JP4887226B2 - Message transmission / reception system, terminal device, terminal processing program, server device, server processing program, display control method, and user information transmission method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field such as a message transmission / reception system capable of transmitting / receiving a message between terminal devices via a network.

  In recent years, an instant messenger (also called an IM client) that can exchange text messages (generally called instant messages) between terminal devices such as mobile phones and personal computers through a network such as the Internet or an intranet. Application software) has become widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Each terminal device can display user information such as the name and nickname of the user of another terminal device that is a message exchange partner. For example, such user information is displayed on a screen for inputting and displaying a message, a screen for displaying the status of a user registered as a friend, or the like.
JP 2003-44418 A

  However, there is a possibility that the user information displayed in this way is also seen and grasped by a person near the user of the terminal device (the user indicated by the user information is grasped). was there. For example, when it is not desired to know that the patient is going to the hospital, it is difficult to send a message without knowing the message exchange partner when the message is exchanged with a doctor who is in the hospital. In addition, for example, when a manager user exchanges messages with personnel at the workplace or when exchanging messages with users in other departments in a confidential project, it is difficult to message without knowing the message exchange partner around. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and one example of the problem is that a user grasps a user who is indicated by user information displayed on the screen of the terminal device by a person nearby. An object of the present invention is to provide a message transmission / reception system, a terminal device, a terminal processing program, a server device, a server processing program, a display control method, and a user information transmission method that can be grasped by itself.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving messages instructed by a user to and from other terminal devices through a network. In each of the message transmission / reception systems, each of the terminal devices includes a display control unit that displays a screen in which user graspable information including a display object capable of grasping a user of the other terminal device is displayed at a predetermined position; Secret setting means for performing on / off setting of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information displayed on the screen, and when the secret mode is on setting, the display control means Instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position, it is indicated by the user graspable information. User and wherein the displaying the screen by the user grasping infeasibility information consisting of non display object grasped is displayed on the predetermined position from a person other than the user of the terminal device.

  According to the present invention, when the secret mode is set to ON, the terminal device displays the user unrecognizable information at the predetermined position instead of the user recognizable information to be displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. Since the screen is displayed, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of the other terminal device without being grasped by a person nearby.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a terminal device having a messenger function capable of transmitting / receiving a message instructed by a user to / from another terminal device through a network, Display control means for displaying a screen on which user graspable information consisting of display objects capable of grasping a user is displayed at a predetermined position, and setting of on / off of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information displayed on the screen A secret setting unit for performing the operation, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the display control unit can grasp the user instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. User incomprehensible information consisting of a display object that cannot be comprehended from a person other than the user of the terminal device And wherein the displaying the screen displayed on serial position.

  According to the present invention, when the secret mode is set to ON, the terminal device displays the user unrecognizable information at the predetermined position instead of the user recognizable information to be displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. Since the screen is displayed, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of the other terminal device without being grasped by a person nearby.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device according to the second aspect, the display control means further displays a search input field for searching for a user of the other terminal device on the screen. The user graspable information corresponding to the searched user based on the search information input in the search input field is displayed as a search result, and the display control means sets the secret mode to ON and OFF In any case, the user graspable information is displayed as a search result.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the terminal device according to the second or third aspect, when the screen on which the user unrecognizable information is displayed at a predetermined position is displayed, the display control means is When a switching instruction is given via the input means, the user graspable information is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen instead of the user graspable information.

  According to the present invention, the convenience of the secret mode can be improved.

