WO2013084784A1 - Message management system, message display device, message display method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A CPU in a terminal device, that: classifies messages included in a browsing response, by thread; counts the number of messages included in each thread; and determines the size of a circle in accordance with the count value. In addition, the CPU specifies an avatar image corresponding to identification information for a user, and arranges the avatar in the circle on the basis of time information. As a result, the circle becomes larger the greater the number of messages included in the thread.

Description

Message management system, message display device, message display method, and recording medium

The present invention relates to a technique for displaying a message such as an article posted on a bulletin board or the like, an e-mail, a chat, or the like in an easily understandable manner.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are systems that exchange messages such as posts posted on bulletin boards and the like, mails, chats, and the like, and message management systems that display a list of messages sent and received by such systems are known (for example, Patent Document 1). ). In such a system, a timeline display in which a part of a message is displayed in time series is generally used due to a limitation of a display area. There is also known a one-click response in which a fixed sentence such as “Like” is returned with one click to a message of another user.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-108278 (FIG. 13)

However, in such a system, only a part of a series of messages sent and received is displayed, so it is possible to grasp at a glance the extent of communication such as how many messages have been sent and received. I couldn't. In addition, in the one-click response, the number of times can be displayed numerically, but the spread of communication is not visually displayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to visually grasp the spread of communication regarding message exchange.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a message management system according to the present invention is a message management system that manages a set of a first message and one or a plurality of second messages associated with the message as a thread. Corresponding to the sender of the first message and the second message included in the thread to be displayed in response to the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit. A display control unit that controls to display the user image in the thread display area.
A user image is an image corresponding to the user, which is set by the user selecting an arbitrary image or selected by the user from images prepared in advance by the system. It may be done. When the user does not set, a default image prepared by the system may be set. The user image may not be uniquely identified by the user image. That is, the same user image may be set by different users.
The message includes an article posted on a bulletin board or the like, a chat, an email, or the like.

In the above-described message management system, the display control unit displays a user image of a user corresponding to identification information of a sender of the first message and the second message included in a thread to be displayed as identification information. And the user image are read from the storage unit (first storage unit) stored in association with each other, and the user image is controlled to be displayed in the thread display area.
The user identification information includes not only user identification information for directly identifying the user, but also a user image identifier for indirectly identifying the user. In this case, the user image identifier is associated with the user identification information.

More specifically, in the message management system described above, the display control unit includes a user corresponding to a user image identifier of a sender of the first message and the second message included in a thread to be displayed. The user image is read out from the storage unit in which the user image and the user image identifier are stored in association with each other, and the user image is controlled to be displayed in the thread display area.

In the message management system described above, the first message and the second message are managed by an external service outside the message management system, and the display control unit includes the first message included in the thread to be displayed. When the user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of one message or the second message cannot be acquired from the storage unit, the user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the first message or the second message It is preferable to perform control so that a predetermined user image is displayed when the user cannot be acquired.

In addition, the message management system described above includes a management unit that associates and manages the identification information of the user and thread information that identifies the thread and the message information, and other uses registered in advance by the user identification information and the user. A second storage unit that stores the identification information of the user in association with the third storage unit that stores the external system registered in advance by the user and the identification information of the user in association with each other, When the display control unit receives an instruction regarding the display of the thread from the user, the display control unit acquires identification information of the user who made the instruction and other users who are friends with the user by referring to the second storage unit Then, based on the acquired identification information, message information included in a thread in which the user and other users who are in a friend relationship participate is acquired from the management unit, and the thread information is acquired from the user. When an instruction related to display is received, the external system registered in advance by the user with reference to the third storage unit is specified, and the thread that the user can view in the external system in the specified external system Message information included in the message, and the message information acquired from the management unit is a user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the first message and the second message included in the thread to be displayed. Is acquired from the first storage unit, and the acquired user image is controlled to be displayed in a thread display area, and the message information acquired from the external system is included in the thread to be displayed. User images corresponding to the identification information of the senders of the first message and the second message are stored in the first message. If the user image can be acquired from the first storage unit, the acquired user image is controlled to be displayed in a thread display area separately provided for each thread, and the user image cannot be acquired from the first storage unit. It is preferable to perform control so that a predetermined user image is displayed in the thread display area.

In the message management system described above, it is preferable that the display control unit performs control so that a mark is displayed on a user image of a sender who has transmitted the first message in each thread.

In the message management system described above, it is preferable that the display control unit performs control so that the user image is changed according to the content of the second message. Here, the user image includes a still image and a moving image with movement. When the user image is a still image, “change the user image” means replacement of a still image. On the other hand, when the user image is a moving image, “change the user image” is a change of the moving image, and includes, for example, changing the operation of the avatar. The display control unit may change the user image according to the content of the first message.

In the message management system described above, it is preferable that the display control unit change a user image according to the emotion of the sender of the second message. The display control unit may change the user image according to the emotion of the sender of the first message.

In the message management system described above, it is preferable that the display control unit performs control so that image data attached to the first message is displayed in an image display area. In this case, the image data of the contributor may be displayed on the bulletin board. By submitting image data according to the theme, the poster can know at a glance what is being discussed on the bulletin board.

In the message management system described above, when the display control unit displays the thread, the display control unit changes the second message included in the thread to a message display area different from the thread display area in time series. It is preferable to control the display so that it can be displayed. Note that part of the thread display area and the message display area may overlap each other.

In the message management system described above, the display control unit may control to add a mark to a user image corresponding to the first message displayed in the message display area and display the user image in the thread display area. preferable.

In the message management system described above, when the second message displayed in the message display area is changed, the second message displayed at a predetermined position in the message display area is included in the thread at the time when the second message is transmitted. It is preferable to perform control so that a user image corresponding to the sender of the second message is displayed in the thread display area.

