JP2020086881A - Message transfer apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an environment which can be easily used for a communication, such as SMS, without impairing convenience thereof.SOLUTION: A message transfer apparatus includes: a database in which a plurality of sender IDs are associated with one of a plurality of group IDs; a database control unit which updates and searches the database; a transmission unit which transmits a transmission message with one of the sender IDs associated with a group ID corresponding to a customer ID in the database to a terminal identified by a terminal ID; a receiving unit which receives a reply message from the terminal having received the transmission message, including the terminal ID of the terminal and the sender ID added to the transmission message designated as a return address; and a transmission unit which transmits the reply message to a customer identified by a customer ID corresponding to a pair of the sender ID registered on the database and the terminal ID.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a message transfer device, method and program.

There are various methods for transferring media information such as a message or an image using a network. For example, SMS is an abbreviation for Short Message Service. The SMS transmission is a service for transmitting a message to a telephone number of a mobile phone or a smartphone instead of an email address. Early SMS was generally called "short message service" because it transferred short texts, but with the development of technology, the amount of data that can be transferred has increased and the types of media that can be transferred have become diversified.

SMS can be delivered individually or all at once. Since SMS uses a telephone number, the message can be delivered to a user who filters incoming mail by mail address more reliably. Since SMS uses a telephone number used by a communication carrier as a destination, it is often used for the purpose of personal authentication. It also has a high ability to prevent spoofing and duplicate registration.

In the message communication such as SMS, by using the communication using the telephone number as described above, the user (the person himself) is used rather than the communication using the mail address etc. which can be acquired relatively easily or at low cost. Can be identified more reliably.

That is, in order to use the telephone number, it is usually necessary to pay the usage fee of the network communication network. Therefore, obtaining the telephone number is more strict than using an email address. Identity verification is often required. In addition, the telephone number is generally used as a contact for sure access to the person. Therefore, communication such as SMS using a telephone number is more reliable in identifying the person than communication using an email address or the like.

On the other hand, phone numbers have less freedom in selection than e-mail addresses that can be set relatively freely by the person, and in most cases, it costs a certain amount to acquire them. As a result, the telephone number has an advantage over the email address etc. in terms of certainty of message transfer and the function of confirming the identity, but the resource of the telephone number is more limited and it is necessary to acquire it. The cost of is also high. Moreover, the cost of transferring one message is generally higher in SMS using a telephone number than in communication using a mail address.

In the above description, the SMS communication using the telephone number is taken as an example, but the embodiments described below are not limited to the SMS communication, and can be applied to the communication having the property according to the above-described communication. It goes without saying that it is a thing.

Japanese Patent No. 5855732

The disclosed embodiment is an environment that can be more easily used for communication such as SMS, which has characteristics such as high message transmission ability and high personal identification ability, without impairing these conveniences. The purpose is to provide.

According to the disclosed embodiment, a receiving unit that receives a customer ID for identifying each of a plurality of customers, a transmission message transmitted from the customer to a terminal, and a terminal ID for identifying the terminal, The database in which the plurality of customers belong to any one of the groups identified by the group ID, the receiving unit, the group ID, the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID are registered. A plurality of sender IDs are associated with any one of a plurality of group IDs, a database control unit for updating and searching the database, and the group ID corresponding to the customer ID in the database. And a reply message from the terminal that received the transmission message, and a transmission unit that transmits the transmission message to which any of the plurality of sender IDs associated with the transmission message is added to the terminal identified by the terminal ID. The sender ID that has been added to the transmission message is designated as the reply destination, and the receiving unit that receives the reply message, to which the terminal ID of the terminal is added, and the reply message are registered in the database. Further, there is provided a message transfer device having: a transmission unit for transmitting to the customer identified by the customer ID corresponding to the pair of the sender ID and the terminal ID.

The disclosed embodiment makes it easier for SMS or similar communication having features such as high message transmission capability and high identity confirmation capability, without impairing their convenience. It is possible to provide a usable environment.

It is a block diagram which implement|achieves several embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a database and the example of message transmission/reception in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the data structure of the entry of a database. It is a flow chart of a 1st embodiment. It is a flow chart which transmits a reply message from a terminal to a customer via a message transfer device. It is a figure which shows the example of the database in 2nd Embodiment, and the example of message transmission/reception. It is a figure which shows the example of the data structure of the entry of a database. It is a flow chart of a 2nd embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing a modified example 1. 9 is a flowchart showing a second modification. It is a figure which shows another modification. It is a figure which shows the modification 3. It is a figure which shows the modification 4. It is a figure which shows each hardware constitutions of embodiment.

