US20230006953A1 - Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium - Google Patents
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium Download PDFInfo
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- US20230006953A1 US20230006953A1 US17/942,348 US202217942348A US2023006953A1 US 20230006953 A1 US20230006953 A1 US 20230006953A1 US 202217942348 A US202217942348 A US 202217942348A US 2023006953 A1 US2023006953 A1 US 2023006953A1
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- 230000010365 information processing Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 147
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 379
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 19
- 238000012217 deletion Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000037430 deletion Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 48
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 39
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 39
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 29
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 12
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- 238000013528 artificial neural network Methods 0.000 description 3
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
- H04L51/07—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail characterised by the inclusion of specific contents
- H04L51/18—Commands or executable codes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
- H04L51/04—Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.
- chat an information exchanging method
- sentences (hereinafter referred to as a “message”) are exchanged between multiple information processing apparatuses, using characters.
- messages received and transmitted in time sequence may be displayed. Since there is no restriction applied on a transmission timing of a message in each information processing apparatus, another message not related to a particular received message may be received before a message responsive to the particular received message is transmitted.
- the transmitted message is displayed immediately subsequent to another message different from the particular message rather than subsequent to the particular message which the reply message is transmitted in response to.
- the transmitted reply message may be recognized as a reply message to the other message, and people may have difficulty in recognizing the flow of the conversation from the series of time-elapsed messages.
- an information processing apparatus includes a display that displays messages received from other information processing apparatuses, and transmission messages from the information processing apparatus, in a display region in a time sequence, a receiving unit that receives a transmission message responsive to a received message displayed on the display, and a transmission instruction of the transmission message, and a controller that, if a second received message different from a first received message as a message received from a link destination to which the transmission message is directed is displayed in the display region before the receiving unit receives the transmission instruction of the transmission message, controls the display such that the transmission message indicating an association with the first received message is displayed on the display region.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an information processing system
- FIG. 2 illustrates an image example of a chat
- FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a message management table
- FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic system configuration of a management apparatus and an information processing apparatus
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process of a first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 6 illustrates a screen example of a chat in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message reception process
- FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process that autonomously determines an execution timing of a drafting process of a transmission message
- FIG. 9 illustrates a screen example of a chat in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transmission process of the second exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 11 illustrates a display example of transmission messages transmitted within a group determination time period
- FIG. 12 illustrates a display example of transmission messages that are transmitted after the elapse of the group determination time period
- FIG. 13 illustrates a screen example of a chat in which a group selection is performed
- FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transmission process of a third exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 15 illustrates a screen example displayed when the message transmission process of the third exemplary embodiment is performed
- FIG. 16 illustrates a screen example of a chat in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an edit dialog box
- FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a link destination deletion process
- FIG. 19 illustrates a screen example displayed when the link destination deletion process is performed
- FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a link destination change process
- FIG. 21 illustrates a screen example displayed when the link destination change process is performed.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an information processing system 10 of a first exemplary embodiment.
- the information processing system 10 includes a management apparatus 11 and information processing apparatuses 12 .
- the management apparatus 11 is connected to each of the information processing apparatuses 12 via a communication network 13 .
- a message transmitted from each of the information processing apparatuses 12 is received by each of information processing apparatuses 12 via the management apparatus 11 .
- a conversation via messages, namely, a chat is performed among the information processing apparatuses 12 .
- a message transmitted from one of the information processing apparatuses 12 is received first by the management apparatus 11 , and the management apparatus 11 transfers the received message to each information processing apparatus 12 .
- the message transmitted by the information processing apparatus 12 is thus received by each information processing apparatus 12 in the information processing system 10 .
- the transmission destination of the message may be specified by the information processing apparatus 12 as a sender. If the transmission destination is not particularly specified, the message is transmitted to each information processing apparatus 12 included in the information processing system 10 .
- the multiple information processing apparatuses 12 are collectively referred to as the information processing apparatus 12 in the above discussion.
- the information processing apparatuses 12 may be differentiated by suffixing each information processing apparatus 12 .
- the information processing apparatuses 12 may be referred to as an information processing apparatus 12 A and an information processing apparatus 12 B.
- the communication network 13 may include a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, but may also include an area communication network, such a local area network (LAN).
- the communication network 13 may be a wired network and/or a wireless network, and may be a public network and/or an exclusive network.
- the communication network 13 may connect to not only the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatuses 12 , but also an external device, such as an external storage device.
- the information processing apparatus 12 may be a smart phone or a tablet.
- a message received by each information processing apparatus 12 is displayed on a display region 17 of the screen of the display 15 included in the information processing apparatus 12 . No particular restriction is imposed on the display form of the message received by the information processing apparatus 12 on the display region 17 .
- messages received from other information processing apparatuses 12 are displayed on a more leftward portion of the display region 17 , and a transmission message transmitted by a host information processing apparatus 12 is displayed on a more rightward portion of the display region 17 .
- a message 1 is transmitted by the information processing apparatus 12 B, and that messages 2 and 3 are transmitted by the information processing apparatus 12 A.
- “message N” represents each message (N is a natural number).
- a message received is referred to as a “received message”, and a message transmitted or to be transmitted is referred to as a “transmission message”.
- a transmission message At least one of the transmission message and the received message is simply referred to as a “message”.
- the message may include, in addition to characters, graphics, such as an icon, a symbol, and an image, such as a photograph.
- FIG. 2 illustrates an image example of a chat on the information processing apparatus 12 .
- the display region 17 of the screen includes a message display region 22 that displays transmission messages and received messages, a message input region 18 in which a message is created by inputting characters or the like, and a draft button 19 .
- a user of the information processing apparatus 12 enters a transmission message responsive to the message 1 on the message input region 18 and presses the draft button 19 .
- a draft display region 20 is displayed on the message display region 22 , a message 2 that is a transmission message responsive to the message 1 is displayed together with a transmit button 21 on the draft display region 20 and stored on a recording device. In this case, the display of the transmission message entered on the message input region 18 is deleted.
- the transmit button 21 When the transmit button 21 is pressed, the message 2 in the draft display region 20 is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 12 and the management apparatus 11 transfers the message 2 to each of the information processing apparatuses 12 included in the information processing system 10 . Specifically, the pressing of the transmit button 21 notifies the information processing apparatus 12 of a transmission instruction.
- the information processing apparatus 12 Upon receiving the message 2 , the information processing apparatus 12 displays the received messages in time sequence from top to down on the message display region 22 . Referring to FIG. 2 , the message 2 that is a response to the message 1 is displayed beneath the message 1 . This sequence is repeated as the users talk in conversation.
- the received messages are simply displayed in time sequence. For example, the received messages may be displayed from down to top on the message display region 22 or may be displayed laterally on the message display region 22 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a message management table managed by the management apparatus 11 .
- the management apparatus 11 When the management apparatus 11 receives a transmission message from each of the information processing apparatuses 12 , the management apparatus 11 records information included in each received transmission message in the message management table.
- the message management table includes columns for a message identification (ID), message content, sender ID, start time of drafting, storage time of draft, transmission time, and link information.
- ID message identification
- sender ID start time of drafting
- storage time of draft storage time of draft
- transmission time link information
- the message ID column records an identifier that identifies a transmission message.
- the message content column records contents that are contained in the transmission message.
- the sender ID column records an identifier of a user who has transmitted the transmission message.
- the start time of drafting column records time at which the user begins drafting.
- the storage time of draft column records time and date on which the user has pressed the draft button 19 .
- the transmission time column records time and date on which the user has pressed the transmit button 21 .
- the link information column records a message ID indicating a message from a link destination to which the transmission message is transmitted.
- the information processing apparatus 12 generates a transmission message including a variety of information managed in the message management table, and transmits the transmission message.
- a transmission message having no link information is not a response to any message, and is a message that indicates a startup point of a conversation unrelated to the other messages.
- the symbol “-” in the transmission time column indicates that the transmit button 21 is not pressed for the transmission message that is displayed on the draft display region 20 .
- the information processing apparatus 12 transmits the stored draft message to the management apparatus 11 prior to the transmission of the transmission message to notify the management apparatus 11 that the transmission message has been drafted.
- the management apparatus 11 records information contained in the stored draft message in the message management table when the stored draft message has been received in addition to the transmission message.
- a message 4 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a transmission message displayed on the draft display region 20 with the draft button 19 pressed but is in a state with the transmit button 21 remains unpressed.
- the information related to the transmission messages managed in the message management table is not limited to information of FIG. 3 , but may include another piece of information.
- the format of the time and date of the storage time of draft and the transmission time are displayed for exemplary purposes only.
- the time and date of the storage time of draft and the transmission time may be represented in units of milliseconds.
- each of the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatus 12 may be implemented using a computer 50 .
- the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatus 12 may be identical to each other in electrical system configuration.
- the electrical system configuration of the information processing apparatus 12 is representatively explained, and this discussion is also application to the management apparatus 11 .
- the information processing apparatus 12 is implemented using the computer 50 .
- the computer 50 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 51 that is an example of a controller in the exemplary embodiment, a read only memory (ROM) 52 , a random access memory (RAM) 53 , a non-volatile memory 54 , and an input and output (I/O) interface 55 .
- the CPU 51 , the ROM 52 , the RAM 53 , the non-volatile memory 54 , and the I/O interface 55 are connected to each other via a bus 56 .
- the I/O interface 55 connects to an input device 14 , a display 15 , and a communication device 16 .
- the input device 14 notifies a user's instruction to the CPU 51 .
- the input device 14 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpanel, and/or a microphone.
- the input device 14 is an example of a receiving unit that receives a user's instruction.
- the display 15 displays, as an image, information generated under the control of the CPU 51 , and displays the display region 17 related to the chat illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the display 15 is an example of a display that displays transmission messages and received messages in time sequence on the display region 17 .
- the communication device 16 connects to the communication network 13 , and works in accordance with a communication protocol that transmits or receives messages to or from the information processing apparatus 12 via the management apparatus 11 .
- the devices connected to the I/O interface 55 are not limited to those of FIG. 4 .
- a global positioning system (GPS) device may be connected to the I/O interface 55 to add, to the transmission message, position information indicating a location from which the transmission message is transmitted.
- GPS global positioning system
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process performed by the CPU 51 after the information processing apparatus 12 is powered on.
- An information processing program that defines the message transmission process is typically pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 , and executes the message transmission process.
- a transmission message (the message 2 , for example) is transmitted in response to a message received from the information processing apparatus 12 (the message 1 , for example).
- step S 10 the CPU 51 receives click location information of a mouse that is an example of the input device 14 , and determines whether the draft button 19 has been pressed. If the draft button 19 has been pressed, processing proceeds to step S 20 .
- a drafting process of a transmission message is performed in step S 20 .
- the drafting process includes steps S 22 through S 26 .
- step S 22 the CPU 51 receives a message ID indicating a message from a link destination of the transmission message, namely, a link destination message ID, and stores the link destination message ID on the RAM 53 . Specifically, the CPU 51 acquires the message ID of the message received most recently, from among the messages received until the draft button 19 is pressed, as the link destination message ID of the message from the link destination in the transmission messages input in the message input region 18 .
- the message received most recently is also referred to as the “latest received message”.
- step S 24 the CPU 51 stores the transmission message input to the message input region 18 on the RAM 53 , and erases the display of the transmission message from the message input region 18 . Specifically, the message input region 18 becomes blank in response to the pressing of the draft button 19 , and a next transmission message is allowed to be input.