  An invention of a terminal processing program according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that it functions as the terminal device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a display control method in a terminal device having a messenger function capable of transmitting / receiving a message instructed by a user to / from another terminal device via a network. A step of displaying a screen on which user graspable information consisting of display objects capable of grasping a user of the terminal device is displayed at a predetermined position, and on / off of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information displayed on the screen A setting step, and when the secret mode is on setting, instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, the user indicated by the user graspable information, User incomprehensible information consisting of display objects that cannot be comprehended by a person other than the user of the terminal device is displayed at the predetermined position. Characterized in that to display the serial screen.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting / receiving a message instructed by a user to / from other terminal devices through a network, and the plurality of terminal devices A message transmission / reception system comprising a server device connectable via a network, wherein the server device is user graspable information consisting of display objects capable of grasping a user of another terminal device, and is a screen on one terminal device. In the one terminal device, the user graspable information displayed above and the user grasping information including a display object that cannot grasp the user of the other terminal device from a person other than the user of the one terminal device. On-off setting of the secret mode for hiding the user incapable information displayed on the screen and the user comprehensible information Storage means for storing the secret mode setting information in a distinguishable manner for each user, and when the one terminal device is connected to the server device via a network, the user of the other terminal device With reference to corresponding secret mode setting information, setting discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the secret mode is on setting; and when the secret mode is not on setting, corresponds to the user of the other terminal device User graspable information to be transmitted to the one terminal device, and when the secret mode is set to ON, user unrecognizable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is transmitted to the one terminal device. User information transmission means, wherein the one terminal device transmits the user graspable information transmitted from the server device or the user information. User information receiving means for receiving unrecognizable information; and display control means for displaying a screen on which the received user recognizable information or the user unrecognizable information is displayed at a predetermined position. .

  According to this invention, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a person who is nearby.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from other terminal devices via a network can be connected via the network. A server device, which is user graspable information composed of a display object capable of grasping a user of another terminal device, and is displayed on a screen of one terminal device; User incomprehensible information consisting of display objects that cannot be comprehended by a person other than the user of the one terminal device, the user incomprehensible information displayed on the screen in the one terminal device, and the user comprehensible information Storage means for storing secret mode setting information indicating on / off setting of a secret mode for concealing information for each user When the one terminal device is connected to the server device via a network, whether the secret mode is set to ON by referring to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device If the secret mode is not set to ON, the setting determination means for determining whether or not the secret mode is ON is transmitted to the one terminal device, and the secret mode is turned ON. In the case of setting, it is characterized by comprising user information transmitting means for transmitting user unrecognizable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device to the one terminal device.

  According to this invention, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a person who is nearby.

  The invention of a server processing program according to a ninth aspect is characterized in that it functions as the server device according to the eighth aspect.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving messages instructed by a user to and from other terminal devices via a network can be connected via the network. A user information transmission method in a server device, which is user graspable information composed of a display object capable of grasping a user of another terminal device and is displayed on a screen in one terminal device, and User incomprehensible information consisting of display objects that cannot be comprehended from a person other than the user of the one terminal device, and the user incapable information to be displayed on the screen in the one terminal device; Secret mode setting information indicating on / off setting of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information, for each user A step of storing in a distinguishable manner, and when the one terminal device is connected to the server device via a network, the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is referred to, and the secret Determining whether or not the mode is set to ON, and if the secret mode is not set to ON, transmitting user graspable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device to the one terminal device; A step of transmitting, to the one terminal device, user incomprehensible information corresponding to a user of the other terminal device when the secret mode is set to ON.

  According to the present invention, when the secret mode is set to ON, the terminal device displays the user unrecognizable information at the predetermined position instead of the user recognizable information to be displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. Since the screen is displayed, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of the other terminal device without being grasped by a person nearby.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a message transmission / reception system.
[1. Configuration and function of message transmission / reception system]
First, the configuration and function of the message transmission / reception system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a message transmission / reception system S according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the message transmission / reception system S is connected to other users through an IM (instant messenger) service providing server SA and a network NW such as the Internet or an intranet (consisting of a relay device such as a communication line and a router). A plurality of user terminals (an example of a terminal device) having an instant messenger function (hereinafter simply referred to as “messenger”) capable of transmitting and receiving an instant message (hereinafter simply referred to as “message”) with the terminal UTm. ) UTm (m = 1, 2,... K).

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, one IM service providing server SA is illustrated, but the IM service providing server SA includes a plurality of server groups (for example, an application server, a proxy server, a redirect server, a registrar, and a location). Server).

  The IM service providing server SA is connected to the network NW, and is assigned a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address (global IP address). On the other hand, each user terminal UTm can be connected to a network NW through, for example, a server of an Internet service provider, and a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address (for example, a global IP address) is assigned when connecting to the network NW. It is like that.

  Here, the configuration and function of the IM service providing server SA will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the IM service providing server SA, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of registered information in the user information database 51.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the IM service providing server SA includes an operation unit 1, a display unit 2, a communication unit 3, a drive unit 4, a storage unit 5, an input / output interface unit 6, a system control unit 7, and the like. The system control unit 7 and the input / output interface unit 6 are connected via a system bus 8.

