added) shown in FIG. 21 is the transmission destination of the message M8 via the message creation support device 50. Sent to user B and user C.

  In this embodiment, since the difference is processed and added to the message M8 focusing on the range in which the user B who is the main reply destination is interested, the user B is interested in the user B. The difference between the ranges can be easily confirmed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in response to the operation of the first user, the third message is sent to the second user as a reply to the second message, and the first document is A third message to which the revised second document is attached is created, a character string representing a range in the first document is extracted from the second message stored in the message storage unit 44, and the document storage unit 45. Generate a difference between the first document stored in 45 and the second document attached to the created third message, and based on the range in the first document represented by the extracted character string By processing the difference, adding the processed difference to the third message and transmitting it to the second user, it becomes possible to present the appropriate difference contents according to the user receiving the document. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the second user represented by the character string appearing at the beginning of the third message is identified and transmitted from the identified second user to the first user. With the configuration in which the character string representing the range in the first document is extracted from the second message, the difference can be processed according to the range in which the second user who particularly wants to reply is interested.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, based on the access information stored in the access information storage unit 46, the second document attached to the first document and the third message accessed by the specified second user is used. With the configuration for generating the document difference, the second user can generate the difference between the document that the second user is aware of (viewed) and the second document.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the generated difference is processed into a range difference in the first document represented by the extracted character string, and the processed difference is added to the third message to be added to the second message. With the configuration of transmitting to the user, only the difference limited to the range in which the second user who is the transmission destination of the third message is interested can be presented to the second user.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the range difference in the first document represented by the extracted character string is converted into a highly readable format, and the difference converted into the highly readable format is converted into the third message. With the configuration that is added and transmitted to the second user, the second user can more easily grasp the change contents of the second document (the contents of the difference in the range in which the second user is interested). can do.

  In the present embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the range in which the second user is interested is specified by extracting the character string representing the range of the first document from the second message. A configuration in which the second user is interested in a range may be specified by extracting a keyword or the like from the second message. When a keyword is extracted from the second message, for example, a range in which the extracted keyword appears frequently can be specified as a range in which the second user is interested.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer, 20 ... Client terminal, 30 ... Network, 40 ... External storage device, 42 ... Storage part, 43 ... User information storage part, 44 ... Message storage part, 45 ... Document storage part, 46 ... Access information storage part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 ... Message preparation assistance apparatus, 51 ... Message preparation part, 52 ... Main reply destination determination part, 53 ... Interest object determination part, 54 ... Document difference production | generation part, 55 ... Document difference processing part, 56 ... Message reception part, 57 ... Message registration unit, 58... Message transmission unit, 59... Message browsing unit, 60.

Claims (7)

A first document attached to the first message transmitted from the first user to the second user, and a reply to the first message from the second user to the first user Storing means for storing a second message including the character string transmitted in the step;
A third message with the second user as a transmission destination, to which a second document in which the first document is revised in accordance with the operation of the first user is attached, is sent to the second message. Message creation means to create as a reply,
Extraction means for extracting a character string representing a range in the first document from the second message;
Difference generating means for generating a difference between the first document and the second document;
Difference processing means for processing the generated difference based on a range in the first document represented by the extracted character string and adding the processed difference to the third message. Message creation support device. Further comprising a specifying means,
The third message includes a character string,
The specifying means specifies the second user represented by a character string appearing at the beginning of the third message;
The extraction means is a character string representing a range in the first document from the second message transmitted from the specified second user stored in the message storage means to the first user. The message creation support apparatus according to claim 1, which extracts a message. Access information storage means for storing access information indicating the access status of the second user to the first document stored in the document storage means;
The difference generation means is attached to the first document and the created third message accessed by the specified second user based on the access information stored in the access information storage means. 3. The message creation support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a difference between the second documents is generated. The difference processing means processes the generated difference into a range difference in the first document represented by the extracted character string,
2. The message according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit adds the range difference in the first document represented by the extracted character string to the third message and transmits the message to the second user. Creation support device. The difference processing means processes the generated difference into a range difference in the first document represented by the extracted character string, converts the processed difference into a highly readable format,
2. The message creation support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit adds the difference converted into the highly readable format to the third message and transmits the difference to the second user. A first document attached to the first message transmitted from the first user to the second user, and a reply to the first message from the second user to the first user A message creation support method executed by a message creation support device having a storage means for storing a second message including a character string transmitted in
A third message with the second user as a transmission destination, to which a second document in which the first document is revised in accordance with the operation of the first user is attached, is sent to the second message. Creating a reply as a step,
Extracting a character string representing a range in the first document from the second message;
Generating a difference between the first document and the second document;
Processing the generated difference based on a range in the first document represented by the extracted character string, and adding the processed difference to the third message. Creation support method. A first document attached to the first message transmitted from the first user to the second user, and a reply to the first message from the second user to the first user Executed by the computer in a message creation support device including an external storage device having storage means for storing the second message including the character string transmitted in this manner and a computer using the external storage device A program,
In the computer,
A third message with the second user as a transmission destination, to which a second document in which the first document is revised in accordance with the operation of the first user is attached, is sent to the second message. Creating a reply as a step,
Extracting a character string representing a range in the first document from the second message;
Generating a difference between the first document and the second document;
Processing the generated difference based on a range in the first document represented by the extracted character string, and adding the processed difference to the third message. Program.

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