- the CPU 51 stores on the RAM 53 the time when the transmission message input in the message input region 18 is stored on the RAM 53 .
- the time information may be acquired using a clock functionality of the CPU 51 .
- the CPU 51 When the draft button 19 is pressed, the CPU 51 newly displays the draft display region 20 on the message display region 22 . Referring to FIG. 2 , the transmission message stored on the RAM 53 is displayed together with the transmit button 21 on the draft display region 20 .
- step S 26 the CPU 51 transmits the stored draft message to the management apparatus 11 to notify the management apparatus 11 that the transmission message has been drafted.
- the stored draft message includes the message ID of the transmission message, the message content, the storage time of the draft, and the link information having the link destination message ID set therewithin.
- the transmission message input to the message input region 18 is first displayed on the draft display region 20 and is then transmitted in response to the user's instruction.
- the user may thus have time to verify the contents of the transmission message.
- This arrangement reduces more the possibility of transmitting a transmission message containing an error than when a transmission message input to the message input region 18 is directly transmitted without any time period to verify the contents of the transmission message.
- the transmission message prior to transmission displayed on the draft display region 20 with the draft button 19 pressed may be referred to as a “transmission message being drafted”.
- the transmission message displayed on the draft display region 20 with the draft button 19 pressed may be referred as being in an “in-draft state”.
- step S 10 If the determination operation in S 10 branches to “no” branch, in other words, the draft button 19 remains unpressed, processing proceeds to step S 30 with the drafting process not performed in step S 20 .
- step S 30 the CPU 51 determines whether an insertion message has been received.
- the “insertion message” refers to a message that is received when the transmission message is in the in-draft state.
- the message 3 is the insertion message.
- the insertion message is displayed immediately subsequent to the received message indicated by the link destination message ID acquired in step S 22 on the message display region 22 , in other words, immediately subsequent to the message (corresponding to the message 1 of FIG. 6 ) received from the link destination of the transmission message.
- the transmission message is displayed immediately subsequent to the insertion message.
- the transmission message may be understood as a response to the insertion message.
- the flow of a conversation is difficult to follow in comparison with the case in which a transmission message is displayed immediately subsequent to the message from the link destination of the transmission message.
- step S 40 the CPU 51 adds the link destination message ID stored on the RAM 53 in step S 22 to the message content of the transmission message displayed on the draft display region 20 but with the link destination message ID thereof not yet displayed.
- the CPU 51 then displays the link destination message ID. In this way, the transmission message, if viewed, indicates which of the messages is a message from the link destination of the transmission message.
- step S 30 determines whether the transmission message is a response to the message located immediately prior thereto. Processing proceeds to step S 50 with the operation in step S 40 skipped.
- step S 50 the CPU 51 receives the click location information of a mouse, for example, and determines whether the transmit button 21 has been pressed. If the transmit button 21 has not been pressed, processing returns to step S 10 . Operations in steps S 10 through S 50 are iterated until the transmit button 21 has been pressed. If the transmit button 21 has been pressed, processing proceeds to step S 60 .
- step S 60 the CPU 51 transmits a transmission message responsive to the pressing of the transmit button 21 to the management apparatus 11 .
- the transmission message includes a variety of information managed in the message management table of FIG. 3 .
- the CPU 51 attaches to the transmission message the link destination message ID stored on the RAM 53 in step S 22 as the link information.
- the sender ID may be a user ID which is input to authenticate a user when the user starts chatting.
- the transmission message transmitted from the information processing apparatus 12 of the user is transferred, and displayed on the message display region 22 .
- step S 70 the CPU 51 determines whether a chat end command has been received from the user. If the chat end command has not been received, processing proceeds to step S 10 to continue the message transmission process. If the chat end command has been received, the message transmission process of FIG. 5 ends.
- an insertion message (the message 3 , for example) may be received before transmitting a transmission message (the message 2 , for example) that is a response message to a received message (the message 1 , for example).
- a transmission message (the message 2 , for example) that is a response message to a received message (the message 1 , for example).
- an association with the link destination is displayed in the transmission message.
- line “>(message 1 )” in the message 2 indicates the message from the link destination.
- the message ID indicating the message of the link destination is displayed in the transmission message.
- the messages are thus displayed in time sequence. Even if one or more messages are displayed between the transmission message and the message from the link destination on the message display region 22 , the relationship between the messages is recognized.
- the association between the transmission message and the message from the link destination may be represented using a method other than displaying the message ID of the message from the link destination. For example, the entire message from the link destination may be used. Alternatively, the message from the link destination may be displayed in a link display such that the message from the link destination is displayed if the message displayed on the message display region 22 is clicked.
- the message 1 that is received most recently, from among the messages received until the message 2 shifts to the in-draft state, is an example of a first received message
- the message 3 as the insertion message is an example of a second received message.
- FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message reception process that is performed by the CPU 51 after the information processing apparatus 12 is switched on.
- An information processing program defining the message reception process is pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 and executes the message reception process.
- step S 100 the CPU 51 determines whether a message has been received. If no message has been received, processing proceeds to step S 140 . If a message has been received, processing proceeds to step S 110 .
- step S 110 the CPU 51 determines whether the received message is a transmission message transmitted from the host information processing apparatus 12 . Specifically, the CPU 51 determines whether the received message is a received message corresponding to the transmission message transmitted from the host information processing apparatus 12 by referencing the sender ID included in the received message. If the determination operation in step S 110 branches to yes branch, processing proceeds to step S 120 .
- step S 120 the CPU 51 displays the received message on the message display region 22 in a manner that clearly indicates that the received message is a received message corresponding to the transmission message from the host information processing apparatus 12 .
- the received message is displayed on a rightward portion of the message display region 22 as illustrated in FIG. 6 .
- step S 110 branches to no branch, processing proceeds to step S 130 .
- step S 130 the CPU 51 displays the received message on the message display region 22 in a manner that clearly indicates that the received message is a received message corresponding to the transmission message transmitted from an information processing apparatus 12 different from the host information processing apparatus 12 .
- the received message is displayed on a rightward portion of the message display region 22 .
- the CPU 51 may display at least one of the sender ID, the message ID, the storage time of draft, and the transmission time in addition to the message content of the received message in each of steps S 120 and S 130 . If a message ID is used to associate a message with a response, the CPU 51 displays the message ID of the received message in addition to the message content of the received message on the message display region 22 .
- step S 140 the CPU 51 determines whether an end command to end chatting has been received from the user. If the end command has not been received, processing returns to step S 100 to continue the message reception process. On the other hand, if the end command has been received, the message reception process of FIG. 7 ends.
- the information processing apparatus 12 of the first exemplary embodiment clearly displays in the transmission message the message from the link destination to which the transmission message is to be transmitted if the insertion message has been received.
- the association of the messages is recognized even if at least one message is displayed between the transmission message and the message from the link destination of the transmission message on the message display region 22 .
- the information processing apparatus 12 performs the drafting process of the transmission message that is input to the message input region 18 with the draft button 19 pressed.
- the execution timing of the drafting process of the transmission message is not limited to this timing.
- the information processing apparatus 12 may autonomously determine the execution timing of the drafting process of the transmission message instead of responding to a command from the user.
- FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process in which the information processing apparatus 12 autonomously determines the execution timing of the drafting process of the transmission message.
- An information processing program defining the message transmission process is pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 and performs the message transmission process.
- the message transmission process of FIG. 8 is different from the message transmission process of FIG. 5 in that step S 10 A is used in place of step 10 in the message transmission process of FIG. 8 .
- the rest of the message transmission process of FIG. 8 remains unchanged from the message transmission process of FIG. 5 .
- step S 10 A the CPU 51 acquires the present time, and determines whether any transmission message is present that has a difference, between the start time of drafting a transmission message input to the message input region 18 and the present time, being equal to or longer than a draft standby time.
- step S 10 A If the determination operation in step S 10 A branches to no branch, in other words, any transmission message having time from beginning writing the transmission message on the message input region 18 to pressing the draft button 19 exceeding the draft standby time is not present on the message input region 18 , processing proceeds to step S 30 . Operations in steps S 10 A through S 50 are iterated until a transmission message being drafted and having time exceeding the draft standby time is detected.
- step S 10 A determines whether the transmission message has time from beginning writing the transmission message on the message input region 18 to pressing the information processing apparatus 12 exceeding the draft standby time. If the determination operation in step S 10 A branches to yes branch, in other words, a transmission message having time from beginning writing the transmission message on the message input region 18 to pressing the information processing apparatus 12 exceeding the draft standby time is present on the message input region 18 , processing proceeds to step S 20 .
- step S 20 the drafting process of the transmission message is performed.
- the transmission message with time having elapsed the draft standby time and written on the message input region 18 is stored on the RAM 53 , and the stored draft message is transmitted to the management apparatus 11 .
- the draft standby time is set to be time that the user uses to verify or correct the contents of the transmission message written on the message input region 18 .
- the draft standby time may be determined based on actual writing time on the message input region 18 .
- the draft standby time may be pre-stored in a predetermined region of the non-volatile memory 54 .
- the number of messages in the in-draft state is one. Multiple messages may be in the in-draft state.
- the information processing apparatus 12 transmits a transmission message when multiple transmission messages are in the in-draft state.
- each of the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatus 12 in the second exemplary embodiment is identical to the electrical configuration of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 9 illustrates a screen example displayed on the display 15 when multiple transmission messages are present in the in-draft state.
- a message 2 as a message responsive to a message 1 is set to be in the in-draft state before a message 3 is received as an insertion message, and a message 4 is input to the message input region 18 .
- the message 4 is additionally displayed immediately subsequent to the message 2 displayed on the draft display region 20 .
- the message 4 is set to be in the in-draft state.
- the transmit button 21 is also displayed for each message displayed on the draft display region 20 .
- the information processing apparatus 12 associates, with a transmission message, a message received closest to a time point when the draft button 19 is pressed as a message from the link destination.
- the message 3 is thus associated with the message 4 as illustrated in FIG. 9 .
- the message association may not meet what the user intends. For example, in the example of FIG. 9 , the user may possibly intend to transmit the message 4 as a response to the message 1 .
- the information processing apparatus 12 of the second exemplary embodiment sets a message from the link destination in a transmission message having the longest time in the in-draft state, namely, in a transmission message that remains in the in-draft state from the transmission time of a leading transmission message.
- FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the message transmission process performed by the CPU 51 after the information processing apparatus 12 is powered on.
- An information processing program defining the message transmission process is pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 and performs the message transmission process.
- the message transmission process of FIG. 10 is different from the message transmission process of FIG. 5 in that the message transmission process of FIG. 10 additionally includes steps S 32 through S 38 , S 42 , S 44 , and S 52 through S 56 .
- a state variable flag indicating that a transmission message is in the in-draft state is set to a default value “0”.
- processing proceeds to step S 32 .
- step S 32 the CPU 51 determines whether the state variable flag is “0” or not. If the state value flag is 0, processing proceeds to step S 40 .
- the CPU 51 displays a link destination message ID in the transmission message being drafted. Referring to FIG. 9 , the message 3 is received while the message 2 is being drafted as a transmission message responsive to the message 1 . The line “>(message 1 )” is displayed together with the message 2 .
- step S 42 the CPU 51 sets the state variable flag to “1”.
- the state variable flag of 1 indicates that an insertion message is received while a leading transmission message is being drafted. Specifically, the leading transmission message is not yet transmitted with the state variable flag of 1.
