Control device and computer readable medium

Abstract

A control device and a computer-readable medium. Message information related to a printing instruction is posted to a chat room. When the message information is posted, a process of classifying the correspondence to the posted message information is performed (S110, S124). The process classifies the posted message information into any of the cases C1 indicating the execution of a process related to other printing, C2 indicating that the printing process can be executed in the same manner between multiple users, and C3 of being ignored. The corresponding process is performed on the message information according to the classified cases. In this way, a specific process can be performed in a manner desired by the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device and a computer-readable medium. Background Art

[0002] A message notification device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2014-164522, characterized in that the message notification device comprises: an action instruction detection unit, which detects an action instruction for operating an external device from a message in a communication service that displays a message written by a member along a time series, and determines the member who wrote the message as the indicator of the action instruction; an external device control unit, which controls the external device in accordance with the action instruction detected by the action instruction detection unit; an action result acquisition unit, which acquires the result of the action performed by the external device through the control of the external device control unit; a report message generation unit, which generates a report message that reports the result of the action acquired by the action result acquisition unit; and a report message display unit, which outputs the report message generated by the report message generation unit to a server that provides the communication service, and causes the communication service to display the message in a state in which the indicator determined by the action instruction detection unit is clearly defined as the destination.

[0003] In recent years, chatbots as automatic conversation programs have become well known. Chatbots automatically post messages in response to messages posted (uttered) by users in a chat room. As a further application example, chatbots perform processing based on information such as messages posted by users.

[0004] Here, it is assumed that one process is executed based on a series of information posted to a chat room that a plurality of users participate in. In this case, depending on the execution method of the process, an action that does not conform to the user's intention may occur.

[0005] Certain non-limiting exemplary aspects of the present disclosure overcome the above disadvantages and / or other disadvantages not mentioned above. However, the various aspects of the non-limiting embodiments do not need to overcome the above disadvantages, and the aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not overcome any of the above disadvantages. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a control device is provided, which has a processing unit, which, in a chat room in which a plurality of users participating in a plurality of users registered in each user group can each contribute information, during the execution of a specific process, after a first information based on a first user in a series of information related to the specific process is contributed, if a second user registered in the user group in which the first user is registered contributes a second information, the processing unit processes the second information as the series of information.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a control device is provided, which has a processing unit. In a chat room where multiple participating users can each post information, during the execution of a specific process, after posting a first information in a series of information related to the specific process, if a second information consistent with the content of the first information is posted, the processing unit processes the second information as the series of information.

[0008] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the processing unit performs processing to ignore third information that is information contributed by a third user who is not registered in a user group in which the first user is registered.

[0009] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the processing unit processes third information posted by a third user who is not registered in the user group in which the first user is registered as posted information related to another specific process different from the specific process.

[0010] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, when second information matching the content of the first information is posted, the processing unit processes the second information as the series of information.

[0011] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the second aspect, when the content of the second information does not match the content of the first information, the processing unit performs processing to ignore the second information.

[0012] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the second aspect, when the content of the second information does not match the content of the first information, the processing unit processes the second information as a contribution of information related to another specific process different from the specific process.

[0013] According to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a control program, and the control program enables a computer to perform the following processing: in a chat room in which multiple users participating in multiple users registered in each user group can each contribute information, during the execution of a specific process, after the first user in a series of information related to the specific process contributes the first information, if the second user registered in the user group in which the first user is registered contributes the second information, the second information is used as the series of information.

[0014] According to the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a control program, and the control program enables a computer to perform the following processing: in a chat room in which multiple participating users can each contribute information, during the execution of a specific process, after the posting of the first information in a series of information related to the specific process, if the second information consistent with the content of the first information is posted, the second information is used as the series of information.

[0015] According to the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a control device is provided, which has a processing unit. In a chat room where multiple participating users can each provide information, during the execution of a specific process, after a first user in a series of information related to the specific process provides first information, if a second user different from the first user provides second information, the processing unit processes the second information as information provided by the first user who provided the first information based on a predetermined permission condition for accepting the series of information.

[0016] According to the eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect, in the chat room, each of the plurality of users registered in each user group can provide information, and the permission condition is that the second user is a user included in the user group in which the first user who provides the first information is registered.

[0017] According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect, the permission condition is that after permission information is provided to the chat room, the permission information indicates that information provided from a second user different from the first user is permitted as the series of information.

[0018] According to the thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the tenth aspect, the permission condition is that the indication information is prompted and the second user is a user who responds to the indication information, wherein the indication information indicates that information provided by a user different from the first user is allowed as an indication of the series of information.

[0019] According to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the thirteenth aspect, the instruction information is information indicating a button that provides information indicating a response through an operation of any user among a plurality of users.

[0020] According to the first, second, fifth, eighth and ninth aspects of the present disclosure, in the case where one process is performed by posting a series of information to a chat room attended by multiple users, multiple information posted by multiple users are processed without distinguishing which user posted the information, and compared with the case of performing the one process, specific processing can be performed in a manner desired by at least some of the multiple users.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the third aspect, it is possible to exclude unregistered users in the user group from execution of a specific process.

[0022] Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect, when information is contributed by a user who is not registered in the user group, another specific process different from the specific process can be executed.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the sixth aspect, specific processing can be executed only when the second information matching the content of the first information is posted.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the seventh aspect, when the second information that does not match the content of the first information is posted, another specific process different from the specific process can be executed.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, processing is performed without distinguishing the form in which a plurality of information is provided, and compared with the case of executing the above-mentioned one processing, a specific processing can be executed in a manner desired by at least some of the plurality of users.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to exclude users who are not registered in the user group from the execution of the specific process.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the twelfth aspect, after the information allowing the user is provided, the corresponding user can be made the execution target of the specific process.