In the message management system described above, when the second message displayed in the message display area is changed, the display control unit transmits the second message displayed at a predetermined position in the message display area. It is preferable to perform control so that the area of the thread display area is changed according to the number of user images displayed in the thread display area at the time. In addition, when the second message displayed in the message display is changed, the display control unit is included in the thread when the second message displayed at a predetermined position in the message display area is transmitted. It is preferable that control is performed so that the area of the thread display area is changed according to the number of the second messages.

In the message management system described above, the display control unit may perform control so as to change the area of the thread display area according to the number of user images displayed in the thread display area. Alternatively, the display control unit controls to change the area of the thread display area according to the number of the second messages included in the thread to be displayed. The area of the thread display area may be three types, “small”, “medium”, and “large”, and may be one of the three types according to the number of user images or the number of second messages. . That is, the correspondence between the number of user images or the number of second messages and the change in the area of the thread display area is arbitrary.
Further, when the same user repeatedly responds to the number of user images, the number of users may be counted as one, or the number of repeated images may be counted.

In the message management system described above, the second message includes a third message based on a response that does not depend on character input, and the display control unit includes the third message including the third message. It is preferable to control so that the number of messages included is counted and the area of the thread display area is changed according to the count value.

Alternatively, in the message management system described above, the second message includes a third message based on a response that does not depend on character input, and the display control unit counts the number of responses performed in the third message. It is preferable to control so that the area of the thread display area is changed according to the count value. In any aspect, the message indicating the response made by the message not based on the character input includes a message not based on the character input transmitted in accordance with the icon selected by the user in the user terminal device. included.

In the message management system described above, when the server device and the terminal device used by the user are included, the display control unit may be in the server device or in the terminal device. Furthermore, the function of the display control unit may be distributed between the server device and the terminal device.

Next, a message display device according to the present invention is a message display device capable of displaying a set of a first message and one or a plurality of second messages associated with the first message as a thread on a display unit. An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction related to thread display from a user, and transmission of the first message and the second message included in the thread to be displayed in response to the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit A display control unit that controls to display a user image indicating the user in the thread display area.

In addition, the message display method according to the present invention is a message display used in a terminal device capable of displaying a set of a first message and one or a plurality of second messages associated with the first message as a thread. A method of receiving an instruction regarding display of a thread from a user, and use indicating a sender of the first message and the second message included in a thread to be displayed according to the received instruction Acquiring a user image, and displaying the acquired user image in a thread display area.

Next, a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention is a program used in a terminal device capable of displaying a set of a first message and one or a plurality of messages associated with the message as a thread on a display unit. A computer-readable recording medium in which an instruction reception process for receiving an instruction regarding display of a thread from a user to the terminal device, and a display target according to the instruction received in the instruction reception process, A program for executing display control processing for controlling a user image indicating a sender of each message included in a thread to be displayed in a thread display area separately provided for each thread. .

This recording medium may be a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and this recording medium is provided inside or outside accessible from a distribution server for distributing the program. Recording media are also included. The code of the program stored in the recording medium of the distribution server may be different from the code of the program that can be executed by the message display device. That is, the format stored in the distribution server is not limited as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that can be executed by the terminal device. Note that the program may be divided into a plurality of parts, downloaded at different timings, and combined in a terminal device, or the distribution server that distributes each of the divided programs may be different.

1 is a block diagram of a message display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a server apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of a user table. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of an external account table. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of an avatar table. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the data structure of an avatar table. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation | movement sequence regarding the registration of the external service in a message display system. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a registration screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an authentication screen. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation | movement sequence which displays the message in a message display system. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the screen displayed on the display of a terminal device by a display process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of a display process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a bulletin board screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a bulletin board screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an operation | movement selection screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a chat screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mail screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of an avatar. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a bulletin board screen.

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1: Configuration of message display system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a message display system (message management system) 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The message display system 100 includes a communication network 1 such as the Internet, a user terminal device 2, and a server device 3A. The message display system 100 displays messages exchanged through various communication services such as posts posted on bulletin boards and the like, mails, and chats on the terminal device 2 of the user registered in advance.

Further, the server device 3A of the message display system 100 causes the terminal device 2 (message display device) of the user registered in the message display system 100 to display the exchange of messages such as articles posted on a bulletin board or the like, mails, chats and the like. It also functions as a portal site. That is, the server apparatus 3A has a function of collecting various messages from the external server apparatuses 3B, 3C, 3D (external system) and providing them to the user. In the following description, a set of an initial message (first message) and one or a plurality of messages (second message) responding to the message is referred to as a thread. For example, in a bulletin board, a post that provides a theme, such as setting up a bulletin board, and a response that is a response to the posting, the poster first sends a message (first message), and the responder responds to this message. This is done by transmitting a message (second message). In addition, a message (second message) that responds to the message that responded (second message) may be transmitted. That is, when the first message (first message) is a parent message, both the child message that responds to the parent message and the grandchild message that responds to the child message respond to the first message (first message). A message (second message), which is a message (second message) associated with the first message (first message). In addition, the poster who first transmitted the message (first message) may be allowed to transmit a response message (second message). That is, one post (first message) and one or more responses (second message) associated therewith correspond to a thread. In addition, in the case of mail, message transmission and reception such as replying (response) to the mail (first message) sent (transmitted) first and further replying (response) to this reply corresponds to a thread. Furthermore, in chatting, a message is sent and received such that a reply (response) is sent to the text information (first message) sent (transmitted) first, and a reply (response) is further sent in response to this reply. To do.

The user terminal device 2 can communicate via the communication network 1 and corresponds to, for example, a personal computer or a mobile phone. The message display system 100 can provide users with community functions among users, sales of games, services, and products.