- step S 50 if the draft button 19 is pressed for the message 4 , and the transmit button 21 is then pressed for the leading transmission message, namely, the message 1 after the message 4 is shifted to the in-draft state, the determination operation in step S 50 branches to yes branch, and processing proceeds to step S 52 .
- step S 52 the CPU 51 determines whether the state variable flag is “1”. Since the state variable flag of 1 means the transmission of the leading transmission message, the CPU 51 acquires the present time and stores the present time as transmission reference time on the RAM 53 . The CPU 51 sets the state variable flag to “2”. The state variable flag of 2 indicates that the leading transmission message from among multiple transmission messages being drafted is transmitted.
- step S 60 After the leading transmission message is transmitted in step S 60 , the message transmission process of FIG. 10 is iterated until an end command is received. In the iteration of the message transmission process, step S 36 is repeated in each cycle.
- step S 36 the CPU 51 acquires the present time, and calculates elapsed time from the transmission reference time acquired in step S 56 .
- the CPU 51 determines whether the elapsed time calculated in step S 36 falls within a group determination time period.
- the group determination time period is a threshold value that is used to determine whether a transmission message being drafted to be transmitted in succession to the leading transmission message transmitted is a transmission message in a series of transmission messages related to the leading transmission message.
- the group determination time period is set in advance to be a time period according to which the transmission message being drafted that is transmitted within the group determination time period from the transmission of the leading transmission message is determined to be a transmission message responsive to a message from the same link destination of the leading transmission message.
- step S 36 branches to yes branch, and the transmit button 21 is pressed for the transmission message being drafted, namely, the message 4 in FIG. 9 , the determination operation in step S 50 branches to yes branch, and processing proceeds to step S 52 .
- step S 52 Since the state variable flag is “2”, the determination operation in step S 52 branches to no branch, and processing proceeds to step S 54 .
- the transmission message is a transmission message that is transmitted within the group determination time period from the transmission reference time at which the leading transmission message has been transmitted. It is thus understood that the transmission message is in the series of the transmission messages related to the leading transmission message, namely, is the transmission message within the same group as the leading transmission message.
- step S 54 the CPU 51 changes from the link destination message ID, associated with the transmission message being drafted with the transmit button 21 pressed during the drafting process in step S 20 , to the link destination message ID associated with the leading transmission message.
- the message 4 prior to the pressing of the transmit button 21 is associated with the “message 3 ” as the link destination message ID.
- the link destination message ID of the message 4 is associated with the “message 1 ” in the same way as the message 2 .
- the link destination message ID of only the leading transmission message that has been transmitted first is displayed. As illustrated in FIG. 11 , no link destination message ID is displayed for the message 4 . Since the message 4 is displayed immediately subsequent to the message 2 that is definitely a message responsive to the message 1 , the message 4 is also recognized as a message responsive to the message 1 .
- the multiple transmission messages may be determined to have the same link destination.
- the condition that the multiple transmission messages are transmitted within the group determination time period is an example of a first condition.
- step S 36 determines whether the transmission reference time exceeds the group determination time period. If the determination operation in step S 36 branches to no branch, specifically, if the elapsed time from the transmission reference time exceeds the group determination time period, processing proceeds to step S 38 .
- the transmission message transmitted hereinafter is determined to be a transmission message not related to the leading transmission message, namely, a transmission message in a group different from the group of the leading transmission message.
- step S 38 the CPU 51 determines whether any transmission message is being drafted. If a transmission message is being drafted, processing proceeds to step S 40 .
- step S 40 the CPU 51 selects the transmission message having the longest time elapsed from being shifted to the in-draft state as a new leading transmission message from among the transmission messages being drafted.
- the CPU 51 adds the link destination message ID associated in the drafting process of step S 20 to the message content of the selected leading transmission message, and displays the link destination message ID. Since the leading transmission message is not transmitted, the CPU 51 sets the state variable flag to “1” in step S 42 .
- the transmit button 21 is pressed for the newly selected leading transmission message, the leading transmission message with the message from the link destination added is displayed on the message display region 22 .
- FIG. 12 illustrates this status.
- the message 4 that is transmitted after the elapse of the group determination time period subsequent to the transmission of the message 2 is displayed together with the message ID of the message 3 that is the link destination message ID associated at the pressing of the draft button 19 .
- step S 38 If the determination operation in step S 38 branches to no branch with no transmission message being drafted, processing proceeds to step S 44 .
- the CPU 51 initializes the state variable flag to “0”.
- the message transmission process of FIG. 10 has been described with reference to FIG. 9 when the two transmission messages being drafted are used.
- the number of transmission messages may be three or more.
- a message from the link destination is displayed for only a leading transmission message but is not displayed for the remaining transmission messages.
- the same link destination message ID as that of the leading transmission message is attached to each transmission message as the link information.
- the information processing apparatus 12 of the second exemplary embodiment groups transmission messages being drafted according to the elapsed time from the transmission reference time of the leading transmission message, and associates transmission messages in the same group with the same link destination message ID as the link destination message ID associated with the leading transmission message.
- the information processing apparatus 12 displays the message from the link destination for only the transmission message that is to be transmitted first, from among the transmission messages.
- the message from the link destination is associated with multiple transmission messages without the user specifying the message from the link destination.
- the information processing apparatus 12 groups the transmission messages being drafted in accordance with the elapsed time from the transmission reference time of the leading transmission message.
- the method of grouping the transmission messages is not limited to the above-described method.
- the user may select transmission messages being drafted to be grouped.
- FIG. 13 illustrates a screen example displayed on the display 15 when the user selects the transmission messages being drafted for grouping.
- Check boxes 23 are respectively displayed for the transmission messages being drafted on the draft display region 20 .
- the user may click on the check box 23 corresponding to a transmission message that the user desires to group.
- the user may thus specify the transmission messages with the check boxes 23 thereof checked to be grouped.
- a select command of the transmission message is notified to the CPU 51 .
- the CPU 51 associates each of the transmission messages in the groups with the same message ID as the link destination message ID associated with the leading transmission message among the transmission messages in the groups. From among the transmission messages in the same group, the message from the link destination is displayed for only the leading transmission message that is to be transmitted first.
- the transmission messages are determined to have the same link destination.
- the condition that each of the transmission messages is selected is an example of the first condition.
- the information processing apparatuses 12 of the first and second exemplary embodiments display the link destination message ID, representing the message from the link destination of the transmission message, for the transmission message if the insertion message is received while the transmission message is being drafted.
- the insertion message may include a message that does not affect the flow of a conversation. If a transmission message is transmitted after the message that does not affect the flow of the conversation, that message that does not affect the flow of the conversation is displayed between the transmission message and the message from the link destination of the transmission message. The transmission message may thus be displayed immediately subsequent to the message that does not affect the flow of the conversation. However if the user views the contents of the message between the message from the link destination and the transmission message, the user may understand that the message from the link destination of the transmission message is not the received message that is displayed immediately prior to the transmission message.
- the information processing apparatus 12 of the third exemplary embodiment performs as described below when the message that does not affect the flow of a conversation is received.
- each of the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatus 12 is referred to as a “particular received message”.
- the electrical configuration of each of the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatus 12 is identical to the electrical configuration of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process performed by the CPU 51 after the information processing apparatus 12 is powered on.
- An information processing program defining the message transmission process is pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 and performs the message transmission process.
- the message transmission process of FIG. 14 is different from the message transmission process of the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 in that the message transmission process of FIG. 14 additionally includes steps S 31 and S 33 .
- a transmission message is transmitted in response to a message received from another information processing apparatus 12 .
- step S 31 when an insertion message is received with a transmission message being drafted present, processing proceeds to step S 31 .
- step S 31 the CPU 51 performs an insertion message determination process to determine whether the received insertion message is a particular received message.
- the feature of the message not affecting the flow of a conversation tends to be relatively shorter in the number of characters, such as “O.K.” or “Goodbye”.
- the CPU 51 measures the number of characters of the insertion message, and if the measured number of characters is equal to or below a threshold value, the CPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message.
- the determination method of the particular received message is not limited to the method described above.
- the contents of the particular received message are pre-stored on the non-volatile memory 54 , and the CPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is the particular received message if the contents of the received insertion message are identical to the contents of the particular received message stored on the non-volatile memory 54 .
- the CPU 51 may calculate an index indicating the degree of relationship between the contents of the received insertion message and the contents of the transmission message being drafted may be calculated, and may determine in accordance with the calculated index whether the received insertion message is a particular received message.
- the CPU 51 defines as a “message distance” an index that is set to increase in value as the degree of relationship between the contents of the received insertion message and the contents of the transmission message being drafted decreases. If the message distance exceeds a reference distance, the CPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message.
- the message distance may be obtained as an output of a neural network that performs deep learning with a combination of variety of two messages serving as a learning sample, and with the presence or absence of a relationship in each combination serving as teaching data.
- the message distance may be calculated using another related art technique.
- the contents of the particular received message are pre-stored on the non-volatile memory 54 , and the CPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message if the contents of the received insertion message are identical to the contents of the particular received message stored on the non-volatile memory 54 .
- the message distance between the received insertion message and the particular received message stored on the non-volatile memory 54 is calculated, and if the calculated message distance is equal to or below the reference distance, the CPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message.
- An example of a second condition is a condition that the number of characters in the insertion message is equal to or below a threshold value, that the contents of the insertion message are determined to be identical to the contents of the particular received message stored on the non-volatile memory 54 , and that the message distance between the transmission message and the insertion message is above the reference distance.
- step S 33 the CPU 51 references a determination result in step S 31 to determine whether the received insertion message is a particular received message. If the received inserted image is not a particular received message, processing proceeds to step S 40 . In such a case, as described above, the link destination message ID is displayed for the transmission message being drafted.
- step S 50 processing proceeds to step S 50 with the operation in step S 40 skipped.
- no link destination message ID is displayed for the transmission message being drafted.
- FIG. 15 illustrates a screen example displayed when the message transmission process of FIG. 14 is performed.
- the insertion messages are “O.K.” and “Goodbye”, and the message 2 is the transmission message that is a message responsive to the message 1 .
- “O.K.” and “Goodbye” are respectively particular received messages. Even if the received messages “O.K.” and “Goodbye” are displayed between the message 1 and the message 2 , any message from the link destination is not displayed for the message 2 .
- the information processing apparatus 12 of the third exemplary embodiment does not display a message from the link destination for a transmission message if a message not affecting the flow of a conversation is not present between the transmission message transmitted and the message from the link destination of the transmission message.
- the number of messages displayed on the display region 17 in time sequence increases more than when a message from the link destination is displayed for each of the transmission messages. The user may thus recognize the flow of a conversation more easily.
- Each of the information processing apparatuses 12 of the first through third exemplary embodiments determines and associates the message from the link destination of the transmission message, based on the pressing timing of the draft button 19 or a transmission time interval between the transmission messages.
- an information processing apparatus 12 receives from the user an edit command for a message from the link destination of the transmission message, and associates, as a message from the link destination, a message that has been edited in response to the edit command, with a transmission message.
- the electrical configuration of each of the management apparatus 11 and the information processing apparatus 12 of the fourth exemplary embodiment is identical to the electrical configuration of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 16 illustrates a screen example displayed on the display 15 in the information processing apparatus 12 of the fourth exemplary embodiment.
- An edit button 24 is displayed in addition to the transmit button 21 for a transmission message being drafted on the draft display region 20 of FIG. 16 .
- FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an edit dialog box 25 displayed when the edit button 24 for the transmission message is pressed.
- the edit dialog box 25 displays a message that is displayed on the message display region 22 at the time point when the edit button 24 is pressed.
