JP2014115715A - Server device, terminal equipment, control method for server device, control method for terminal equipment and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server device capable of improving convenience when the same user transmits and receives a message by using a plurality of user terminals.SOLUTION: A server device includes: a management part for managing mutually different first information corresponding to a plurality of terminal equipment; a reception part for receiving a message to be transmitted from terminal equipment which is used by each of a plurality of users consisting a group; and a transmission part for transmitting the message received by the reception part to second terminal equipment excluding first terminal equipment which has transmitted the message among the terminal equipment of each of the plurality of users consisting the group, and for transmitting the message to third terminal equipment whose first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal equipment among the plurality of terminal equipment.

Description

  The present invention relates to a server device, a terminal device, a server device control method, a terminal device control method, and a program.

  An application is provided in which a plurality of user terminals transmit and receive a message input in an e-mail, chat, or the like via a network such as the Internet. (For example, see Patent Document 1 as a chat application). For example, in a chat application, it is possible to create a group with a plurality of chat partners and perform a group chat in which messages are transmitted and received between users in the group.

Japanese Patent No. 4782822

  By the way, a user may want to send and receive messages using a plurality of user terminals such as a mobile terminal device or a personal computer installed at home. However, in the above-described chat application, for example, unique identification information is set for each of a plurality of user terminals, and each user terminal is identified as being used by a different user. Therefore, even if the same user tries to send and receive messages using a plurality of user terminals, each user terminal is identified as being used by a different user, which is inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a server device, a terminal device, and a server device that can improve convenience when the same user transmits and receives a message using a plurality of user terminals. Control method, terminal device control method, and program are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an aspect of the present invention is used by a management unit that manages different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, and each of a plurality of users that form a group. A receiving unit that receives a message transmitted from a terminal device, and a message received by the receiving unit, except for a first terminal device that transmits the message among terminal devices of a plurality of users constituting the group. A transmitting unit for transmitting to the two terminal devices and transmitting the first information among the plurality of terminal devices to the third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device; A server device characterized by comprising:

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the server device, the management unit associates and manages each of the first information different from each other based on second information that can identify each of a plurality of users. Then, based on the second information, the transmission unit sets the terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device as the third terminal device. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, when the server device receives predetermined information from the first terminal device received by the reception unit, the server device transmits the message to the second terminal device. And a transfer unit that transfers the data to the third terminal device.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the server device, when the transfer unit includes predetermined date and time information in a message received by the reception unit from the first terminal device, the predetermined information is included in the message. Is included, the message is transmitted to the third terminal device.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the server device described above, the transmitting unit transmits a message received by the receiving unit from among terminal devices of a plurality of users belonging to the group. The first information is transmitted to a second terminal device other than the terminal device, and the first information is transmitted to a fourth terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the second terminal device.

  Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a message transmitted from a management unit that manages different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices and a terminal device that is used by each of a plurality of users that form a group And receiving the message received by the receiving unit to the second terminal device excluding the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the group A transmission unit that transmits the first information among the plurality of terminal devices to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device, via a server device A message transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives a message to / from another terminal device, and a display control unit that displays a message transmitted / received by the message transmission / reception unit on the display unit. A terminal device according to claim Rukoto.

  One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the terminal device includes an input unit that receives input of second information that associates each of the first information different from each other.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, the display control unit is transmitted from another terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the terminal device. The message is displayed on the display unit as a message transmitted from the terminal device.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is an unread message when there is an unread message that is a message not displayed on the display unit in a message transmitted from another terminal device. A first notification unit that performs an unread notification, and the first notification unit associates the unread message with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device. In the case of a message transmitted from a terminal device, the unread notification is not performed.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, the first notification unit may receive the same message as the message transmitted from the other terminal device, and the first information corresponds to the first terminal device. When the message is displayed on another terminal device associated with the information, the unread notification is not performed even if the message is not displayed on the display unit.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal device described above includes a second notification unit that performs a read notification for notifying that the message has been displayed in another terminal device that has received the message transmitted from the terminal device. The other terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the own terminal device among the other terminal devices displaying the message transmitted from the own terminal device. Information including the number of other terminal devices except for is notified as the read notification.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device, the display control unit is based on the number of other terminal devices in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the terminal device. Information is displayed on a display unit.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a method for controlling a server device, the procedure for managing different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, and the use of each of a plurality of users constituting a group A procedure for receiving a message transmitted from a terminal device, and the received message to a second terminal device excluding the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of a plurality of users constituting the group And transmitting the first information among the plurality of terminal devices to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device. This is a control method of the server device.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a method for controlling a terminal device, in which a management unit that manages different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, and each of a plurality of users configuring a group A receiving unit that receives a message transmitted from a terminal device to be used, and a first terminal device that transmits the message received by the receiving unit among terminal devices of a plurality of users constituting the group. A transmitting unit that transmits to the second terminal device except the first terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices and transmits the first information to the third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device. And a procedure for sending and receiving messages via a server device, and a procedure for displaying the messages to be sent and received on a display unit. It is a method of controlling the location.

  One embodiment of the present invention includes a step of causing a computer included in a server device to manage different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, and a terminal used by each of a plurality of users constituting a group Receiving a message transmitted from the device, and transmitting the received message to second terminal devices other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of a plurality of users constituting the group. And a step of causing the third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device to transmit the first information among the plurality of terminal devices. is there.

  In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer included in a terminal device manages first information different from each other corresponding to each of the plurality of terminal devices, and the terminal device used by each of a plurality of users configuring the group. The transmitted message is received, and the received message is transmitted to the second terminal device other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the group, and Transmitting and receiving a message via a server device that transmits the first information among a plurality of terminal devices to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device; And a step for displaying a message to be transmitted and received on a display unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience when a message is transmitted and received between users in a group.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the chat system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the fundamental operation | movement of transmission / reception of the message in a chat system. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the server apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information memorize | stored in a server apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the group information by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the transmission process of the message by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the message screen by 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the user terminal by 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information of the own user memorize | stored in a user terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information of the other user memorize | stored in a user terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the message information memorize | stored in a user terminal. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the message display process by 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the server control part by 3rd Embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transfer process according to the third embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the control part by 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the unread notification process by 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process of the unread notification by 4th Embodiment, and a read notification. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the transmission process of the already-read information by 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a chat system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The chat system 1 includes a plurality of user terminals 100-N (N is a positive integer. User terminal 100-1, user terminal 100-2, user terminal 100-3,...) And a server device 200. These computer devices are connected via a network 5. Here, since the plurality of user terminals 100-N have the same configuration, the description of “−1”, “−2”, etc. will be omitted and described as the user terminal 100 unless otherwise distinguished. Although three user terminals 100 are clearly shown here, the chat system 1 may include two or four or more user terminals 100.

  The user terminal 100 is a computer device used by a user, and is a terminal device that displays a message transmitted / received to / from another user terminal 100 via the server device 200. As the user terminal 100, for example, an apparatus that includes a display device and can be connected to an information communication network, such as a PC (Personal Computer), a tablet PC, a smartphone, and a game machine, can be applied. Here, the user terminal 100 will be described as a smartphone. The network 5 is an information communication network configured by the Internet, a WAN (Wide Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a dedicated line, or a combination thereof.

  The chat system 1 is an example of a message sharing system that transmits and receives messages between user terminals 100 of a plurality of users in a group in which a plurality of users are registered to perform a chat (for example, a group for performing a group chat). However, it supports communication limited to users in the group. As the chat system 1, for example, a computer system that transmits and receives messages associated with date and time information among the user terminals 100 of a plurality of users in a group by a chat application and displays them in chronological order based on the date and time information is applied. it can. In the present embodiment, an example in which the user terminal 100 displays a plurality of messages transmitted and received by the chat application will be described.

  First, an outline of message transmission / reception processing in chat will be described. When chatting between a plurality of users in a group, the user terminal 100 (own device) of the user is a message transmitted to the user terminal 100 (other device) of another user (chat partner) in response to the operation of the user. And a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the other user in response to the operation of the other user. The user terminal 100 generates screen information (message screen) in which a plurality of stored messages are arranged in time series based on the date and time when the message is transmitted or received, and displays the screen information so that the user can list it.

  That is, in the chat system 1, the user terminal 100 of the own user and the user terminals 100 of one or more other users are registered in the group performing chat. In this group, the user terminal 100 transmits a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the own user according to the operation of the own user, a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the other user according to the operation of the other user, Displays a message screen that arranges chronologically.

  Hereinafter, a user who uses the user terminal 100-1 will be described as a user A, and a user who uses the user terminal 100-2 will be described as a user B. Here, a user ID (Identifier) for identifying the user is set uniquely for each user terminal 100 used by each user. It is assumed that user A and user B are registered in the same group for chatting (one-to-one chat).

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic operation of message transmission / reception in the chat system 1. FIG. 2 shows an example of processing in which the user terminal 100-2 of the user B receives the message M transmitted by the user terminal 100-1 via the server device 200 in response to an operation from the user A. .

  First, the user terminal 100-1 accepts an input of text as a message to be transmitted in response to the operation of the user A (step S100). And user terminal 100-1 memorizes message M inputted (created) according to operation of user A, and displays it on a message screen (Step S110). Subsequently, the user terminal 100-1 transmits the message M to the server device 200 (step S120). Here, the user ID and the group ID are associated with the message M transmitted by the user terminal 100-1. The group ID is information for uniquely identifying the group and is information indicating the destination of the message M. The user ID is the user ID of the user who transmitted this message.

  Next, the server device 200 receives the message M from the user terminal 100-1 via the network 5, and temporarily stores the received message M (step S130). At this time, the server device 200 returns the reception date and time when the message M is received to the user terminal 100-1 together with the reception completion notification, and the date and time information when the message M is transmitted from the user terminal 100-1. And Receiving the reception completion notification, the user terminal 100-1 acquires the date / time information included in the reception completion notification and stores it in association with the message M. Also, the user terminal 100-1 displays the transmission date and time in association with the message M already displayed on the message screen based on the acquired date and time information (step S135).

