JP4599009B2 - User matching method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a user matching technique, and more particularly to a technique for matching users in relation to a technique for forming a place where a user can participate on a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The use form of the Internet is diversified, and there is an increasing tendency to use the Internet not only for acquiring information but also for various communications between users. For example, in addition to electronic mail that has been widely used in the past, a chat function is provided at various sites, and for example, a function for exchanging instant messages during a music download process is also used. Communication through the Internet, regardless of personal use or business use, is expected to expand and deepen in the future because of its immediacy and characteristics beyond space.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For example, when considering communication in a chat room, the anonymity and transientness of the chatter may be distracting for the user at one time, but in essence, there remains anxiety about not knowing who the other person is, When talking with an invisible partner, the topic and feeling may not match. At that time, trying to find a point of contact with the other party and trial and error loses the meaning of seeking a distraction from the chat.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for realizing activation of communication between users performed via a network. From the service provider's point of view, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for increasing the added value of the service.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention is a user matching method. The method includes acquiring a chat content exchanged between users via a network, verifying the chat content with a factor registered in advance to diagnose the user's personality, As a result, it includes a step of introducing users diagnosed as having close personalities via a network.
[0006]
“Chat” refers to general communication between users over a wide network. In this aspect, since the user acquires information for diagnosing the user's personality from the contents of the chat without registering his / her hobbies and preferences, the user has a personality close to himself simply by chatting. Person is introduced. “Introduction” may be made explicitly, or may be made implicitly, such as directing those users to the same chat room.
[0007]
It is not necessary to obtain a strict objective standard for whether or not “personality is close”. In short, it may be expressed that persons who are likely to perform chat smoothly have close personalities.
“Users” in “users diagnosed with close personalities” includes not only the result of direct personality comparison but also an indirect comparison that, for example, the users X are close to each other. Indirect comparison is adopted in a user matching device described later.
[0008]
This aspect may further include a step of determining a degree of matching between users with respect to a criterion set by focusing on entertainment. In that case, the user may be introduced based on both the result of this determination and the result of the collation. An example of this criterion is compatibility with Western astrology. These entertaining standards are not believed or emphasized by some people, and conversely have the advantage that the results of user matching are not received too seriously. Therefore, it also fits the purpose of the chat with the focus on distractions. Such a process for relieving the meaning of the matching result pays attention to the nature of the processing, and is hereinafter referred to as “randomization”.
[0009]
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a user matching device. This apparatus specifies a contact degree-based user selection unit that specifies a set of users who frequently chat with a first user via a network, and specifies a user who is similar in character to the users included in the set. , A similarity calculation unit for calculating the similarity, and a result presentation unit for introducing a user with a high calculated similarity to the first user.
[0010]
The premise of this apparatus is that a person who is frequently chatting with the first user is already familiar with the first user and often talks with him. Therefore, if you identify such a set of users and find a person who is personally close to each user included in the set, even if you do not have direct contact with the first user, you may be able to talk if you do. Can be specified, and these persons are introduced to the first user.
[0011]
The apparatus may further include a randomizing unit that determines the degree of matching between users with respect to a criterion set by paying attention to entertainment, and reflects the determination result in the similarity.
In addition, the result presentation unit may introduce the person who has already contacted the first user and does not need introduction. A user who is personally close to a user included in the set may be included in the set again, and in that case, the person does not need to be introduced to the first user. Others that can be excluded include the first user himself, the person who chats with the first user is found from logs and other histories, the first user who is registered in the friends list and others, the first user Is on the list to reject chat.
[0012]
It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and those expressing the present invention as a method, system, computer program, recording medium, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a network system 10 according to the embodiment. Here, a plurality of user terminals 12 and a user matching device 14 are connected via the Internet 16. The user matching device 14 is also a server having a function of providing a chat place for the user terminal 12. The user terminal 12 may be of any form, such as a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), or a mobile phone having a function of connecting to the Internet 16. Also, the internal configuration of the user matching device 14 is not an essential problem here, which function is realized by hardware and which is realized by software. The following description focuses on functional units, not hardware or software components. Further, the user and the user terminal 12 are not distinguished unless particularly required.
[0014]
FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the user matching device 14. The communication unit 28 communicates with a plurality of user terminals 12 via the Internet 16. The chat function block 30 provides a series of functions for a large number of users to chat, for example, a user management function, a chat room generation function in which users can enter, and the like. These functions can be realized through, for example, CGI (Common Gateway Interface), but the method is not limited. The chat log holding unit 32 saves the content and status of chats between users within a necessary range. In the present embodiment, the chat log holding unit 32 also has a user management function, for example, a function of managing information such as which user has entered which chat room when.