The server device 3A manages user account information, message information, avatar information, and the like. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the server device. Here, the message information includes type information indicating the type of message such as an article posted on a bulletin board or the like, mail, chat, time information indicating the date and time of transmission / reception of the message, and information indicating the content of the message. Information indicating the content of the message includes text information, a still image, a moving image, position information, and the like according to the content of the message. As shown in this figure, the server device 3A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 30 that controls the entire device, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 31 that functions as a work area of the CPU 30, a ROM (Read Only) that stores a boot program and the like. Memory) 32, a hard disk 33 for storing various programs and data, an input unit 34 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display 35 for displaying an image, and a communication interface 36 for communicating with an external device via the communication network 1. Prepare.

The hard disk 33 stores a user table TBL11, an external account table TBL12, an avatar table TBL13, a message database DB, and the like.
FIG. 3 shows the data structure of the user table TBL11. As shown in this figure, the user table TBL11 includes user identification information UIDa for uniquely identifying a user, an image identifier GaID indicating the user's avatar image (user image) data Ga, and a password PSW. The mail address Mailadd and the friend's user identification information UIDa are stored in association with each other. In order to receive the service provided by the message display system 100, it is necessary to perform user registration. When the user registration is performed, the CPU 30 writes various information in the user table TBL11. The avatar image is set by the user at the time of user registration.

FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the external account table TBL12. As shown in this figure, in the external account table TBL12, user identification information UIDa and external account information are stored in association with each other. When the external account information is accessed to the external server devices 3B, 3C, 3D,..., The server device 3A is required to obtain authentication from the external server devices 3B, 3C, 3D,. It consists of a set of information and user identification information in the external server device. As will be described later, external account authentication is performed to allow the message display system 100 to permit on behalf of the user in order to acquire message information of the external server device. The external server device confirms the user identification information and password input by the user, issues an access token, and notifies the server device 3A of the access token. The user identification information UIDb to UIDd correspond to the external server devices 3B to 3D, respectively. In the present embodiment, the server apparatus 3A performs external account authentication in order to obtain authentication from the external server apparatuses 3B, 3C, 3D... On behalf of the user, but the server apparatus 3A performs external authentication on behalf of the user. Other methods that can obtain authentication from the server devices 3B, 3C, 3D,... May be used.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the user whose user identification information UIDa is “A000001” has registered to acquire message information from the external server devices 3B and 3C, and the user identification information UIDa is “A000002”. The user is not registered for acquiring the message information from the external server device, and the user whose user identification information UIDa is “A000003” has registered to acquire the message information from the external server device 3D.
In the avatar table TBL13, avatar image data Ga indicating an avatar image and an image identifier GaID of the avatar image are stored in association with each other.

Next, in the message database DB, user identification information UIDa and message information are stored in association with each other. Specifically, a message ID is assigned to the message information, and the user identification information UIDa and the message ID are associated with each other. Furthermore, thread identification information for identifying a thread in which the user participates is associated with the user identification information UIda. In other words, the message database DB functions as a management unit that manages the identification information of the user and the thread information specifying the thread and the message information in association with each other. However, the message information stored in the message database DB relates to message exchange between users of the message display system 100, and includes message information acquired from the external server devices 3B, 3C, 3D,. Absent.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 includes a CPU 20 that controls the entire device, a RAM 21 that functions as a work area for the CPU 20, a ROM 22 that stores a boot program, a storage device 23 that stores various programs and data, an input unit 24 including a numeric keypad, an image, and the like. And a communication interface 26 that communicates with an external device via the communication network 1.

In addition, the avatar table TBL21 is stored in the storage device 23. In the avatar table TBL21, avatar image data Ga and an image identifier GaID of the avatar image are stored in association with each other. CPU20 functions as a display control part, and displays a user's avatar, when displaying a message (contents of a message) on the display 25. FIG. At this time, with reference to the avatar table TBL21, it is determined whether or not the avatar image data Ga having the image identifier GaID corresponding to the user identification information UIDa is stored. Avatar image data Ga is acquired by transmitting to 3A and stored in the avatar table TBL21. Thereby, the avatar image data Ga required in the terminal device 2 is stored in the avatar table TBL21.

<1-2: Operation of the message display system>
Next, the operation of the message display system 100 will be described. FIG. 8 shows an operation sequence related to external service registration. In this example, it is assumed that the service b provided by the user of the terminal device 2 with the external server device 3B is registered in the message display system 100.

When a user of the terminal device 2 starts an application such as a web browser and accesses a login page provided by the server device 3A, a login screen is displayed on the display 25 of the terminal device 2. On this login screen, an input box for inputting the user identification information UIDa and the password PSW is displayed. When the user inputs in the input box and presses the send button, the terminal device 2 transmits a login request including the input user identification information UIDa and the password PSW to the server device 3A.

When the server apparatus 3A receives the login request, the server apparatus 3A executes an authentication process (S1). Specifically, the CPU 30 refers to the user table TBL11 to determine whether or not a set of the user identification information UIDA and the password PSW input by the user is stored, and satisfies the determination condition Login is permitted, and if the determination condition is not satisfied, the login is rejected. Then, the CPU 30 causes the terminal device 2 to transmit a login response indicating the determination result. In the example shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that login is permitted.

Suppose that the user selects a menu and selects an external service registration screen. FIG. 9 shows an example of the registration screen. As shown in this figure, buttons 210 to 212 are displayed on the registration screen to prompt the user to select which external service to select. Here, it is assumed that the user clicks the button 210 and selects the external service b (S2). Then, the CPU 20 transmits an external service registration request indicating registration for the external service b to the server device 3A.

The server apparatus 3A that has received the registration request transmits to the external server apparatus 3B an authentication request for the server apparatus 3A to access the external service on behalf of the user, and the external server apparatus 3B that has received the authentication request receives the request token Is issued (S3). Then, the server device 3A executes (redirect) transfer processing (S4) for causing the terminal device to access the URL of the authentication screen of the external server device 3B in which the request token is added to the parameter. FIG. 10 shows an example of the authentication screen.