[0028] In addition, according to the thirteenth aspect, it is possible to exclude a user who has not provided instruction information allowing the user from execution of a specific process.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the fourteenth aspect, compared with a case where information indicating a button is not used, an instruction desired by the user can be executed more intuitively. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail based on the following drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of a chat room server.

[0033] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of a chatbot server.

[0034] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of a chat room server.

[0035] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of a chatbot server.

[0036] Figure 6 This is an example of a table showing the correspondence between users registered in the registration unit and image forming apparatuses.

[0037] Figure 7 This is an example of a table showing the correspondence relationship among the chat rooms, users, and image forming apparatuses registered in the registration unit.

[0038] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an example of the flow of the printing process according to the embodiment of the present disclosure as a printing procedure.

[0039] Fig. 9 : is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing based on the chat robot server.

[0040] Fig.10 It is a flowchart showing the flow of message information classification processing.

[0041] Fig.11 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users.

[0042] Fig.12 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users.

[0043] Fig.13 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users.

[0044] Fig.14 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users.

[0045] Fig.15 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users.

[0046] Fig.16 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users.

[0047] Fig.17 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0048] Fig.18 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0049] Fig.19 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0050] Fig. 20 This is an example of a table showing the correspondence relationship among the chat rooms, users, and image forming apparatuses registered in the registration unit.

[0051] Fig.21 : is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing based on the chat robot server.

[0052] Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of the permission process.

[0053] Fig.23 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0054] Fig.24 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0055] Fig.25 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0056] Fig.26 This is a flowchart showing the flow of setting processing based on the chat robot server.

[0057] Fig. 27 (A) to (C) are diagrams showing states of posting in a chat room.

[0058] Fig.28 This is a flowchart showing the flow of acquisition processing by the chat robot server.

[0059] Fig.29 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0060] Fig.30 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0061] Fig.31 This is a flowchart showing the flow of confirmation processing based on the chat robot server.

[0062] Fig.32 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment for implementing the technology of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0064] In addition, in each of the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent components and parts. In addition, for the sake of convenience of description, the dimensional ratios of the drawings are sometimes exaggerated in the degree of description and are different from the actual ratios.

[0065] First Embodiment

[0066] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0067] The control system includes a user terminal 10, a chat room server 20, a chat robot server 30 as a processing unit of the present disclosure, and an information processing device 40. The user terminal 10, the chat room server 20, and the chat robot server 30 (control device) are connected to each other via the Internet 50.

[0068] The user terminal 10 is a terminal used by the user, and can be any terminal such as a desktop personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet or a smart phone. Figure 1 In the example, user A uses user terminal 10A, user B uses user terminal 10B, user C uses user terminal 10C, and user D uses user terminal 10D. User terminals 10A to 10D are collectively referred to as user terminals 10 .

[0069] The chat room server 20 provides a chat room. A chat room is a virtual space where users and chat robots described later can participate and share data such as messages and images (hereinafter referred to as message information) as a chat. Here, chat refers to an event in which multiple members input information in real time on a computer network to conduct a conversation. Here, members include both users associated with real people and software robots that act according to specific rules. In addition, a chat robot refers to a software robot that is controlled to perform specific processing in the chat room based on information contributed by users.

[0070] The user can post messages or speak in the chat room through the user terminal 10. Alternatively, in the chat room, users share message information with each other, and the chat robot can reply in response to the user's message information. In addition, the user can give instructions to the chat robot in the chat room to make the information processing device 40 perform specific processing. The chat robot extracts the instructions contained in the message information through natural language processing, for example, and controls the information processing device 40 to perform specific processing. In addition, the chat room can be participated in by users and chat robots in a one-to-one manner, or by multiple users and chat robots. There can be multiple chat rooms corresponding to the number of chat rooms opened.

[0071] The chat robot server 30 is a server for managing the chat robot. As described above, the chat robot participates in the chat room, responds to the user's message information, or causes the information processing device 40 to execute a specific process according to the instruction included in the message information.

[0072] For example, the chatbot controls so that when a message information related to an instruction for causing the information processing device 40 to execute a specific process is posted in the chat room in which it participates, the information processing device 40 registered in association with the user participating in the chat room executes the specific process. In addition, the information processing device 40 may be a device that performs any information processing. Here, information processing includes, for example, a process of executing printing based on text data or image data, a process of generating or processing data using a device possessed by the information processing device 40, a process of exchanging data between the information processing device 40 and other devices, and the like.

[0073] In the following description, as an example, the case where the information processing device 40 is an image forming device and the instruction for executing a specific process is an instruction for executing printing is described. In addition, the image forming device is given reference numeral 40 for description below. In addition, the instruction for executing printing includes not only instructions for direct printing to the image forming device 40, but also information required for generating a printing task, such as information such as image data of a print object or printing specifications provided in a chat room. That is, the chat robot controls so that when information related to printing to be executed by the image forming device 40 is posted in the chat room to be participated, processing related to printing is performed by the posted information. The instruction for executing printing is an example of providing a series of information related to a specific process, and the chat robot performs various controls to cause the image forming device 40 to execute printing by posting each of the series of information related to printing.

[0074] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the process of posting information related to printing as an example of providing a series of information related to a specific process. Figure 8 The provision of the series of information shown corresponds to an instruction to execute printing, that is, posting of information.

[0075] Specifically, first, the user posts message information indicating a printing instruction to the chat room (process P01), and in response, the chat robot posts message information indicating a request for file submission (process P02). Next, the user posts message information indicating a file to be printed as a response to the request for file submission (process P03), and the chat robot posts message information requesting print settings indicating how to print the submitted file as a response to the file submission (process P04). Furthermore, the user posts information indicating print settings (process P05), and in response, the chat robot outputs information to the image forming device 40 to start printing according to the submitted print settings for the file to be printed (process P06). In addition, in Figure 8In the example shown, the process P01 in which message information indicating a print instruction is posted is used as the starting point as the printing process, but the process P03 in which the user posts message information indicating a file to be printed may be used as the starting point. In this case, the posting of the process P03 can be regarded as executing the processes P01 and P02 and can be processed.