  Subsequently, the server apparatus 200 transmits the received and stored message M to the user terminal 100 of the user registered in the group (the user terminal 100-2 of the user B) based on the group ID ( Step S140). Here, the server apparatus 200 transmits the received message M in association with the user ID, the group ID, and the date information (the reception date and time at the server apparatus 200).

  Next, the user terminal 100-2 receives and stores the message M transmitted from the server device 200 via the network 5 (step S150). Subsequently, the user terminal 100-2 arranges the messages M in time series on the message screen based on the date and time information associated with the received message M (step S160). At this time, when displaying the message M in time series, the user terminal 100-2 corresponds to the message M information indicating the user who transmitted the message M based on the user ID associated with the message M. To display.

  In addition, the user terminal 100 does not display the information indicating the user who transmitted the message in association with the message transmitted by the user, and transmits the message only to the message transmitted by another user. Information indicating the user may be displayed in association with each other. Further, when the message cannot be displayed on one screen, the user terminal 100 displays a part of the message arranged in time series and performs scroll control of the message.

  As described above, in the chat system 1, a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of any user in the group is transmitted to another user in the group (other than the user who transmitted the message) via the server device 200. To the user terminal 100 of the user. Thereby, in the chat system 1, the chat (group chat) which transmits / receives a message in the group to which a some user belongs can be performed.

  By the way, a user may want to send and receive messages using a plurality of terminals such as a portable terminal device or a PC installed at home. However, when a unique user ID is set for each of the plurality of terminals, the terminal is identified as being used by a different user for each terminal. In this case, even if the same user tries to send / receive a message using a plurality of terminals, each terminal is identified as being used by a different user, so it is difficult to use the same user as the same user. there were. Here, it is considered that a plurality of terminals identified as being used by different users are associated with each other by setting common information (for example, an e-mail address) and managed as terminals used by the same user. It is done. Thereby, it becomes possible to transmit a message as the same user from a plurality of terminals. However, the chat message is transmitted to a user different from the user who transmitted the message. Therefore, even if a message can be transmitted from a plurality of terminals as the same user, the transmitted message is not transmitted to other terminals used by the same user and is not displayed on the message screen. That is, when the same user transmits a message using a plurality of terminals, the message displayed for each terminal is different. Therefore, in the chat system 1 of the present embodiment, even when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to send and receive messages, each user is as if using the same user terminal 100. The terminal 100 is configured to display a message.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the chat system 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail.
In the following description, a plurality of user terminals 100 including a user terminal 100-1, a user terminal 100-2, and a user terminal 100-3 are registered in the chat system 1, and the user terminal 100-1 is used. It is assumed that user A and user B who uses user terminal 100-2 are registered in the same group.

  In this group, two users, user A and user B, chat using the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-2, respectively. Chat as a group in addition to this device. That is, in this group, the user A performs chat using the two user terminals 100 of the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3.

(Configuration of Server Device 200)
First, the configuration of the server device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the server device 200 according to the present embodiment.
The server device 200 includes a server communication unit 230, a server storage unit 240, and a server control unit 250. The server communication unit 230 communicates with a plurality of user terminals 100-N via the network 5.

  The server storage unit 240 includes a user information storage unit 241, a group information storage unit 242, and a message information temporary storage unit 243, and stores various information in the chat system 1.

  The user information storage unit 241 stores user information related to a user who performs chat in the chat system 1. Specifically, user IDs that are uniquely set for the plurality of user terminals 100 that transmit and receive messages via the server device 200 are stored as user information. The user ID is information for uniquely identifying the user terminal 100 used by the user in the chat system 1 and is a different user ID corresponding to each terminal. This user ID is issued in the server device 200 when the user terminal 100 is first registered in the chat system 1, for example. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in the user information storage unit 141. Here, the user ID “U01” is set for the user terminal 100-1 used by the user A, and the user ID “U02” is set for the user terminal 100-2 used by the user B. Further, the user ID “U11” is set to the user terminal 100-3 (second user terminal 100) used by the user A. The user ID “U03” is a user ID set in the user terminal 100 that is registered in the chat system 1 and is used by a user other than the user A and the user B (for example, the user C).

  The user information storage unit 241 stores an email address in association with the above-described user ID. This e-mail address is information that can uniquely identify each user who uses each user terminal 100. That is, the same mail address is set for the user terminals 100 used by the same user, and different mail addresses are set for the user terminals 100 used by different users. For example, this mail address is registered in each user terminal 100, acquired by the server device 200, and stored in the user information storage unit 241.

  Here, the same mail address (the mail address of user A) is associated with the user ID set for each of user terminal 100-1 and user terminal 100-3 used by user A. Further, the user ID set in the user terminal 100-2 used by the user B is associated with a mail address (user B's mail address) different from the mail address of the user terminal 100 used by the user A. Yes.

  Thus, the user information storage unit 241 is information that can uniquely identify each user using each user terminal 100 and a user ID that is information for uniquely identifying each user terminal 100 used by the user. Mail addresses are stored in association with each other. Then, among different user IDs set for each user terminal 100, user IDs associated with the same mail address are associated with each other. This association is performed by processing of the server control unit 250 (a management unit 253 described later).

  Here, user information (user name, user image, etc.) regarding various users is not stored in the server device 200 but is stored in the user terminal 100 used by each user. In the server device 200, the user information storage unit 241 may store user information (user names, user images, and the like) related to various users in association with user IDs.

  The group information storage unit 242 stores information related to a group of users who perform chat. Specifically, the group information storage unit 242 stores a group to which a plurality of users belong and user IDs of the plurality of users in association with each other. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of group information stored in the group information storage unit 142. Two or more users belong to one group. For example, when the user A and the user B chat, group information regarding the group to which the user A and the user B belong is stored in the group information storage unit 142. The group information includes information in which a group ID, a group name, and a user ID as a user (group member) belonging to the group are associated with each other. The group ID is information that uniquely identifies a group generated by the server device 200. The group name is a name of the group and is automatically given when the group is formed, and can be set by the user afterwards. The user ID is information for identifying the user terminal 100 of a user belonging to the group.

  Here, for example, a group whose group ID is “G1” is set with “group AB” as the group name, and two users, user A and user B, belong to it. Here, the user ID “U01” and the user ID “U02” are associated with the group ID “G1”. That is, the “group AB” is a group in which the user A and the user B can chat (one-on-one chat), and the user terminal 100-1 of the user A and the user terminal 100-2 of the user B And are registered groups.

  In this “group AB”, the user A can also chat from the user terminal 100-3 of the user ID “U11” associated with the user ID “U01”. The user terminal 100-3 is not registered in the “group AB” of the group ID “G1”, but the user terminal 100-1 registered in the “group AB” is associated with the user ID (in the user information). By being associated with the mail address), it is recognized as the terminal of the user A and can chat. The message transmission process in this case will be described later.

The message information temporary storage unit 243 temporarily stores message information received from each user terminal 100. Here, the message information includes information in which a group ID, a user ID, date information, and a message are associated with each other. The group ID is information for identifying a group in which a message is transmitted / received. The user ID is information for identifying the user (user terminal 100 of the user) who transmitted the message. The date / time information is information indicating the date / time when the message is transmitted. In the present embodiment, messages transmitted from each other between users having different time information indicated by the time counting function of the user terminal 100 or between users in an area having a time difference are transmitted from the user terminal 100 so that they are correctly arranged in time series. The reception time when the message information is received by the server apparatus 200 is used as date / time information indicating the date / time when the message was transmitted. The date / time information includes year, month, day, hour, minute, second (YYYY / MM / DD HH: MM: SS) information. The message is a character string (text) indicating a message transmitted / received to / from another user.
For example, the message information temporary storage unit 243 temporarily stores the received message information until the received message information is transmitted to the user terminal 100 of the destination (transmission destination) user.

  Each storage unit included in the server storage unit 240 may be provided inside the server device 200 or may be provided outside the server device 200.

Returning to FIG. 3, the server control unit 250 includes a reception unit 251, a transmission unit 252, and a management unit 253. Here, the reception unit 251 and the transmission unit 252 communicate with the plurality of user terminals 100 via the server communication unit 230.
The receiving unit 251 receives a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 used by each of a plurality of users constituting the group. For example, when receiving the message information transmitted from the user terminal 100 with the group ID as the destination, the receiving unit 251 temporarily stores the received message information in the message information temporary storage unit 243.

  The transmission unit 252 receives the message information received by the reception unit 251 and stored in the message information temporary storage unit 243, among the user terminals 100 of a plurality of users constituting the group, the user terminal 100 that transmitted the message. It transmits to user terminals 100 (for example, user terminal 100-2 of user B) excluding (for example, user terminal 100-1 of user A). Specifically, the transmission unit 252 specifies the user ID associated with the group ID included in the message information received by the reception unit 251 as the user ID of the user terminal 100 that is the destination. Then, the transmission unit 252 excludes the user terminal 100 except for the user terminal 100 indicated by the user ID of the user who transmitted the message information, among the user terminals 100 indicated by the user ID specified as the destination of the message information received by the reception unit 251. 100 is transmitted.

  In addition, the transmission unit 252 transmits the message information received by the reception unit 251 to the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the message information among the user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1 (for example, the user terminal 100-of the user A). It transmits with respect to the user terminal 100 (For example, user terminal 100-3 of the user A) in which the user ID linked | related with the user ID set to 1) is set. Here, the user terminal 100 to which the associated user ID is set (for example, the user terminal 100-3 of the user A) is the same as the user who uses the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the message information in this group. It is a user terminal 100 that is used by a user and that is not registered in this group. Further, the user ID of the user terminal 100 used by the same user is associated based on the mail address in the user information stored in the user information storage unit 141.