As shown in this figure, an input box 220 for inputting user identification information, an input box 221 for inputting a password, a login button 222, and a cancel button 223 are displayed on the authentication screen. When the user inputs the user identification information UIDb corresponding to the external service b in the input box 220 and also inputs the password in the input box 221 (S5) and presses the login button 222, the terminal device 2 sends an authentication request to the outside. It transmits to the server apparatus 3B.

When the external server device 3B receives the authentication request, it is determined whether or not the external server device 3B is a legitimate user based on the combination of the user identification information UIDb and the password PSW included in the authentication request (S6). ). In this example, a valid user is assumed. In this case, the external server device 3B authorizes the request token and causes the terminal device to access the URL of the registration screen of the server device 3A in which the authorized request token is added to the parameter (redirect).
The server device 3A transmits an access token request having an access right to the external server device 3B. The external server device 3B that has received the access token request issues an access token based on the authentication information such as the user identification information UIDb and the authorized request token (S7), and transmits the issued access token to the server device 3A. To do.

When the server device 3A receives the access token, the server device 3A acquires the user identification information UIDb in the external server device 3B from the external server device 3B, and sets the combination of the user identification information UIDb and the access token to the user identification of the server device 3A. It is stored in the external account table TBL12 in association with the information UIDa (S8).

Next, FIG. 11 shows an operation sequence for displaying a message. Since the process from login request → authentication process (S1) → login response is similar to the registration of the external service described with reference to FIG. 8, the description thereof is omitted here.
When the user of the terminal device 2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “user A” for convenience of explanation) selects a message type such as an article posted on a bulletin board, mail, or chat on the menu screen, the terminal device 2 For the selected type of message, an instruction regarding the display of the thread is received from the user A (S21). Next, the terminal device 2 transmits a browsing request to the server device 3A. When the server device 3A receives the browsing request, the CPU 30 determines whether or not there is an external account registration corresponding to the user identification information UIDa of the user A by searching the external account table TBL12 (S22).

When the determination result indicates negative, the CPU 30 executes a service providing process (S26) described later. On the other hand, when the determination result is positive, the CPU 30 acquires external account information of the external service corresponding to the user identification information UIDa in the server device 3A from the external account table TBL12 (S23). This external account information consists of a set of an access token and user A's user identification information UIDb. When a plurality of external account information is registered, all registered account information is acquired. In this example, it is assumed that the external account information of the external server device 3B has been acquired.

Thereafter, the server device 3A transmits a browsing request including the user identification information UIDb and the access token to the external server device 3B. When the external server device 3B receives the browsing request, the external server device 3B executes an authentication process using the access token. If the user is a valid user, the external server device 3B executes an extraction process (S24).

Specifically, message information related to user identification information UIDb of user A is extracted. Specifically, message information regarding messages included in all threads related to user A is extracted.
The external server device 3B transmits a browsing response including the set of the message information extracted by the extraction process and the user identification information UIDb to the server device 3A.

Thereafter, the server device 3A executes a UID conversion process (S25). The browsing response includes user identification information UIDb used in the external server device 3B. For users who are users of the message display system 100 and registered in the external service b, user identification information UIDa and user identification information UIDb are stored in the external account table TBL12 in association with each other. . In the UID conversion process, the CPU 30 refers to the external account table TBL12, converts the user identification information UIDb acquired from the external server device 3B into user identification information UIDa used in the server device 3A, and outputs the user identification information UIDa. However, the user identification information UIDb that does not have the corresponding user identification information UIDa is converted into non-existence identification information NID indicating that fact. Thereby, user identification information UIDb is converted into user identification information UIDa or non-existence identification information NID among the set of message information and user identification information UIDb acquired from external server device 3B.

Next, the server device 3A executes a service providing process (S26). Specifically, the CPU 30 refers to the message database DB and reads the message information stored in association with the user identification information UIDA of the user A of the terminal device 2. Further, the CPU 30 refers to the user table TBL11 and reads out the friend user identification information UIDa stored in association with the user identification information UIDa of the user A of the terminal device 2. Next, the CPU 30 refers to the message database DB and acquires message information stored in association with the user identification information UIDa of the friend. Further, the image identifier GaID associated with the user identification information UIDa is acquired with reference to the user table TBL11. Thus, CPU30 acquires the message information read from message database DB, the message information acquired from the external server apparatus 3B, and the information regarding an avatar image, and transmits the browsing response containing these to the terminal device 2. FIG. Each message information is associated with corresponding user identification information UIDa or non-existence identification information NID, and this identification information is also included in the browsing response.

When the terminal device 2 receives the browsing response, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the avatar image data Ga of the image identifier GaID associated with the user identification information UIDa corresponding to the message information is stored in the avatar table TBL21. If it is stored, the avatar image data Ga is acquired (S27). When there is an image identifier GaID that is not stored in the avatar table TBL21, the terminal device 2 includes the image identifier GaID that is not stored in the avatar image request and transmits it to the server device 3A.

When server device 3A receives the avatar image request, CPU 30 executes an avatar image extraction process (S28). In this case, the CPU 30 reads the avatar image data corresponding to the image identifier GaID with reference to the avatar table TBL13. Then, the CPU 30 returns an avatar image response including a set of the read avatar image data and the image identifier GaID to the terminal device 2.
When the terminal device 2 receives the avatar image response, the CPU 20 stores the set of the avatar image data and the image identifier GaID included in the avatar image response in the avatar table TBL21.