[0076] The image forming device 40 is a device that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper according to a print task, and may be any device such as a printer or a multifunction machine. Figure 1 In the example of the control system, the chat robot server 30 manages the image forming device 40A and the image forming device 40B. The image forming device 40A and the image forming device 40B are collectively referred to as the image forming device 40. In the example shown in the figure, the image forming device 40 is connected to the chat robot server 30, but the image forming device 40 may be connected to the chat robot server 30 via the Internet 50.

[0077] Next, the hardware configuration of the chat room server 20 and the chat robot server 30 will be described.

[0078] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of a chat room server.

[0079] like Figure 2 As shown, the chat room server 20 includes components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, a memory 24, an input unit 25, a display unit 26, and a communication interface 27. The components are connected to each other via a bus 29 so as to be communicable.

[0080] The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that executes various programs or controls various components. That is, the CPU 21 reads the program from the ROM 22 or the memory 24 and executes the program using the RAM 23 as a work area. The CPU 21 controls the above-mentioned structures and performs various calculations according to the program recorded in the ROM 22 or the memory 24. In the first embodiment, the ROM 22 or the memory 24 stores a chat room providing program for providing a chat room.

[0081] The ROM 22 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 23 temporarily stores programs or data as a work area. The memory 24 is composed of a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0082] The input unit 25 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and is used to perform various inputs. The display unit 26 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information. The display unit 26 can be a touch panel, and function as the input unit 25. The communication interface 27 is an interface for communicating with other devices via the Internet 50, and uses, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and other standards.

[0083] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of a chatbot server.

[0084] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the chat robot server 30 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a memory 34, an input unit 35, a display unit 36, and a communication interface 37. Each of the components is connected to each other in a communicative manner via a bus 39. Figure 2 Each structure of the chat room server 20 has the same function.

[0085] Next, the functional configurations of the chat room server 20 and the chat robot server 30 will be described.

[0086] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of a chat room server.

[0087] like Figure 4 As shown, chat room server 20 has providing unit 201 as a functional structure. The functional structure is realized by CPU 21 reading a chat room providing program stored in ROM 22 or memory 24, expanding it in RAM 23, and executing it.

[0088] The providing unit 201 provides a chat room in which multiple users can participate and post messages. The chat room server 20 provides chat rooms in which users and chat robots participate in a one-to-one manner, chat rooms in which multiple users and chat robots participate, and the like. Multiple chat rooms can be opened in accordance with the opening request from the user. In addition, for example, when a user accesses the chat room server 20 and makes a chat room opening request to open a specific chat room, the user who opens the chat room invites other users to the opened chat room so that they can participate. Alternatively, if the user is a participant of the chat room, he can invite new other users who have not participated in the chat room to the chat room so that they can participate.

[0089] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional structure of a chatbot server. Figure 6 This is an example of a table showing the correspondence between users registered in the registration unit and image forming apparatuses. Figure 7 This is an example of a table showing the correspondence between chat rooms, users, and image forming apparatuses registered in the registration unit.

[0090] like Figure 5 As shown, chat robot server 30 has a registration unit 301 and an execution control unit 302 as a functional structure. The functional structure is realized by CPU 31 reading a chat room providing program stored in ROM 32 or memory 34, expanding it in RAM 33 and executing it.

[0091] For example, Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , the registration unit 301 registers the user and the image forming apparatus in association with each other. Figure 6 In the example shown, each user can also be associated with basic print settings when instructing printing. Figure 7 As shown, the registration unit 301 registers the chat room and the image forming apparatus in association with each other. Figure 7 In the example shown, user characteristics are also associated. User characteristics are information obtained by associating registered users with image forming apparatuses. That is, user characteristics indicate which image forming apparatus a registered user has registered for printing.

[0092] Figure 6 The table shown is provided for registering a setting in which a user participates in a chat room with a chat robot in a one-to-one manner, that is, in which a user instructs an image forming apparatus that the user mainly uses. Figure 6 The table shown is pre-registered by each user. Figure 7 The table shown is set when multiple users participate in a chat room, that is, when a chat room is shared. Figure 7In the table shown, each chat room corresponds to a user participating in the chat room, and each user in the chat room corresponds to an image forming device as a user attribute. Figure 6 The image forming device 40 associated with the user in the table shown is used as a user characteristic, thereby forming Figure 7 Table shown.

[0093] The execution control unit 302 participates in the chat room as a chat robot. Furthermore, when a user posts information such as a message and an image related to printing to the image forming device (information processing device) 40 in the chat room, the execution control unit 302 controls to execute printing according to the user characteristics associated with the user participating in the chat room.

[0094] Next, the role of the chat robot server 30 will be described. Figure 8 A series of information is provided by the print instruction process shown, that is, message information is posted as an instruction for executing printing.

[0095] Fig. 9 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing by the chat robot server. The control processing is performed by CPU 31 reading a control program from ROM 32 or memory 34, expanding it in RAM 33, and executing it. Fig.10 It is shown Fig. 9 This is a flowchart of the process of message information classification processing shown in step S110. Figures 11 to 16 This is a diagram showing the transition of a process based on contributions from multiple users. Figures 17 to 19 This is a diagram showing the status of posting in a chat room.

[0096] CPU31, as the execution control unit 302, determines whether the user has posted a message to the chat room (step S100). In the case of no posting in the chat room (determined as negative in step S100), CPU31 waits until posting. In the case of posting a message to the chat room (determined as positive in step S100), CPU31 determines whether the message posted is a message related to a print instruction (step S102). Here, CPU31 performs a natural sentence analysis on the posted message information, and in the case of including "print" or a term related to print setting, it is determined to be a message related to a print instruction.

