Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To display a user-selected collection of messages from a chat service in a visually appealing format. [Solution] When creating a thread in a chat tool server's team management unit, it determines whether or not to import messages from the chat history. The team management unit obtains message identification information from the chat application to identify the messages selected by the user to be imported. The team management unit extracts message information corresponding to the obtained message identification information from the chat history managed by the chat room management unit. The team management unit generates chat message data based on the obtained message information. In the thread created with the chat message data, the user who posted each message is identifiable based on the message information, and the messages are displayed in chronological order of posting date and time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to information processing technology for providing a chat service.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, chat services that allow users to share messages posted in one-on-one or groups of three or more people have become widespread. In particular, chatting in a group of three or more people (group chat) enables sharing the same message with all members with a single post, or viewing all posts of other members in one chat room.

[0003] On the other hand, since all posts of all members are gathered in one place in a group chat, for example, when one person posts a message for contact or question to other members, many responses are posted in one chat room, resulting in poor visibility of messages. In Patent Document 1, responses of each member to a message for the entire group (group message) are displayed for each group message separately from the chat room where all messages in the group chat are posted. In Patent Document 1, the messages displayed for each group message are displayed while retaining metadata such as the poster and the posting date and time, and the visibility is not deteriorated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 has the problem that the messages that can be displayed in another chat room while retaining metadata are limited to group messages and reply messages that the processor identifies as having been sent as a response to them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This disclosure relates to an information processing device that provides a chat service, comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring message identification information that identifies a message selected by a user from among messages posted to the chat service; an extraction means for extracting message information corresponding to the message identification information acquired by the acquisition means from message information including the message content, posting user, and posting date and time of a message posted to the chat service; and a generation means for generating thread message data that associates the message content, posting user, and posting date and time order for the message selected by the user, based on the message information extracted by the extraction means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This disclosure allows users to select messages from those posted to the chat service and display them in a visually appealing format. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] System configuration diagram showing the entire system of this embodiment [Figure 2] Block diagram showing an example hardware configuration for client terminals and chat tool servers. [Figure 3] Block diagram showing an example of the software configuration for client terminals and chat tool servers. [Figure 4] A flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in the first embodiment. [Figure 5]This figure shows an example of the channel screen and chat room screen displayed when the chat application is run on the client terminal in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] A flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the channel screen and chat room screen displayed when the chat application is run on a client terminal in the second embodiment. [Figure 8] A flowchart illustrating the process of generating chat message data based on message information in the third embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a channel screen displayed when a chat application is run on a client terminal in the third embodiment. [Figure 10] Flowchart illustrating the process (S403 or S603) for obtaining message information of the selected chat in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of a chat room screen displayed when a chat application is run on a client terminal in the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 shows an example of the system configuration of the entire system in this embodiment. The client terminal 110 and chat tool server 120 described in this embodiment are connected via network 100 in an internet environment.

[0011] The client terminal 110 is an information processing device such as a PC or a smartphone. By executing a chat application, the client terminal 110 can always communicate with other client terminals 110 and the chat tool server 120 via the network 100 and share messages immediately. The chat tool server 120 that provides a chat service can communicate with a plurality of client terminals 110 simultaneously and manages the chat users and the messages posted by each user.

[0012] Fig. 2 shows a configuration example of an information processing device that can be used as the client terminal 110 and the chat tool server 120 in the present embodiment. The information processing controller unit 200 is a controller that comprehensively controls information processing related to the operations of the client terminal 110 and the chat tool server 120, and the operation unit 209 and the display unit 210 are connected thereto.

[0013] The information processing controller unit 200 has a CPU 201. The CPU 201 starts the OS by a boot program stored in the ROM 202. The CPU 201 executes an application program stored in the storage 204 on this OS, thereby executing various processes. The RAM 203 is used as the working area of the CPU 201. In addition, the RAM 203 provides a working area and an image memory area for temporarily storing image data.

[0014] The storage 204 is an auxiliary storage device such as an SSD or an HDD, and stores the above application program, image data, various setting values, and history.

[0015] To the CPU 201, an operation unit I / F 205, a display unit I / F 206, and a network I / F 207 are connected via the system bus 208, together with the ROM 202, the RAM 203, and the storage 204.