- the message 1 , the message 3 , and the message 4 are messages that have been displayed on the message display region 22 at the time point when the edit button 24 is pressed.
- the check box 23 is displayed for each of the messages on the edit dialog box 25 and a delete button 26 and a select button 27 are also displayed on the edit dialog box 25 .
- the edit dialog box 25 includes one check box 23 for each of the messages, but includes the single delete button 26 and the single select button 27 .
- FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a link destination deletion process performed by the CPU 51 when the delete button 26 is pressed.
- An information processing program defining the link destination deletion process is pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 and performs the link destination deletion process.
- step S 200 the CPU 51 erases from the ROM 52 the link destination message ID associated with the transmission message with the edit button 24 pressed therefor (the transmission message serving as an edit target) to delete the association between the transmission message as the edit target and the message from the link destination of the transmission message.
- step S 210 the CPU 51 transmits to the management apparatus 11 a stored draft message with the link information thereof loaded with no link destination message ID and thus left blank in order to notify that no message from the link destination is present in a transmission message that is to be edited.
- the contents of the transmission message serving as an edit target in the message management table managed by the management apparatus 11 are thus updated.
- step S 220 the CPU 51 determines whether the link destination message ID representing a message from the link destination of the transmission message is displayed for the transmission message that is an edit target. If any link destination message ID is not displayed, no deletion operation is performed, and the link destination deletion process of FIG. 18 ends.
- step S 230 If a link destination message ID is displayed, processing proceeds to step S 230 .
- step S 230 the CPU 51 deletes the link destination message ID displayed for the transmission message as the edit target.
- the link destination message ID associated with the transmission message as an edit target is deleted, and the link destination message ID displayed for the transmission message as the edit target is also deleted.
- FIG. 19 illustrates a screen example displayed on the display 15 when the message 2 is transmitted after the link destination deletion process is performed on the message 2 in the display example of FIG. 16 .
- line “>(message 1 )” indicating the message from the link destination of the transmission message is deleted.
- the link information attached to the transmission message of the message 2 is blank.
- FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the link destination change process performed by the CPU 51 when the select button 27 is pressed.
- An information processing program defining the link destination change process is pre-stored on the ROM 52 .
- the CPU 51 reads the information processing program from the ROM 52 and performs the link destination change process.
- step S 300 the CPU 51 changes from the link destination message ID stored on the RAM 53 and associated with the transmission message serving as the edit target to the message ID of the message with the check box 23 thereof checked in the edit dialog box 25 .
- a message with the check box 23 checked (check mark displayed) in the edit dialog box 25 is referred to as a “selected message”. Displaying a check mark by pressing (checking) the check box 23 corresponding to each message in the edit dialog box 25 is referred to as “selecting a message”.
- the link destination message ID associated with a transmission message serving as an edit target is changed to the message ID of each of the selected messages.
- the number of messages from the link destination of the transmission message may be multiple.
- step S 310 the CPU 51 transmits to the management apparatus 11 the stored draft message with the message ID of the selected message set in the link information in order to notify that the message from the link destination is changed in the transmission message serving as the edit target. In this way, the contents of the transmission message serving as the edit target in the message management table on the management apparatus 11 are updated.
- step S 320 the CPU 51 determines whether the link destination message ID indicating the message from the link destination of the transmission message is displayed in the transmission message serving as the edit target. If the link destination message ID is not displayed, the display of the link destination message ID is not changed. The link destination change process of FIG. 20 thus ends.
- step S 330 If the link destination message ID is displayed, processing proceeds to step S 330 .
- step S 330 the CPU 51 changes from the link destination message ID displayed in the transmission message as the edit target to the link destination message ID of the selected message.
- FIG. 21 illustrates a screen example displayed on the display 15 when the message 2 is transmitted after the link destination change process is performed on the message 2 in the screen example of FIG. 16 .
- the message from the link destination of the message 2 is changed from the message 1 to the message 3 in the edit dialog box 25 .
- the message 2 being drafted is associated with “>(message 1 )” as in FIG. 16 , but the message 2 that is transmitted is associated with “>(message 3 )” as in FIG. 21 . Also, “message 3 ” is set in the link information that is attached to the transmission message as the message 2 .
- the results of the edit operation performed by the user may be used in the third exemplary embodiment to learn the message distance that is used in determining whether the insertion message is a particular received message.
- the transmission message may be considered to have no relationship with the message from the link destination.
- An estimate model of the message distance is corrected such that the message distance between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is increased if the association therebetween is deleted.
- the estimation accuracy of the message distance is increased in comparison with the case in which the estimate model of the message distance is fixed.
- a neural network is used in the estimate model of the message distance, the contents of the transmission message and the message from the link destination with the association thereof deleted are used as a learning sample, and information indicating no relationship is input as a teaching signal.
- the learning operation of the neural network is performed such that a longer message distance is output for a combination of messages having the same contents than before learning.
- the learning sample of the message and the teaching signal may be transmitted to the management apparatus 11 .
- the management apparatus 11 may centrally perform the learning operation on message distances, and the information processing apparatus 12 may receive the message distance calculated by the management apparatus 11 . Since each information processing apparatus 12 transmits the learning sample and the teaching signal to the management apparatus 11 , the management apparatus 11 corrects the estimate model of the message distance using more learning samples than the number of learning samples obtained by each information processing apparatus 12 . The estimation accuracy of the message distance is higher than when the estimate model of the message distance is corrected on each information processing apparatus 12 .
- the degree of relationship between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is considered to be lower prior to the modification and the degree of relationship between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is considered to be higher subsequent to the modification.
- the estimate model of the message distance may be corrected such that the message distance between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is longer prior to the modification than the present time and the message distance between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is shorter subsequent to the modification than the present time.
- the estimation accuracy of the message distance is higher than when the estimate model of the message distance is fixed.
- the reference distance may be corrected in accordance with the results of the edit operation performed by the user.
- the reference distance may be corrected such that the reference distance becomes shorter than at the present time for a combination of the transmission message and the message from the link destination with the association therebetween deleted.
- the message transmission process, the message reception process, the link destination deletion process, and the link destination change process are implemented using software.
- the processes identical to those illustrated in the flowcharts of FIG. 5 , FIG. 7 , FIG. 8 , FIG. 10 , FIG. 14 , FIG. 18 , and FIG. 20 may be implemented using hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In such a case, a higher processing speed may be achieved than when each process is implemented using software.
- ASIC application specific integrated circuit
- the information processing program is installed on the ROM 52 .
- the present invention is not limited to this manner.
- the information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be supplied in a recorded form on a computer-readable recording medium.
- the information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be supplied in a recorded form on an optical disk, such as a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), or a digital versatile disk ROM (DVD-ROM).
- the information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be supplied in a recorded form on a semiconductor memory, such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or a flash memory.
- the information processing apparatus 12 may acquire the information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention via the communication network 13 from another external apparatus connected to the management apparatus 11 and the communication network 13 .
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Abstract
An information processing apparatus includes a display that displays messages received from other information processing apparatuses, and transmission messages from the information processing apparatus, in a display region in a time sequence, a receiving unit that receives a transmission message responsive to a received message displayed on the display, and a transmission instruction of the transmission message, and a controller that, if a second received message different from a first received message as a message received from a link destination to which the transmission message is directed is displayed in the display region before the receiving unit receives the transmission instruction of the transmission message, controls the display such that the transmission message indicating an association with the first received message is displayed on the display region.
Description
- This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 16/034,472 filed Jul. 13, 2018, which claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-145925 filed Jul. 27, 2017.
- The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.
- As communication networks including the Internet are in widespread use, an information exchanging method called “chat” is more and more used. In a chat, sentences (hereinafter referred to as a “message”) are exchanged between multiple information processing apparatuses, using characters.
- In a chat, messages received and transmitted in time sequence may be displayed. Since there is no restriction applied on a transmission timing of a message in each information processing apparatus, another message not related to a particular received message may be received before a message responsive to the particular received message is transmitted.
- If the response message is transmitted in such a case, the transmitted message is displayed immediately subsequent to another message different from the particular message rather than subsequent to the particular message which the reply message is transmitted in response to. The transmitted reply message may be recognized as a reply message to the other message, and people may have difficulty in recognizing the flow of the conversation from the series of time-elapsed messages.
- According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a display that displays messages received from other information processing apparatuses, and transmission messages from the information processing apparatus, in a display region in a time sequence, a receiving unit that receives a transmission message responsive to a received message displayed on the display, and a transmission instruction of the transmission message, and a controller that, if a second received message different from a first received message as a message received from a link destination to which the transmission message is directed is displayed in the display region before the receiving unit receives the transmission instruction of the transmission message, controls the display such that the transmission message indicating an association with the first received message is displayed on the display region.
- Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an information processing system; -
FIG. 2 illustrates an image example of a chat; -
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a message management table; -
FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic system configuration of a management apparatus and an information processing apparatus; -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process of a first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 6 illustrates a screen example of a chat in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message reception process; -
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process that autonomously determines an execution timing of a drafting process of a transmission message; -
FIG. 9 illustrates a screen example of a chat in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transmission process of the second exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 11 illustrates a display example of transmission messages transmitted within a group determination time period; -
FIG. 12 illustrates a display example of transmission messages that are transmitted after the elapse of the group determination time period; -
FIG. 13 illustrates a screen example of a chat in which a group selection is performed; -
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message transmission process of a third exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 15 illustrates a screen example displayed when the message transmission process of the third exemplary embodiment is performed; -
FIG. 16 illustrates a screen example of a chat in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an edit dialog box; -
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a link destination deletion process; -
FIG. 19 illustrates a screen example displayed when the link destination deletion process is performed; -
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a link destination change process; and -
FIG. 21 illustrates a screen example displayed when the link destination change process is performed. - Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. Identical elements and operations are designated with the same symbols throughout the drawings, and the same discussion is not repeated.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of aninformation processing system 10 of a first exemplary embodiment. Theinformation processing system 10 includes amanagement apparatus 11 andinformation processing apparatuses 12. - The
management apparatus 11 is connected to each of theinformation processing apparatuses 12 via acommunication network 13. A message transmitted from each of theinformation processing apparatuses 12 is received by each ofinformation processing apparatuses 12 via themanagement apparatus 11. In this way, a conversation via messages, namely, a chat is performed among theinformation processing apparatuses 12. - Specifically, a message transmitted from one of the
information processing apparatuses 12 is received first by themanagement apparatus 11, and themanagement apparatus 11 transfers the received message to eachinformation processing apparatus 12. The message transmitted by theinformation processing apparatus 12 is thus received by eachinformation processing apparatus 12 in theinformation processing system 10. The transmission destination of the message may be specified by theinformation processing apparatus 12 as a sender. If the transmission destination is not particularly specified, the message is transmitted to eachinformation processing apparatus 12 included in theinformation processing system 10. - The multiple
information processing apparatuses 12 are collectively referred to as theinformation processing apparatus 12 in the above discussion. For convenience of explanation, if oneinformation processing apparatuses 12 is differentiated from anotherinformation processing apparatus 12, theinformation processing apparatuses 12 may be differentiated by suffixing eachinformation processing apparatus 12. For example, theinformation processing apparatuses 12 may be referred to as aninformation processing apparatus 12A and aninformation processing apparatus 12B. - The
communication network 13 may include a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, but may also include an area communication network, such a local area network (LAN). Thecommunication network 13 may be a wired network and/or a wireless network, and may be a public network and/or an exclusive network. Thecommunication network 13 may connect to not only themanagement apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatuses 12, but also an external device, such as an external storage device. Theinformation processing apparatus 12 may be a smart phone or a tablet. - A message received by each
information processing apparatus 12 is displayed on adisplay region 17 of the screen of thedisplay 15 included in theinformation processing apparatus 12. No particular restriction is imposed on the display form of the message received by theinformation processing apparatus 12 on thedisplay region 17. Referring toFIG. 1 , messages received from otherinformation processing apparatuses 12 are displayed on a more leftward portion of thedisplay region 17, and a transmission message transmitted by a hostinformation processing apparatus 12 is displayed on a more rightward portion of thedisplay region 17. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , it is understood that amessage 1 is transmitted by theinformation processing apparatus 12B, and thatmessages information processing apparatus 12A. Here, “message N” represents each message (N is a natural number). - With respect to the
information processing apparatus 12 serving as a host apparatus, a message received is referred to as a “received message”, and a message transmitted or to be transmitted is referred to as a “transmission message”. At least one of the transmission message and the received message is simply referred to as a “message”. The message may include, in addition to characters, graphics, such as an icon, a symbol, and an image, such as a photograph. -
FIG. 2 illustrates an image example of a chat on theinformation processing apparatus 12. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thedisplay region 17 of the screen includes amessage display region 22 that displays transmission messages and received messages, amessage input region 18 in which a message is created by inputting characters or the like, and adraft button 19. - In order to transmit a response in response to the
message 1 received from anotherinformation processing apparatus 12, a user of the information processing apparatus 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as a “user”) enters a transmission message responsive to themessage 1 on themessage input region 18 and presses thedraft button 19. - When the
draft button 19 is pressed, adraft display region 20 is displayed on themessage display region 22, amessage 2 that is a transmission message responsive to themessage 1 is displayed together with a transmitbutton 21 on thedraft display region 20 and stored on a recording device. In this case, the display of the transmission message entered on themessage input region 18 is deleted. - When the transmit
button 21 is pressed, themessage 2 in thedraft display region 20 is transmitted from theinformation processing apparatus 12 and themanagement apparatus 11 transfers themessage 2 to each of theinformation processing apparatuses 12 included in theinformation processing system 10. Specifically, the pressing of the transmitbutton 21 notifies theinformation processing apparatus 12 of a transmission instruction. - Upon receiving the
message 2, theinformation processing apparatus 12 displays the received messages in time sequence from top to down on themessage display region 22. Referring toFIG. 2 , themessage 2 that is a response to themessage 1 is displayed beneath themessage 1. This sequence is repeated as the users talk in conversation. The received messages are simply displayed in time sequence. For example, the received messages may be displayed from down to top on themessage display region 22 or may be displayed laterally on themessage display region 22. -
FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a message management table managed by themanagement apparatus 11. - When the
management apparatus 11 receives a transmission message from each of theinformation processing apparatuses 12, themanagement apparatus 11 records information included in each received transmission message in the message management table. - The message management table includes columns for a message identification (ID), message content, sender ID, start time of drafting, storage time of draft, transmission time, and link information.
- The message ID column records an identifier that identifies a transmission message. The message content column records contents that are contained in the transmission message. The sender ID column records an identifier of a user who has transmitted the transmission message. The start time of drafting column records time at which the user begins drafting. The storage time of draft column records time and date on which the user has pressed the
draft button 19. The transmission time column records time and date on which the user has pressed the transmitbutton 21. The link information column records a message ID indicating a message from a link destination to which the transmission message is transmitted. - The
information processing apparatus 12 generates a transmission message including a variety of information managed in the message management table, and transmits the transmission message. - Note that the symbol “-” indicates that no message from the link destination is present. Specifically, a transmission message having no link information is not a response to any message, and is a message that indicates a startup point of a conversation unrelated to the other messages.
- The symbol “-” in the transmission time column indicates that the transmit
button 21 is not pressed for the transmission message that is displayed on thedraft display region 20. When thedraft button 19 is pressed and a transmission message is stored on a storage device, theinformation processing apparatus 12 transmits the stored draft message to themanagement apparatus 11 prior to the transmission of the transmission message to notify themanagement apparatus 11 that the transmission message has been drafted. Specifically, themanagement apparatus 11 records information contained in the stored draft message in the message management table when the stored draft message has been received in addition to the transmission message. - A
message 4 illustrated inFIG. 3 is a transmission message displayed on thedraft display region 20 with thedraft button 19 pressed but is in a state with the transmitbutton 21 remains unpressed. - The information related to the transmission messages managed in the message management table is not limited to information of
FIG. 3 , but may include another piece of information. The format of the time and date of the storage time of draft and the transmission time are displayed for exemplary purposes only. For example, the time and date of the storage time of draft and the transmission time may be represented in units of milliseconds. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , an electrical system configuration of each of themanagement apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatus 12 is described below. Themanagement apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatus 12 may be implemented using acomputer 50. Themanagement apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatus 12 may be identical to each other in electrical system configuration. The electrical system configuration of theinformation processing apparatus 12 is representatively explained, and this discussion is also application to themanagement apparatus 11. - The
information processing apparatus 12 is implemented using thecomputer 50. Thecomputer 50 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 51 that is an example of a controller in the exemplary embodiment, a read only memory (ROM) 52, a random access memory (RAM) 53, anon-volatile memory 54, and an input and output (I/O)interface 55. TheCPU 51, theROM 52, theRAM 53, thenon-volatile memory 54, and the I/O interface 55 are connected to each other via abus 56. - The I/
O interface 55 connects to aninput device 14, adisplay 15, and acommunication device 16. - The
input device 14 notifies a user's instruction to theCPU 51. For example, theinput device 14 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpanel, and/or a microphone. Specifically, theinput device 14 is an example of a receiving unit that receives a user's instruction. - The
display 15 displays, as an image, information generated under the control of theCPU 51, and displays thedisplay region 17 related to the chat illustrated inFIG. 2 . Thedisplay 15 is an example of a display that displays transmission messages and received messages in time sequence on thedisplay region 17. - The
communication device 16 connects to thecommunication network 13, and works in accordance with a communication protocol that transmits or receives messages to or from theinformation processing apparatus 12 via themanagement apparatus 11. - The devices connected to the I/
O interface 55 are not limited to those ofFIG. 4 . For example, a global positioning system (GPS) device may be connected to the I/O interface 55 to add, to the transmission message, position information indicating a location from which the transmission message is transmitted. - Referring to
FIG. 5 andFIG. 6 , the display form of messages in chats performed on theinformation processing apparatus 12 is described below. -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process performed by theCPU 51 after theinformation processing apparatus 12 is powered on. - An information processing program that defines the message transmission process is typically pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52, and executes the message transmission process. - In the process illustrated in
FIG. 6 , a transmission message (themessage 2, for example) is transmitted in response to a message received from the information processing apparatus 12 (themessage 1, for example). - In step S10, the
CPU 51 receives click location information of a mouse that is an example of theinput device 14, and determines whether thedraft button 19 has been pressed. If thedraft button 19 has been pressed, processing proceeds to step S20. - A drafting process of a transmission message is performed in step S20. The drafting process includes steps S22 through S26.
- In step S22, the
CPU 51 receives a message ID indicating a message from a link destination of the transmission message, namely, a link destination message ID, and stores the link destination message ID on theRAM 53. Specifically, theCPU 51 acquires the message ID of the message received most recently, from among the messages received until thedraft button 19 is pressed, as the link destination message ID of the message from the link destination in the transmission messages input in themessage input region 18. The message received most recently is also referred to as the “latest received message”. - In step S24, the
CPU 51 stores the transmission message input to themessage input region 18 on theRAM 53, and erases the display of the transmission message from themessage input region 18. Specifically, themessage input region 18 becomes blank in response to the pressing of thedraft button 19, and a next transmission message is allowed to be input. - The
CPU 51 stores on theRAM 53 the time when the transmission message input in themessage input region 18 is stored on theRAM 53. The time information may be acquired using a clock functionality of theCPU 51. - When the
draft button 19 is pressed, theCPU 51 newly displays thedraft display region 20 on themessage display region 22. Referring toFIG. 2 , the transmission message stored on theRAM 53 is displayed together with the transmitbutton 21 on thedraft display region 20. - In step S26, the
CPU 51 transmits the stored draft message to themanagement apparatus 11 to notify themanagement apparatus 11 that the transmission message has been drafted. The stored draft message includes the message ID of the transmission message, the message content, the storage time of the draft, and the link information having the link destination message ID set therewithin. - The transmission message input to the
message input region 18 is first displayed on thedraft display region 20 and is then transmitted in response to the user's instruction. The user may thus have time to verify the contents of the transmission message. This arrangement reduces more the possibility of transmitting a transmission message containing an error than when a transmission message input to themessage input region 18 is directly transmitted without any time period to verify the contents of the transmission message. - The transmission message prior to transmission displayed on the
draft display region 20 with thedraft button 19 pressed may be referred to as a “transmission message being drafted”. The transmission message displayed on thedraft display region 20 with thedraft button 19 pressed may be referred as being in an “in-draft state”. - If the determination operation in S10 branches to “no” branch, in other words, the
draft button 19 remains unpressed, processing proceeds to step S30 with the drafting process not performed in step S20. - In step S30, the
CPU 51 determines whether an insertion message has been received. The “insertion message” refers to a message that is received when the transmission message is in the in-draft state. Referring toFIG. 6 , themessage 3 is the insertion message. When an insertion message is received, the insertion message is displayed immediately subsequent to the received message indicated by the link destination message ID acquired in step S22 on themessage display region 22, in other words, immediately subsequent to the message (corresponding to themessage 1 ofFIG. 6 ) received from the link destination of the transmission message. - If the transmission message is transmitted in this state, the transmission message is displayed immediately subsequent to the insertion message. The transmission message may be understood as a response to the insertion message. In this arrangement, the flow of a conversation is difficult to follow in comparison with the case in which a transmission message is displayed immediately subsequent to the message from the link destination of the transmission message. When an insertion message is thus received, processing proceeds to step S40.