[0097] When the posted message information is irrelevant to the print instruction (determined as negative in step S102), CPU 31 posts a response message information that matches the posted message information to the chat room (step S104). For example, when a user posts a message to inquire about the weather as message information, CPU 31, as a chat robot, obtains weather information from the Internet and posts a message to answer the weather as response message information to the chat room. Thus, a conversation between the user and the chat robot is established in the chat room.

[0098] In the case where the posted message information is related to the printing instruction (judged as positive in step S102), CPU31 posts the message information indicating the posting of the file as the printing object data (step S106). Then, as a response to step S106, CPU31 determines whether the user has posted the message information to the chat room (step S108). Here, the posted message information is the message information indicating the file including the data of the printing object. In the case where there is no posting in the chat room (judged as negative in step S108), CPU31 waits until the posting is made. In the case where the message information is posted to the chat room (judged as positive in step S108), CPU31 performs a process of classifying the correspondence of the posted message information (step S110). This process is a process of classifying the posted message information into the corresponding printing process, hereinafter referred to as the message information classification process. CPU31 processes the printing process according to the determination result of the message information classification process.

[0099] Here, the message information classification process in step S110 is described.

[0100] Fig.10 It is a flowchart showing the flow of message information classification processing.

[0101] CPU31 determines whether the process timing of the message information posted by the user to the chat room is consistent with the current process timing (step S200). In the case of inconsistency (negative judgment in step S200), CPU31 classifies the posted message information as instance C1 representing the execution of other printing-related processes (step S202). The consistency of process timing refers to the situation where the message information is posted at the timing expected by the chat robot, and the situation where the content of the message information is consistent. Here, the message information is posted at the time when the message information of process P03 as a response to process P02 should be posted, and when the content of the message information is consistent with the content of the message information of process P03, the process timing is consistent. For example, the posted message information is analyzed, and in the case of a file containing data including available image data and document data as a printing object, it is judged that the process timing is consistent.

[0102] On the other hand, if the process timing matches (affirmative determination in step S200), CPU 31 refers to Figure 7 According to the table shown, it is determined whether the user characteristics of the user who posted the message information in process P03 are the same as the user characteristics of the user who posted the message information in process P01 (step S204). That is, it is determined whether the user characteristics of the user who posted the file expected by the chat robot and the user who issued the printing instruction are the same. In the case where the user characteristics are the same (judged as affirmative in step S204), CPU 31 classifies the posted message information into case C2 indicating that the printing process can be executed in the same way (step S206). For example, in the case where user A posts a message related to the printing instruction and user B posts a file in response to the message, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, since the user characteristics are the same, the CPU 31 classifies the message information into case C2.

[0103] In the case where the user characteristics are different (judged as negative in step S204), CPU31 classifies the posted message information as case C3 (step S208). It can be considered that the process timing does not match, and the message information with different user characteristics is not a message information requesting the same execution of the printing process. The processing of the message information classified as case C3 corresponds to the case where the message information is ignored, or the case where other printing processes are executed. For any situation set to ignore or execute other processes, it is sufficient to predetermine the setting conditions. For example, in order to cope with power saving or power conservation of the control system, when the operating conditions for determining the number of image forming devices 40 allowed to run simultaneously are predetermined, the printing instructions for the image forming devices 40 that exceed the number of devices in the operating conditions are ignored. On the other hand, for the message information indicating the printing instructions for the image forming devices 40 within the number of devices in the operating conditions, it is sufficient to indicate the execution of other printing processes.

[0104] Regarding the message information of any of the cases classified into the cases C1 to C3 as described above, the CPU 31 Fig. 9 The processing after step S112 shown executes corresponding processing.

[0105] Specifically, the CPU 31 determines whether the message information is classified as the case C2, thereby determining whether it is classified as the message information of the same printing process (step S112). If the message information is classified as the case C2 (judged as positive in step S112), as the next process P04, the CPU 31 posts the message information indicating the request for print setting (step S114).

[0106] Consider the process of multiple users' contributions based on the same user characteristics as user A and user B. Fig.11 As shown, the message information contributions of user A and user B based on the same user characteristics are processed equivalently. Fig.11 In the illustrated example, the CPU 31 classifies the posted message information as the case C2, and posts message information indicating a request for print setting as the next process P04.

[0107] When the message information is classified as other than case C2 (in Fig. 9 If the message information is classified as case C1 (judged as negative in step S112 shown in the figure), CPU 31 determines whether the message information is classified as case C1 (step S116). If the message information is classified as case C1 (judged as positive in step S116), CPU 31 starts other processes based on the message information and waits until the message information is posted in process P03 (step S108).

[0108] The process of progress based on the contributions of multiple users with matching process timing is considered. Fig.12 As shown, after posting the message information indicating the file posting request based on the chat robot (process P02), the chat robot expects the file posting from the user. At this process timing, if user B posts a message information indicating a printing instruction to the chat room, it can be considered that the message information is not the message information indicating the file posting expected by the chat robot, but the printing instruction newly desired by user B. Fig.12 In the illustrated example, the CPU 31 classifies the posted message information as the case C1 and executes other printing-related processes.

[0109] When the message information is classified as case C3 (determined negatively in step S116), CPU 31 ignores the message information and waits until the message information is posted in process P03 (step S108). Here, the processing of the message information classified as case C3 indicates that the message information is predetermined to be ignored.

[0110] Consider the process transition based on the inconsistent process timing and the different user characteristics of multiple users. Fig.13 As shown, at a process timing after the submission of message information representing a file request based on the chat robot (process P02), when user C having user characteristics different from user A submits message information representing a file to the chat room, CPU31 classifies the message information as case C3, ignores the message information and waits until the message information of process P03 is submitted.