  Moreover, the transmission part 252 is the user terminal 100 to which the user ID linked | related with the user ID set to the user terminal 100 (for example, the user terminal 100-1 of the user A) registered in the group is set. When the receiving unit 251 receives a message transmitted from (for example, the user terminal 100-3 of the user A), the received message is transmitted to the user terminal 100 in the group (for example, the user terminal 100-1 of the user A). And user B's user terminal 100-2).

  The management unit 253 manages different user IDs corresponding to each of the plurality of user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1 as the first information. Specifically, the management unit 253 issues different user IDs to each of the plurality of user terminals 100 and stores the user IDs in the user information storage unit 241, and corresponds to each user terminal 100, respectively. A user ID is transmitted. Thereby, the management unit 253 sets a unique user ID to each of the plurality of user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1 and manages each user terminal 100 so as to be identifiable.

  In addition, the management unit 253 manages, as the second information, an email address that can identify each of the plurality of users. Specifically, for each user terminal 100, the management unit 253 associates a user ID that can identify each user terminal 100 with an email address that can identify each of a plurality of users, and a user information storage unit It is stored in 241. That is, the management unit 253 associates, for each user terminal 100, a user ID that can identify each user terminal 100 and an email address that can identify each of a plurality of users, based on the email addresses. Each different user ID is associated and managed. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a user ID “U01” and a user ID “U11” associated with the same mail address are associated with each other.

  As described above, the management unit 253 manages the user IDs associated with the same mail address among the user IDs uniquely set for the plurality of user terminals 100 in association with each other. Thereby, the server apparatus 200 can identify the user terminals 100 used by the same user among the plurality of user terminals 100.

(Message transmission processing operation)
Next, an operation example of the chat system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transmission process according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, in the chat of “Group AB” in which user A and user B chat, user A uses two user terminals 100 (user terminal 100-1 and user terminal 100-3) to chat. 7 shows an example of a message transmission process when performing the above.

  In addition, each process of step S100, S110, S120, S130, S135, S150, and S160 shown in FIG. 6 is the same process as each process which attached | subjected the same code | symbol of FIG. That is, the user terminal 100-2 of the user B receives the message M transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 of the user A via the server device 200, and displays the message M in a time series on the message screen.

  On the other hand, the second user terminal 100-3 of the user A also receives the message M transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 of the user A. Specifically, when the transmission unit 252 of the server apparatus 200 receives the message M transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 of the user A, the user ID, the group ID, and date / time information (server Is received in association with the user ID 100-2 (other terminals in the group indicated by the group ID) and associated with the user ID associated with the received message M. It is also transmitted to the user terminal 100-3 for which a certain user ID is set (step S145).

  The user terminal 100-3 receives and stores the message M transmitted from the server device 200 via the network 5 (step S170). Subsequently, the user terminal 100-3 arranges the messages M in time series on the message screen based on the date and time information associated with the received message M (step S180). At this time, based on the user ID associated with the message M, the user terminal 100-3 displays the message M in time series on the message screen, assuming that the user who transmitted the message M is the user.

  Thus, the server apparatus 200 transmits the message information transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 used by the user A to the user terminal 100-3 used by the same user A in the chat of “Group AB”. Thereby, the server apparatus 200 can memorize | store the message information which the user A transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 in the user terminal 100-3. Therefore, the server apparatus 200 can display the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 by the user A also on the user terminal 100-3.

  Note that the server device 200 uses both the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3 that use the message information transmitted from the user terminal 100-2 of the user B in the chat of “Group AB”. May be sent to. For example, the transmission unit 252 converts the message information transmitted from the user terminal 100-2 of the user B (user ID “U02”) to the user ID “U01” that is the user terminal 100 of another user belonging to “group AB”. And may be transmitted to the user terminal 100-3 indicated by the user ID “U11” associated with the user ID “U01”. Thereby, the server apparatus 200 can display the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-2 of the user B on each of the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3.

  Further, the server device 200 uses the user ID associated with the user ID “U11” for the message information transmitted from the user terminal 100-3 of the user A (user ID “U11”) in the chat of “Group AB”. Assuming that the message information is transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 of “U01”, the message is transmitted to the user terminal 100-2 of the user B and transmitted to the user terminal 100-1 of the user ID “U01”. May be. Thereby, the server apparatus 200 transmits the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-3 of the user A to the user terminal 100-1 of the user A and the user terminal 100 of the user B in the same manner as the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1. -2 can be displayed.

  As described above, the server device 200 according to the present embodiment includes the management unit 253 that manages different user IDs (first information) corresponding to the plurality of user terminals 100 (terminal devices). . In addition, the server device 200 includes a receiving unit 251 and a transmitting unit 252. The receiving unit 251 receives a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (terminal device) used by each of a plurality of users constituting the group. The transmission unit 252 is a user except the user terminal 100 (first terminal device) that transmitted the message among the user terminals 100 (terminal devices) of each of a plurality of users constituting the group. It transmits to the terminal 100 (2nd terminal device). Furthermore, the transmission unit 252 has a user ID (first terminal device) corresponding to the user terminal 100 (first terminal device) that has transmitted the message, among the plurality of user terminals 100 (terminal devices). To the user terminal 100 (third terminal device) associated with the information.

  That is, the transmission unit 252 transmits the message received by the reception unit 251 to the user terminal 100 of the user in the group other than the user terminal 100 of the user in the group, the user terminal 100 of the user in the group. It transmits with respect to the user terminal 100 linked | related with the user terminal 100 of a user. Here, the user terminal 100 associated with the user terminal 100 of the user who transmitted the message is, for example, another user terminal 100 used by the same user as the user who transmitted the message. For example, each of the plurality of user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1 is uniquely set with a user ID, and each of the user IDs is associated with each other, thereby associating a plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user. It has been.

  Thereby, the server apparatus 200 can display the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the user in the group also on the other user terminals 100 used by the user who transmitted the message. That is, even if the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to send and receive messages, the server device 200 can send and receive messages to and from the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user. Can be displayed in the same manner. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to transmit and receive messages.

  In addition, the transmission unit 252 excludes the message received by the reception unit 251 from the user terminal 100 (first terminal device) that transmitted the message among the user terminals 100 (terminal devices) of the plurality of users belonging to the group. While transmitting to the other user terminal 100 (2nd terminal device), user ID (1st information) and the user ID (1st information) corresponding to the said other user terminal 100 (2nd terminal device) It transmits to the associated user terminal 100 (fourth terminal device).

  As a result, the server device 200 transmits the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the user in the group to the user terminal 100 (second terminal device) of the other user in the group and the other user using the other user. It can be displayed on each of the user terminals 100 (fourth terminal device). That is, even if the same user performs a chat using a plurality of user terminals 100, the server device 200 transmits a message transmitted and received in the chat to each of the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user. Can be displayed in the same manner. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to transmit and receive messages.

  In addition, in each of the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user, a display example of a message screen on which a chat message is similarly displayed and the configuration of the user terminal 100 will be described in detail in a second embodiment to be described later. explain.

  In addition, the management unit 253 associates and manages different user IDs (first information) based on mail addresses (second information) that can identify each of the plurality of users. Then, the transmission unit 252 sends the message received by the reception unit 251 to the user terminal 100 (first terminal) from which the user ID (first information) has transmitted the message based on the mail address (second information). To the user terminal 100 (other terminal device, third terminal device) associated with the user ID (first information) corresponding to the device.

  Thereby, the server apparatus 200 can associate each of the plurality of user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1 based on the mail addresses that can identify each of the plurality of users. For example, among a plurality of user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1, a plurality of terminals used by the same user can be associated based on a mail address that can identify the same user.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which user IDs corresponding to a plurality of user terminals 100 registered in the chat system 1 are associated as the first information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the user ID, a telephone number, a terminal ID, a manufacturing number, and the like corresponding to each of the user terminals 100 may be associated as the first information.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the email address as the second information for associating the user ID is stored in the user information storage unit 241 in association with the user ID. It is used when associating IDs and may not be stored in the user information storage unit 241. In this case, for example, when associating the user ID, the server device 200 obtains an email address from the user terminal 100, associates the user ID based on the obtained email address, and then replaces the email address with the user ID. Information indicating the association may be stored.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which each user ID (1st information) of the some user terminal 100 registered into the chat system 1 is linked | related based on an e-mail address (2nd information) is shown. However, it is not limited to this. For example, instead of an e-mail address, each user ID (first information) may be associated based on a character string or the like that can identify each of a plurality of users.

  Further, the server device 200 may associate the first information such as the user ID without using the second information such as the mail address. For example, when the user registers the second and subsequent user terminals 100, the server device 200 designates and registers the already registered user terminals 100, so that the already registered terminals and the second terminal 100 are registered. Corresponding user IDs (first information) with subsequent terminals and information indicating the association (for example, the same flag information indicating the association is associated with the user IDs of terminals used by the same user) Attached user information) may be managed. Further, the server device 200 may assign a user ID in a form that can be associated to each of the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user. Here, the user IDs in a form that can be associated are, for example, a form in which a part of a character string constituting the user ID is common (for example, “U01-01” and “U01-02”). The character string “U01” may be a common user ID.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, display processing by the user terminal 100 in the chat system 1 will be described.
First, a message screen when the same user performs a chat using a plurality of user terminals 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

(Example of message screen display)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message screen displayed by the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. This figure shows an example of a message screen displayed by the user terminal 100-3 when the user A uses the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3 to chat in “Group AB”. ing.

  Reference numeral 110a indicates the entire area where the message screen is displayed. This message screen displays a part of a plurality of transmitted and received messages. The user terminal 100 can display a message that cannot be displayed in one screen by scrolling the message up and down in response to a scroll operation performed at an arbitrary position on the screen that is a touch panel, for example. A group name (here, group AB) is displayed in the area 110b.