- In step S40, the
CPU 51 adds the link destination message ID stored on theRAM 53 in step S22 to the message content of the transmission message displayed on thedraft display region 20 but with the link destination message ID thereof not yet displayed. TheCPU 51 then displays the link destination message ID. In this way, the transmission message, if viewed, indicates which of the messages is a message from the link destination of the transmission message. - If the determination operation in S30 branches to “no” branch, in other words, if no insertion message has been received, the transmission message is displayed immediately subsequent to the message received from the link destination on the
message display region 22 when the transmission message is transmitted. Specifically, without displaying the link destination message ID in the transmission message, the display position relationship indicates that the transmission message is a response to the message located immediately prior thereto. Processing proceeds to step S50 with the operation in step S40 skipped. - In step S50, the
CPU 51 receives the click location information of a mouse, for example, and determines whether the transmitbutton 21 has been pressed. If the transmitbutton 21 has not been pressed, processing returns to step S10. Operations in steps S10 through S50 are iterated until the transmitbutton 21 has been pressed. If the transmitbutton 21 has been pressed, processing proceeds to step S60. - In step S60, the
CPU 51 transmits a transmission message responsive to the pressing of the transmitbutton 21 to themanagement apparatus 11. The transmission message includes a variety of information managed in the message management table ofFIG. 3 . TheCPU 51 attaches to the transmission message the link destination message ID stored on theRAM 53 in step S22 as the link information. The sender ID may be a user ID which is input to authenticate a user when the user starts chatting. - By transmitting the transmission message to the
management apparatus 11, the transmission message transmitted from theinformation processing apparatus 12 of the user is transferred, and displayed on themessage display region 22. - In step S70, the
CPU 51 determines whether a chat end command has been received from the user. If the chat end command has not been received, processing proceeds to step S10 to continue the message transmission process. If the chat end command has been received, the message transmission process ofFIG. 5 ends. - The message transmission process is performed as illustrated in
FIG. 5 . Referring toFIG. 6 , an insertion message (themessage 3, for example) may be received before transmitting a transmission message (themessage 2, for example) that is a response message to a received message (themessage 1, for example). In such a case, an association with the link destination is displayed in the transmission message. Referring toFIG. 6 , line “>(message 1)” in themessage 2 indicates the message from the link destination. Even if the transmission message is not displayed immediately subsequent to the message from the link destination, the message ID indicating the message of the link destination is displayed in the transmission message. The messages are thus displayed in time sequence. Even if one or more messages are displayed between the transmission message and the message from the link destination on themessage display region 22, the relationship between the messages is recognized. - The association between the transmission message and the message from the link destination may be represented using a method other than displaying the message ID of the message from the link destination. For example, the entire message from the link destination may be used. Alternatively, the message from the link destination may be displayed in a link display such that the message from the link destination is displayed if the message displayed on the
message display region 22 is clicked. - The
message 1 that is received most recently, from among the messages received until themessage 2 shifts to the in-draft state, is an example of a first received message, and themessage 3 as the insertion message is an example of a second received message. -
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a message reception process that is performed by theCPU 51 after theinformation processing apparatus 12 is switched on. - An information processing program defining the message reception process is pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52 and executes the message reception process. - In step S100, the
CPU 51 determines whether a message has been received. If no message has been received, processing proceeds to step S140. If a message has been received, processing proceeds to step S110. - In step S110, the
CPU 51 determines whether the received message is a transmission message transmitted from the hostinformation processing apparatus 12. Specifically, theCPU 51 determines whether the received message is a received message corresponding to the transmission message transmitted from the hostinformation processing apparatus 12 by referencing the sender ID included in the received message. If the determination operation in step S110 branches to yes branch, processing proceeds to step S120. - In step S120, the
CPU 51 displays the received message on themessage display region 22 in a manner that clearly indicates that the received message is a received message corresponding to the transmission message from the hostinformation processing apparatus 12. For example, the received message is displayed on a rightward portion of themessage display region 22 as illustrated inFIG. 6 . - If the determination operation in step S110 branches to no branch, processing proceeds to step S130.
- In step S130, the
CPU 51 displays the received message on themessage display region 22 in a manner that clearly indicates that the received message is a received message corresponding to the transmission message transmitted from aninformation processing apparatus 12 different from the hostinformation processing apparatus 12. As illustrated inFIG. 6 , for example, the received message is displayed on a rightward portion of themessage display region 22. - In displaying the received message on the
message display region 22, theCPU 51 may display at least one of the sender ID, the message ID, the storage time of draft, and the transmission time in addition to the message content of the received message in each of steps S120 and S130. If a message ID is used to associate a message with a response, theCPU 51 displays the message ID of the received message in addition to the message content of the received message on themessage display region 22. - There is no restriction on a display method of displaying a received message on the
message display region 22 as long as the display method displays received messages in time sequence and clearly indicates the association of the messages. - In step S140, the
CPU 51 determines whether an end command to end chatting has been received from the user. If the end command has not been received, processing returns to step S100 to continue the message reception process. On the other hand, if the end command has been received, the message reception process ofFIG. 7 ends. - The
information processing apparatus 12 of the first exemplary embodiment clearly displays in the transmission message the message from the link destination to which the transmission message is to be transmitted if the insertion message has been received. By displaying the messages in time sequence, the association of the messages is recognized even if at least one message is displayed between the transmission message and the message from the link destination of the transmission message on themessage display region 22. - The
information processing apparatus 12 performs the drafting process of the transmission message that is input to themessage input region 18 with thedraft button 19 pressed. The execution timing of the drafting process of the transmission message is not limited to this timing. For example, theinformation processing apparatus 12 may autonomously determine the execution timing of the drafting process of the transmission message instead of responding to a command from the user. -
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process in which theinformation processing apparatus 12 autonomously determines the execution timing of the drafting process of the transmission message. - An information processing program defining the message transmission process is pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52 and performs the message transmission process. - The message transmission process of
FIG. 8 is different from the message transmission process ofFIG. 5 in that step S10A is used in place ofstep 10 in the message transmission process ofFIG. 8 . The rest of the message transmission process ofFIG. 8 remains unchanged from the message transmission process ofFIG. 5 . - In step S10A, the
CPU 51 acquires the present time, and determines whether any transmission message is present that has a difference, between the start time of drafting a transmission message input to themessage input region 18 and the present time, being equal to or longer than a draft standby time. - If the determination operation in step S10A branches to no branch, in other words, any transmission message having time from beginning writing the transmission message on the
message input region 18 to pressing thedraft button 19 exceeding the draft standby time is not present on themessage input region 18, processing proceeds to step S30. Operations in steps S10A through S50 are iterated until a transmission message being drafted and having time exceeding the draft standby time is detected. - If the determination operation in step S10A branches to yes branch, in other words, a transmission message having time from beginning writing the transmission message on the
message input region 18 to pressing theinformation processing apparatus 12 exceeding the draft standby time is present on themessage input region 18, processing proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the drafting process of the transmission message is performed. - Without the user indicating the execution timing of the drafting process, the transmission message with time having elapsed the draft standby time and written on the
message input region 18 is stored on theRAM 53, and the stored draft message is transmitted to themanagement apparatus 11. - The draft standby time is set to be time that the user uses to verify or correct the contents of the transmission message written on the
message input region 18. The draft standby time may be determined based on actual writing time on themessage input region 18. The draft standby time may be pre-stored in a predetermined region of thenon-volatile memory 54. - In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the number of messages in the in-draft state is one. Multiple messages may be in the in-draft state. In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, the
information processing apparatus 12 transmits a transmission message when multiple transmission messages are in the in-draft state. - The electrical configuration of each of the
management apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatus 12 in the second exemplary embodiment is identical to the electrical configuration ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 9 illustrates a screen example displayed on thedisplay 15 when multiple transmission messages are present in the in-draft state. - Referring to
FIG. 9 , amessage 2 as a message responsive to amessage 1 is set to be in the in-draft state before amessage 3 is received as an insertion message, and amessage 4 is input to themessage input region 18. - If the
draft button 19 is pressed in such a state, themessage 4 is additionally displayed immediately subsequent to themessage 2 displayed on thedraft display region 20. Themessage 4 is set to be in the in-draft state. In this case, the transmitbutton 21 is also displayed for each message displayed on thedraft display region 20. - As described with reference to step S22 in the message transmission process of
FIG. 5 , theinformation processing apparatus 12 associates, with a transmission message, a message received closest to a time point when thedraft button 19 is pressed as a message from the link destination. Themessage 3 is thus associated with themessage 4 as illustrated inFIG. 9 . - However, if the association between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is determined by the pressing timing of the
draft button 19, the message association may not meet what the user intends. For example, in the example ofFIG. 9 , the user may possibly intend to transmit themessage 4 as a response to themessage 1. - The
information processing apparatus 12 of the second exemplary embodiment sets a message from the link destination in a transmission message having the longest time in the in-draft state, namely, in a transmission message that remains in the in-draft state from the transmission time of a leading transmission message. -
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the message transmission process performed by theCPU 51 after theinformation processing apparatus 12 is powered on. - An information processing program defining the message transmission process is pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52 and performs the message transmission process. - The message transmission process of
FIG. 10 is different from the message transmission process ofFIG. 5 in that the message transmission process ofFIG. 10 additionally includes steps S32 through S38, S42, S44, and S52 through S56. - In the discussion that follows, multiple transmission messages are transmitted in response to a message received from another
information processing apparatus 12. A state variable flag indicating that a transmission message is in the in-draft state is set to a default value “0”. - When an insertion message is received with a transmission message being drafted present as illustrated in
FIG. 10 , processing proceeds to step S32. - In step S32, the
CPU 51 determines whether the state variable flag is “0” or not. If the state value flag is 0, processing proceeds to step S40. TheCPU 51 displays a link destination message ID in the transmission message being drafted. Referring toFIG. 9 , themessage 3 is received while themessage 2 is being drafted as a transmission message responsive to themessage 1. The line “>(message 1)” is displayed together with themessage 2. - In step S42, the
CPU 51 sets the state variable flag to “1”. The state variable flag of 1 indicates that an insertion message is received while a leading transmission message is being drafted. Specifically, the leading transmission message is not yet transmitted with the state variable flag of 1. - Referring to
FIG. 9 , if thedraft button 19 is pressed for themessage 4, and the transmitbutton 21 is then pressed for the leading transmission message, namely, themessage 1 after themessage 4 is shifted to the in-draft state, the determination operation in step S50 branches to yes branch, and processing proceeds to step S52. - In step S52, the
CPU 51 determines whether the state variable flag is “1”. Since the state variable flag of 1 means the transmission of the leading transmission message, theCPU 51 acquires the present time and stores the present time as transmission reference time on theRAM 53. TheCPU 51 sets the state variable flag to “2”. The state variable flag of 2 indicates that the leading transmission message from among multiple transmission messages being drafted is transmitted. - After the leading transmission message is transmitted in step S60, the message transmission process of
FIG. 10 is iterated until an end command is received. In the iteration of the message transmission process, step S36 is repeated in each cycle. - In step S36, the
CPU 51 acquires the present time, and calculates elapsed time from the transmission reference time acquired in step S56. TheCPU 51 determines whether the elapsed time calculated in step S36 falls within a group determination time period. - The group determination time period is a threshold value that is used to determine whether a transmission message being drafted to be transmitted in succession to the leading transmission message transmitted is a transmission message in a series of transmission messages related to the leading transmission message. The group determination time period is set in advance to be a time period according to which the transmission message being drafted that is transmitted within the group determination time period from the transmission of the leading transmission message is determined to be a transmission message responsive to a message from the same link destination of the leading transmission message.
- If the determination operation in step S36 branches to yes branch, and the transmit
button 21 is pressed for the transmission message being drafted, namely, themessage 4 inFIG. 9 , the determination operation in step S50 branches to yes branch, and processing proceeds to step S52. - Since the state variable flag is “2”, the determination operation in step S52 branches to no branch, and processing proceeds to step S54.
- As previously described, the transmission message is a transmission message that is transmitted within the group determination time period from the transmission reference time at which the leading transmission message has been transmitted. It is thus understood that the transmission message is in the series of the transmission messages related to the leading transmission message, namely, is the transmission message within the same group as the leading transmission message.
- In step S54, the
CPU 51 changes from the link destination message ID, associated with the transmission message being drafted with the transmitbutton 21 pressed during the drafting process in step S20, to the link destination message ID associated with the leading transmission message. Referring toFIG. 9 , for example, themessage 4 prior to the pressing of the transmitbutton 21 is associated with the “message 3” as the link destination message ID. With the transmitbutton 21 pressed for themessage 4, the link destination message ID of themessage 4 is associated with the “message 1” in the same way as themessage 2. - From among the transmission messages in the same group as the leading transmission message, the link destination message ID of only the leading transmission message that has been transmitted first is displayed. As illustrated in
FIG. 11 , no link destination message ID is displayed for themessage 4. Since themessage 4 is displayed immediately subsequent to themessage 2 that is definitely a message responsive to themessage 1, themessage 4 is also recognized as a message responsive to themessage 1. - If multiple transmission messages are transmitted within the group determination time period, the multiple transmission messages may be determined to have the same link destination. The condition that the multiple transmission messages are transmitted within the group determination time period is an example of a first condition.