[0111] Next, after the message information is posted in process P04, CPU 31 determines whether a user has posted a message information to the chat room (e.g. Fig. 9 In the case where no posting is made in the chat room (determined as negative in step S122), CPU 31 waits until the posting is made. In the case where message information is posted to the chat room (determined as positive in step S122), similarly to the above-mentioned step S110, CPU 31 performs a process of classifying the correspondence with respect to the posted message information (step S124). Regarding the message information classified as any case C1 to C3, similarly to the process of steps S112 to S120, CPU 31 performs the corresponding process according to the process after step S126.

[0112] In detail, similar to step S112, CPU31 determines whether it is classified as the same message information as the printing process (step S126). When the message information is classified as case C2 (judged as affirmative in step S126), as the next process P06, CPU31 posts the message information indicating the execution of the printing process (step S128). In addition, in order to make the image forming device 40 perform the printing process, CPU31 outputs the posted print settings and the file of the printing object. Thus, the printing process is executed. In addition, when the message information is classified as case C1 (judged as negative in step S126 and judged as affirmative in step S130), CPU31 starts other processes based on the message information and waits until the message information is posted in process P05 (step S122). If the message information is classified as case C3 (negative determination in step S126 and negative determination in step S130 ), CPU 31 ignores the message information and waits until the message information is posted in process P05 (step S122 ).

[0113] Consider the process of classifying message information into case C2 among multiple users' contributions. Fig.14 As shown, the message information posted by user A and user B with the same user characteristics are processed equally, and the CPU 31 classifies the message information indicating the print setting posted by user B as case C2, accepts it as message information from user A, and starts the print processing as the next process P06.

[0114] In addition, if Fig.15 As shown, at the process timing after posting message information indicating a print setting request based on the chat robot (process P04), the chat robot expects to post message information indicating print settings from the user. It can be considered that at this process timing, when user B posts message information indicating a print instruction to the chat room, the message information is not the message information indicating the file submission expected by the chat robot, but the message information indicating the new print instruction desired by user B. Fig.15 In the example shown, the CPU 31 classifies the posted message information as the case C1 and executes other printing-related processes.

[0115] Furthermore, if Fig.16 As shown, at a process timing after the submission of message information representing a print setting request based on a chat robot (process P04), when user C having user characteristics different from user A submits message information representing a file to the chat room, CPU31 classifies the message information as case C3, ignores the message information and waits until the message information is submitted in process P05.

[0116] Next, the status of the contribution in the chat room after the classification process based on the message information will be described.

[0117] Fig.17 This is an example of a case where message information posted at a process timing after process P04 is processed in the same manner as message information from user B having the same user characteristics as user A who issued a print instruction.

[0118] like Fig.17 As shown, in the chat room, when a message M100 related to a print instruction is posted by user A (process P01), CPU 31 posts message M101 indicating a posting request for a file (process P02), and in response, user A posts message M102 indicating a file including data to be printed (process P03). In response to the posting of message M102, CPU 31 posts message M103 indicating a request for print settings (process P04). In response to the posting of message M103, the user posts message M104 and M105 indicating a request for print settings (process P05). In response to the posting of message M104 and M105, CPU 31 posts message M106 indicating the start of printing (process P06).

[0119] exist Fig.17 In the example shown, in response to the posting of message information M103, message information M104 is posted to other users to inquire about print settings. In response to message information M104 indicating the inquiry, user B posts message information M105 indicating confirmation of print settings. CPU 31 performs sentence analysis on the posted message information M105, for example, and determines that it is message information related to print settings when it contains words related to print settings such as "color" or "2 copies". In addition, CPU 31 refers to Figure 7 The table shown in FIG. 10A determines whether the user characteristics of user B who posted message information M105 are the same as the user characteristics of user A who posted message information M100. Fig.17 In the illustrated example, the CPU 31 classifies the message information M105 as the case C2 and posts the message information M106 indicating the start of printing.

[0120] Fig.18 This is an example of a case where message information is posted at a timing that does not match the process after process P04.

[0121] like Fig.18As shown, in the chat room, CPU31 contributes message information M103 indicating request for print settings in response to the contribution of message information M102 (process P04). At the process timing after the process P04, user B contributes message information M110 related to the print instruction. CPU31 analyzes the content of message information M110, determines that it is not a message information of a process based on user A's message information M100 as a starting point, and contributes message information M112 indicating a contribution of a file to user B as a new process (other process P02). In addition, user A contributes message information M114 indicating print settings in response to the contribution of message information M103 (process P05). CPU31 contributes message information M116 indicating the start of printing in response to the contribution of message information M114 (process P06). In addition, when message information M118 indicating a file including data to be printed is posted as a response to message information M112 from user B, CPU 31 posts message information M120 indicating the start of printing in response to the posted message information M118 (another process P06).

[0122] Fig.19 This is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the message information posted at a process timing after process P04, and from the user C having a different user characteristic from the user A who issued the print instruction.

[0123] like Fig.19 As shown, in the chat room, in response to the posting of message information M102, CPU 31 posts message information M103 indicating a request for print settings (process P04). At a process timing after process P04, in response to the posting of message information M103, user A posts message information M104 inquiring about print settings for other users. In response to message information M104 indicating the inquiry, user C posts message information M130 indicating confirmation of the print settings. CPU 31 analyzes the posted message information M130 and determines that it is message information that matches the process timing. On the other hand, CPU 31 refers to Figure 7 According to the table shown in FIG. 1 , the CPU 31 determines that the message information M130 is a message information from the user C having different user characteristics from the user A who issued the print instruction. Therefore, the CPU 31 classifies the message information M130 as the case C3, for example, ignores the message information, and waits until the response to the message information M103. Next, the CPU 31 posts the message information M132 indicating the confirmation of the print setting by the user B, and determines that the posted message information M132 is a message information related to the print setting, and posts the message information M134 indicating the start of printing.