  The display component is arranged in the area 110c so that messages transmitted in the group are displayed in ascending order (new messages are below the area 110c) based on the date and time when the message was transmitted. The For example, in the area 110c, a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of another user is displayed in a balloon from the left side of the message screen, and a message transmitted from the user is displayed in a balloon from the right side of the message screen. .

  In a balloon E1 from the left side, a message transmitted from another user (here, user B) is displayed. The icon E2 is an icon indicating the user who has transmitted the message displayed in the balloon E1, and here is a profile image indicating the user B. The user name label E3 displays the user name of the user corresponding to the icon E2. Here, the user name of user B is “nameB”, and the user name of user B is displayed. In the time label E4, the transmission time of the message displayed in the balloon E1 is displayed.

  On the other hand, in a balloon E11 from the right side, a message transmitted from the user terminal 100-3 (own terminal device) by the own user (here, user A) is displayed. The time label E12 displays the transmission time of the message displayed in the balloon E11. Here, the message of the other user displayed in the balloon from the left side is displayed in association with information (for example, icon E2, user name label E3) indicating the user who transmitted the message. In the message transmitted by the own user displayed in the balloon from the right side, information indicating the user who transmitted the message (that is, information on the own user) is not displayed. This is because it is possible to determine that the message displayed in the balloon E11 on the left side of the message screen is the message transmitted by the user even if the information indicating the user is not displayed.

  Note that a message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 (another terminal used by the user A) by the own user (here, user A) is the same as a message transmitted from the user terminal 100-3 (own terminal device). , Displayed in a balloon from the right side of the message screen. For example, in the balloon E13 from the right side, a message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 (another terminal used by the user A) by the user (here, the user A) is displayed. The time label E14 displays the transmission time of the message displayed in the balloon E13.

  A display component for inputting a message from the user terminal 100 is arranged in the area denoted by reference numeral 110d. In the text box E21, a message input from the user is displayed. Specifically, for example, the user inputs text into the text box E21 by operating the software keyboard displayed in a pair with the text box E21. Here, the text input into the text box E21 includes characters, symbols, pictograms, and the like. The send button E22 is an operator for sending the message input in the text box E21 to another user.

  Thus, when the same user (user A) chats using the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3, in the message screen displayed by the user terminal 100-3, the user terminal 100-1 The message transmitted from is displayed in the same manner as the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-3. Note that the message screen displayed by the user terminal 100-1 is also displayed in the same manner as the message screen shown in FIG. That is, on the message screen displayed by the user terminal 100-1, the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-3 is displayed in the same manner as the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1.

  Note that it is not necessary for other users to clearly indicate that the user is using a plurality of user terminals 100. However, in the user terminal 100-1 and user terminal 100-3 of the user, It may be displayed separately whether the message is transmitted from the terminal. That is, it may be distinguished from which terminal the message is transmitted by the color, shape, frame line type, and the like of the balloon in which each message is displayed. Further, the message sent from the other user terminal 100 of the own user may be distinguished by displaying the user information (user name or profile image) indicating the sending user in association with the message.

(Configuration of user terminal 100)
Next, the configuration of the user terminal 100 that displays the above-described message screen will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. The user terminal 100 includes a display unit 110, an operation reception unit 120, a communication unit 130, a storage unit 140, and a control unit 150. In addition, the some user terminal 100-N shown in FIG. 1 shall be provided with the same each part.

  The display unit 110 is a display device that displays information such as images and characters. An area for displaying information on the display unit 110 is referred to as a screen, and information displayed on the screen of the display unit 110 is referred to as screen information. The screen information includes information that cannot be displayed on one screen. For example, in the chat application, the display unit 110 displays, on the display unit 110, screen information of a message screen that displays messages transmitted and received between users in the group in time series. Here, the screen information displayed on the display unit 110 is controlled by the control unit 150 in accordance with an operation from the user.

The operation receiving unit 120 is an input unit (input device) that receives a user instruction according to an operation from the user and generates an input instruction according to the instruction content. For example, a keyboard, a button, a touch panel, or the like can be applied to the operation reception unit 120. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which an operation receiving unit 120 and a display unit 110 are configured integrally and a touch panel that receives an operation input from a user is applied. In the chat application, in response to the user's operation on the touch panel, the operation reception unit 120, for example, registers in the chat system 1, inputs a message to be transmitted, and inputs user information (user name, user image, email address, etc.). Etc. are accepted. Further, in response to the user's operation on the touch panel, the operation reception unit 120 receives a screen switching instruction, a scroll instruction, or the like displayed on the display unit 110.
The communication unit 130 communicates with the server device 200 via the network 5.

  The storage unit 140 is configured using a recording medium such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash ROM, and a hard disk drive (HDD) or a combination thereof, and controls each unit included in the user terminal 100. To store programs and various information. The storage unit 140 may be a memory card that is attached to the user terminal 100. The storage unit 140 includes a user information storage unit 141, a group information storage unit 142, a message information storage unit 143, and a screen information storage unit 144.

  The user information storage unit 141 stores user information related to a user who performs chat. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating examples of user information stored in the user information storage unit 141. The user information includes information in which a user ID, a user name, and a user image are associated with each other. The user ID is information similar to the user ID stored in the user information storage unit 241 of the server apparatus 200 described above, and is information that uniquely identifies a terminal used by the user. This user ID is acquired from the server device 200 and stored, for example, when the user terminal 100 is first registered in the chat system 1. The user name is the name of the user. The user image is a profile image of the user. Specifically, information for identifying user image data is associated with a user ID and a user name, and the user information storage unit 141 stores the above-described user information and actual user image data, respectively. To do. Note that the user information storage unit 141 stores user information of the own user and user information of other users who are chat partners as user information.

  Here, the user information of the own user also includes a mail address (a mail address of the own user) associated with the user ID. This e-mail address is information that can uniquely identify the user, and is registered according to the operation of the user. Further, this e-mail address is information for associating different user IDs set in the respective user terminals 100 used by the own user when the own user performs chat using the plurality of user terminals 100. For example, when newly registering the second and subsequent terminals in the chat system 1, the own user newly registers the same mail address as the mail address associated with the user ID of the registered terminal. Set in the second and subsequent terminals. As a result, the server device 200 issues user IDs of the second and subsequent terminals to be newly registered, and stores the issued user IDs in association with the set mail addresses in the user information storage unit 241. To do. The user information of the second and subsequent terminals is transmitted from the server device 200 to the registered terminals. In addition, the server device 200 transmits user information of registered terminals associated with the same mail address to the second and subsequent terminals. Thereby, the user information storage part 141 of the user terminal 100 memorize | stores the user information corresponding to each of the several terminal currently used, when the own user is using the several terminal.

  The user information shown in FIG. 9 is an example of the user information of the own user, and is an example of the user information of the user A stored in the user terminal 100-1 of the user A. Here, as the user information of the user terminal 100-1, the user ID “U01”, the user name of the user A, the user image of the user A, and the mail address of the user A are associated with each other. Further, as user information of the user terminal 100-3 which is another terminal used by the user A, the user ID “U11”, the user name of the user A, the user A user image, the user A mail address, Are associated. The user information storage unit 141 of the user terminal 100-3 stores both user information of the user ID “U11” and user information of the user ID “U01” in the same manner.

  Moreover, the user information shown in FIG. 10 is an example of user information of other users that can be registered as a chat partner, and the user information of other users stored in the user terminal 100-1 of the user A (user B and This is an example of user information including user information of user C). The user information of the other user shown in FIG. 10 is registered by the user himself / herself at the user terminal 100-N of each other user. The user information of the other users stored in the user terminal 100-1 of the user A shown in FIG. 10 becomes a server when a user relationship that can be registered as a chat partner is established or when the user information is registered as a chat partner. It is acquired from the user terminal 100-N of each other user via the device 200 and stored. In addition, the user information storage unit 241 of the user terminal 100-3 similarly stores user information of other users stored in the user terminal 100-1. That is, similar user information is stored in each of the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3.

  The user information storage unit 141 included in the user terminal 100 includes only information related to the user himself (for example, user information of the user himself / herself and user information of other users who can be registered in the same group as the user himself / herself). It is remembered. On the other hand, the user information storage unit 241 included in the server device 200 stores information about all users who send and receive messages via the server device 200.

  The group information storage unit 142 stores information related to a group of users who perform chat. For example, the group information storage unit 142 stores the same information as the group information stored in the group information storage unit 242 of the server device 200.

  The group information storage unit 142 included in the user terminal 100 stores only group information of a group related to the user himself (for example, group information of a group to which the user himself belongs). On the other hand, the group information storage unit 242 included in the server device 200 stores group information of groups related to all users who transmit and receive messages via the server device 200.

  The message information storage unit 143 stores message information regarding messages transmitted and received in the group to which the user belongs. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of message information stored in the message information storage unit 143. This message information includes information in which a group ID, a user ID, date and time information, and a message are associated with each other as in the case of message information temporarily stored in the message information temporary storage unit 243 of the server device 200. It is. Note that, by the message transmission processing of the server device 200 described above, the message information storage units 143 of the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3 store message information transmitted and received in the group to which the user belongs. Is done.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the screen information storage unit 144 temporarily stores screen information of a message screen that displays a plurality of messages as described above in time series.

  The control unit 150 includes an information processing apparatus such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that functions as a control center of the user terminal 100, and controls each unit included in the user terminal 100. The control unit 150 includes an instruction unit 151, a message transmission / reception unit 152, a user information registration unit 153, and a display control unit 154.

  The instruction unit 151 generates instruction information based on an input instruction generated by the operation reception unit 120 in response to a user operation on the operation reception unit 120. For example, the instruction unit 151 generates a message transmission instruction or a message display instruction in chat based on the input instruction generated by the operation reception unit 120. Based on the instruction generated by the instruction unit 151, the message transmission / reception unit 152 performs a process of transmitting a message, and the display control unit 154 performs a process of displaying the message on the display unit 110.