[0015]
The contact degree-based user selection unit 34 specifies a set of users who are considered “good” based on the contact degree between users. The contact degree is determined by the number of times the same chat room is used. Now, if attention is paid to a person named “user A”, the contact degree-based user selection unit 34 specifies a predetermined number of users in the order of the number of times the room has been shared with this person, and a set formed by these users (hereinafter, simply “ (Also referred to as “set”) is notified to the similarity calculation unit 38.
[0016]
For each user included in the set (hereinafter also referred to as user B _i (i is an integer)), the similarity calculation unit 38 is another user (hereinafter referred to as user B _ij ) that is considered to be highly similar in character to that user. (Where i and j are integers) are specified based on the contents of the chat log holding unit 32, and the similarity b _ij is calculated. The similarity is examined for a plurality of personality determination factors recorded in advance in the personality factor holding unit 36. Thereafter, the similarity b _ij of each user B _ij is multiplied by a correction coefficient (hereinafter also referred to as C _i ) regarding how much the user B _i that triggered the user discovery has contacted the user A. , S _ij = C _i b _ij , the final similarity (hereinafter also referred to as “final similarity”) is determined. The purpose is to emphasize the user B _ij specified from the user B _i who is closer to the user A. Therefore, the correction coefficient C _i is increased as the number of contacts with the user A increases. Thereafter, the final similarity is notified to the randomizing unit 44.
The state of “high similarity” is often expressed as “low dissimilarity” in the statistical world, but in this specification it is unified as “high similarity” and the difference between users is small. Suppose that the number of similarities increases.
[0017]
The randomizing unit 44 performs a randomizing process in the order determined by the final similarity from the viewpoint of entertainment. The parameters for that purpose are recorded in the entertainment parameter holding unit 42. Here, an element of Western astrology for diagnosing the compatibility between the user A and each user _Bij in light of the operation of the stars at that time is taken in. That is, the constellation of compatibility is user A, the constellation of each user B _ij, and the date and time of the diagnosis, is represented by, for example, numbers such as "1 to 10" (hereinafter also referred to as a randomized factor), where now the H _ij write. H _ij is set larger as the compatibility is better. The randomizing unit 44 calculates M _ij = H _ij S _ij .
M _ij should be referred to as a matching value finally determined between users, and a predetermined number of users B _ij (hereinafter also referred to as “best match users”) are notified to the result presentation unit 46 from persons with high values.
[0018]
The result presentation unit 46 transmits the best match user to the user A via the communication unit 28 by an e-mail or a display at the next chat. Instead of explicit communication, a chat room may be recommended so that the user A and the best match user are in the same room.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows the personality factor table 50 held in the personality factor holding unit 36. The personality factor table 50 has a personality factor column 52 and a keyword column 54. The personality factor column 52 lists items that each user may be interested in, such as “soccer” and “pet”. The keyword column 54 lists keywords that are likely to be issued during chatting by users who are interested in such items. For example, a user who likes “music” can be predicted to have a high possibility of uttering words such as “music”, “rock”, “pop”, “jazz”, and “listening” during a chat. The similarity calculation unit 38 counts the number of keyword utterances related to each item in the personality factor column 52 based on the content of the past chat for each user, and uses a predetermined statistical method based on the distribution to The similarity is calculated.
[0020]
As an example, if the number of utterances of the user X regarding a certain item F _k (k is an integer) is x _k , the number of utterances of the user Y is y _k , and the importance of the item in personality diagnosis is I _k , the similarity of these users Degree
Q-ΣI _k · abs (x _k -y _k ) (Formula 1)
It can be calculated with However, Q is a convenient constant for preventing the value of Equation 1 from being negative.
In this case, it may be pre-normalized x _k and? X _k, respectively the values of y _k and .sigma.y _k, may be used any other statistical processing.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows a randomization table 60 held in the entertainment parameter holding unit 42. The randomize table 60 includes a constellation A column 62 indicating the constellation of the user A, a constellation B _ij column 64 indicating the constellation of the user B _ij to be compared, and a constellation between the constellation A column 62 and the constellation B _ij column 64. The randomization coefficient H _ij column 66 indicating the compatibility of. Here, for example, the compatibility H _ij between the user A of “Aries” and the user B _ij of “Taurus” is described as “b”. The randomization table 60 may change every moment depending on the constellation of the constellation. In that case, a randomization table registration unit (not shown) may update the randomization table 60 as appropriate.
[0022]
FIG. 5 shows a process for introducing a user with the above configuration. Before entering this process, a chat using the chat function block 30 is exchanged between users.
The contact degree-based user selection unit 34 first determines the user A by an arbitrary method, for example, selecting a user sequentially or selecting according to the number of utterances. , For example, 24 users B _i (i = 1 to 24) are selected here (S10). These users are notified to the similarity calculation unit 38.