- If the determination operation in step S36 branches to no branch, specifically, if the elapsed time from the transmission reference time exceeds the group determination time period, processing proceeds to step S38.
- In such a case, the transmission message transmitted hereinafter is determined to be a transmission message not related to the leading transmission message, namely, a transmission message in a group different from the group of the leading transmission message.
- In step S38, the
CPU 51 determines whether any transmission message is being drafted. If a transmission message is being drafted, processing proceeds to step S40. - In step S40, the
CPU 51 selects the transmission message having the longest time elapsed from being shifted to the in-draft state as a new leading transmission message from among the transmission messages being drafted. TheCPU 51 adds the link destination message ID associated in the drafting process of step S20 to the message content of the selected leading transmission message, and displays the link destination message ID. Since the leading transmission message is not transmitted, theCPU 51 sets the state variable flag to “1” in step S42. - If the transmit
button 21 is pressed for the newly selected leading transmission message, the leading transmission message with the message from the link destination added is displayed on themessage display region 22. -
FIG. 12 illustrates this status. Referring toFIG. 12 , themessage 4 that is transmitted after the elapse of the group determination time period subsequent to the transmission of themessage 2 is displayed together with the message ID of themessage 3 that is the link destination message ID associated at the pressing of thedraft button 19. - If the determination operation in step S38 branches to no branch with no transmission message being drafted, processing proceeds to step S44. The
CPU 51 initializes the state variable flag to “0”. - The message transmission process of
FIG. 10 has been described with reference toFIG. 9 when the two transmission messages being drafted are used. The number of transmission messages may be three or more. - For example, if three transmission messages or more are transmitted within the group determination time period, a message from the link destination is displayed for only a leading transmission message but is not displayed for the remaining transmission messages. The same link destination message ID as that of the leading transmission message is attached to each transmission message as the link information.
- The
information processing apparatus 12 of the second exemplary embodiment groups transmission messages being drafted according to the elapsed time from the transmission reference time of the leading transmission message, and associates transmission messages in the same group with the same link destination message ID as the link destination message ID associated with the leading transmission message. Theinformation processing apparatus 12 displays the message from the link destination for only the transmission message that is to be transmitted first, from among the transmission messages. The message from the link destination is associated with multiple transmission messages without the user specifying the message from the link destination. - In the above example, the
information processing apparatus 12 groups the transmission messages being drafted in accordance with the elapsed time from the transmission reference time of the leading transmission message. The method of grouping the transmission messages is not limited to the above-described method. For example, the user may select transmission messages being drafted to be grouped. -
FIG. 13 illustrates a screen example displayed on thedisplay 15 when the user selects the transmission messages being drafted for grouping. - Check
boxes 23 are respectively displayed for the transmission messages being drafted on thedraft display region 20. The user may click on thecheck box 23 corresponding to a transmission message that the user desires to group. The user may thus specify the transmission messages with thecheck boxes 23 thereof checked to be grouped. With the user clicking on thecheck box 23, a select command of the transmission message is notified to theCPU 51. - When the user presses (clicks on) the transmit
button 21 in that state, theCPU 51 associates each of the transmission messages in the groups with the same message ID as the link destination message ID associated with the leading transmission message among the transmission messages in the groups. From among the transmission messages in the same group, the message from the link destination is displayed for only the leading transmission message that is to be transmitted first. - If each of the transmission messages is selected, the transmission messages are determined to have the same link destination. The condition that each of the transmission messages is selected is an example of the first condition.
- The
information processing apparatuses 12 of the first and second exemplary embodiments display the link destination message ID, representing the message from the link destination of the transmission message, for the transmission message if the insertion message is received while the transmission message is being drafted. - The insertion message may include a message that does not affect the flow of a conversation. If a transmission message is transmitted after the message that does not affect the flow of the conversation, that message that does not affect the flow of the conversation is displayed between the transmission message and the message from the link destination of the transmission message. The transmission message may thus be displayed immediately subsequent to the message that does not affect the flow of the conversation. However if the user views the contents of the message between the message from the link destination and the transmission message, the user may understand that the message from the link destination of the transmission message is not the received message that is displayed immediately prior to the transmission message.
- The
information processing apparatus 12 of the third exemplary embodiment performs as described below when the message that does not affect the flow of a conversation is received. - In the discussion that follows, the message not affecting the flow of the conversation out of the messages received by the
information processing apparatus 12 is referred to as a “particular received message”. The electrical configuration of each of themanagement apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatus 12 is identical to the electrical configuration ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a message transmission process performed by theCPU 51 after theinformation processing apparatus 12 is powered on. - An information processing program defining the message transmission process is pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52 and performs the message transmission process. - The message transmission process of
FIG. 14 is different from the message transmission process of the first exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 5 in that the message transmission process ofFIG. 14 additionally includes steps S31 and S33. A transmission message is transmitted in response to a message received from anotherinformation processing apparatus 12. - Referring to
FIG. 14 , when an insertion message is received with a transmission message being drafted present, processing proceeds to step S31. - In step S31, the
CPU 51 performs an insertion message determination process to determine whether the received insertion message is a particular received message. - The feature of the message not affecting the flow of a conversation tends to be relatively shorter in the number of characters, such as “O.K.” or “Goodbye”. The
CPU 51 measures the number of characters of the insertion message, and if the measured number of characters is equal to or below a threshold value, theCPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message. - The determination method of the particular received message is not limited to the method described above. For example, the contents of the particular received message are pre-stored on the
non-volatile memory 54, and theCPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is the particular received message if the contents of the received insertion message are identical to the contents of the particular received message stored on thenon-volatile memory 54. - The
CPU 51 may calculate an index indicating the degree of relationship between the contents of the received insertion message and the contents of the transmission message being drafted may be calculated, and may determine in accordance with the calculated index whether the received insertion message is a particular received message. - The
CPU 51 defines as a “message distance” an index that is set to increase in value as the degree of relationship between the contents of the received insertion message and the contents of the transmission message being drafted decreases. If the message distance exceeds a reference distance, theCPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message. - The message distance may be obtained as an output of a neural network that performs deep learning with a combination of variety of two messages serving as a learning sample, and with the presence or absence of a relationship in each combination serving as teaching data. Alternatively, the message distance may be calculated using another related art technique.
- As described above, the contents of the particular received message are pre-stored on the
non-volatile memory 54, and theCPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message if the contents of the received insertion message are identical to the contents of the particular received message stored on thenon-volatile memory 54. The message distance between the received insertion message and the particular received message stored on thenon-volatile memory 54 is calculated, and if the calculated message distance is equal to or below the reference distance, theCPU 51 determines that the received insertion message is a particular received message. - An example of a second condition is a condition that the number of characters in the insertion message is equal to or below a threshold value, that the contents of the insertion message are determined to be identical to the contents of the particular received message stored on the
non-volatile memory 54, and that the message distance between the transmission message and the insertion message is above the reference distance. - In step S33, the
CPU 51 references a determination result in step S31 to determine whether the received insertion message is a particular received message. If the received inserted image is not a particular received message, processing proceeds to step S40. In such a case, as described above, the link destination message ID is displayed for the transmission message being drafted. - On the other hand, if the received insertion message is a particular received message, processing proceeds to step S50 with the operation in step S40 skipped. Thus, no link destination message ID is displayed for the transmission message being drafted.
-
FIG. 15 illustrates a screen example displayed when the message transmission process ofFIG. 14 is performed. - Referring to
FIG. 15 , the insertion messages are “O.K.” and “Goodbye”, and themessage 2 is the transmission message that is a message responsive to themessage 1. “O.K.” and “Goodbye” are respectively particular received messages. Even if the received messages “O.K.” and “Goodbye” are displayed between themessage 1 and themessage 2, any message from the link destination is not displayed for themessage 2. - The
information processing apparatus 12 of the third exemplary embodiment does not display a message from the link destination for a transmission message if a message not affecting the flow of a conversation is not present between the transmission message transmitted and the message from the link destination of the transmission message. - The number of messages displayed on the
display region 17 in time sequence increases more than when a message from the link destination is displayed for each of the transmission messages. The user may thus recognize the flow of a conversation more easily. - Each of the
information processing apparatuses 12 of the first through third exemplary embodiments determines and associates the message from the link destination of the transmission message, based on the pressing timing of thedraft button 19 or a transmission time interval between the transmission messages. - In accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment, an
information processing apparatus 12 receives from the user an edit command for a message from the link destination of the transmission message, and associates, as a message from the link destination, a message that has been edited in response to the edit command, with a transmission message. The electrical configuration of each of themanagement apparatus 11 and theinformation processing apparatus 12 of the fourth exemplary embodiment is identical to the electrical configuration ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 16 illustrates a screen example displayed on thedisplay 15 in theinformation processing apparatus 12 of the fourth exemplary embodiment. - An
edit button 24 is displayed in addition to the transmitbutton 21 for a transmission message being drafted on thedraft display region 20 ofFIG. 16 . -
FIG. 17 illustrates an example of anedit dialog box 25 displayed when theedit button 24 for the transmission message is pressed. - The
edit dialog box 25 displays a message that is displayed on themessage display region 22 at the time point when theedit button 24 is pressed. Referring toFIG. 17 , themessage 1, themessage 3, and themessage 4 are messages that have been displayed on themessage display region 22 at the time point when theedit button 24 is pressed. - The
check box 23 is displayed for each of the messages on theedit dialog box 25 and adelete button 26 and aselect button 27 are also displayed on theedit dialog box 25. Theedit dialog box 25 includes onecheck box 23 for each of the messages, but includes the singledelete button 26 and the singleselect button 27. -
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a link destination deletion process performed by theCPU 51 when thedelete button 26 is pressed. - An information processing program defining the link destination deletion process is pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52 and performs the link destination deletion process. - In step S200, the
CPU 51 erases from theROM 52 the link destination message ID associated with the transmission message with theedit button 24 pressed therefor (the transmission message serving as an edit target) to delete the association between the transmission message as the edit target and the message from the link destination of the transmission message. - In step S210, the
CPU 51 transmits to the management apparatus 11 a stored draft message with the link information thereof loaded with no link destination message ID and thus left blank in order to notify that no message from the link destination is present in a transmission message that is to be edited. The contents of the transmission message serving as an edit target in the message management table managed by themanagement apparatus 11 are thus updated. - In step S220, the
CPU 51 determines whether the link destination message ID representing a message from the link destination of the transmission message is displayed for the transmission message that is an edit target. If any link destination message ID is not displayed, no deletion operation is performed, and the link destination deletion process ofFIG. 18 ends. - If a link destination message ID is displayed, processing proceeds to step S230.
- In step S230, the
CPU 51 deletes the link destination message ID displayed for the transmission message as the edit target. - The link destination message ID associated with the transmission message as an edit target is deleted, and the link destination message ID displayed for the transmission message as the edit target is also deleted.