  For example, the instruction unit 151 is configured to input a message on the chat message screen (for example, in the text box E21 illustrated in FIG. 7), and to perform an operation for transmitting the input message (for example, a tap on the transmission button E22 illustrated in FIG. 7). When the operation is performed, the input message corresponds to the group ID for identifying the chat group on the message screen on which the message is input and the user ID for identifying the user who has input the message. A transmission instruction including the attached message information is generated.

  When the instruction unit 151 generates a transmission instruction in response to an operation on the operation reception unit 120, the message transmission / reception unit 152 sets the message information included in the generated transmission instruction to the group ID included in the message information as a destination. It transmits to the server apparatus 200. At this time, the group ID, user ID (own user), and message included in the message information are stored in the message information storage unit 143 as a new record (data for one message). The message transmission / reception unit 152 acquires date / time information (reception date / time information when the server device 200 receives this message) together with a reception completion notification from the server device 200 that receives the message information in response to the transmitted message information, and responds. Update the date / time information in the message record. In addition, the message transmission / reception unit 152 receives, from the server device 200, message information transmitted from another user terminal 100 with the group ID to which the own user belongs as a destination. Then, the message transmission / reception unit 152 stores the group ID, user ID, date / time information, and message included in the received message information in the message information storage unit 143 as a new record.

  The user information registration unit 153 registers user information for performing chat in the chat system 1. For example, the user information registration unit 153 transmits a registration request for registration in the chat system 1 to the server device 200 in response to an operation on the operation reception unit 120 from the user. Then, the user information registration unit 153 acquires the user ID issued by the server device 200 in response to the registration request, and stores the acquired user ID in the user information storage unit 141 as the user information of the own user. Further, the user information registration unit 153 associates the user name, the user image, and the mail address with the above-described user ID in the user information storage unit 141 in accordance with an operation on the operation reception unit 120 from the user. Remember. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the user information registration unit 153 associates the user ID “U01”, the user name of the user A, the user image of the user A, and the mail address of the user A with the user information. The data is stored in the storage unit 141.

  Further, the user information registration unit 153, when the own user newly registers another user terminal 100 after the second user, the user information of the newly registered user terminal 100 transmitted from the server device 200. Is stored in the user information storage unit 141. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the user information registration unit 153 includes user ID “U11”, a user name of the user A, and a user image of the user A as user information of other terminals used by the user. The user information storage unit 141 stores the mail address of the user A in association with the mail address.

  Here, when registering the user terminal 100 (for example, the user terminal 100-3) as the second and subsequent terminals, the user information registration unit 153 of the user terminal 100 to be registered is 2 with respect to the chat system 1. A registration request for registration as a terminal after the first terminal is transmitted to the server apparatus 200. At this time, the user information registration unit 153 transmits an e-mail address (the same e-mail address as the e-mail address set for the registered user's own terminal) to the server device 200 together with the registration request. In response to this registration request, the server device 200 issues a user ID, and stores the mail address included in the registration request and the user ID issued in response to the registration request in association with each other. Then, the user information registration unit 153 of the user terminal 100 acquires the user ID issued by the server device 200 from the server device 200 and stores it in the user information storage unit 141 in association with the mail address as the user information of the own user. . Further, the user information registration unit 153 acquires user information (for example, user information of the user terminal 100-1) including the user ID associated with the same email address as the email address transmitted to the server device 200 from the server device 200. And it memorize | stores in the user information storage part 141 (refer FIG. 9).

  The display control unit 154 displays a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the own user according to the operation of the own user and a message transmitted from the other user terminal 100 according to the operation of one or more other users. It arranges in a series and displays it on the display unit 110. In addition, the display control unit 154 displays information (for example, a user name or profile image) indicating the user who transmitted the message in association with the message to be displayed (for example, see FIG. 7). Specifically, the display control unit 154 reads a plurality of message information stored in the message information storage unit 143 according to the display instruction generated by the instruction unit 151, and is included in each of the read plurality of message information. Based on the date and time information associated with each message, screen information of message screens arranged in time series is generated and stored in the screen information storage unit 144. Then, the display control unit 154 causes the display unit 110 to display a part of the generated screen information.

  Here, the display control unit 154 causes the display unit 110 to display a part of the generated screen information. For example, the display control unit 154 causes the display unit 110 to display a location including a message specified by an operation from the user in the screen information. Part of the screen information to be displayed on the display unit 110 in the initial stage may be, for example, a location including a message (latest message) associated with the latest transmission date and time information among a plurality of read messages. it can.

  Further, the display control unit 154 distinguishes the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the own user and the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the other user, and displays them on the display unit 110 in time series. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the display control unit 154 displays a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the own user in a balloon from the right side of the message screen, and displays a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of another user as a message. Display in a balloon from the left side of the screen.

  Here, when the own user transmits a message using a plurality of terminals, the display control unit 154 uses the message transmitted from the other user terminal 100 used by the own user as the message transmitted by the own user. They are displayed on the display unit 110 in time series. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the display control unit 154 determines that any message of a message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 by the user A and a message transmitted from the user terminal 100-3 is the user A (own user). Is displayed in a balloon from the right side of the message screen.

  That is, when the message received by the message transmission / reception unit 152 is a message transmitted from the own user (another terminal of the own user), the display control unit 154 displays the message as a message transmitted by the own user. . Next, the operation of the message display process will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message display process according to the present embodiment.
First, the message transmission / reception unit 152 receives message information transmitted from another user terminal 100 with the group ID to which the own user belongs as a destination. Then, the message transmission / reception unit 152 stores the group ID, user ID, date / time information, and message included in the received message information in the message information storage unit 143 as a new record (step S210).

  Next, the instruction unit 151 refers to the user information storage unit 141 and associates the user ID of the user terminal 100 that transmitted the message information received by the message transmission / reception unit 152 with the user ID of the user terminal 100 of the own user. It is determined whether or not (step S220). That is, the instruction unit 151 determines whether or not the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the message information received by the message transmission / reception unit 152 is another user terminal 100 used by the user.

  In step S220, when it is determined that the user ID of the user terminal 100 of the own user is associated (step S220: YES), the display control unit 154 displays the message included in the message information as the user terminal of the own user. The messages transmitted from 100 are displayed in time series on the display unit 110 (step S230). For example, the display control unit 154 displays a message included in the message information in a balloon from the right side of the message screen.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S220 that the user ID of the user terminal 100 of the own user is not associated (step S220: NO), the display control unit 154 displays the message included in the message information as another user's message. The messages transmitted from the user terminal 100 are displayed in time series on the display unit 110 (step S240). For example, the display control unit 154 displays a message included in the message information in a balloon from the left side of the message screen.

  As described above, the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment includes the message transmission / reception unit 152 that transmits / receives a message to / from another user terminal 100 (another terminal device) via the server device 200 described in the first embodiment. And a display control unit 154 that causes the display unit 110 to display a message transmitted and received by the message transmission / reception unit 152. For example, as described in the first embodiment, the server device 200 transmits a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the user in the group to another user terminal 100 used by the user who transmitted the message. .

  Thereby, the user terminal 100 can receive and display a message transmitted from another user terminal 100 used by the user. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to transmit and receive messages.

In addition, the display control unit 154 includes a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user among the user terminals 100 (terminal devices) used by a plurality of users constituting the group, and other user terminals 100. The messages transmitted from (other terminal devices) are distinguished from each other and displayed on the display unit 110 in time series.
Here, the instructing unit 151 has another user terminal 100 (another terminal device) in which a message received from another user terminal 100 (another terminal device) is associated with the user terminal 100 (an own terminal device) of the own user. It is determined whether or not the message is received from the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user. By this determination, a message transmitted from another user terminal 100 (another terminal device) associated with the user terminal 100 (an own terminal device) of the own user and received by the user terminal 100 (an own terminal device) of the own user. Suppose that it is determined that there is. In this case, the instruction unit 151 displays the message received from the other user terminal 100 (other terminal device) on the display unit 110 as the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user. The display control unit 154 is instructed.

  In response to this instruction, the display control unit 154 has the user ID (first information) associated with the user ID (first information) corresponding to the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user. The message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (other terminal device) is displayed on the display unit 110 as the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user.

  Thereby, the user terminal 100 can receive a message transmitted from another user terminal 100 used by the own user and display it as a message transmitted by the own user. Therefore, even when a user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to send and receive messages when chatting, a message is displayed on a message screen displayed in the same manner as when using one user terminal 100. Can be confirmed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to transmit and receive messages.

In addition, the user terminal 100 includes an operation reception unit 120 (input unit). The operation receiving unit 120 (input unit) receives an input of a mail address (second information) that associates each of different user IDs (first information) corresponding to each of the plurality of user terminals 100.
That is, the operation reception unit 120 (input unit) is information (second information, for example, an email address) that associates the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user with a predetermined other user terminal 100 (other terminal device). ).

  Thereby, the user terminal 100 can accept input of information (for example, e-mail addresses) that associates a plurality of user terminals 100 in response to an operation from the user. For example, the user terminal 100 can accept input of information (for example, an email address) that associates each of the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the user. Therefore, the user can associate the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the user himself / herself by inputting information (for example, e-mail addresses) that associates each of the plurality of user terminals 100 with the user terminal 100.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which a message transmitted by the user and a message designated by another user are distinguished by a balloon from the right side and a balloon from the left side of the message screen. However, the method to be performed is not limited to this. For example, a message transmitted by the user and a message designated by another user may be distinguished depending on the color, shape, frame line type, or the like of the balloon in which the message is displayed, or simply indicates the transmitting user. The user information (user name or profile image) may be distinguished by being displayed in association with the message.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a process for transferring a message between a plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user will be described.

  When the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100, the timing for starting use of each user terminal 100 may be different. In that case, in the user terminal 100 that has started to be used later, the chat message before the start is not stored. For this reason, there is a problem that the user terminal 100 that has started use later cannot display a chat message before the start. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user terminal 100 that has started use later is configured to be able to acquire a chat message before the start. Specifically, it is configured such that a message stored in each terminal can be transferred between a plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user.