As described above, the embodiment described below will be described by taking the SMS communication using a telephone number as an example, but the embodiment is not limited to the SMS communication, and any of the characteristics similar to the exemplified communication can be used. It goes without saying that it can be applied to communication.

In addition, each embodiment is not exclusive, and a part of a certain embodiment is incorporated into another embodiment, or a part of a certain embodiment is replaced with a part of another embodiment. be able to.

In addition, the respective flows of the illustrated flowchart can be interchanged in order as long as there is no contradiction. Also, as long as there is no contradiction, one exemplified flow can be executed multiple times at different timings.
Also, as long as there is no contradiction, a plurality of flows can be executed at the same time.

Further, some programs of the disclosed embodiments can be realized by a general-purpose program such as an operating system or hardware. In addition, the disclosed program may be distributed and executed by a plurality of hardware.

<Outline of Functions of Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram that implements multiple embodiments.
The customer 11 and the terminal 30 exchange messages including texts. A mobile phone is an example of the terminal 30. The message transfer device 40 transfers a transmission message from the customer 11 to any of the terminals 30, and transfers a reply message from the terminal 30 to any of the customers 11.

Each of the plurality of customers 11 belongs to one of the plurality of groups 10. If it is desired that the same customer belongs to a plurality of groups, different customer IDs may be assigned to the same customer corresponding to each group, for example.

In FIG. 1, the customer a and the customer b belong to the group A, and the customer c, the customer d, and the customer e belong to the group B. For example, the group A may be a management company that manages a plurality of tenant companies, and the customers a and b may be tenants belonging to the management company. Further, for example, the group A may be a parent company (franchisee) of a franchise chain, and the customers a and b may be independent stores (franchisers) participating in the franchise chain.

In FIG. 1, the message transfer device 40 includes a database 41, a DB control unit 42, a receiving unit 45 that receives a transmission message or the like from a customer, a transmission unit 46 that transmits the received transmission message to any of the terminals 30, and a terminal 30. It has a receiving unit 48 for receiving a reply message and the like, and a transmitting unit 47 for transmitting the reply message to the customer 11.

A sender ID (not shown in FIG. 1) indicating the transmission source is added to the transmission message. Further, a sender ID indicating a reply destination is added to the reply message. The sender address of the message transmitted by the message transfer device or the telephone number that is the destination address of the reply message received by the message transfer device is an example of the sender ID.
The DB control unit 42 also includes an update unit 43 that creates or updates an entry in the database 41, and a search unit 44 that searches the database 41.

The database 41 has, for example, an entry that associates a customer ID that identifies the customer 11, a sender ID, and a terminal ID that identifies the terminal 30. The database 41 also has an entry that associates a group ID, a set of sender IDs, and a set of customer IDs.
The DB control unit 42 can receive a command from the customer 11 or the customer group 10. The customer 11 or the group of customers 10 can edit the contents of the database 41 by creating an entry in the database 41 or deleting the entry by giving a command to the DB control unit 42. Further, by including a specific character string (or command) in the message from the customer 11 or the message from the terminal 30, it is possible to edit the contents of the database by giving a command to the DB control unit 32. You can A specific example of the specific character string (or command) in the message and the editing of the database 41 by the customer 11 or the customer group 10 will be described later in the modification.
Alternatively, the DB control unit 42 receives a command from the user who uses the terminal 30 by a voice call addressed to the sender ID from the customer 30, or receives a command by a button operation so that the DB control unit 42 performs a predetermined operation, and the database The contents of may be edited.
Alternatively, the DB control unit may edit the contents of the database by receiving a command from the customer 30 on a predetermined website so that the DB control unit 42 performs a predetermined operation. The URL of the predetermined website may be described in the transmission message to prompt the operator of the terminal 30 to guide the user to the website.

<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and other drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a database and an example of message transmission/reception in the first embodiment.
FIG. 2A is an example showing the relationship among the contents of the database 41, the group 10, the customer 11, and the sender ID 50. Group A has customers a and b, and it is shown that sender ID 51 and sender ID 52 can be used. Group B has customer c, customer d, and customer e, and it is shown that sender ID 53 and sender ID 54 can be used. Group C has customers f to k, and sender ID 55 to sender ID 58 are shown to be available.
The group B will be described below as an example.
FIG. 2B shows an example of message transmission/reception between the customer 11 and the terminal 30.