[0016] The operation unit I / F 205 is an interface with an operation unit 209 such as a keyboard or a mouse, and outputs information input by the user via the operation unit 209 to the CPU 201.

[0017] The display unit I / F 206 outputs image data to be displayed on a display unit 210 such as a display. Note that in the chat tool server 120, the operation unit 209 and the display unit 210 are not essential components.

[0018] The network I / F 207 is connected to the network 100, and performs input / output of information with other client terminals 110 and the chat tool server 120 via the network 100.

[0019] FIG. 3(a) shows an example of the software configuration of the client terminal 110 in the present embodiment. In the present disclosure, these software configurations are realized by a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 202, the RAM 203, or the storage 204 being executed by the CPU 201.

[0020] The data transmission / reception unit 301 has a function of communicating with the chat tool server 120 via the network 100 and performing transmission of requests and reception of data. The operation input unit 402 has a function of receiving messages and instructions input by the user from the operation unit 209. The display output unit 303 has a function of displaying various information on the display unit 210. The chat application 304 has a function of connecting to the chat tool server 120 that provides a chat service and performing message transmission / reception to / from the chat tool server 120.

[0021] FIG. 3(b) shows an example of the software configuration of the chat tool server 120 in the present embodiment. In the present disclosure, these software configurations are realized by a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 202, the RAM 203, or the storage 204 being executed by the CPU 201.

[0022] The data transmission / reception unit 311 receives chat message requests from client terminals 110 via the network 100.

[0023] The tenant management unit 312 manages tenant information in the tenant information database 316, which defines the scope of use for each contracted user, such as corporations or individuals, who use the chat tool server 120. The data stored in the tenant information database 316 is saved in the storage 204.

[0024] The user management unit 313 has the function of managing users who use the chat tool server 120. The user management unit 313 manages information such as user IDs, permissions, and user groups to which users belong in the user information database 317. The data stored in the user information database 317 is saved in the storage 204.

[0025] The chat room management unit 314 manages users who participate in chat rooms created by users, as well as chat history. The chat history includes message information, such as message identification information to identify individual messages, message content, the user who posted the message, and the date and time the message was posted.

[0026] Team Management Unit 315 manages users who join teams (user groups created by users), as well as threads and permissions for each team.

[0027] Figure 4 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 4 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0028] Figure 5 shows an example of the channel screen 500 and chat room screen 510 that are displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0029] In S401, the team management unit 315 determines whether to import messages from the chat history when creating a thread in a channel. Specifically, for example, when the user presses the post start button 504 for creating a new thread displayed on the channel screen 500 shown in Figure 5(a), a popup 505 is displayed to present the user with options. The popup 505 presents the user with the option to create a new thread or create a thread by importing messages from the chat, and determines whether to import messages from the chat history depending on the item selected by the user. If "create a new thread" is selected and messages are not to be imported from the chat history, the process proceeds to S405. If "import from chat" is selected and messages are to be imported from the chat history, the process proceeds to S402.

[0030] In S402, the team management unit 315 obtains message identification information from the chat application 304 to identify the message to be imported selected by the user. Specifically, the chat application 304 displays a list of chats and the chat room of the selected chat, in this case the chat history of "Group Y," on the chat room screen 510, as shown in Figure 5(b). The chat application 304 accepts the user's selection of the chat history to be imported by allowing the user to directly specify the message using dashed lines 506, etc. The team management unit 315 obtains the identification information of the selected message from the chat application 304. Here, the method of selection is not limited to this; for example, the range of the chat history may be specified by date and time. Also, by selecting another chat from the list of chats on the chat room screen 510, the user can select the history of a different chat. The team management unit 315 obtains the message identification information of the message to be imported selected by the user from the chat application 304.

[0031] In S403, the team management unit 315 extracts message information corresponding to the message identification information obtained in S402 from the chat history managed by the chat room management unit 314. The message information includes at least the message identification information, the user who posted the message, the date and time the message was posted, and the message content. The message content may include text, images, videos, audio messages, etc. In addition, the message information may also include read status information and edit / delete flags indicating whether the message has been edited or deleted.