[0124] In the first embodiment described above, the case where the user characteristics are determined by the image forming device 40 associated with the user participating in the chat room is described. In the present disclosure, the user characteristics are not limited to the image forming device 40 associated with each user. For example, a user group of multiple users who have registered a shared printing process may be predetermined, and the user group may be set as the user characteristics. In this case, the image forming device 40 may be determined in units of user groups.

[0125] In addition, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, an image forming device is described as an example of the information processing device 40, but in the present disclosure, the information processing device 40 is not limited to the image forming device. As other examples of the information processing device 40, communication devices such as mobile phones and smart phones, information processing devices such as computers, and electronic devices such as air conditioners that can operate temperature settings, power on and off, etc. can be cited. In addition, the information processing device 40 is not limited to devices such as electronic devices. For example, the information processing device 40 can be an information body that performs a service that realizes a predetermined function. As an example of the information body, an image conversion service that realizes an image conversion function performed on the cloud can be cited.

[0126] Second Embodiment

[0127] In the second embodiment, instead of Figure 7 The table shown uses Fig. 20 Table shown.

[0128] Fig.21 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of control processing by the chat robot server. The CPU 31 reads out a control program from the ROM 32 or the memory 34, expands the program in the RAM 33, and executes the program to perform control processing. Figure 23 to Figure 25 This is a diagram showing the status of postings in a chat room.

[0129] CPU31, as the execution control unit 302, determines whether the user has contributed message information to the chat room (step S300). In the case of not contributing in the chat room (determined as negative in step S300), CPU31 waits until contributing. In the case of posting message information to the chat room (determined as positive in step S300), CPU31 determines whether the posted message information is a message related to the print instruction (step S302). Here, CPU31, for example, performs natural sentence analysis on the posted message information, and in the case of containing "print" or words related to print settings, it is determined to be a message information related to the print instruction.

[0130] When the posted message information is irrelevant to the print instruction (determined as negative in step S302), CPU 31 posts a response message information that matches the posted message information to the chat room (step S304). For example, when a user posts a message to inquire about the weather as message information, CPU 31, as a chat robot, obtains weather information from the Internet and posts a message to answer the weather as response message information to the chat room. Thus, a conversation between the user and the chat robot is established in the chat room.

[0131] When the posted message information is related to the printing instruction (judged as positive in step S302), CPU31 posts the message information indicating the posting of the file as the printing object data (step S306). Here, CPU31 posts the message information including the posting of the file requesting only the user who has issued the printing instruction, or the message information indicating the permission to share the information with other users, based on the permission setting information predetermined in the user who has issued the printing instruction. That is, when the CPU31 expects the posting of the message information of the response from the user, it selectively executes any one of the requests of requesting the response only to the user, or requesting other users, based on the permission setting information predetermined in the user. This process is a process that includes the message information posted by CPU31 and allows the printing process to be advanced based on the posting of multiple users, hereinafter referred to as the permission process.

[0132] For example, when user A posts message information M100 indicating a print instruction to a chat room (for example, Fig.23 ), CPU 31 refers to Fig. 20 The permission setting information "on" is acquired from the table shown in the figure, and a permission process for posting message information corresponding to the permission setting information is executed.

[0133] Fig. 22 is a flow chart showing the flow of the permission process.

[0134] CPU31 reference Fig. 20 The table shown in FIG. 4 is used to obtain the permission setting information predetermined for the user who instructed printing (step S400). The permission setting information is information indicating whether other users are allowed to intervene in the printing process of the print instructing user. If it is allowed, it is set to "on", and if it is not allowed, it is set to "off". If the obtained permission setting information is on (judged to be positive in step S402), the message information including the instruction button B01 is posted (step S404). For example, when the permission setting information is set to on for the print instructing user, as shown in FIG. Fig.23As shown, a message M143 including an instruction button B01 indicating permission to display information is posted to the chat room. The instruction button B01 is a button configured and displayed in a manner that can be pressed by a user participating in the chat room, and a function (here, "select file") to be processed by pressing the instruction button B01 is displayed. Fig.23 In the example shown, an indication graphic G01 indicating a state based on the user's pressing is also displayed. Fig.23 In the example shown, as responses to the message information M143 , message information M144 indicating that the user B pressed the instruction button B01 and that the user B posted a post by pressing the button and message information M145 indicating that an image was posted are shown.

[0135] On the other hand, when the permission setting information is off (determined as negative in step S402), CPU 31 does not include the instruction button B01 and only posts the message information (step S406). For example, when the permission setting information is set to off in the print instruction user, as shown in FIG. Fig.24 As shown, a message M101 not including the instruction button B01 is posted to the chat room. Fig.24 In the illustrated example, a case where user A posts message information M102 indicating an image as a response to message information M101 is shown.

[0136] In addition, for example, Fig.23 In the example shown, the message information M100 indicating the printing instruction posted by user A can be posted by inputting on the keyboard of the user terminal 10, or by pressing a posting button for posting the message information M100 prepared in advance to the user terminal 10 or the chat room. Fig.23 In the example shown, for the message information M145 showing an image to be posted by pressing the instruction button B01 of the user B, after the user B presses the instruction button B01, the user can select and post a file by pressing the instruction button for the type and location of the file to be posted displayed. Furthermore, the instruction button displayed after pressing the instruction button B01 can also use the instruction button prepared in advance in the chat room.

[0137] As described above, according to the permission setting information preset for the user, when the message information with the indication button B01 displayed is posted 143, the printing process is in a shared state between user A and other users, and any user can post a photo or image via the indication button B01. On the other hand, when the message information with the indication button B01 not displayed is posted 101, the printing process is in a state for user A only, and only user A can post a photo or image.