(Sending message)
The message transfer device 40 adds the sender ID 54 to the transmission message 70 from the customer c and transmits it to the terminal a. The update unit 43 registers in the database 41 an entry that associates the customer c, the sender ID 54, and the terminal a.

Further, when the search unit 44 of the message transfer device 40 transmits the transmission message 70 from the customer d to the terminal a, an entry indicating that the customer d has already transmitted the transmission message to the terminal a in the past exists in the database 41. Check whether to do. (If the entry exists in the database 41, the sender ID associated with the entry may be added to the transmission message.) Note that the entry does not exist in FIG. 2B. In this case, the search unit 44 checks whether or not there is an entry in the database 41 indicating that the transmission message has already been transmitted from another customer to the terminal a. In the case of FIG. 2B, the customer c has already added the sender ID 54 to the transmission message 70 and transmitted it to the terminal a. Therefore, the search unit 44 searches among the sender IDs belonging to the group A for a free sender ID. The search unit 44 finds that the sender ID 53 is unused for the terminal a. As a result, the search unit 44 gives the sender ID 53 to the transmission unit 46. The transmission unit 46 adds the sender ID 53 to the transmission message 70 from the customer d and transmits the transmission message to the terminal a. The updating unit 43 registers in the database 41 an entry that associates the customer ID, which is the customer d, the sender ID 53, and the terminal ID, which is the terminal a.

(Reply message)
When the receiving unit 48 of the message transfer device 40 receives the reply message 75 in which the sender ID 54 is added to the reply message 75 from the terminal a, the search unit 44 searches the database 41. The search unit 44 searches the database 41 using the pair of the sender ID 54 and the terminal a that is the terminal ID as a search key, obtains the customer c that is the customer ID, and transmits the customer c that is the customer ID to the transmission unit 47. Give to. The transmission unit transmits the reply message 75 from the terminal a to the customer a.

When the receiving unit 48 of the message transfer device 40 receives the reply message 75 in which the sender ID 53 is added to the reply message 75 from the terminal a, the search unit 44 searches the database 41. The search unit 44 searches the database 41 using the pair of the sender ID 53 and the terminal a that is the terminal ID as a search key, obtains the customer d that is the customer ID, and transmits the customer d that is the customer ID to the transmission unit 47. Give to. The transmission unit transmits the reply message 75 from the terminal a to the customer d.

FIG. 2B shows a mode of transmission/reception of other transmission message 70 and reply message 75.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, two sender IDs are assigned to group B. Therefore, the condition that transmission messages from the customers 11 at two places can be sent to each terminal 30 at the maximum is kept. As long as the above-mentioned conditions are satisfied, each of the customers 11 can use the two sender IDs to the maximum and can send and receive the send message and the reply message to and from each of the terminals 30 via the message transfer device 40. ..

Therefore, when assigning a dedicated sender ID to each of the three customers 11 of the group B in FIG. 2B, three sender IDs are required, but two sender IDs (sender ID 53 and sender ID 54). ), you will be able to send and receive messages. Various measures for avoiding the inconvenience due to the above restriction will be described later. In order to avoid the inconvenience caused by the above limitation, a new sender ID may be added to the group in which the inconvenience occurs and assigned.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the entries of the database 41.
FIG. 3A shows that the customer c, the customer d, and the customer e belong to the group (B), and the sender ID 53 and the sender ID 54 belong to the group (B). By searching this entry, the search unit 44 can search for a group by using the customer ID as a key. Further, the search unit 44 can acquire the available sender ID from the customer ID or the group ID.

FIG. 3(B) shows a plurality of entries for the group B, which stores the association of the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID. The retrieval unit 44 retrieves FIG. 3B using the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID as a key to determine whether or not the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID has already transmitted/received a message. It is possible to check whether or not (which sender ID has been used if a message has been sent and received). When it is found that a message has not been sent or received, a search is further performed using the specific terminal ID as a key to obtain the sender ID already used for the specific terminal. be able to. Information on whether or not there is a sender ID that can be used by searching the entry in FIG. 3A by using all of the sender IDs that are already used for a specific terminal as a key, and if it exists In addition, the available sender ID can be obtained.
Note that FIG. 3B is an example of an entry, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the entry can be configured in other formats.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the first embodiment. An example of the operation of the first embodiment will be described below using this flowchart. The subject of the operations in the following steps is the message transfer device.
[S402] The customer ID, the transmission message, and the terminal ID are received from the customer 11. The process proceeds to step S404.