[0032] In S404, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data based on the message information acquired in S403. Specifically, the chat message data generated here is thread message data for creating thread 501, as shown in Figure 5(a). In thread 501 created with this chat message data, the oldest message 503a acquired in S403 is used as the thread body, and subsequent messages 503b are displayed as replies to the thread. At this time, based on the message information, the user who posted each message is identifiable on the created thread, and the messages are displayed in chronological order of posting date and time, thereby recreating the chat history. In the example shown in Figure 5(a), a title 502 is set for thread 501, but the presence or absence of a title is optional; it can be left blank, or a title can be set using any method specified during import. In addition, a marker may be added to the thread created in S404 to distinguish it from a thread newly created in S406 without importing messages, as described later. This makes it possible to see whether or not previously posted messages have been imported into the messages on the thread.

[0033] In S405, the team management unit 315 obtains the title and body of the thread to be created from the chat application 304. Specifically, the chat application 304 displays fields on the screen for the user to enter the thread title and body, waits for user input, and once the user enters, the team management unit 315 obtains that input.

[0034] In S406, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data based on the title and body of the acquired thread. Specifically, the chat message data generated here is data to create a thread containing only the title 502 and body 503a by deleting message 503b from thread 501 shown in Figure 5(a).

[0035] In S407, the team management unit 315 creates a thread displaying messages based on the chat message data acquired in S404 or S406, according to the posting user and posting time, and then terminates the series of processes.

[0036] In this embodiment, the history of one-on-one individual chats and group chats involving three or more people can be imported into a thread along with message information including the posting user and posting date and time, thereby enabling the transition to a highly visible thread.

[0037] In this embodiment, the import target is chat, but threads from other channels may also be imported.

[0038] [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the creation of a new thread was instructed from the team's channel screen, but in this embodiment, the creation of a new thread is instructed from the chat room screen.

[0039] Figure 6 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 6 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0040] Figure 7 shows an example of the channel screen 700 and chat room screen 710 that are displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0041] In the chat room screen 710 shown in Figure 7(b), when the detailed settings button 701 provided for each chat is pressed, a popup 702 is displayed to accept the instruction to export the message to the thread.

[0042] In S601, the team management unit 315 obtains chat identification information from the chat application 304 to identify the chat selected by the user to be exported. Specifically, in response to the press of the "Export to Thread" button in the popup 702, the chat application 304 displays a screen allowing the user to select the chat to export and accepts the user's selection. The team management unit 315 obtains the chat identification information of the selected chat from the chat application 304. This is basically the same as S402, but the difference is that the target individual chat or group chat is predetermined, so other individual chats or group chats cannot be selected. In the example shown in Figure 7(b), the popup 702 is displayed for group Y, so if the "Export to Thread" button is pressed as is, only messages from group Y can be selected. To select messages from a group other than group Y, for example, messages from group Z, it is necessary to press the button 701 for detailed settings of group Z to display the popup 702, and then press the "Export to Thread" button.

[0043] In S602, the team management unit 315 obtains channel identification information from the chat application 304 to identify the export destination channel selected by the user. Specifically, the chat application 304 displays a screen allowing the user to select the export destination channel and accepts the selection. The team management unit 315 obtains the channel identification information of the selected channel from the chat application 304. The user is allowed to select from a list of teams and channels as shown in Figure 5(a), and the identification information of the selected channel is obtained. Note that the export destination may be selected in other ways, as long as the export destination channel is uniquely determined.

[0044] In S603, the team management unit 315 obtains message information corresponding to the message identification information of the messages included in the chat history obtained in S601 from the chat history managed by the chat room management unit 314. Specifically, S603 is the same as S403 in the first embodiment.

[0045] In S604, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data based on the message information acquired in S603. The chat message data generated here is thread message data similar to that in S404 of the first embodiment. Here, a marker may be added to the thread created in S604 to distinguish it from a newly created thread that does not import messages. This makes it possible to determine whether or not previously posted messages have been imported into the messages on the thread.

[0046] In S605, the team management unit 315 creates a thread in the export destination selected in S602, displaying messages according to the posting user and posting time based on the chat message data acquired in S604, and then completes the series of processes.

[0047] In this embodiment, the chat history can be transferred to a thread from the chat room screen 710, rather than from the channel screen 700, while maintaining good visibility.

[0048] In this embodiment, the export target is the chat, but the export target may also be the channel thread.