-
FIG. 19 illustrates a screen example displayed on thedisplay 15 when themessage 2 is transmitted after the link destination deletion process is performed on themessage 2 in the display example ofFIG. 16 . - As illustrated in
FIG. 19 , line “>(message 1)” indicating the message from the link destination of the transmission message is deleted. In such a case, the link information attached to the transmission message of themessage 2 is blank. - When the user presses the
check box 23 associated with the message displayed in theedit dialog box 25 ofFIG. 17 to display a check mark, and then presses theselect button 27, a link destination change process is performed to change the messages from the link destination associated with the transmission message as the edit target. -
FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the link destination change process performed by theCPU 51 when theselect button 27 is pressed. - An information processing program defining the link destination change process is pre-stored on the
ROM 52. TheCPU 51 reads the information processing program from theROM 52 and performs the link destination change process. - In step S300, the
CPU 51 changes from the link destination message ID stored on theRAM 53 and associated with the transmission message serving as the edit target to the message ID of the message with thecheck box 23 thereof checked in theedit dialog box 25. In the discussion that follows, a message with thecheck box 23 checked (check mark displayed) in theedit dialog box 25 is referred to as a “selected message”. Displaying a check mark by pressing (checking) thecheck box 23 corresponding to each message in theedit dialog box 25 is referred to as “selecting a message”. - If multiple messages are selected, the link destination message ID associated with a transmission message serving as an edit target is changed to the message ID of each of the selected messages. In other words, the number of messages from the link destination of the transmission message may be multiple.
- In step S310, the
CPU 51 transmits to themanagement apparatus 11 the stored draft message with the message ID of the selected message set in the link information in order to notify that the message from the link destination is changed in the transmission message serving as the edit target. In this way, the contents of the transmission message serving as the edit target in the message management table on themanagement apparatus 11 are updated. - In step S320, the
CPU 51 determines whether the link destination message ID indicating the message from the link destination of the transmission message is displayed in the transmission message serving as the edit target. If the link destination message ID is not displayed, the display of the link destination message ID is not changed. The link destination change process ofFIG. 20 thus ends. - If the link destination message ID is displayed, processing proceeds to step S330.
- In step S330, the
CPU 51 changes from the link destination message ID displayed in the transmission message as the edit target to the link destination message ID of the selected message. - In this way, the link destination message ID associated with the transmission message as the edit target is changed and the link destination message ID displayed in the transmission message serving as the edit target is also changed.
-
FIG. 21 illustrates a screen example displayed on thedisplay 15 when themessage 2 is transmitted after the link destination change process is performed on themessage 2 in the screen example ofFIG. 16 . Referring toFIG. 21 , the message from the link destination of themessage 2 is changed from themessage 1 to themessage 3 in theedit dialog box 25. - The
message 2 being drafted is associated with “>(message 1)” as inFIG. 16 , but themessage 2 that is transmitted is associated with “>(message 3)” as inFIG. 21 . Also, “message 3” is set in the link information that is attached to the transmission message as themessage 2. - The results of the edit operation performed by the user may be used in the third exemplary embodiment to learn the message distance that is used in determining whether the insertion message is a particular received message.
- If the user deletes the association between the transmission message and the message from the link destination, the transmission message may be considered to have no relationship with the message from the link destination. An estimate model of the message distance is corrected such that the message distance between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is increased if the association therebetween is deleted. The estimation accuracy of the message distance is increased in comparison with the case in which the estimate model of the message distance is fixed.
- More specifically, if a neural network is used in the estimate model of the message distance, the contents of the transmission message and the message from the link destination with the association thereof deleted are used as a learning sample, and information indicating no relationship is input as a teaching signal. The learning operation of the neural network is performed such that a longer message distance is output for a combination of messages having the same contents than before learning.
- The learning sample of the message and the teaching signal may be transmitted to the
management apparatus 11. Themanagement apparatus 11 may centrally perform the learning operation on message distances, and theinformation processing apparatus 12 may receive the message distance calculated by themanagement apparatus 11. Since eachinformation processing apparatus 12 transmits the learning sample and the teaching signal to themanagement apparatus 11, themanagement apparatus 11 corrects the estimate model of the message distance using more learning samples than the number of learning samples obtained by eachinformation processing apparatus 12. The estimation accuracy of the message distance is higher than when the estimate model of the message distance is corrected on eachinformation processing apparatus 12. - If the user modifies the association between the transmission message and the message from the link destination, the degree of relationship between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is considered to be lower prior to the modification and the degree of relationship between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is considered to be higher subsequent to the modification. The estimate model of the message distance may be corrected such that the message distance between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is longer prior to the modification than the present time and the message distance between the transmission message and the message from the link destination is shorter subsequent to the modification than the present time. The estimation accuracy of the message distance is higher than when the estimate model of the message distance is fixed.
- Not only the estimate model of the message distance but also the reference distance may be corrected in accordance with the results of the edit operation performed by the user. For example, the reference distance may be corrected such that the reference distance becomes shorter than at the present time for a combination of the transmission message and the message from the link destination with the association therebetween deleted.
- In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the message transmission process, the message reception process, the link destination deletion process, and the link destination change process are implemented using software. The processes identical to those illustrated in the flowcharts of
FIG. 5 ,FIG. 7 ,FIG. 8 ,FIG. 10 ,FIG. 14 ,FIG. 18 , andFIG. 20 may be implemented using hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In such a case, a higher processing speed may be achieved than when each process is implemented using software. - In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the information processing program is installed on the
ROM 52. The present invention is not limited to this manner. The information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be supplied in a recorded form on a computer-readable recording medium. The information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be supplied in a recorded form on an optical disk, such as a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), or a digital versatile disk ROM (DVD-ROM). The information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be supplied in a recorded form on a semiconductor memory, such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or a flash memory. Theinformation processing apparatus 12 may acquire the information processing program of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention via thecommunication network 13 from another external apparatus connected to themanagement apparatus 11 and thecommunication network 13. - The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (14)
1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a display configured to display messages received from a plurality of other information processing apparatuses, and transmission messages from the information processing apparatus, in a time sequence;
an input device configured to receive a transmission message responsive to a received message displayed on the display, and a transmission instruction of the transmission message; and
a processor configured to:
when a second received message different from a first received message from a destination to which the transmission message is directed is displayed before the input device receives the transmission instruction of the transmission message, control the display to display the transmission message with an association with the first received message before the input device receives the transmission instruction of the transmission message.
2. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a display configured to display (i) a first display region that displays messages received from a plurality of other information processing apparatuses, and transmission messages from the information processing apparatus, in a time sequence, and (ii) a second display region that displays transmission messages to be transmitted;
an input device configured to receive (i) input of a transmission message responsive to a received message displayed in the first display region, and (ii) a transmission instruction of the transmission message that has been input; and
a processor configured to:
when a second received message different from a first received message from a destination to which the transmission message is directed is received before the input device receives the transmission instruction of the transmission message that has been displayed in the second display region, control the display to display the transmission message with an association with the first received message in the second display region.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to:
control the display to display the transmission message received by the input device in the second display region; and
associate, as the first received message, a latest received message displayed in the first display region at a time when the transmission message is displayed in the second display region.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the input device is configured to receive a draft save instruction, which is an instruction to save the transmission message to be transmitted from the information processing apparatus as a draft, and
the processor is configured to associate, as the first received message, a latest received message displayed in the first display region, among the received messages displayed in the first display region, at a time when the draft save instruction is received by the input device, or at a time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the receiving of the transmission message.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is configured to receive a draft save instruction, which is an instruction to save the transmission message to be transmitted from the information processing apparatus as a draft, and
the processor is configured to associate, as the first received message, a latest received message displayed on the display, among the transmission messages displayed on the display, at a time when the draft save instruction is received by the input device, or at a time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the input device received the transmission message.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein when a plurality of the transmission messages each satisfy a first predetermined condition that they are regarded as a response to the first received message, the processor is configured to control the display to display an association with the first received message in the transmission message that is first transmitted among the plurality of the transmission messages.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine that the plurality of the transmission messages satisfy the first predetermined condition when the plurality of the transmission messages are transmitted within a predetermined period of time; and
control the display to display the association with the first received message in the transmission message that is first transmitted among the plurality of transmission messages.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the input device is configured to receive a select command to select a transmission message, and
the processor is configured to:
determine each of the transmission messages selected by the select command received by the input device to be a transmission message that satisfies the first predetermined condition; and
control the display to display the association with the first received message in the transmission message that is first transmitted among the transmission messages selected by the select command.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein when a second predetermined condition that the second received message does not affect a flow of a conversation is satisfied, the processor is configured to control the display such that a transmission message associated with the first received message is displayed.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is configured to receive an edit command for the received message associated with the transmission message, and
the processor is configured to modify the first received message associated with the transmission message in response to the edit command received by the input device.
11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein when the input device is configured to receive a command to delete the association of the transmission message with the first received message, the processor is configured to control the display such that the association of the transmission message with the first received message is not displayed in the transmission message with a deletion of the association thereof with the first received message being requested.
12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein when the input device receives a command to modify the first received message with which the transmission message is associated, the processor is configured to control the display such that the association with the received message specified by the command to modify is displayed in the transmission message with a modification of the association thereof being requested.
13. An information processing system comprising:
a plurality of the information processing apparatuses according to claim 1 ; and
a management apparatus that forwards a message received from one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable containing instructions that cause a processor to:
acquire, from an input device, input of a transmission message directed to a destination, the transmission message being responsive to a first received message displayed in a first display region of a display;
control the display to display the transmission message in a second display region of the display;
acquire, from the input device, a transmission instruction of the transmission message; and
when a second received message different from the first received message is received from the destination before the transmission instruction has been acquired, control the display to display the transmission message with an association with the first received message in the second display region.
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US16/034,472 US11456984B2 (en) | 2017-07-27 | 2018-07-13 | Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium |
US17/942,348 US20230006953A1 (en) | 2017-07-27 | 2022-09-12 | Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium |
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US20180217848A1 (en) * | 2017-01-27 | 2018-08-02 | Blackberry Limited | Enhanced message composition and management on a communication device |
US11456984B2 (en) * | 2017-07-27 | 2022-09-27 | Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. | Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium |
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US20080028027A1 (en) * | 2006-07-25 | 2008-01-31 | Jack Jachner | Multi-threaded instant messaging |
KR101942308B1 (en) * | 2012-08-08 | 2019-01-25 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Method for providing message function and an electronic device thereof |
WO2014027725A1 (en) * | 2012-08-13 | 2014-02-20 | 한국과학기술원 | Method and system for providing user interface for interactive broadcast program using mobile instant messenger |
JP6083067B2 (en) | 2012-10-26 | 2017-02-22 | 株式会社コナミデジタルエンタテインメント | Display device and program |
CN103873341B (en) * | 2012-12-10 | 2015-07-29 | 腾讯科技(深圳)有限公司 | A kind of message treatment method and system |
JP2014134859A (en) | 2013-01-08 | 2014-07-24 | Canon Inc | Device, method, and program handling message |
EP2950485A1 (en) * | 2014-05-29 | 2015-12-02 | Telefonica S.A. | Method for improving a messaging service in a communication network |
US10505875B1 (en) * | 2014-09-15 | 2019-12-10 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Determining contextually relevant application templates associated with electronic message content |
US20170090718A1 (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2017-03-30 | International Business Machines Corporation | Linking selected messages in electronic message threads |
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US20180198887A1 (en) * | 2017-01-09 | 2018-07-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Displaying context in group chats using member tagging |
US20180217848A1 (en) * | 2017-01-27 | 2018-08-02 | Blackberry Limited | Enhanced message composition and management on a communication device |
US11456984B2 (en) * | 2017-07-27 | 2022-09-27 | Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. | Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium |
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