[S404] The group ID is specified from the customer ID. Incidentally. If the group ID is obtained from the customer 11, this step need not be performed. The process proceeds to step S406.

[S406] It is checked whether the pair of customer ID and terminal ID is registered in the database for the specified group ID. If the check is affirmative (yes), the process proceeds to step S408. If this check is negative (no), the process proceeds to step S412.
[S408] The first sender ID associated with the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is given to the transmitting unit. The process proceeds to step S424.

[S412] It is checked whether the terminal ID is registered in the database for the specified group ID. If the check is affirmative (yes), the process proceeds to step S416. If this check is negative (no), the process proceeds to step S414.
[S414] The third sender ID belonging to the specified group ID is given to the transmitting unit. The process proceeds to step S418.

[S416] The second sender ID other than the sender ID associated with the terminal ID and belonging to the specified group ID is given to the transmission unit. The process proceeds to step S420.
[S418] An entry in which the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is associated with the third sender ID is registered in the database. The process proceeds to step S424.
[S420] An entry in which the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID and the second sender ID are associated with each other is registered in the database. The process proceeds to step S424.
[S424] The transmission message added with the first sender ID, the second sender ID, or the third sender ID is transmitted to the terminal specified by the terminal ID.

Through the above processing, even if the number of sender IDs assigned to the group 10 is smaller than the number of customers 11 belonging to the same group 10, sacrificing convenience is suppressed as much as possible and sender IDs are effectively used. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of transmitting a reply message from the terminal 30 to the customer via the message transfer device 40. This process will be described below. The operation subject of the following processing is the message transfer device 40.
[S502] The reply message, the sender ID, and the terminal ID are received from the terminal 30. The process proceeds to step S504.
[S504] The customer ID is retrieved from the database by using the pair of the sender ID and the terminal ID as a key. The process proceeds to step S506.
[S506] The reply message is transmitted to the customer corresponding to the customer ID.

Through the above processing, the reply message addressed to the sender ID can be transmitted from the terminal 30 to an appropriate customer. Mutual communication of messages can be surely performed while the customer 11 shares the sender ID.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a database and an example of message transmission/reception in the second embodiment. Description will be made with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 6A is an example showing the relationship between the group 10, the customer 11, and the sender ID 60 in the contents of the database 41. It is shown that the customer A and the customer b exist in the group A, and the sender ID 61 can be used. Group B has customers c, d, and e, and it is shown that sender ID 62 can be used. In group C, customers f to k exist, and sender ID 63 is available.
The group B will be described below as an example.
FIG. 6B shows an example of message transmission/reception between the customer 11 and the terminal 30.

(Sending message)
The message transfer device 40 adds the sender ID 62 to the transmission message 80 from the customer c and transmits it to the terminal c at time 1. The update unit 43 registers in the database 41 an entry that associates the customer c, the sender ID 62, the terminal c, and the time 1 with each other.

The message transfer device 40 adds the sender ID 62 to the transmission message 80 from the customer e and transmits it to the terminal c at time 2. The update unit 43 registers in the database 41 an entry that associates the customer e, the sender ID 62, the terminal c, and the time 2 with each other.

The message transfer device 40 adds the sender ID 62 to the transmission message 80 from the customer d and transmits it to the terminal c at time 3. The update unit 43 registers in the database 41 an entry that associates the customer c, the sender ID 62, the terminal c, and the time 3 with each other.
Similar processing is performed for the other transmission messages in FIG.

(Reply message)
When the receiving unit 48 of the message transfer device 40 receives the reply message 85 from the terminal c with the sender ID 62 added, the search unit 44 searches the database 41.

The search unit 44 searches the database 41 using the pair of the sender ID 62 and the terminal c, which is the terminal ID, as a search key, and searches for the entry having the latest time. The latest time is time 3. The customer d, who is the customer ID, can be obtained from the entry having the sender ID 62, the terminal c, which is the terminal ID, and the time 3.
The customer d, which is the customer ID, is given to the transmission unit 47. The transmission unit transmits the reply message 85 from the terminal c to the customer d.
FIG. 6B shows a mode of transmission/reception of other transmission message 80 and reply message 85.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6B, one sender ID is assigned to each group. Therefore, each terminal 30 complies with the condition that a reply message can be returned to one customer 11. Each of the customers 11 can send and receive a send message and a reply message to and from each of the terminals 30 via the message transfer device 40 by making maximum use of one sender ID.