[0138] Then, as a response to step S306, CPU31 determines whether the user has posted a message to the chat room (step S308). Here, the posted message is a message representing a file including data of a print object. In the case where there is no posting in the chat room (determined as negative in step S308), CPU31 waits until posting. In the case where the message is posted to the chat room (determined as positive in step S308), CPU31 executes a process corresponding to the posted message (step S310). This process is a process of posting a message to request print settings.

[0139] In addition to the message information requesting the print setting, the CPU 31 can also provide the following information: information that allows the user to select any print setting from one or more print settings. Fig.25 As shown, after posting the message information M146 requesting the print setting, the message information M147 allowing one print setting to be selected is posted to the chat room. Fig.25 In the example shown, the message information M147 is displayed in a so-called carousel function in which a plurality of print settings can be selected from different print settings. For the message information M147A, the posted image is displayed according to the print settings set initially, and a "Print as is" button B02 indicating that the print settings set initially are used is displayed below. For the message information M147B, the posted image is displayed in black and white, and a "Black and white print" button B03 indicating that the image is printed in black and white is displayed below. For the message information M147C, the posted image is displayed in a manner in which the resolution is increased, and a "Clear print" button B03 indicating that the image is printed in a manner in which the resolution is increased is displayed below.

[0140] exist Fig.25 In the example shown, an indication graphic G02 indicating a state based on the user's pressing is also displayed. Fig.25 In the example shown, as a response to the message information M146 , when the instruction button B03 is pressed by the user B, message information M148 indicating that the user B has posted by pressing the button is shown.

[0141] Then, as a response to step S310, CPU31 determines whether the user has posted a message to the chat room (step S312). Here, the message posted is a message indicating the print setting specified by the user. In the case of no posting in the chat room (determined as negative in step S312), CPU31 waits until posting. In the case of posting a message to the chat room (determined as positive in step S312), CPU31 executes a process corresponding to the posted message (step S314). This process is a process of posting a message indicating that printing has started according to the print setting.

[0142] The control system of the second embodiment has been described above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be made. Hereinafter, an example of the change or improvement will be described as a modified example.

[0143] (Variant 1)

[0144] In the second embodiment described above, the permission setting information is pre-associated with the user who participates in the chat room. However, the permission setting information may be dynamically set based on the message information in the chat room.

[0145] In the first modification, the CPU 31 of the chat robot server 30 as a chat robot only needs to set the permission setting information of the user according to the message information posted by the user when the user joins the chat room. That is, the chat robot server 30 performs the following setting processing: according to the message information posted by each user, the permission setting information is set in the arbitrary information that sets whether to share with other users in the chat room to on or off.

[0146] Fig.26 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the setting process executed by the chat robot server. The CPU 31 reads the setting program from the ROM 32 or the memory 34, expands it in the RAM 33 and executes it. The user posts message information to execute the setting program. Fig.26 The setting process shown.

[0147] When a user posts a message to a chat room, CPU 31 determines whether the content of the posted message is a shared permission message indicating that the user is allowed to intervene and share information with other users in the chat room (step S500). For example, CPU 31 performs a natural sentence analysis on the posted message, and when it contains words such as "shared printing" and "shared printing" indicating that the information is shared with other users in the chat room, it is determined to be a shared permission message. When the posted message is a shared permission message (judged as positive in step S500), CPU 31 sets the permission information to on (step S502). When the content of the posted message does not contain content that allows the intervention of other users (judged as negative in step S500), CPU 31 determines whether the content of the posted message is a personal permission message including content that does not allow the intervention of other users (step S504). For example, CPU 31 performs sentence analysis on the posted message information, and if it contains words such as "personal printing" and "individual printing" that do not share information with other users in the chat room but are executed by an individual, it is determined to be personal permission message information. If the posted message information is a personal permission message (judged as positive in step S504), CPU 31 sets the setting permission information to off (step S506).

[0148] On the other hand, if the content of the posted message information is neither a shared permission message nor a personal permission message (judged negative in steps S500 and S504, respectively), it is estimated that the posted message information is other message information unrelated to the setting of the permission setting information, and this processing procedure is directly terminated.

[0149] In addition, Fig.26 The permission setting information set in the setting process shown above may be temporarily set only during the printing process, or may be rewritten. Fig. 20 The permission setting information of the table shown.

[0150] Fig. 27 (A) to (C) are diagrams showing other examples of the states of postings in the chat room of Modification 1. Fig. 27 (A) and (B) show an example in which, when the user instructs the printing process, it is stated whether intervention by other users is permitted or not. Fig. 27 (A) shows a non-shared situation in which other users are not allowed to intervene during the printing process. Fig. 27 (B) shows a shared situation in which intervention of other users is allowed during the printing process. Fig. 27 C shows a case where other users are allowed to intervene and share during the printing process.

[0151] like Fig. 27 As shown in (A) of FIG. 1 , when user A posts a message M200 such as "I want to print privately", CPU 31 determines that it is a private permission message and posts M201 a message indicating only the request of user A. Fig. 27 As shown in (B), when user A posts a message M204 such as "I want to share printing", CPU 31 determines that it is a sharing permission message and posts M206 a message including an instruction button B05. The instruction button B05 is a button configured and displayed in a manner that can be pressed by users participating in the chat room, indicating that other users are allowed to participate.

[0152] In addition, if Fig. 27 As shown in (C), during the execution of the printing process, and after the posting of message information M212 in response to message information M210, when user A posts message information M214 such as "I want Mr. B to participate", CPU31 determines that it is a shared permission message and posts message information M216 containing the instruction button B06.

[0153] (Variant 2)

[0154] Next, Modification Example 2 will be described.

[0155] In the above embodiment, when other users are allowed to intervene in the printing process, message information accompanying the instruction button is posted, and when the instruction button is pressed, message information from other users is accepted. However, the present disclosure is not limited to pressing the instruction button, and the instruction button may be considered to be pressed based on the message information in the chat room.