Thereafter, the CPU 20 of the terminal device 2 executes display processing (S29). FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display 25 of the terminal device 2 by display processing. As shown in this figure, a circle C is displayed for each thread on the screen, and avatars of persons who participate in the thread are displayed in the circle C. Each circle C is provided to display an avatar image (user image) belonging to a thread, and corresponds to a thread display area provided separately for each thread. That is, the CPU 20 performs control so that a user image indicating a sender of each message included in a thread to be displayed (a plurality of threads in this example) is displayed in a thread display area provided separately for each thread. Functions as a display control unit.
In addition, the size of each circle C changes according to the number of message information included in the thread (that is, the number of messages). The display order of the plurality of threads is arranged from the top of the screen in the order of latest transmission time of the latest message information in each thread. Also, if the user slides the screen, the screen scrolls so that the status of other threads can be grasped.

FIG. 13 shows the processing contents of the display processing. First, the CPU 20 of the terminal device 2 identifies the newest time information of message information included in each thread, compares the identified time information, and the thread corresponding to the latest time information is positioned at the top. Then, the display order of the threads is determined so as to be arranged in time order (S31).
Next, the CPU 20 counts the number of message information included in each thread (S32), and determines the size of the circle according to the counted value (S33). Note that the CPU 20 may change the area of the circle C according to the number of avatars displayed on the circle C. That is, when the number of message information and avatars increases, the area of the circle C is increased.

Further, the CPU 20 specifies an avatar image corresponding to the user identification information UIDa (S34). Specifically, the CPU 20 reads the avatar image data Ga of the image identifier GaID corresponding to the user identification information UIDa corresponding to the message information from the avatar table TBL21. In addition, when the absence identification information NID is associated with the message information, avatar image data indicating a predetermined avatar image is read. For example, an avatar Ax indicated by a shadow in FIG. 12 corresponds to a predetermined avatar image.

As described above, in this example, the message information includes information acquired from an external server device. That is, the message information may be managed by the external server devices 3B, 3C, 3D... That are external services outside the message display system 100. In such a case, a message transmitted by a person who is not a user of the message display system 100 may be included in the thread. The user identification information UIDa corresponding to this message includes the corresponding user identification information UIDa. not exist. For this reason, in the above-described UID conversion process, the user identification information UIDb is previously converted into the absence identification information NID by the CPU 30 of the server device 3A.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the message information is associated with the non-existence identification information NID, that is, when the sender of the message is a non-user of the message display system 100, a predetermined user is used. I try to get an image. That is, when the message information is managed by an external service outside the message display system, the CPU 20 and the CPU 30 display the user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the message included in the thread to be displayed. When it cannot be acquired from the storage unit, it functions as a display control unit that controls to display a predetermined user image when a user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the message cannot be acquired.

Next, based on the time information, the CPU 20 arranges the avatar so that the distance from the person who first transmitted the message (if a post is a contributor) is closer to the latest message response. (S35). Here, only the avatar of the person who sent the message first (poster) faces away from the screen, and the other avatars face the direction of the person who sent the message first. It is preferable to display the avatar of the person who sent it so that it can be easily identified. Further, the CPU 20 adds a mark S to the person who first transmitted the message (S36). This makes it possible to distinguish the sender who first sent the message from other people and display it, and if the message type is a posted article on a bulletin board or the like, the poster can be found at a glance.

Also, a number of avatars (user images) corresponding to the number of users who transmitted message information are displayed in a circle C (thread display area) provided separately for each thread. For this reason, a thread in which a large number of users send messages is crowded because a large number of user images are displayed, and a thread with few messages has a small number of user images and is quiet. That is, it is possible to visually display how many users have transmitted messages, and the user can easily grasp the spread of communication visually. Circle C displays how many users have sent messages using different user images for each user. For this reason, compared with the case where a single user image is used, the spread of communication can be grasped visually more easily. In the present embodiment, even a non-user of the message display system 100 acquires and displays a predetermined user image, so that the spread of communication including the non-user can be easily understood visually. It becomes possible. At a glance, the user can know how much a non-user is sending a message.

Furthermore, the area of Circle C changes according to the number of users who sent the message. For this reason, the circle C (thread display area) is expanded in threads where communication is active, so that the spread of communication can be easily understood visually.

Next, a case where the message type is a posted article on a bulletin board or the like will be described. On the screen shown in FIG. 12, when the circle C of “service a bulletin board” is tapped, the bulletin board screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. The bulletin board screen is provided with a message display area B at the top of the circle C (thread display area), where posts and responses to the bulletin board are displayed. That is, it is convenient because the user image and the message are displayed on the same screen in units of threads.
In this example, a message M6, a message M5, and a message M4 are displayed. The avatars corresponding to each of the messages M6 to M4 are A6 to A4. The avatars A6, A5, and A4 are arranged in the order of the avatars A0 of the poster to which the mark S is added. , M4 in order of new responses. Thereby, since a message and an avatar (user image) can be linked | related, the convenience improves. The arrangement of the avatars A0 to A6 in the circle C is the same as the method described with reference to FIG.

Also, as shown in FIG. 20, an image may be displayed in the image display area X based on image data (image data attached to the message) attached to the message by the poster. When image data is attached to the response to the posting, the image attached to the image data may be displayed. In this case, the image attached by the responder may be displayed around the circle C (thread display area) or may be displayed beside the messages M6, M5, and M4 displayed in time series.

Next, when the user touches the message display area B and moves his / her finger up and down, the messages displayed in the message display area B scroll in time series. In this case, when the message displayed in the message display area B is changed, the CPU 20 includes message information included in the thread at the time when the message displayed in the lowermost stage (predetermined position) of the message display area B is transmitted. Depending on, the avatar is displayed. As described above, since the message is displayed so as to be changeable in time series, it is not necessary to expand the message display area B even when there are many messages. Therefore, a sufficient area of the circle C (thread display region) can be secured.