Therefore, when assigning a dedicated sender ID to each of the three customers 11 of the group B in FIG. 6B, three sender IDs are required, but one sender ID (sender ID 62) is assigned. Simply by doing so, you will be able to send and receive messages.

Various other measures for avoiding the inconvenience due to the above restriction will be described later. In order to avoid the inconvenience due to the above limitation, a new sender ID may be added to the group in which the inconvenience occurs and assigned. When a plurality of sender IDs are assigned to one group, the time may be managed individually for the plurality of sender IDs.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the entries of the database 41.
FIG. 7A shows that the customer c, the customer d, and the customer e belong to the group B, and the sender ID 62 belongs to the group B. By searching this entry, the search unit 44 can search for a group by using the customer ID as a key. Further, the search unit 44 can acquire the available sender ID from the customer ID or the group ID.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the second embodiment will be described using this flowchart. The subject of the operations in the following steps is the message transfer device.
FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing the processing of the transmission message.
[S802] The customer ID, the transmission message, and the terminal ID are received. The process proceeds to step S804.

[S804] The group ID is specified from the customer ID. Incidentally. If the group ID is obtained from the customer 11, this step need not be performed. The process proceeds to step S806.
[S806] The sender ID is specified from the group ID. The process proceeds to step S808.

[S808] An entry in which the customer ID, the terminal ID, the sender ID, and the transmission time are associated with each other is registered or updated in the database. The process proceeds to step S810.
[S810] The transmission message to which the specified sender ID is added is transmitted to the terminal specified by the terminal ID.

FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing the processing of the reply message. The flow will be described below. The message transfer device is the execution subject of the following processes.
[S822] The reply message, the sender ID, and the terminal ID are received. The process proceeds to step S824.

[S824] The database is searched using the pair of sender ID and terminal ID as a key, and the customer ID is obtained from the entry having the latest time among the searched entries. The process proceeds to step S826.
[S826] The reply message is transmitted to the customer corresponding to the obtained customer ID.
Through the above processing, the reply message from the terminal 30 is transmitted to the customer 11.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the first modification.

In FIG. 9, when the database is created or updated, the database is processed so that the old entry is overwritten by the entry related to the event that occurred most recently. This can save the trouble of searching for the latest entry from the plurality of entries registered in the database. The details of the processing are as follows.
(Fig. 9(A): Transmission message)
[S852] The customer ID, the transmission message, and the terminal ID are received. The process proceeds to step S854.
[S854] The group ID is specified from the customer ID. When the group ID can be acquired from the customer, this process is unnecessary. The process proceeds to step S856.
[S856] The sender ID is specified from the group ID. The process proceeds to step S857.

[S857] It is checked whether an entry having a pair of sender ID and terminal ID was found in the database. If the check result is affirmative (yes), the process proceeds to step S858. If the check result is negative (no), the process proceeds to step S860.

[S858] The entry in which the customer ID, the terminal ID, the sender ID, and the transmission time are associated is overwritten on the found entry. In this process, instead of overwriting, the found entry may be deleted, and then an entry in which the customer ID, the terminal ID, the sender ID, and the transmission time are associated may be newly registered. The process proceeds to step S862.
[S860] An entry in which the customer ID, the terminal ID, the sender ID, and the transmission time are associated with each other is registered in the database. The process proceeds to step S862.
[S862] The transmission message to which the specified sender ID is added is transmitted to the terminal specified by the terminal ID.
Through the above processing, when the database is created or updated, the database processing is performed such that the old entry is overwritten by the entry related to the event that occurred most recently.

(Fig. 9(B): Reply message)
The processing of the reply message obtained from the terminal 30 is as follows. The subject of the operation of the following processing is the message transfer device.
[S882] The reply message, sender ID, and terminal ID are received. The process proceeds to step S884.
[S884] The database is searched using the sender ID/terminal ID pair as a key to obtain the customer ID. The process proceeds to step S866.
[S886] The reply message is transmitted to the customer corresponding to the obtained customer ID.
Through the above processing, the reply message obtained from the terminal 30 is transmitted to the customer 11.