  The operation unit 1 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The operation unit 1 receives an operation instruction from an administrator or the like, and outputs the instruction content to the system control unit 7 as an instruction signal.

  The display unit 2 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays information such as characters and images.

  The communication unit 3 is connected to the network NW and controls the communication state with the user terminal UTm and the like.

  For example, the drive unit 4 reads data from a disk DK (recording medium) such as a flexible disk, a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or the like, and records data or the like on the disk DK.

  The input / output interface unit 6 performs interface processing between the operation unit 1 to the storage unit 5 and the system control unit 7.

  The storage unit 5 includes, for example, a hard disk drive and stores an operating system (O / S), various programs, data (including data provided to the user terminal UTm), and the like.

  In addition, a user information database 51 for registering information related to the user of the user terminal UTm is constructed in the storage unit 5.

  In the registration information example in the user information database 51 shown in FIG. 3, for each user, address information, user ID, password, nickname (also referred to as “screen name”, hereinafter referred to as “NN”), and friends registered members (hereinafter referred to as “name”). NN of “friends member”, presence information (state information) indicating the current state of the user presented to each friend member and the like are registered in association with each other.

  Here, for example, each user terminal UTm connects to the IM service providing server SA, and the user ID, password, and NN are registered through a procedure process for using the system S. The user ID and NN are uniquely given to each user in the system S, and are registered so as not to overlap with other users. The NN is an example of user graspable information that can grasp who is showing even a person near the user of the user terminal UTm, and includes, for example, a display object such as an alphabet or a kanji including a name.

  The address information includes, for example, an IP address (current IP address) assigned when the user terminal UTm is connected to the network NW. For example, when login processing is executed in response to a login (sign-in) request (including a user ID and password) from the user terminal UTm on which the messenger is activated and login is permitted (that is, the user ID and password are user information) When registered in the database 51), the address information of the user terminal UTm is registered in the user information database 51.

  In addition, the friend member is a user who is permitted to exchange messages with each other, and the user's NN (the user ID of the user corresponding to the friend registration request from the user terminal UTm). Is also registered in the user information database 51. In addition, when the user terminal UTm is used in a company where the user works, the friend record members include not only a friend of the user but also a related person in the company and a related person of the business partner. Moreover, between users who have been permitted as friend records members, the status display of each other can be made public.

  Further, the presence information of each user is registered for each friend member (for example, registered at the time of login or when the user's status is changed). In the example of FIG. The status indicated in the presence information of the user who is “bbbbbb” is the status of all the friend members of the user (that is, NN “aaaaaa”, NN “ccccc”, NN “dddddd”, and NN “eeeeee”, respectively. ) Is “online”. As a result, the status of “online” is presented (notified) to all friend members.

  Next, the system control unit 7 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 7a, a read only memory (ROM) 7b, a random access memory (RAM) 7c, and the like, and performs overall control of the entire IM service providing server SA. Yes. Then, the system control unit 7 reads out and executes various programs stored in the ROM 7b and the storage unit 5 so that the CPU 7a executes an authentication process or the like in response to a login request from the user terminal UTm, and performs the login. When permitted, the presence information of the user's friend member of the user terminal UTm is transmitted to the user terminal UTm via the communication unit 3 and the network NW (PUSH type distribution).

  At this time, the system control unit 7 registers the presence information (for example, information indicating “online”) of the logged-in user in the user information database 51 in association with the NN of all the friend members of the user. At the same time, it is transmitted (notified) to the user terminal UTm of the logged-in friend member among the friend members of the user. In addition, it transmits, when the said friend record member logs in with respect to the user terminal UTm of the friend member who is not logged in among the friend members of the said user. Further, the user terminal UTm may periodically acquire presence information of the logged-in user from the IM service providing server SA.

  Thereby, the presence information of the friend member is presented to the user on the main screen related to the messenger function described later.

  Further, the system control unit 7 manages the presence information of each user using the user information database 51. When a change in the current state of any user is detected, the system control unit 7 displays the changed state of the user. The presence information shown is changed and registered in the user information database 51 and transmitted to the user terminal UTm of the logged-in friend member among the friend members of the user via the communication unit 3 and the network NW ( (PUSH type distribution).