  The configuration of the chat system 1 according to the present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the server device 200 has a function of transferring a message. FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of the server control unit 250A included in the server device 200 according to the present embodiment. The server control unit 250A illustrated in FIG. 13 is different from the server control unit 250 illustrated in FIG. 3 in that the transfer unit 254 is provided.

  The transfer unit 254 transmits the past message information transmitted from any of the plurality of user terminals 100 of the same user (already transmitted and stored to the user terminal 100) to other user terminals 100 of the same user. Forward. For example, it is assumed that the user A performs a chat in “Group AB” using the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-3. When the receiving unit 251 receives the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1, the transfer unit 254 does not transmit the received message to the user terminal 100-2 of the user B, but instead transmits the received message to the user terminal 100-3. Send to.

  Here, the transfer unit 254 determines whether the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 received by the reception unit 251 is a message to be transferred to another user terminal 100 of the same user. It may be determined by whether or not predetermined date and time information (date and time information indicating the date and time when the message is transmitted) is included. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the message information of the chat that is currently being performed and received by the receiving unit 251 does not include predetermined date and time information. On the other hand, the message information once received and stored by the user terminal 100 includes predetermined date and time information. Therefore, when the date information is included in the message information received by the receiving unit 251, the message information is past message information and may be message information transferred to another user terminal 100 of the same user. Can be identified.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transfer process according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 14, the operation of message transfer processing in chat system 1 will be described. This figure shows an operation example of processing for transferring a message from the user terminal 100-1 used by the user A to the user terminal 100-2 used by the user A.

  First, in the user terminal 100-1, in response to an operation from the user A, the operation reception unit 120 receives an instruction to transfer a past message, and generates an input instruction according to the instruction content. Based on this input instruction, the instruction unit 151 generates a transfer instruction including information specifying message information to be transferred among the message information stored in the message information storage unit 143 (step S310).

  When the instruction unit 151 generates a transfer instruction, the message transmission / reception unit 152 reads the message information to be transferred from the message information stored in the message information storage unit 143 based on the transfer instruction. Then, the message transmission / reception unit 152 transmits a message (message T in FIG. 14), a group ID, a user ID (a user who transmitted the message), and date / time information (a message is transmitted). (Date information indicating the date and time) is transmitted to the server device 200 (step S320).

  Next, the receiving unit 251 of the server device 200 receives message information including the message T transmitted from the user terminal 100-1, and stores the received message information in the message information temporary storage unit 243 (step S330).

  Subsequently, the transfer unit 254 determines whether or not the date and time information (predetermined date and time information and date and time information indicating the date and time when the message is transmitted) is associated with the message T received by the receiving unit 251. Then, the transfer unit 254 refers to the user information storage unit 241 for the message information including the message T associated with the date and time information, and sends the user ID “U11” associated with the user ID “U01” to the destination. Then, transfer (transmit) to the user terminal 100-3 (step S340).

  Next, the message transmission / reception unit 152 of the user terminal 100-3 receives the message information including the message T transmitted from the server device 200 via the network 5, and stores the message information in the message information storage unit 143 (step S350). ). Here, when the date and time indicated by the date and time information associated with the transferred message T is the date and time that is the target of the message displayed on the message screen, the display control unit 154 of the user terminal 100-3 receives the message. Based on the date and time information associated with the message M, the messages M are arranged in time series and displayed on the message screen (step S360).

  As described above, the server device 200 according to the present embodiment includes the transfer unit 254. It is assumed that the reception unit 251 includes predetermined information in the message received from the user terminal 100 (first terminal device) in the group. In this case, the transfer unit 254 does not transmit the message received by the receiving unit 251 to the user terminal 100 (second terminal device) other than the user terminal 100 (first terminal device) that transmitted the message in the group. In addition, the user terminal 100 (third terminal device) in which the user ID (first information) is associated with the user ID (first information) corresponding to the user terminal 100 (first terminal device) that transmitted the message. ).

  That is, when the message received by the receiving unit 251 includes predetermined information (associated), the transfer unit 254 does not transmit the message to the user terminals 100 in the group, The message is transmitted (transmitted) to the user terminal 100 associated with the user terminal 100 of the user who transmitted the message.

  Thereby, the server apparatus 200 can transfer a message received in the past by each user terminal 100 between the user terminals 100 associated with each other. Here, the server device 200 performs the above-described transfer process when predetermined information is included (associated) in the received message. In other words, the server device 200 can determine whether the message is a message to be transferred based on predetermined information included (associated) in the received message.

  The predetermined information may be predetermined date information, for example. That is, when the message received by the receiving unit 251 includes predetermined date and time information, the transfer unit 254 assumes that the message includes predetermined information, and the user ID (first information) You may transfer to the user terminal 100 (3rd terminal device) linked | related with the user ID (1st information) corresponding to the transmitted user terminal 100 (1st terminal device).

  In other words, when the message received by the receiving unit 251 includes predetermined date and time information (associated), the transfer unit 254 does not transmit the message to the user terminals 100 in the group. The message is transmitted (transmitted) to the user terminal 100 associated with the user terminal 100 of the user who transmitted the message. Here, the predetermined date and time information is information indicating the date and time when the message is transmitted (for example, date and time information received by the server device 200). For example, as described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 14, date and time information is not associated with chat messages received by the server apparatus 200, and date and time information is associated with messages chatted in the past. It has been.

  As a result, if the received message includes (corresponds to) predetermined date and time information, the server apparatus 200 determines that the message has been transmitted in the past and transmits the message. It can be transferred to the user terminal 100 associated with the user terminal 100. In other words, the server device 200 determines whether or not the received message contains a predetermined date and time information (whether or not it is associated) and determines whether or not the message is a message to be transferred. Messages received in the past by each user terminal 100 can be transferred between the user terminals 100 that are connected.

  The predetermined information for determining whether or not the message is to be transferred is not limited to the predetermined date and time information, for example, information (flag information) indicating that the message has been transmitted in the past, It may be information (flag information) indicating a message to be transferred.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to transmit and receive messages.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a message unread notification and a read notification in the chat system 1 will be described. Here, the unread notification means that the user terminal 100 notifies that there is an unread message, and the unread message means a message that is not displayed on the display unit 110 among the received messages. In addition, the already-read notification means that the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the message notifies the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the message that the transmitted message has been displayed.

  The configuration of the chat system 1 according to the present embodiment is different from the above-described embodiment in that the user terminal 100 has a function of performing a message unread notification and a read notification. FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 150A included in the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. The control unit 150A illustrated in FIG. 15 is different from the control unit 150 illustrated in FIG. 8 in that a first notification unit 155 and a second notification unit 156 are provided.

  The first notification unit 155 notifies that there is an unread message (unread notification) when there is an unread message among the messages received by the message transmission / reception unit 152. For example, when there is an unread message, the first notification unit 155 instructs the display control unit 154 to display information (icon, text, etc.) indicating that there is an unread message on the display unit 110 as an unread notification. The first notification unit 155 outputs a sound and vibration indicating that there is an unread message from a sound output unit and a vibration unit (vibration function) (not shown) provided in the user terminal 100 when there is an unread message. You may instruct them to do so.

  The second notification unit 156 notifies that the message has been displayed when the message is displayed on the user terminal 100 of another user who has received the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the own user (read notification). To do. For example, the second notification unit 156 displays information (icon, text, etc.) indicating that the transmitted message is displayed (read) as the read notification, or the user terminal 100 of another user in the group. The display control unit 154 is instructed to display the number of terminals on which the transmitted message is displayed (read) on the display unit 110.

  Note that the first notification unit 155 and the second notification unit 156 may notify the unread notification and the read notification in association with each message, respectively, or a plurality of messages (for example, the message information storage unit 143). May be notified corresponding to any one of the messages stored in the message.

(Description of unread notification processing)
Next, the unread notification process according to the present embodiment will be described. When the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100, it is desirable that unread notification is not performed for messages transmitted and received between the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user. That is, when the message received by the message transmission / reception unit 152 is a message transmitted from another user terminal 100 of the own user, it is desirable that an unread notification is not made since this message is a message transmitted by the own user.

  Therefore, the first notification unit 155 determines that the unread message is another user terminal 100 in which the user ID associated with the user ID set in the user terminal 100 of the own user is set (that is, another terminal of the own user). ) Is not sent in the case of a message sent from).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an unread notification process according to the present embodiment. With reference to this FIG. 16, the operation | movement of the process which the user terminal 100 performs unread notification according to the transmission origin of the received message is demonstrated.

  First, the message transmitting / receiving unit 152 receives message information transmitted from another user terminal 100 with the group ID to which the own user belongs as a destination from the server device 200, and stores the message information in the message information storage unit 143 (step S410).

  Next, the first notification unit 155 determines whether or not there is an unread message in the message information received by the message transmission / reception unit 152 (step S420). If it is determined in step S420 that there is no unread message (step S420: NO), the first notification unit 155 ends the unread notification process without performing the unread notification.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S420 that there is an unread message (step S420: YES), the first notification unit 155 displays the user ID (the user ID of the sending user) associated with the unread notification message as message information. Reading from the storage unit 143 (step S430).

  Next, the first notification unit 155 refers to the user information storage unit 141 and determines whether or not the read user ID (user ID of the transmission user) is associated with the user ID of the user terminal 100 of the own user. Determination is made (step S440). That is, the first notification unit 155 determines whether or not the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the unread message received by the message transmission / reception unit 152 is another terminal used by the user.

  If it is determined in step S440 that the user ID of the user terminal 100 of the user is not associated with the user ID (step S440: NO), the first notification unit 155 is an unread message transmitted from another user. Then, an unread notification is performed and the unread notification process is terminated (step S450).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S440 that it is associated with the user ID of the user terminal 100 of the own user (step S440: YES), the first notification unit 155 transmits an unread message from another terminal of the own user. Therefore, the unread notification process is terminated without performing the unread notification.