<Modification 2>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the second modification.
The second modification shows a process of releasing the customer 11 from occupying and using the sender ID after a predetermined time has elapsed. The details of this process are as follows.
It is desirable that the processing be started by, for example, periodic interrupt processing.
[S1002] The processing of the following step S1004 is executed for all entries in the database.

[S1004] An entry is deleted when a predetermined time has elapsed since the entry was created or last updated. The entry to be deleted is an entry associated with occupying the sender ID.
[S1006] The repeating process is executed between step S1002.

By the above processing, the occupancy of the sender ID assigned to the customer 11 is released after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the center ID is used for other uses, and the sender ID that is a resource shared by the customer 11 is used. Can be effectively used.

<Other modifications>
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another modification. Although a series of processes is described in FIG. 11, only some of the processes shown in FIG. 11 may be adopted and executed.

(1) [S1101, S1102]

In this process, when the sender ID is secured and the transmission message is transmitted from the customer 11 to the terminal 30 and the reply message is transmitted from the terminal 30 to the customer 11, the database entry related to the secured sender ID is transmitted. Process to delete.

By this processing, the securing of the sender ID is released by exchanging the message in one round trip, and the sender ID can be assigned to another message transfer.

(2) [S1104, S1106]

In this process, when a transmission message from a customer having a predetermined customer ID is received, the database entry update process is not performed. By this process, it is possible to realize a process that meets the needs of not wanting to receive the reply message only by sending the send message. For example, in the franchise chain, the notification can be used when the notification is transmitted to the terminal 30 and the sender of the notification does not want to receive the reply message.

(3) [S1108, S1110]

This process is a process for transmitting the reply message to the customer having the specific customer ID, not the customer having the customer ID used for message transmission. By performing this process, it is possible to meet the needs for transmitting the reply message from the terminal 30 to one customer.

(4) [S1112, S1114]

This process is a process that allows the customer 11 to whom the reply message is transmitted to be selected by including a predetermined character string in the reply message. For example, if all sender IDs assigned to a group are used and the reply message cannot be sent from the terminal 30 to the terminal 30 that wants to send the reply message, this process can be used to send the reply message. By writing a character string indicating that the user wants to be transmitted in the message, it becomes possible to send a reply message from the terminal 30 to a customer different from the customer 11 who is the transmission destination determined by the sender ID added to the reply message ..
The various modifications described above can be selectively used according to needs, and various functions can be added.

<Modification 3>
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a third modification of the embodiment. FIG. 12A shows an aspect of transmission/reception of the transmission message 80 and the reply message 85.
The customer m0 broadcasts the transmission message 80 to the terminals p0 to p7. Note that the content of the transmission message 80 sent to each terminal may be the same content, or the content of a different message depending on the individual terminal. The transmission message 80 may be added to the common sender ID 70 and transmitted to the terminal.
Then, each of the terminals p0 to p7 that has received the transmission message 80 returns the reply message 85 with the sender ID 70 as the destination.

FIG. 13B shows the main parts of the entries stored in the database 41. The entry in FIG. 3B may be created in advance by the customer m0 or the operator of the group to which the customer m0 belongs. Upon receiving the reply message, the search unit 44 searches the entry of FIG. 12B stored in the database 41. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, for example, the reply message 85 of the terminal p0 is transmitted to the customer m3. Other reply messages are also returned to the customer shown in FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B).
As described above, when the customer m0 broadcasts the transmission message, the reply message from the terminal which receives the message is distributed to the customers m1 to m4 almost evenly and transmitted. The entry defining the customer to which the reply is sent is shown in FIG.
By doing so, it becomes possible for the customers m1 to m4 to share the response messages from the plurality of terminals.

Note that, in the above description, the entry in FIG. 12B has been described as being created in advance, but the entry in FIG. 12B does not have to be created in advance.
For example, when the receiving unit 46 receives a reply message addressed to the sender ID 70 from the terminal, the searching unit 44 searches the database 41 using the pair of the terminal ID and the sender ID as a key. If the hit entry cannot be found in the database, the search unit 44 instructs the update unit 43 to create the entry. Based on this instruction, the update unit 43 causes the database 41 associated with the terminal that issued the reply message to display in the database 41 that is associated with the terminal that issued the reply message, for example, the terminal that issued the reply message as shown in FIG. Add an entry related to. For example, the updating unit 43 creates the entries shown in FIG. 12B so that the number of reply messages is as uniform as possible and the reply messages are transmitted to each customer. For example, a round robin algorithm may be utilized to communicate reply messages to different customers in sequence.