  Next, the configuration and function of the user terminal UTm will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the user terminal UTm. 5 to 7 are diagrams showing examples of display screens on the user terminal UT2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal UTm includes an operation unit 11, a display unit 12, a communication unit 13, a drive unit 14, a storage unit 15, an input / output interface unit 16, a system control unit 17, and the like as examples of input means. The system control unit 17 and the input / output interface unit 16 are connected via a system bus 18. Note that the configuration of the operation unit 11, the display unit 12, the communication unit 13, the drive unit 14, the storage unit 15, and the input / output interface unit 16 includes the operation unit 1, the display unit 2, and the communication unit in the IM service providing server SA described above. 3, the configuration of the drive unit 4, the storage unit 5, and the input / output interface unit 6 is the same.

  In the system control unit 17, the CPU 17 a reads out and executes various programs (including the terminal processing program of the present invention) stored in the ROM 17 c and the storage unit 15, thereby activating the messenger function. It functions as a secret setting means.

  The system control unit 17 as display control means displays a screen on which a NN that can be grasped by a nearby person as a user of another user terminal UTm is displayed at a predetermined position. .

  For example, after a messenger is activated and logged in at the user terminal UT2 (the same applies to other user terminals UTm), an icon 101a as shown in FIG. 101, and the main screen 100 is displayed (opened) on the display unit 12. Further, the presence information of the friend member and the NN of the friend member transmitted from the IM service providing server SA are displayed on the communication unit 13. Received via.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, for example, in the status display section 100a on the main screen 100, presence information indicating the status of each friend record member is associated with the NN (100b section) of the friend record member. Is displayed. Thus, the presence information displayed on the status display unit 100a is changed (rewritten) to the latest presence information received later from the IM service providing server SA. Thereby, the user of the user terminal UT2 can grasp that his / her friend member is currently in a state where it is difficult or impossible to input a message on the user terminal UTm.

  Further, the main screen 100 shown in FIG. 5A includes a “set” button 100c, a “new member registration” button 100d, an “x” (close) button 100e for closing the main screen 100, and a logout screen. A "logout" button 100f, a "chat start" button 100g, for example, a "call start" button 100h for making an IP phone based on SIP, and a "minimize" button 100k are provided so as to be selectable by the user. When the “minimize” button 100k is designated, the main screen 100 is not displayed, but the display of the icon 101a on the main screen 100 in the toolbar 101 is continued (that is, the main screen 100 is minimized). .

  In such a display state, when the user operates the operation unit 11 and designates a “new member registration” button 100d (for example, clicks with the mouse), a new member registration screen (not shown) for newly registering a friend. Is displayed. On the new member registration screen, the user operates the operation unit 11 to designate the user's NN or the like that he / she wants to register as a new friend, and to send a message to the user terminal UTm (addressed to the IP address) or email address of the user Can be sent to the other party (friends) to exchange the information, and if this is permitted to the user of the transmission destination, the NN of the user permitted to register the friend is stored in the storage unit 15, In addition, a friend registration request including the NN of the user who has permitted the friend registration is transmitted to the IM service providing server SA, and is associated with the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2 that has made the friend registration request. 51 (registered as a friend).

  By registering the friend in this way, the friend member of the user of the user terminal UT2 is added, and the state of the friend member is displayed on the state display unit 100a on the main screen 100 of the user terminal UT2. (Conversely, on the friend member side, the user of the user terminal UT2 is registered as a friend member).

  By the way, since the NN of the friend record member is composed of display items such as alphabets or kanji characters including names, etc., those who are close to the user of the user terminal UT2 (for example, those who are close to the user (for example, boss, Co-workers)) can also grasp and may be inconvenient.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, an example of user graspable information displayed on a screen (for example, the main screen described above or a chat window screen described later) by the system control unit 17 as a secret setting unit according to an instruction from the user. The secret mode for concealing the NN is set on and off. When the secret mode is on, the system control unit 17 replaces the NN to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. A screen in which pseudonym information is displayed at the predetermined position is displayed.

  This pseudonym information is information that each user can arbitrarily assign to his / her friend member, and the character indicated by the NN of the friend member cannot be recognized by those who are close to him / her. It is an example of the user unrecognizable information which consists of display objects, such as an image.