Further, the area of the circle C (thread display area) is changed according to the number of messages at that time. That is, when the number of messages is large, the area of the circle C is enlarged, and conversely, when the number of messages is small, the area of the circle C is reduced. The area of the circle C (thread display area) may be changed according to the number of one-click responses included in the thread. That is, when the number of one-click responses is large, the area of the circle C is expanded. As a result, the area of the thread display area is determined according to the number of communications that do not rely on character input (for example, “Like!”), So the spread of communication that incorporates simple communications that do not rely on character input can be visualized. Can be easily understood. Also in this case, since the area of the thread display area is changed along the time series, it is possible to know the spread of thread communication in association with the passage of time.
Further, an image attached to a message displayed in the message display area B may be displayed in the image display area.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, if the user changes the message displayed in the message display area B until the latest message becomes the message M1, the area of the circle C is the thread at the time when the message M1 is transmitted. This corresponds to the number of messages included in “2”. By changing the area of the circle C according to the change of the message displayed in this way, it is possible to visually grasp the change in the degree of communication in the thread with the passage of time. That is, thread communication can be known in association with the passage of time.

Further, when the user writes text in the input box 310 and presses the send button 314 on the bulletin board screen shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a message is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the external server device 3B.

Furthermore, the buttons 311 to 312 are buttons (icons) for communication that does not depend on character input. When the button 311 is pressed, information indicating that the “like!” Button has been pressed is transmitted. When the button 312 is pressed, information indicating that the “Why?” Button has been pressed is transmitted. When the button 312 is pressed, information indicating that the “Bad” button has been pressed is transmitted. That is, a message (third message) that does not depend on character input is transmitted according to the icon selected by the user. The communication message that does not depend on the character input transmitted in this way may be counted in the same manner as a normal message to vary the area of the circle C.

¡Such fixed message is displayed with a button, so the user can easily participate in communication by simply pressing this button without the need for character input (text input). In addition, without participating as a party in the bulletin board conversation, it is possible to participate from the standpoint of a third party, such as simply showing approval or disapproval of the message, evaluation of good or bad. It can be said that the larger the number of messages (third messages) that do not depend on the character input, the more the attention is received from other than the participants of the bulletin board, and the bulletin board is active as a whole. Therefore, according to this aspect, since the area of the thread display area is determined including the number of times of communication not depending on character input, it is easy to visually understand the spread of communication incorporating simple communication that does not depend on character input. It becomes possible to know.

14 and 15 show examples of fixed message such as “Like!”, “Why?”, And “Bad”. However, the message is not limited to the fixed message, and may be a message expressed by a pictograph or a symbol. There may be. For example, a picture of applause may be used instead of “Like!”, A “?” Mark instead of “Why?”, And a hand picture with a thumb pointing down instead of “Bad”. Note that a message in which a fixed phrase is displayed as a button and a message represented by a pictograph or a symbol are both included in a message (third message) that does not depend on character input.

Further, when the user clicks the button 330 shown in FIG. 14, the CPU 20 detects this and displays the operation selection screen shown in FIG. 16 on the display 25, for example. The action selection screen is a screen for selecting an action to be given to the avatar. The annular dial section 400 is divided into a plurality of areas, and operation information to be given to the avatar is assigned to each area. The annular dial portion 400 is rotated by touching with a finger and sliding. In the center area 410, an avatar action based on the action information assigned to the area indicated by the instruction unit 420 is displayed. That is, an operation assigned to the area indicated by the instruction unit 420 is selected.

Operation information is assigned to each operation to be selected. When the operation is selected, the CPU 20 transmits the posting or response message information including the operation information. The server device 3A that has received the message stores the message information in association with the user identification information UIDa.
Moreover, when the terminal device 2 receives the browsing response including the operation information as the browsing response, the CPU 20 controls the avatar to operate based on the operation information included in each message information.
As a result, on the bulletin board screen shown in FIG. 14, it is possible to give actions to each of the avatars A0 to A6 displayed in the circle C. Even without reading the message, the participants in the thread can just look at the thread display. You can see at a glance what emotions each person has.

The movements are not limited to those related to emotions.For example, the movement of the rhythm by shaking the body, the action of bending the knee of bending and stretching movements, the action of looking over Kyokoro to look for something, etc. May be executed. Responses to posts may be made multiple times by the same user. Therefore, when the same user specifies “anger” in the operation information added to certain message information and specifies “joy” in the operation information added to other message information, the CPU 20 determines the latest message. Information may be specified, and the avatar may be operated based on the operation information added to the specified message information. Or CPU20 may acquire the ratio of the operation | movement designated with the operation information of the same user based on the operation information added to each message information, and you may make it switch the operation | movement of an avatar according to the acquired ratio. For example, if the ratio of “anger” and “joy” is 1: 3, the avatar may perform “anger” once, and “joy” three times. The operation process of the avatar is the same in chat and e-mail described later.

Next, the case where the message type is chat will be described. When a circle C of “external service b chat” is tapped on the screen shown in FIG. 12, a chat screen shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. The chat screen is provided with a message display area B at the top thereof, and the contents of the chat are displayed in chronological order there. In this example, a message M0, a message M1, and a message M3 are displayed. Further, the avatars corresponding to the messages M0 and M1 are A0 and A1, respectively, and the avatar A0 to which the mark S is added is the contributor who first transmitted (posted) the message. The arrangement of the avatars A0, A1, and Ax in the circle C is the same as the method described with reference to FIG.

Similarly to the bulletin board screen described above, when the user touches the message display area B and moves his / her finger up and down, the message displayed in the message display area B scrolls in time series. Yes. In this case, when the message displayed in the message display area B is changed, the CPU 20 changes the message included in the thread at the time when the message displayed in the lowermost stage (predetermined position) of the message display area B is transmitted. In response, an avatar is displayed. In addition, the area of the circle C (thread display area) is changed according to the number of message information (that is, the number of messages) at that time. Note that the area of the circle C may be changed according to the number of avatars displayed on the circle C at the time. That is, when the number of messages and avatars increases, the area of the circle C is increased. Conversely, when the number of messages and the number of avatars decrease, the area of the circle C is reduced.