[0049] [Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, it was achieved to import individual chats, group chats, or threads from other channels while maintaining good visibility. However, the chat history to be imported may contain messages from users who do not belong to the team where the imported thread is located. If the chat history is imported directly into the thread in this state, the presence of messages from users who do not belong to the team may cause confusion.

[0050] Therefore, in the third embodiment, it is possible to identify whether or not the user who posted the imported message belongs to the team.

[0051] Figure 8 shows a flowchart illustrating the process (S404 or S604) for generating chat message data based on message information in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 8 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204. Figure 9 shows an example of the channel screen 900 displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0052] In S801, the team management unit 315 retrieves a list of members belonging to the team that is creating the thread. Specifically, it retrieves member information for the team managed by the team management unit 315.

[0053] In S802, Team Management Unit 315 extracts message information for each posting user from the message information obtained in S403 and S603. Specifically, it extracts message information for one posting user and performs S803-S804, repeating this until S803-S804 has been performed for the message information of all posting users.

[0054] In S803, the team management unit 315 determines whether the user who posted the extracted message information is a member of the team. Specifically, it compares the posting user included in the message information with the list of members obtained in S801. If it is determined that the user who posted the message information is a member of the team, it returns to S802 and repeats S803 for the message information of the next posting user. If it is determined that the user who posted the message information is not a member of the team, it proceeds to S804.

[0055] In S804, the team management unit 315 adds a note to the message information indicating that the person is not a member. Specifically, a note 903 as shown in Figure 9(a) may be added, or other symbols or symbols may be used to distinguish the person. Alternatively, a confirmation screen 910 as shown in Figure 9(b) may be displayed immediately before S804.

[0056] Repeat steps S803 and S804 for all posting users, and check whether any notes are needed for all message information.

[0057] In S805, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data, similar to S404 and S604, based on the message information that has been checked to determine whether or not a note is necessary. The chat message data generated here, for message information that includes note information, is data for creating the channel screen 900 shown in Figure 9(a). On the channel screen 900, for messages that include message information, note 903 is displayed in association with the message.

[0058] This embodiment allows for the identification of whether the user who posted the imported message belongs to the team when importing messages from individual chats, group chats, or threads in other channels. This enables users belonging to the team to view the message history of the thread without confusion.

[0059] [Fourth Embodiment] In the first to third embodiments, it was realized that selected chats or threads could be imported as threads in any channel. However, some chats or threads may contain messages that should not be shared with anyone other than the members participating in them, for reasons such as confidentiality. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, when attempting to import a chat or thread, the import is restricted if the imported messages contain information that should not be shared.

[0060] Figure 10 shows a flowchart illustrating the process (S403 or S603) for acquiring message information of a selected chat in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 10 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0061] Figure 11 shows an example of a chat room screen displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0062] In S1001, the team management unit 315 retrieves a list of selected messages. Here, the message information includes the user who posted the message, the date and time the message was posted, the message content, and sharing information specifying whether sharing is permitted or prohibited.

[0063] In S1002, the team management unit 315 determines whether or not there are any messages in the message information that are designated as prohibited from sharing. Specifically, when a message is posted, the chat application 304 receives the sharing information of that message from the user and includes the received sharing information in the message information. Here, messages that are designated as prohibited from sharing in the sharing information are displayed, for example, in the chat room screen 1100 shown in Figure 11(a), with a symbol 1101 indicating prohibited sharing associated with the message. The team management unit 315 refers to this sharing information and determines whether there is at least one message that is set as prohibited from sharing. If there is at least one message designated as prohibited from sharing in the messages to be imported, the process proceeds to S1003; if there are no messages designated as prohibited from sharing, the process proceeds to the next step (S404 or S604). Note that the sharing information does not have to be on a message-by-message basis; for example, it may be specified on a chat or thread basis, or on a user basis.

[0064] In S1003, the team management unit 315 displays a pop-up screen 1110, as shown in Figure 11(b), in the chat application 304. When the OK button is pressed, the entire import process is terminated as an error.

[0065] In this embodiment, if there are messages containing confidential information that should not be shared with anyone other than team members, confidentiality can be protected by restricting the unauthorized export of the group's chat history to other threads.