  The example of FIG. 5B is a display example of the main screen 100 when the secret mode is set to ON. In this example, the pseudonym information given to the friend member (NN is “aaaaaa”) of the user (NN “bbbbbb”) of the user terminal UT2 is “Rakuten Ichiro”. On the other hand, pseudonym information is not given to the user's friend member (NN is “ddddd”) of the user terminal UT2.

  In addition, when the user gives a switching instruction via the operation unit 11 (for example, the position where the NN or pseudonym information is displayed on the screen is double-clicked with the mouse), the system control unit 17 turns on / off the secret mode. The display of NN and pseudonym information is switched. For example, when a screen in which pseudonym information is displayed is displayed and a user gives a switching instruction via the operation unit 11, NN is displayed on the screen instead of the pseudonym information (FIG. 5 ( The display of B) is switched to the display of FIG. The secret mode on / off setting may be switched for each friend member (for example, by double-clicking the NN or pseudonym information of the friend member). The secret mode setting information indicating the on / off setting of the secret mode is transmitted to the IM service providing server SA, and is registered in the user information database 51 in association with the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2.

  If the user wants to exchange messages with his / her friend member, the status display unit displays the NN or pseudonym information of the friend member who is in the online state who wants to exchange messages by operating the operation unit 11. When the user designates 100a and designates the "chat start" button 100g (for example, clicks with the mouse or double-clicks the friend member NN in the status display unit 100a), the chat window screen as shown in FIG. 102 is displayed on the display unit 12, and an icon 101 b for the chat window screen 102 is displayed on the toolbar 101. In the example of FIG. 6A, the main screen is minimized by the minimize button, and an icon 101a for the main screen is displayed on the toolbar 101.

  6A is a display example of the chat window screen when the secret mode is set to off, and FIG. 6B is a table of the chat window screen when the secret mode is set to on. It is an example. Even when the chat window screen is displayed, if the user gives a switching instruction via the operation unit 11, the system control unit 17 switches the setting of the secret mode on / off, and the NN, the pseudonym information, (The display of NN or pseudonym information on the main screen displayed at the same time is also switched).

  The chat window screen 102 is a screen for the user of the user terminal UT2 to exchange messages with a user (friend record member) who is the NN “aaaaaa” (pseudo-name information “Rakuten Ichiro”). 102 includes a send message input field 102a, a “send” button 102b, a message output field 102c, an “×” (close) button 102d for closing the chat window screen 102, and the like.

  In such a display state, the user of the user terminal UT2 operates the operation unit 11 to input a desired message content (for example, a relatively short document) in the transmission message input field 102a (for example, input with a keyboard), When the “send” button 102b is designated (for example, clicked with the mouse), the content of the input message is displayed in the message output field 102c, and the input message is transmitted from the user terminal UT2 to the user terminal UT1. Is done. The message transmitted in this way includes the NN of the transmission source user and the NN of the destination user.

  Further, a message from the user terminal UT1 is also displayed in the message output field 102c. At this time, as shown in the figure, NN or pseudonym information is displayed in association with the ON / OFF setting of the secret mode. It will be.

  Instead of the “Send” button 102b, the “Enter” key on the keyboard may be used. Specifically, the user may input a desired message in the transmission message input field 102a and select a “Enter” key on the keyboard to start transmission / reception of the message.

  Note that session establishment and message transmission between the user terminal UT2 and the user terminal UT1 are performed based on, for example, a well-known SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) or Jabber protocol. Omitted.

  Further, the user can assign the pseudonym information to each friend member on the pseudonym information setting screen 103 as shown in FIG. 7, for example. For example, the user of the user terminal UT2 operates the operation unit 11 on the pseudonym information setting screen 103 to input pseudonym information to be assigned to each friend member into the corresponding input field 103a and specify the registration button 103b (for example, When the mouse is clicked), the system control unit 17 performs assignment setting of the pseudonym information input in accordance with the instruction from the user, and stores it at a predetermined address of the memory in the storage unit 15. Further, the pseudonym information set in this way is transmitted to the IM service providing server SA and registered in the user information database 51 in association with the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2 and the NN of each friend member. become.