  As described above, the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment includes an unread message that is a message that is not displayed on the display unit 110 among messages transmitted from other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices). The first notification unit 155 that performs unread notification for notifying that there is an unread message is provided. Then, the first notification unit is configured so that an unread message is associated with a user ID (first information) whose user ID (first information) corresponds to the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user. In the case of a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (another terminal device), the above-mentioned unread notification is not performed.

  That is, the first notification unit 155 transmits an unread message from another user terminal 100 (another terminal device) associated with the user terminal 100 (an own terminal device) of the own user, and the user terminal 100 (the own user terminal 100). If the message is received by the local terminal device, the above-mentioned unread notification is not performed.

  As a result, the user terminal 100 can prevent an unread notification from being received because the message received from the other user terminal 100 used by the user is a message transmitted by the user. Therefore, the user terminal 100 can make a user recognize the message received from the other user terminal 100 which a self-user uses similarly to the message which the self-user transmitted.

(Unread notification cancellation and read notification processing)
Next, a process for canceling an unread notification when an unread message is displayed (becomes read) and a process for a read notification will be described. When the user terminal 100 displays an unread message on the display unit 110, the user terminal 100 cancels (cancels) the unread notification on the assumption that the unread message has been read. For example, when the unread notification is displayed on the display unit 110, the user terminal 100 cancels (hides) the unread notification displayed on the display unit 110 in response to displaying the unread message.

  When the user terminal 100 displays an unread message on the display unit 110, the user terminal 100 transmits read information indicating that the message has been displayed to the user terminal 100 that has transmitted the displayed message. The user terminal 100 that has received the read information performs a read notification that notifies that the transmitted message is displayed on the user terminal 100 that is the transmission destination. Note that the already-read information includes information that identifies which of the transmitted and received messages (for example, a message ID that is information for uniquely identifying the message) and information indicating the read (flag information). ) And

  Here, when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100, each user terminal 100 used by the same user receives and stores a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of another user. At this time, before the received message is displayed on each user terminal 100, the received message is an unread message, so an unread notification is given. However, when the unread message is displayed and the unread notification is canceled in any one of the user terminals 100, it is regarded as being displayed also in other user terminals 100 used by the same user. It is desirable to cancel the unread notification. That is, when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100, it is desirable that the unread notification process is performed as if the plurality of user terminals 100 are one user terminal 100.

  Therefore, the first notification unit 155 is a message that is the same as the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 of the other user, and the other ID in which the user ID associated with the user ID set in the user terminal 100 of the own user is set. When the message is displayed on the user terminal 100 (that is, another terminal of the own user), the unread notification is not performed even if the message is not displayed on the display unit 110.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 17, operations of the unread notification cancellation and the read notification processing by the chat system 1 will be described.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of unread notification and read notification processing according to the present embodiment. In the chat of “group AB” in which user A and user B chat as in FIG. An example of message transmission processing when A performs a chat using two user terminals 100-1 and 100-2 is shown.

  FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the message M is transmitted from the user terminal 100-1 of the user A, but FIG. 17 illustrates an example in which the message M is transmitted from the user terminal 100-2 of the user B. . Here, the processes of steps S500, S510, S520, S530, and S535 executed by the user terminal 100-2 or the server apparatus 200 are the steps S100 and S110 executed by the user terminal 100-1 or the server apparatus 200 in FIG. , S120, S130, and S135 are the same as the respective processes, and the description thereof is omitted. Here, the user terminal 100-2 transmits the message M to the server device 200, and the server device 200 returns a reception completion notification to the user terminal 100-2.

  The server apparatus 200 transmits the message M received from the user terminal 100-2 of the user B to each of the user terminal 100-1 and the user terminal 100-2 of the user A. Specifically, when the transmission unit 252 of the server apparatus 200 receives the message M transmitted from the user terminal 100-2 of the user B, the user ID, the group ID, and the date / time information (server And the user ID associated with the user ID of the user terminal 100-1 is transmitted to the user terminal 100-1 (other terminals in the group indicated by the group ID) in association with each other. It transmits also to the set user terminal 100-3 (step S540).

  The user terminal 100-1 receives and stores the message M transmitted from the server device 200 via the network 5 (step S550), and performs an unread notification (step S555). Similarly, the user terminal 100-3 receives and stores the message M transmitted from the server device 200 via the network 5 (step S560), and performs unread notification (step S565).

  Next, when the user terminal 100-3 is operated to display the message M received in step S550 on the message screen, the display control unit 154 of the user terminal 100-3 displays the date and time associated with the message M. Based on the information, the messages M are displayed in time series on the display unit 110 (step S570). Then, the first notification unit 155 cancels the unread notification performed in step S555 (step S575).

  The second notification unit 156 also includes user IDs (“U02”) of the user terminal 100-2 (the terminal that transmitted the message M) and the user terminal 100-1 (the terminal associated with the user terminal 100-3). ”,“ U01 ”) as the destination, and the read information is transmitted to the server device 200 (step S580).

  Next, in the server device 200, when the reception unit 251 receives the read information, the transmission unit 252 transmits the received read information to the user ID (“U02”, “U01”) is transmitted to the user terminal 100-2 and the user terminal 100-1 respectively (step S585).

  When the user terminal 100-1 receives the read information, the first notification unit 155 of the user terminal 100-1 cancels the unread notification performed in step S565 (step S590). Note that the first notification unit 155 of the user terminal 100-1 does not perform the read notification because the received read information is not read information for the message transmitted from the user terminal 100-1. On the other hand, when the user terminal 100-2 receives the read information, the second notification unit 156 of the user terminal 100-2 receives the read information for the message transmitted by the user terminal 100-2, and thus performs the read notification. (Step S595).

  As described above, in the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment, the first notification unit 155 indicates that the same message as the message transmitted from the other user terminal 100 (other terminal device) is the user ID (first information). Is displayed on another user terminal 100 (other terminal device) associated with the user ID (first information) corresponding to the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user, the message is displayed. The unread notification is not performed even if it is not displayed on the section 110.

  In other words, the first notification unit 155 has the same message transmitted from the other user terminal 100 (another terminal device) as another user terminal 100 associated with the user terminal 100 (the own terminal device) of the own user. When displayed on (another terminal device), an unread notification is not performed even if the message is not displayed on the display unit 110.

  Thereby, the user terminal 100 regards the same message as the message displayed on the other user terminal 100 used by the own user, even if not displaying the message, and performs an unread notification. Can not be. That is, the unread notification for the same message received by each of the plurality of user terminals 100 is canceled when the message is displayed on any one of the plurality of user terminals 100. Accordingly, each of the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user can notify the unread notification for the received message in the same manner as the unread notification for the message received by one user terminal 100.

  Further, when the message is displayed on the other user terminal 100 that has received the transmitted message, the user terminal 100 performs the read notification by acquiring the read information from the user terminal 100 that has displayed the message. be able to.

  Note that the second notification unit 156 transmits the read information when an unread message is displayed, and when a message that is a target of an unread notification is displayed. On the other hand, when a message is displayed in which unread notification is not made (unread notification is canceled), the second notification unit 156 does not transmit the read information. That is, when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100, the read information for the same message is not transmitted from each of the plurality of user terminals 100, and the first message is displayed. The read information is transmitted only from the user terminal 100.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 18, an operation of a process of transmitting read information depending on whether or not a message is an unread message that is a target of an unread notification will be described. FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of read information transmission processing according to the present embodiment. This figure shows an example of a transmission process of already-read information when the user terminal 100 displays a message stored in the message information storage unit 143 on the display unit 110.

  First, the display control unit 154 reads the message information stored in the message information storage unit 143, displays the messages included in the read message information in time series on the display unit 110 based on the corresponding date information. (Step S610).

  Next, the second notification unit 156 determines whether or not the message displayed in step S610 is an unread message (step S620). For example, the second notification unit 156 determines whether or not the message displayed in step S610 is an unread message based on whether or not the first notification unit 155 is a target of unread notification.

  When making this determination, the message information stored in the message information storage unit 143 is stored in association with flag information indicating whether the message is unread, and the second notification unit 156 It may be determined whether the message is an unread message based on the flag information. For example, the flag information is associated with flag information “unread” when a message is received, and is updated to flag information “read” by the first notification unit 155 when the message is displayed. It may be.

  If it is determined in step S620 that the message is an unread message (step S620: YES), the second notification unit 156 transmits the read information (step S630). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S620 that the message is not an unread message (step S620: NO), the second notification unit 156 does not transmit the read information.

  As described above, the user terminal 100 transmits the read information when an unread message to be subjected to unread notification is displayed on the display unit 110, and displays a message that is not the target for unread notification on the display unit 110. Does not send read information.

  For example, it is assumed that a message transmitted from the user terminal 100 used by the user is displayed on another user terminal 100 used by the user. The displayed message is a message that is not a target for unread notification as described with reference to FIG. Therefore, even if this message is displayed, the other user terminal 100 used by the user does not transmit the read information. Therefore, the user terminal 100 receives the read information transmitted when the transmitted message is displayed on the user terminal 100 other than the other user terminals 100 used by the user. Then, the user terminal 100 gives a read notification based on the read information received from the user terminal 100 excluding the other user terminals 100 used by the user. For example, the second notification unit 156 notifies information including the number of received read information (the number of user terminals 100 that have transmitted the read information) as a read notification.

  As described above, the user terminal 100 according to the present embodiment displays the message on the other user terminal 100 (another terminal device) that has received the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (the own terminal device) of the own user. A second notification unit 156 that performs a read notification to notify that. And the 2nd notification part 156 has self-user ID (1st information) among the other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices) which displayed the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user. Information including the number of user terminals 100 excluding the other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices) associated with the user ID (first information) corresponding to the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the user is described above. Notify as a read notification.