[0066] (Other examples) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0067] This disclosure includes the following configurations and methods: [Configuration 1] An information processing device that provides a chat service, A means for acquiring message identification information that identifies a message selected by a user from among the messages posted to the chat service, An extraction means for extracting message information corresponding to the message identification information obtained by the acquisition means from message information including the message content, posting user, and posting date and time of a message posted to the chat service, Based on the message information extracted by the extraction means, a generation means generates thread message data that associates the message content, the posting user, and the posting date and time with the message selected by the user. An information processing device characterized by having the following features. [Configuration 2] The thread message data is used to display the message content included in the message selected by the user as a thread, in a way that allows the posting user to be identified and in chronological order of posting date and time, for the chat application used to access the chat service. The information processing device according to configuration 1, characterized by the above. [Configuration 3] The selected message is a message posted in a chat room provided in the chat service. An information processing apparatus according to configuration 1 or 2, characterized by the above. [Structure 4] The selection of the aforementioned message is performed by directly specifying the message to be selected, or by specifying the posting date and time of the aforementioned message. An information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3. [Composition 5] The selection of the aforementioned message is made by specifying a chat room in the chat service. An information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3. [Composition 6] The generation means generates thread message data that associates a message posted by a user not included in the user group to which the thread message data is associated with a user not included in the user group, with a note indicating that the message was posted by a user not included in the user group. An information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized by the above. [Composition 7] The generation means obtains a list of user groups and determines that any posting user not present in the list is a posting user not included in the user group. The information processing device according to configuration 6, characterized by the features described therein. [Structure 8] The aforementioned message information further includes sharing information that specifies whether sharing is permitted or prohibited. The generation means does not generate the thread message data if the sharing information contained in the message information extracted by the extraction means specifies that sharing is prohibited. An information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6. [Composition 9] An information processing method for providing a chat service, The steps include obtaining message identification information to identify a message selected by a user from among the messages posted to the chat service, The steps include extracting message information corresponding to the message identification information obtained by the acquisition means from message information including the message content, posting user, and posting date and time of a message posted to the chat service, Based on the message information extracted in the extraction step, a step is made to generate thread message data that associates the message content, the posting user, and the posting date and time with the message selected by the user. An information processing method characterized by comprising: [Configuration 10] A program for causing a computer to function as an information processing device as described in any one of items 1 to 8.

Claims

1. An information processing device that provides a chat service, A means for obtaining message identification information that identifies a message selected by a user from among the messages posted to the chat service, An extraction means for extracting message information corresponding to the message identification information obtained by the acquisition means from message information including the message content, posting user, and posting date and time of a message posted to the chat service, Based on the message information extracted by the extraction means, a generation means generates thread message data that associates the message content, the posting user, and the posting date and time for the message selected by the user. An information processing device characterized by having the following features.

2. The thread message data is used to display the message content included in the message selected by the user as a thread, in a way that allows the posting user to be identified and in chronological order of posting date and time, for the chat application used to access the chat service. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The selected message is a message posted in a chat room provided in the chat service. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

4. The selection of the aforementioned message is performed by directly specifying the message to be selected, or by specifying the posting date and time of the aforementioned message. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

5. The selection of the aforementioned message is made by specifying a chat room in the chat service. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

6. The generation means generates thread message data that associates a message posted by a user not included in the user group to which the thread message data is associated with a user not included in the user group, with a note indicating that the message was posted by a user not included in the user group. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

7. The generation means obtains a list of user groups and determines that any posting user not present in the list is a posting user not included in the user group. The information processing apparatus according to feature 6.

8. The aforementioned message information further includes sharing information that specifies whether sharing is permitted or prohibited. The generation means does not generate the thread message data if the sharing information contained in the message information extracted by the extraction means specifies that sharing is prohibited. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

9. An information processing method for providing a chat service, The steps include obtaining message identification information to identify a message selected by a user from among the messages posted to the chat service, The steps include extracting message information corresponding to the message identification information obtained by the acquisition means from message information including the message content, posting user, and posting date and time of a message posted to the chat service, Based on the message information extracted in the extraction step, a step is made to generate thread message data that associates the message content, the posting user, and the posting date and time with the message selected by the user. An information processing method characterized by comprising:

10. A program for causing a computer to function as an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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