  The pseudonym information setting screen 103 is displayed when, for example, a pseudonym information setting item is selected from a list of various setting items that are displayed in a pull-down mode when the “setting” button 100c on the main screen 100 is designated. Is displayed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the main screen 100 is provided with a search input field 100p for searching for a friend member and a “search” button 100o. When the user of the user terminal UT2 operates the operation unit 11 to input search information such as NN or pseudonym information of the friend member into the search input field 100p and specify the registration button 103b (for example, click with the mouse), The system control unit 17 is an NN corresponding to a user searched based on the input search information (for example, searching for an NN including the search information or pseudonym information) (NN when the secret mode is on, When the secret mode is set to off, pseudonym information) and presence information are displayed as search results (for example, displayed in an area with the status display unit 100a). As a result, the user of the user terminal UT2 immediately obtains the presence information of a desired friend record member when, for example, all the presence information cannot be displayed on the status display unit 100a because there are several tens of friend members. I can grasp it.

The search based on the search information input in the search input field 100p may be configured to be performed by the system control unit 17 or configured to be performed by the system control unit 7 of the IM service providing server SA. May be. When the system control unit 7 of the IM service providing server SA performs the search, the search information input in the search input field 100p and the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2 are transmitted to the IM service providing server SA. Information indicating the search result is sent back to the user terminal UT2, and displayed as shown in FIG.
[2. Screen display processing of user terminal UTm]
Next, a screen display process and a secret mode setting switching process in the user terminal UTm will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing screen display processing in the system control unit 17 of the user terminal UTm, and FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing secret mode setting switching processing in the system control unit 17 of the user terminal UTm. is there.

  In the following description, it is assumed that a messenger is activated in a certain user terminal UTm. It is assumed that the above-described pseudonym information allocation is set.

  First, the screen display process shown in FIG. 8A is started when the above-described main screen 100 is displayed and when the chat window screen 102 is displayed after the messenger is activated.

  In step S1 shown in FIG. 8A, the system control unit 17 determines whether the secret mode is on or off.

  If the setting is off (step S1: off setting), as described above, the system control unit 17 displays a screen in which the NN of the friend member is displayed at a predetermined position (step S2). The process ends.

On the other hand, if the setting is on (step S1: on setting), the system control unit 17 determines whether there is a friend member for whom pseudonym information allocation is set (step S3), and the pseudonym information. When there is no friend member for which the assignment setting is made (step S3: NO), the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, if there is a friend member for whom pseudonym information assignment is set (step S3: YES), the system control unit 17 acquires the pseudonym information assigned to the friend member from the memory, and As described above, a screen in which the pseudonym information is displayed at a predetermined position is displayed (NN is displayed for the friend member to whom the pseudonym information is not assigned) (step S4), and the process ends.
Next, the secret mode setting switching process shown in FIG. 8B is switched from the user via the operation unit 11 when the screen displaying the NN or the pseudonym information of the friend member is displayed at a predetermined position. Started when instructed.

  In step S11 shown in FIG. 8B, the system control unit 17 determines whether the secret mode is on or off.

  If the setting is off (step S11: off setting), the system control unit 17 switches the secret mode to on setting (step S12). Next, the system control unit 17 determines whether there is a friend member for which pseudonym information assignment is set (step S13), and if there is no friend member for which pseudonym information assignment is set, (Step S13: NO), the process ends without switching the display of NN. On the other hand, if there is a friend member for whom pseudonym information assignment is set (step S13: YES), the system control unit 17 acquires the pseudonym information assigned to the friend member from the memory, and The pseudonym information is displayed instead of the NN of the friend member (step S14), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is on setting (step S11: on setting), the system control unit 17 switches the secret mode to off setting (step S15). Next, the system control unit 17 displays NN instead of the pseudonym information of the friend record member (step S16), and ends the process.

  As described above, according to the above embodiment, when the secret mode is set to ON, the user terminal UTm replaces the NN to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen with the pseudonym information at the predetermined position. Since the screen displayed on the screen is displayed, the user of each user terminal UTm can grasp, for example, the friend member who is exchanging messages without being grasped by a nearby person. .