The pattern of delivery of the reply message to the customer is not limited to the example shown in FIG. For example, the entry shown in FIG. 12B may be created in advance so that reply messages from each terminal in response to a message sent from each customer are concentrated and transmitted to one specific customer, for example. .. Alternatively, the entry of FIG. 12B may be created by the updating unit 43 each time a reply message from the terminal is received.
The above modification is an exemplification, and a plurality of sender IDs may be used, and the association between the customer, the sender ID, and the terminal shown in FIG. 12B may be set as necessary. it can. Although the time is not used in FIG. 12B, it goes without saying that the time of sending and receiving the send message or the reply message may be recorded in the database 41 to control the message transfer.

<Modification 4>
FIG. 13 shows another modification of the embodiment. FIG. 13A shows a case where the transmission message 80 or the reply message 85 includes, for example, a character string of “STOP”. In this case, after the send message or the reply message is sent, the entry in the database 41 used to transfer the send message or the reply message may be deleted. By deleting the entry, the link between the customer, the sender ID, and the terminal relating to the transmission of the send message or the reply message is deleted, and thereafter, the customer linked by the deleted entry is deleted. Will not be able to perform message communication with the terminal.
In this way, by including the predetermined character string in the message, it is possible to cause the update unit 43 to edit the database 41.

In FIG. 13B, by including a character string of “Broadcast” in the transmission message, the transmission message from the customer can be simultaneously delivered to a plurality of terminals. By transmitting this message from the customer m0, it is possible to perform the simultaneous distribution without designating the individual terminals in the simultaneous distribution in the modified example 3 described above.
In addition, when a predetermined message exists in the transmission message or the reply message, a predetermined transfer can be performed, or a predetermined entry in the database can be edited.

<Hardware configuration>
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing each hardware configuration of the embodiment. The hardware configuration includes a CPU 901, a ROM 902 that stores the programs and data of this embodiment, a RAM 903, a network interface 905, an input interface 906, a display interface 907, and an external memory interface 908. These pieces of hardware are connected to each other by a bus 904.

The network interface 905 is connected to the network 915. The network 915 includes a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, the Internet, a telephone network, and the like. The input unit 916 is connected to the input interface 906. A display unit 917 is connected to the display interface 907. A storage medium 918 is connected to the external memory interface 908. The storage medium 918 may be RAM, ROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, memory card, or the like. A program that implements the present exemplary embodiment may be stored in the storage medium.

A program that implements the above-described embodiment can be executed by a computer having the hardware configuration shown in FIG. Further, the program of the embodiment may be implemented as a method of causing a computer to execute. Part or all of the program of this embodiment may be executed by an operating system. Further, part of the program may be realized by hardware. The program may be stored in the storage medium 918, the ROM 902, or the RAM 903.

Embodiments may be implemented as hardware devices.
Needless to say, the above-described embodiments are not intended to limit the invention described in the claims but are treated as examples.

10 group 11 customer 40 message transfer device 41 database 42 control unit 43 updating unit 44 searching unit 45 receiving unit 46 transmitting unit 47 transmitting unit 48 receiving unit

Claims (12)