Next, the case where the message type is email will be described. When the circle “Service a mail” is tapped on the screen shown in FIG. 12, the mail screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. The mail screen is provided with a message display area B at the top thereof, where the contents of the mail are displayed in chronological order. In this example, a message M0, a message M1, and a message M2 are displayed. The avatar corresponding to the messages M0 and M2 is A0, and the mark S is the avatar A0 of the person who first transmitted the mail. Regarding the mail display, the area of the circle C may be variable according to the number of message information (number of messages) belonging to the thread.

<2. Modification>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the following modifications are possible. Moreover, each modification can be combined suitably.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, an avatar is used as an example of an image associated with a user. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and corresponds to a user image serving as a clue to distinguish users. As long as it is attached, it may be anything. For example, other methods that can visually represent a poster or responder, such as “picture” or “graphic”, may be used.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, when someone responds to a message (such as writing a comment), the responder's avatar is displayed around the avatar of the person who first sent the message (for example, the poster). The responder's avatar is arranged in order from the position close to the person who first sent the message, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the responder's avatar that responds more frequently You may arrange | position an avatar in arbitrary positions, such as arrange | positioning near a person's avatar.

(3) Alternatively, the avatar may be expressed by a combination of a mascot Ob1 and an identification mark Ob2, as shown in FIG. The mascot Ob1 is a three-dimensional display object (object) simulating a human outline, and the identification mark Ob2 corresponds to an identification image GA for identifying a user (corresponding to the sender of the first message or the second message). The image is a planar display object surrounded by a substantially rectangular frame GB. The identification mark Ob2 is arranged near (above) the mascot Ob1. Here, as the identification image GA, for example, a profile image (such as a portrait or a photograph) registered for the user to display himself / herself on the SNS may be used. In this case, the mascot Ob1 is an image that adopts a general-purpose shape (general-purpose body shape image, body shape graphics or image). Therefore, when adding an operation, operation data for each operation pattern such as “anger” and “joy” can be unified, and the processing load on the terminal device 2 can be reduced. Moreover, since the mascot Ob1 is expressed in three dimensions, there is an advantage that a complicated motion can be added. Further, the user is identified by the profile image, and the body of the avatar is shared by a plurality of users by using a general-purpose image. For this reason, compared with the case where a different avatar image is used for every user, the data amount can be compressed as a whole.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the avatar is operated to express the emotion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the screen for displaying the avatar is changed according to the emotion to be expressed. Anything can be used. For example, a balloon shape may be given to an avatar, and the color or shape may be changed based on emotion. Moreover, you may change the color of avatar itself based on an emotion. For example, if you display a user image in red when you have an angry emotion, and if you display a user image in blue when you have a calm emotion, you don't have to read each message about the topic in the thread. , You can grasp the overall trend instantly. Furthermore, emotions may be expressed by displaying a heart on a signboard. Here, the emotion may be specified on the operation selection screen shown in FIG. 16, and the above-described operation information may be handled as information specifying the emotion.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the area of the circle C is changed according to the number of messages included in the thread and the number of one-click responses. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be blue to red. It may be expressed by a change in color, a change in shading, a change in shape, or the like.
(6) In the above-described embodiment, the mark S is given to the person who first transmitted the message included in the thread. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mark S may not be added. Alternatively, a profile image may be used instead of the mark.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, postings and responses are displayed in time series in the message display area B, but the position of the image displayed in the message display area B is, for example, right for the contributor and left for the responder. It may be changed as follows. In this case, it is possible to visually distinguish the poster and the responder.
(8) In the embodiment described above, a mark such as an arrow may be attached to the avatar corresponding to the message displayed in the message display area B. In this case, the contents of the message and the avatar can be grasped in association with each other.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the server device 3A includes the message database DB and provides a message exchange service between users of the message display system 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The message display system 100 may not transmit / receive a message by itself. In this case, the message display system 100 functions as a portal site that integrates and provides services provided by the external server devices 3B, 3C, 3D.

(10) In the above-described embodiment, the motion is expressed on the avatar by selecting the motion on the motion selection screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and based on the content of the message. Alternatively, an action for expressing an emotion may be given. In this case, the CPU 20 of the terminal device 2 may analyze the content of the message and determine an operation to be given to the avatar according to the analysis result. More specifically, a table in which keywords are classified according to emotions such as anger and joy is stored in the storage device 23, the emotion estimated from the content of the message is identified with reference to this table, and the identified emotion You may give the operation | movement according to to an avatar. Thereby, even if the user does not select an operation, the user image is automatically operated, so that the burden on the user can be reduced.
Also, when sending a message, various send buttons corresponding to emotions such as joy and anger may be prepared, emotions may be specified according to which transmission button is sent, and an action corresponding to the specified emotions may be given to the avatar. . As a result, when the message is transmitted, the user himself / herself selects the operation, so that the intention of the user is faithfully reflected in the operation of the user image.

(11) In the embodiment described above, the screen to be displayed on the terminal device 2 is generated by the CPU 20 based on the message information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display screen is generated in the server device 3A. Then, this may be transmitted to the terminal device 2.
In the above-described embodiment, the avatar image data Ga is stored in the avatar table TBL21 of the terminal device 2 and the avatar image corresponding to the user is extracted based on the image identifier GaID. However, the present invention is not limited. For example, the server apparatus 3A may transmit the avatar image data Ga to the terminal apparatus 2 in response to a request from the terminal apparatus 2, and the avatar image data Ga is transmitted from the server apparatus 3A to the terminal accompanying the message information. You may transmit to the apparatus 2.

(12) In the embodiment described above, in the avatar tables TBL13 and TBL21, the image identifier GaID and the avatar image (user image) data Ga are stored in association with each other, but the present invention is not limited to this. The user identification information UIDa may be stored instead of the image identifier GaID. In short, identification information for identifying a user and avatar image (user image) data Ga may be stored in association with each other.