  In addition, since the display is switched between the NN and the pseudonym information in response to a switching instruction from the user (for example, a click on the screen), the convenience of the secret mode can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the user terminal UTm is configured to determine whether or not the secret mode is set to ON. However, as another example, whether or not the IM service providing server SA is set to ON. It may be configured to determine whether or not. In this case, the secret mode setting information indicating the on / off setting of the secret mode of each user in the user information database 51 and the pseudonym information of the friend member of each user are registered in association with the user ID. Yes. Then, the system control unit 7 of the IM service providing server SA determines, for example, whether or not the secret mode corresponding to the user of the user terminal UT2 is on setting, and if the secret mode is not on, NN of the user's friend member of the user terminal UT2 is transmitted to the user terminal UT2 (PUSH type distribution), and when the secret mode is on, the user's friend member of the user terminal UT2 The pseudonym information is transmitted to the user terminal UT2 as user information transmitting means (PUSH type distribution). Accordingly, the user terminal UT2 that has received the NN or pseudonym information displays the NN or pseudonym information at a predetermined position on the screen as described above. Note that the transmission timing of the NN or pseudonym information is when the user logs in and when the secret mode setting is changed (that is, when the secret mode setting information is received from the user terminal UTm).

  Thus, if the secret mode setting information and the fake name information of the friend member are managed on the IM service providing server SA side, for example, when the user uses a plurality of user terminals UTm (for example, at home and at work). If the user sets the secret mode on / off setting or the pseudonym information in one user terminal UTm, the setting can be similarly used in the other user terminal UTm. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the secret mode setting information and the pseudonym information of the friend member are managed on the user terminal UTm side as described above, for example, the user uses a plurality of user terminals UTm (for example, at home and work). In this case, the secret mode on / off setting and the pseudonym information can be set for each user terminal UTm, and the setting can be made different.

  In the above embodiment, when the secret mode is set to ON, the pseudonym information as an example of the user unrecognizable information is displayed at a position where the NN should be displayed instead of the NN. As another example of such user-unrecognizable information, the display of NN may be simply erased to be assimilated with the background. FIG. 9A shows an example of a display screen on the user terminal UT2 in this case. In this example, the user's friend members “aaaaaa”, “ccccc”, and “eeeeee” of the user terminal UT2 are secret. Since the mode is on, not only the NN but also presence information is not displayed. On the other hand, since the secret mode is off for the friend member “dddddd”, the NN and presence information are displayed. It has become. Even in this case, when the user operates the operation unit 11 to input search information to the search input field 100p as described above and designate the registration button 103b, the system control unit 17 performs the input. The NN and presence information corresponding to the user searched based on the searched information (for example, “aaaaa”) is displayed as a search result as shown in FIG. 9B, for example. That is, regardless of whether the secret mode is on or off, user graspable information is displayed as a search result. Thereby, even if the secret mode is set to ON, it is possible to easily search for a friend member to be secreted.

  In the above embodiment, the main screen and the chat window screen have been described as examples of the screen on which NN or pseudonym information is displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any screen that displays NN can be used. Any screen may be used. For example, when the first message is received, a small screen (toaster screen) is displayed in the right corner on the display so that the user can visually recognize that the message has been received. However, it can also be applied to this screen.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although NN was demonstrated as an example as user graspable information, it is not limited to this, A real name may be sufficient.

It is a figure which shows the example of a schematic structure of the message transmission / reception system S which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of IM service provision server SA. It is a figure which shows the example of registration information in the user information database. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the user terminal UTm. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen in user terminal UT2. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen in user terminal UT2. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen in user terminal UT2. (A) is a flowchart which shows the screen display process in the system control part 17 of the user terminal UTm, (B) is a flowchart which shows the secret mode setting switching process in the system control part 17 of the user terminal UTm. It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen in user terminal UT2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 Operation part 2,12 Display part 3,13 Communication part 4,14 Drive part 5,15 Storage part 6,16 Input / output interface part 7,17 System control part 8,18 System bus 51 User information database SA IM service Provision server UTm User terminal S Message transmission / reception system NW network

Claims (10)