[0023]
Based on the personality factor table 50 for each user B _i , the similarity calculation unit 38 has a predetermined number of people, for example, three users B _ij (i = 1 to 24, j = 1). ~ 3) are selected (S12), and their similarity is recorded as b _ij . In this example, the number of users is narrowed down to 24 × 3 = 72 at this stage. Similarity calculation unit 38 is followed by using the correction coefficients _{C i} of the above, for 72 users to calculate the _{S ij = C i b ij (} S14), the final similarity is notified to randomize section 44.
[0024]
The randomizing unit 44 introduces the above-mentioned randomizing coefficient H _ij to calculate M _ij = H _ij S _ij (S16), and _{selects a} predetermined number, for example, three best match users from the user B _ij having the highest M _ij Introduce to A (S18). When the best match user is one of the users B _i included in the set, the result presentation unit 46 may exclude this user and introduce the next user. This is because user B _i has already chatted with user A a considerable number of times.
[0025]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user A who has not yet contacted the user A can be introduced, but the user who would chat would be disengaged if contacted. For this reason, it is safe in that the state of the other party can be understood before starting the chat, and it becomes easy to have a generally relaxing conversation after entering the chat. It is more effective if this process is applied not only to the user A but also to a certain number of users. On the service provider side, additional functions can be added to chat, which can contribute to service differentiation.
[0026]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.
Here are some examples.
[0027]
In the embodiment, after the user B _ij is determined, the correction coefficient C _i is considered. However, correction may be performed in the process of determining the user B _ij . For example, a larger number of users B _ij may be selected for a user B _i having a small value of i and thus having a large number of interactions with user A. In this case, there is a high possibility that the best match user includes a person with a small value of i.
[0028]
I mentioned Western astrology as part of the randomization process, but there is of course another example. For example, a fortune-telling element based on the number of strokes of the name or the like may be introduced, or a truly randomized element such as a virtual lottery may be introduced.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, communication between the users on a network can be facilitated and a service with high added value can be provided by the users.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system including a user matching device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a user matching device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a personality factor table held in a personality factor holding unit.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a randomization table held in an amusement parameter holding unit.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a user matching processing procedure according to the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
12 user terminals, 14 user matching devices, 30 chat function blocks, 34 contact degree based user selection section, 38 similarity calculation section, 44 randomization section, 46 result presentation section, 50 personality factor table, 60 randomization table.

Claims (6)

A chat log holding unit provided in the computer acquires and stores the contents of chat exchanged between users via a network; and
A step of identifying a set of users who frequently chat with the first user via the network by referring to the information stored in the chat log holding unit by the contact degree based user selection unit provided in the computer When,
The similarity calculation unit provided in the computer refers to the information stored in the chat log holding unit, and for the users included in the set, the items that the user may be interested in and the items of interest Counts the number of keyword utterances related to each item held in the personality factor holding unit that associates and holds keywords that are likely to be uttered during a chat, and uses a predetermined statistical method based on the distribution Identifying a user who is personally similar to the users included in the set, and calculating the similarity ,
A step of introducing a user having a high calculated similarity to the first user by a result presenting unit provided in the computer ;
A user matching method comprising: The randomization unit provided in the computer refers to the entertainment parameter holding unit that holds a parameter indicating the degree of matching between users with respect to a criterion set by focusing on entertainment, and similar to the first user the method of claim 1 degree it is determined parameter indicating the degree of matching between the high user, characterized by further including that the step of reflecting the determination result to the similarity. A chat log holding unit for storing the contents and status of chats exchanged between users;
A contact degree based user selection unit that refers to information stored in the chat log holding unit and identifies a set of users who frequently chat with the first user via the network;
A personality factor holding unit that holds an item that the user may be interested in and a keyword that is likely to be issued during chatting by a user who is interested in the item;
Referring to the information stored in the chat log holding unit, for the users included in the set, the number of keyword utterances related to each item held in the personality factor holding unit is counted, and predetermined based on the distribution A user who is personally similar to the users included in the set using the statistical method, and a similarity calculation unit that calculates the similarity,
A result presentation unit for introducing a user having a high degree of similarity to the first user;
A user matching device comprising: An entertainment parameter holding unit for holding a parameter indicating a degree of matching between users with respect to a criterion set by focusing on entertainment;
Referring to the entertaining parameter holding unit determines a parameter indicating the degree of matching between the first user and the similarity is high user, a randomizing section that reflects the determination result to the similarity The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:   5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the result presentation unit introduces a person who has already contacted the first user and does not need introduction.   6. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a chat function block that provides an electronic place for users to chat via a network.

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