(13) In the embodiment described above, in response to the user's browsing request, the message database DB of the server device 3A is referred to read out the message information stored in association with the user and the friend, and the read message A browsing response including information is transmitted to the terminal device 2. The present invention is not limited to this, and the terminal device 2 is provided with a message database DB synchronized with the message database DB of the server device 3A, and the terminal device 2 has a message display instruction in accordance with a thread display instruction from the user. You may make it refer to message database DB. In this case, the message database DB of the terminal device 2 is stored in association with the user identification information UIDa of the user and the user identification information UIDa of the friend with reference to the message database DB of the server device 3A. Of the message information, new message information that is not stored on the terminal device 2 side is acquired at a predetermined timing and synchronized.
If the message information transmitted from the user terminal device 2 is stored in the message database DB of the terminal device 2 as it is, only the message information associated with the friend user identification information UIDa is synchronized. You may make it take.
In such a message display system, the user image indicating the sender of each message information can be divided for each thread based on the message information stored in the message database DB of the terminal device 2 without being connected to the server device 3A. Can be displayed in the thread display area. Further, the message information acquired from the external server devices 3B, 3C, 3D... May be stored in the message database DB of the terminal device 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication network, 2 ... Terminal device, 3A ... Server device, 3B, 3C, 3D ... External server device (external system), TBL11 ... User table (2nd memory | storage part), TBL12 ... External account table (third storage unit), TBL13, 21 ... avatar table (storage unit, first storage unit), DB ... message database (management unit), 20, 30 ... CPU (display control unit), 25 ... Display (display unit), 100 ... Message display system (message management system).

Claims (19)

1. A message management system that manages a set of a first message and one or a plurality of second messages associated with the first message as a thread,
   An instruction receiving unit that receives instructions regarding thread display from the user;
   In accordance with the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit, control is performed so that user images corresponding to the senders of the first message and the second message included in the thread to be displayed are displayed in the thread display area. A display control unit,
   A message management system comprising:
2. The display control unit displays a user image of the user corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the first message and the second message included in the thread to be displayed, the user identification information and the user image. Are read from the storage unit stored in association with each other and controlled to be displayed in the thread display area.
   The message management system according to claim 1.
3. The first message and the second message are managed by an external service outside the message management system,
   When the display control unit cannot acquire the user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the first message or the second message included in the thread to be displayed from the storage unit, the first message Or control to display a predetermined user image when a user image corresponding to the identification information of the sender of the second message cannot be acquired,
   The message management system according to claim 2.
4. 4. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit performs control so that a mark is displayed on a user image of a sender who has transmitted the first message in the thread. Message management system.
5. The message management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display control unit performs control to change a user image in accordance with the content of the second message.
6. The message management system according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit performs control so as to change a user image according to an emotion of a sender of the second message.
7. The message management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display control unit performs control so that image data attached to the first message is displayed in an image display area.
8. When displaying the thread, the display control unit performs control so that the second message included in the thread is displayed in a message display area different from the thread display area so as to be changeable in time series. The message management system according to claim 1, wherein the message management system is a message management system.
9. 9. The display control unit according to claim 8, wherein the display control unit performs control to add a mark to a user image corresponding to the first message displayed in the message display area and display the user image in the thread display area. The message management system described.
10. When the second message displayed in the message display area is changed, the display control unit is included in the thread when the second message displayed at a predetermined position in the message display area is transmitted. 9. The message management system according to claim 8, wherein control is performed so that a user image corresponding to a sender of the second message is displayed in the thread display area.
11. When the second message displayed in the message display area is changed, the display control unit displays the second message displayed in a predetermined position of the message display area in the thread display area. 9. The message management system according to claim 8, wherein control is performed such that the area of the thread display area is changed according to the number of user images to be displayed.
12. When the second message displayed in the message display area is changed, the display control unit is included in the thread when the second message displayed at a predetermined position in the message display area is transmitted. 9. The message management system according to claim 8, wherein control is performed so as to change an area of the thread display area in accordance with the number of the second messages.
13. 4. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit performs control so as to change an area of the thread display area in accordance with the number of user images to be displayed in the thread display area. The message management system according to item 1.
14. The display control unit controls the area of the thread display area to be changed according to the number of the second messages included in the thread to be displayed. The message management system according to any one of the above.
15. The second message includes a third message with a response that does not depend on character input,
    The display control unit counts the number of messages included in the thread to be displayed including the third message, and controls to change the area of the thread display area according to the count value. The message management system according to claim 14, characterized in that:
16. The second message includes a third message with a response that does not depend on character input,
    The message management system according to claim 14, wherein the display control unit counts the number of the third messages and performs control so as to change an area of the thread display area according to the count value.
17. A message display device capable of displaying a set of a first message and one or more second messages associated with the first message as a thread on a display unit,
    An instruction receiving unit that receives instructions regarding thread display from the user;
    In accordance with the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit, control is performed to display a user image indicating a sender of the first message and the second message included in a thread to be displayed in a thread display area. A display control unit;
    A message display device comprising:
18. A message display method used in a terminal device capable of displaying a set of a first message and one or more second messages associated with the first message as a thread,
    A step of accepting an instruction about displaying a thread from a user;
    Acquiring a user image indicating a sender of the first message and the second message included in a thread to be displayed in response to the received instruction;
    Displaying the acquired user image in a thread display area;
    A method for displaying a message having
19. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program used in a terminal device capable of displaying a set of a first message and one or more second messages associated with the message as a thread on a display unit,
    In the terminal device,
    An instruction acceptance process for accepting instructions regarding thread display from the user;
    In accordance with the instruction received in the instruction receiving process, control is performed to display a user image indicating a sender of the first message and the second message included in a thread to be displayed in a thread display area. Display control processing;
    The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program for performing this.
    

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