In a message transmission / reception system including a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting / receiving a message instructed by a user to / from other terminal devices through a network,
Each of the terminal devices is
Display control means for displaying a screen in which user graspable information consisting of display objects capable of grasping the user of the other terminal device is displayed at a predetermined position;
Secret setting means for performing on / off setting of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information displayed on the screen;
With
When the secret mode is set to ON, the display control unit displays the user indicated by the user graspable information instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. A message transmission / reception system characterized by displaying the screen on which the user unrecognizable information including a display object unrecognizable from a person other than the user is displayed at the predetermined position. A terminal device having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device through a network,
Display control means for displaying a screen in which user graspable information consisting of display objects capable of grasping the user of the other terminal device is displayed at a predetermined position;
Secret setting means for performing on / off setting of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information displayed on the screen;
With
When the secret mode is set to ON, the display control unit displays the user indicated by the user graspable information instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. A terminal device characterized by displaying the screen on which user-unrecognizable information consisting of a display object that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user is displayed at the predetermined position. The terminal device according to claim 2,
The display control means further displays a search input field for searching for a user of the other terminal device on the screen, and corresponds to a user searched based on the search information input in the search input field. To display user searchable information as search results,
The display control means displays the user graspable information as a search result regardless of whether the secret mode is on or off. In the terminal device according to claim 2 or 3,
When a screen on which the user unrecognizable information is displayed at a predetermined position is displayed, the display control unit replaces the user unrecognizable information with a switching instruction from the user via the input unit. The user graspable information is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.   A terminal processing program that functions as the terminal device according to any one of claims 2 to 4. A display control method in a terminal device having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user with another terminal device through a network,
A step of displaying a screen in which user graspable information consisting of display objects capable of grasping the user of the other terminal device is displayed at a predetermined position;
Performing an on / off setting of a secret mode for hiding the user graspable information displayed on the screen;
With
When the secret mode is set to ON, instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, the user indicated by the user graspable information is sent from a person other than the user of the terminal device. A display control method, comprising: displaying the screen on which user-incomprehensible information including a display object that cannot be grasped is displayed at the predetermined position. A plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving messages instructed by the user to and from other terminal devices through the network;
A server device to which the plurality of terminal devices can be connected via a network;
In a message transmission / reception system comprising:
The server device
User graspable information comprising display objects capable of grasping users of other terminal devices and displayed on the screen of one terminal device, and the user of the other terminal device as the one terminal Secret information mode for hiding user grasping information, which is user grasping information that is displayed on the screen of the one terminal device, and that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the device Storage means for storing secret mode setting information indicating ON / OFF setting for each user so as to be discriminable;
If the one terminal device is connected to the server device via a network, whether or not the secret mode is set to on by referring to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device Setting discrimination means for discriminating
When the secret mode is not set to ON, user graspable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is transmitted to the one terminal device, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the other User information transmitting means for transmitting user incomprehensible information corresponding to the user of the terminal device to the one terminal device;
With
The one terminal device is:
User information receiving means for receiving the user graspable information or the user unrecognizable information transmitted from the server device;
Display control means for displaying a screen in which the received user graspable information or the user graspable information is displayed at a predetermined position;
A message transmission / reception system comprising: A server device to which a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving messages instructed by a user to and from other terminal devices via a network can be connected via the network,
User graspable information comprising display objects capable of grasping users of other terminal devices and displayed on the screen of one terminal device, and the user of the other terminal device as the one terminal User unrecognizable information consisting of a display object that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the device and displayed on the screen of the one terminal device, and a secret mode for hiding the user recognizable information Storage means for storing secret mode setting information indicating ON / OFF setting for each user so as to be discriminable;
If the one terminal device is connected to the server device via a network, whether or not the secret mode is set to on by referring to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device Setting discrimination means for discriminating
When the secret mode is not set to ON, user graspable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is transmitted to the one terminal device, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the other User information transmitting means for transmitting user incomprehensible information corresponding to the user of the terminal device to the one terminal device;
A server device comprising:   A server processing program that functions as the server device according to claim 8. A user information transmission method in a server device in which a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving messages instructed by a user to and from other terminal devices via a network can be connected via the network. And
User graspable information comprising display objects capable of grasping users of other terminal devices and displayed on the screen of one terminal device, and the user of the other terminal device as the one terminal User unrecognizable information consisting of a display object that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the device and displayed on the screen of the one terminal device, and a secret mode for hiding the user recognizable information Storing secret mode setting information indicating ON / OFF setting for each user in a distinguishable manner;
If the one terminal device is connected to the server device via a network, whether or not the secret mode is set to on by referring to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device A process of determining whether or not
When the secret mode is not set to ON, user graspable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is transmitted to the one terminal device, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the other Transmitting user incomprehensible information corresponding to the user of the terminal device to the one terminal device;
A user information transmission method comprising:

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