  That is, the 2nd notification part 156 is the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user among the other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices) which displayed the message transmitted from the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) of the own user. ), The information including the number of user terminals 100 excluding the other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices) associated with () is notified as the above-mentioned read notification.

  Accordingly, when the transmitted message is displayed on another user terminal 100 used by the user, the user terminal 100 can prevent the message from being read. For example, the user terminal 100 may not include the number of other user terminals 100 used by the own user in the number of other user terminals 100 on which the transmitted message is displayed.

  Note that the display control unit 154 is configured so that the user ID (first information) is associated with the user ID (first information) corresponding to the user terminal 100 (own terminal device) used by the user. Information based on the number of other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices) to be used may be displayed on the display unit 110.

  That is, the display control unit 154 causes the display unit 110 to display the number of user terminals 100 of the own user registered in the chat system 1 when the own user performs a chat using the plurality of user terminals 100. May be. Specifically, for example, the display control unit 154 refers to the user information of the own user stored in the user information storage unit 141, and displays the number of user terminals 100 of the own user included in the user information. 110 may be displayed. The number to be displayed may be a number including the number of user terminals 100 (own terminal device) displaying this, or does not include the number of user terminals 100 (own terminal device) displaying this. The number of other user terminals 100 (other terminal devices) used by the own user may be used. Thereby, the user can easily confirm the number of user terminals 100 used by the user.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve convenience when the same user uses a plurality of user terminals 100 to transmit and receive messages.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes a design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the functions described in the first to third embodiments can be arbitrarily combined.

  In the above-described embodiment, the chat in the group to which the two users A and B belong (“Group AB”) has been described as an example, but a group in which a plurality of groups of three or more users are grouped together. For example, the group A and the group to which the group user belongs may be used. Further, although an example in which the same user uses two user terminals 100 (user terminal 100-1 and user terminal 100-3) has been described, the number of the plurality of user terminals 100 used by the same user is three. The present invention can be similarly applied to the above.

  Moreover, although the operation reception part 120 and the display part 110 were comprised integrally and demonstrated the example which applied the touchscreen which receives the operation input from a user in the above-mentioned embodiment, the operation reception part 120 and the display part 110 were demonstrated. Alternatively, a keyboard or a button may be applied as the operation receiving unit 120. Further, the operation receiving unit 120 may be configured as an operation input unit capable of performing an operation input by voice recognition. In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the display unit 110 is integrally configured in the user terminal 100 has been described. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the configuration is such that the external display unit (display device) is connected by wire or wirelessly. Also good.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of control in the chat application has been described. As described above, a mailing list, electronic bulletin board, timeline, mini-line by e-mail that transmits a transmitted message to users in the group is shown. The above-described embodiment can be applied to control in a blog (microblog, tweet blog) chat or the like. Here, the e-mail may be an e-mail transmitted and received by a short message service using a mobile phone or the like. Note that the control in the chat application is more suitable from the viewpoint of immediacy of the display of messages transmitted and received between users.
In the above-described embodiment, the message transmitted and received between the user terminals 100 is a character string. However, the message may include image information such as a pictograph or a photo, and information such as a voice.

Further, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and can take various forms within the scope of the present invention. For example, the components included in the chat system 1 described above can be distributed or aggregated and arranged in any computer device. For example, the server device 200 is distributed or aggregated to any computer device according to the cloud environment, the network environment, the size of the number of users, the number of hardware prepared to configure the chat system 1, specifications, and the like. Can be arranged.
Further, for example, the server device 200 stores all messages transmitted and received between the plurality of user terminals 100, transmits the message in response to an arbitrary request from the user terminal 100, and causes the user terminal 100 to display the message. It may be.
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a plurality of user terminals 100 transmit and receive messages via the server device 200 has been described. However, a plurality of user terminals 100 directly transmit and receive messages without using the server device 200. May be.

  Note that a program for realizing the functions of the control unit 150 or the server control unit 250 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed. The processing of the control unit 150 or the server control unit 250 described above may be performed. Here, “loading and executing a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system” includes installing the program in the computer system. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. Further, the “computer system” may include a plurality of computer devices connected via a network including a communication line such as the Internet, WAN, LAN, and dedicated line. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. As described above, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium also includes a recording medium provided inside or outside that is accessible from the distribution server in order to distribute the program. The code of the program stored in the recording medium of the distribution server may be different from the code of the program that can be executed by the terminal device. That is, the format stored in the distribution server is not limited as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that can be executed by the terminal device. Note that the program may be divided into a plurality of parts, downloaded at different timings, and combined in the terminal device, or the distribution server that distributes each of the divided programs may be different. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a server or a client when the program is transmitted via a network. Including things. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  In addition, some or all of the functions described above may be realized as an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each function described above may be individually made into a processor, or a part or all of them may be integrated into a processor. Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. In addition, when an integrated circuit technology that replaces LSI appears due to the advancement of semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on the technology may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Chat system, 5 networks, 100 User terminal, 110 Display part, 120 Operation reception part, 130 Communication part, 140 Storage part, 141 User information storage part, 142 Group information storage part, 143 Message information storage part, 144 Screen information storage 150, 150A control unit, 151 instruction unit, 152 message transmission / reception unit, 153 user information registration unit, 154 display control unit, 155 first notification unit, 156 second notification unit, 200 server device, 230 server communication unit, 240 Server storage unit, 241 User information storage unit, 242 Group information storage unit, 243 Message information temporary storage unit, 250, 250A Server control unit, 251 reception unit, 252 transmission unit, 253 management unit, 254 transfer unit

Claims (16)

A management unit that manages different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices;
A receiving unit for receiving a message transmitted from a terminal device used by each of a plurality of users constituting the group;
The message received by the receiving unit is transmitted to a second terminal device other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of a plurality of users constituting the group, and the plurality of terminal devices A transmitter that transmits the first information to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device;
A server device comprising: The management unit
Based on the second information that can identify each of the plurality of users, each of the first information different from each other is associated and managed,
The transmitter is
The terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device based on the second information is the third terminal device. The server device according to 1. A transfer unit configured to transfer the message to the third terminal device without transmitting the message to the second terminal device when predetermined information is included in the message received from the first terminal device by the reception unit;
The server apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The transfer unit
If the message received from the first terminal device by the receiving unit includes predetermined date and time information, the message is transmitted to the third terminal device, assuming that the predetermined information is included in the message. The server device according to claim 3, wherein: The transmitter is
The message received by the receiving unit is transmitted to second terminal devices other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of a plurality of users belonging to the group, and the first information is The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the server device is transmitted to a fourth terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the second terminal device. A management unit that manages different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, a receiving unit that receives a message transmitted from a terminal device used by each of a plurality of users constituting a group, and the reception The message received by the unit is transmitted to the second terminal device other than the first terminal device that has transmitted the message among the respective terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the group, and among the plurality of terminal devices, the Transmitting and receiving messages to and from other terminal devices via a server device comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits first information to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device A message sending and receiving unit;
A display control unit for displaying a message transmitted and received by the message transmitting and receiving unit on a display unit;
A terminal device comprising: An input unit that receives input of second information that associates each of the first information different from each other;
The terminal device according to claim 6, further comprising: The display control unit
A message transmitted from another terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the terminal device is displayed on the display unit as a message transmitted from the terminal device. The terminal device according to claim 6 or 7. A first notification unit for performing an unread notification for notifying that there is the unread message when there is an unread message that is not displayed on the display unit among messages transmitted from other terminal devices;
With
The first notification unit includes:
When the unread message is a message transmitted from another terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the terminal device, the unread notification is not performed. The terminal device according to any one of claims 6 to 8. The first notification unit includes:
When the same message as the message transmitted from the other terminal device is displayed on the other terminal device in which the first information is associated with the first information corresponding to the own terminal device, the message is The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the unread notification is not performed even if it is not displayed on a display unit. A second notification unit for performing a read notification for notifying that the message has been displayed in the other terminal device that has received the message transmitted from the terminal device;
The second notification unit includes:
Among the other terminal devices displaying the message transmitted from the own terminal device, the first information includes the number of other terminal devices excluding the other terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the own terminal device. The terminal device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein information is notified as the read notification. The display control unit
The information based on the number of other terminal devices associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device corresponding to the terminal device is displayed on a display unit. The terminal device according to item. A server device control method comprising:
A procedure for managing different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices;
A procedure for receiving a message transmitted from a terminal device used by each of a plurality of users constituting a group;
The received message is transmitted to the second terminal devices other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the group, and the first of the plurality of terminal devices. Transmitting the information to the third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device;
A control method for a server device, comprising: A terminal device control method,
A management unit that manages different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, a receiving unit that receives a message transmitted from a terminal device used by each of a plurality of users constituting a group, and the reception The message received by the unit is transmitted to the second terminal device other than the first terminal device that has transmitted the message among the respective terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the group, and among the plurality of terminal devices, the A procedure for transmitting and receiving a message via a server device comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a first information to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device;
Displaying the message to be transmitted / received on a display unit;
A control method for a terminal device, comprising: In the computer provided in the server device,
Managing different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices;
Receiving a message transmitted from a terminal device used by each of a plurality of users constituting a group;
The received message is transmitted to the second terminal devices other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the group, and the first of the plurality of terminal devices. Transmitting the information to the third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the first terminal device;
A program for running In the computer provided in the terminal device,
Managing different first information corresponding to each of a plurality of terminal devices, receiving a message transmitted from a terminal device used by each of a plurality of users constituting the group, and receiving the received message from the group Are transmitted to the second terminal devices other than the first terminal device that transmitted the message among the terminal devices of the plurality of users constituting the first terminal, and the first information of the plurality of terminal devices is the first terminal. Transmitting and receiving a message via a server device that transmits to a third terminal device associated with the first information corresponding to the device;
Displaying the message to be transmitted and received on a display unit;
A program for running

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