A receiving unit for receiving a customer ID for identifying each of a plurality of customers, a transmission message transmitted from the customer to a terminal, and a terminal ID for identifying the terminal, wherein the plurality of customers are identified by a group ID. A receiver that belongs to any one of the following groups:
A database for registering a correspondence relationship among the group ID, the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID, wherein the plurality of sender IDs are associated with any one of the plurality of group IDs;
A database controller that updates and retrieves the database,
A transmitting unit that transmits the transmission message to which any one of the plurality of sender IDs associated with the group ID corresponding to the customer ID in the database is added, to the terminal identified by the terminal ID;
A reply message from the terminal that has received the transmission message, in which the sender ID added to the transmission message is designated as a reply destination and the terminal ID of the terminal is added, and the reply message is received. A receiver,
A transmission unit for transmitting the reply message to the customer identified by the customer ID corresponding to the pair of the sender ID and the terminal ID registered in the database;
A message transfer device having. The database control unit,
By searching the database using the customer ID or the group ID received by the receiving unit as a key, the sender ID corresponding to the group ID is given to the transmitting unit,
Every time the transmission message is transmitted, the correspondence relationship among the group ID, the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID used for transmitting the transmission message is updated, and the reply message is transmitted. The sender ID and the terminal ID included in the search key as a search key to search the database to specify the customer ID and give it to the transmission unit.
The message transfer device according to claim 1. The database control unit includes an update unit that updates the database, and a search unit that searches the database,
The search unit searches whether or not the received pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is registered in the database,
If a pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is registered, a first sender ID corresponding to the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is given to the transmitting unit,
If the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is not registered, the search unit searches whether or not the terminal ID is registered in the database,
If the terminal ID is registered,
The search unit provides the transmission unit with a second sender ID other than the sender ID corresponding to the terminal ID and a second sender ID associated with a group ID corresponding to the customer ID,
The update unit associates the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID with the second sender ID and registers them in the database,
If the terminal ID is not registered,
The search unit gives the transmitter a third sender ID associated with a group ID corresponding to the customer ID,
The updating unit registers the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID and the third sender ID in association with each other in the database.
The message transfer device according to claim 1. The database control unit invalidates the first entry when a predetermined time elapses from the time when the first entry of the database is created or overwritten, so that the database registered in the first entry is invalidated. Deleting the relationship among the group ID, the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID from the database,
The message transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When the reply message is transmitted to the customer, the database control unit invalidates the second entry used to identify the customer who transmits the reply message, thereby registering in the second entry. Deleting the relationship among the group ID, the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID that have been created from the database,
The message transfer device according to claim 1. The database control unit, when the customer ID received by the receiving unit is a predetermined first customer ID, even if a transmission message is transmitted, the group ID used for transmitting the transmission message, Do not create or update a database entry that associates the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID.
The message transfer device according to claim 1. The database control unit, when the customer ID received by the receiving unit is a predetermined second customer ID, the group ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID used for transmitting the transmission message. And creating or updating a database entry that associates a predetermined third customer ID in place of the predetermined second customer ID,
The message transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The database control unit gives a fourth customer ID to the transmission unit when a predetermined character string is detected in the reply message,
The message transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A receiving step of receiving a customer ID for identifying each of a plurality of customers, a transmission message transmitted from the customer to a terminal, and a terminal ID for identifying the terminal, wherein the plurality of customers are identified by a group ID. A receiving step belonging to any one of the following groups:
A database control step of updating and searching a database, wherein the database is a database for registering a relationship among the group ID, the customer ID, a sender ID, and the terminal ID, and a plurality of sender IDs A database control step associated with any one of a plurality of group IDs;
Transmitting the transmission message added with any one of a plurality of sender IDs associated with the group ID corresponding to the customer ID in the database to the terminal identified by the terminal ID,
A reply message from the terminal that has received the transmission message, in which the sender ID added to the transmission message is designated as a reply destination and the terminal ID of the terminal is added, and the reply message is received. Steps,
Transmitting the reply message to the customer identified by the customer ID corresponding to the pair of the sender ID and the terminal ID registered in the database;
A method of transferring a message. The database control step,
By searching the database with the customer ID or the group ID received by the receiving step as a key, the sender ID corresponding to the group ID is given to the transmitting step,
Every time the transmission message is transmitted, the correspondence relationship among the group ID, the customer ID, the sender ID, and the terminal ID used for transmitting the transmission message is updated, and the reply message is transmitted. The sender ID and the terminal ID included in the search key are used to search the database, and the customer ID is specified and given to the transmitting step.
The message transfer method according to claim 9. The database control step includes a step of updating the database and a step of searching the database,
The step of searching searches whether the received pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is registered in the database,
If the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is registered, a first sender ID corresponding to the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is given to the transmitting step,
The step of searching, if the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID is not registered, searches whether the terminal ID is registered in the database,
If the terminal ID is registered,
In the step of searching, a second sender ID other than a sender ID corresponding to the terminal ID, and a second sender ID associated with a group ID corresponding to the customer ID is given to the transmitting step.
In the step of updating, the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID and the second sender ID are associated with each other and registered in the database,
If the terminal ID is not registered,
Said searching step provides said transmitting step with a third sender ID associated with a group ID corresponding to said customer ID,
In the updating step, the pair of the customer ID and the terminal ID and the third sender ID are registered in the database in association with each other.
The message transfer method according to claim 9. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

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