[0156] In the second modification, when the CPU 31 of the chat robot server 30 includes an instruction button and posts message information, it is sufficient to obtain the object information from the message information when the instruction button is pressed and the posted message information. That is, the chat robot server 30 performs the following acquisition processing: the object information obtained as a response to the message information posted including the instruction button is obtained from the message information when the instruction button is pressed or the posted message information.

[0157] Fig.28 is a flowchart showing the flow of acquisition processing executed by the chat robot server. CPU 31 reads the setting program from ROM 32 or memory 34, expands it in RAM 33 and executes it. After posting the message information including the instruction button, execute Fig.28 The acquisition process shown.

[0158] In the case where the message information is posted by including the indication button, as a response, CPU31 determines whether it is the message information posted by pressing the indication button (step S610). In the case where the posted message information is the message information posted by pressing the indication button (judged as positive in step S610), CPU31 obtains the message information posted by pressing the indication button as the object information (step S612). In the case where the posted message information is the message information directly posted without pressing the indication button (judged as negative in step S610), CPU31 determines whether the content of the posted message information is the message information corresponding to the corresponding response (step S614). For example, in the case where the corresponding response is the file posting of photos, images, etc., CPU31 determines whether the posted message information is the file posting. In the case where the content of the posted message information is the message information corresponding to the corresponding response (judged as positive in step S614), CPU31 obtains the posted message information as the object information (step S616).

[0159] On the other hand, when the content of the posted message information does not correspond to the corresponding response (judged negative in step S614), since the posted message information is likely to be message information of another process, this processing procedure is terminated after other processing (step S618).

[0160] Fig.29 This is a diagram showing a status of posting in a chat room according to Modification 2.

[0161] For example, Fig.29 As shown, after posting message information M146 requesting print setting to the chat room, CPU 31 posts message information M147 allowing selection of one print setting.

[0162] exist Fig.29 In the example shown, as a response to the message information M146, the user can press any of the instruction buttons B02, B03, and B04 included in the message information M147, but the user does not press the instruction button, and the message information M220 indicating the instruction of the print setting is posted by the user A. Therefore, instead of the information acquired by pressing the instruction button included in the message information M147, it is also possible to acquire the object information indicating the response to the message information M146 by considering that the instruction button is pressed based on the content of the posted message information M220.

[0163] According to the content of the posted message information M220, it is considered that the instruction button is pressed, and obtaining the target information means that further information can be added to the information obtained by pressing the instruction button. Fig.30 As shown, as a response to the message information M146 , after the user B presses the instruction button B03 and the user B posts the message information M148 indicating the print setting, the user A posts the message information M149 indicating the further print setting.

[0164] (Variant 3)

[0165] Next, Modification Example 3 will be described.

[0166] In the above embodiment, the case where the message information accompanying the instruction button is posted when the intervention of other users is allowed during the printing process is described. However, the timing of allowing the intervention of other users during the printing process may be the timing of the user pressing the instruction button. That is, it may be a case of asking the user to confirm that the intervention of other users is allowed during the printing process.

[0167] In the third modification, the CPU 31 of the chat robot server 30 checks whether or not to allow intervention in the printing process with respect to the message information posted by other users, and acquires the message information that should be intervened in the printing process based on the result of the check. That is, the chat robot server 30 performs a confirmation process for the user to confirm whether or not to allow the message information posted by pressing the instruction button.

[0168] Fig.31 31 reads the setting program from ROM 32 or memory 34, expands it in RAM 33 and executes it. After posting the message information including the instruction button, execute Fig.31 The confirmation process shown. In addition, in the modification example 3, the case where the CPU 31 includes the instruction button in the message information for the user A who has issued the print instruction and posts. In addition, the case where the permission setting information of the user A is off is described. Furthermore, the instruction button is a button that each participating user can press.

[0169] In the case of posting of message information including the indication button, as its response, CPU31 determines whether it is the message information posted by pressing the indication button of other users other than user A (step S722). In the case of posting of message information by user A (determined as negative in step S722), the posting of message information is allowed. In the case of posting of message information by other users other than user A (determined as positive in step S722), posting of message information (step S724) for user A to inquire about the message information that allows posting. As a response to the inquiry, CPU31 determines from user A whether the message information is the content that allows posting (step S723). In the case of posting of message information of the content that allows posting by user A (determined as positive in step S726), CPU31 allows the message information posted (step S728). In the case of posting of message information of the content that does not allow posting by user A (determined as negative in step S726), CPU31 does not allow the message information posted (step S730).

[0170] Fig.32 This is a diagram showing a status of posting in a chat room according to Modification 3.

[0171] For example, Fig.32 As shown, after posting the message information M103 requesting a photo or an image, the CPU 31 posts the message information M107 that allows one print setting to be selected to the chat room.

[0172] For example, Fig.32 As shown in FIG. 1 , a message M143 including an instruction button B01 is posted to the chat room. The instruction button B01 is an instruction button configured and displayed in a manner that a user participating in the chat room can press. Fig.32 As shown in FIG. 1 , an indication graphic G03 indicating a state of pressing by a user B other than the user A is also displayed. Fig.32 As shown, as a response to the message information M143, the user B presses the instruction button B01, and the message information M230 indicating that the user B has posted by pressing the button and the message information M232 indicating the image are posted. At this stage, the posting of the message information M232 indicating the image may be allowed or not, which is uncertain.

[0173] Regarding the posted message information M230 and M232, CPU 31 posts message information M234 asking user A whether to allow. In response to message information M234, CPU 31 decides whether to allow message information M230 and M232 posted by user B based on the content of message information M236 posted by user A.

[0174] In addition, when posting is permitted in step S728 , the CPU 31 may set the permission setting information to on, and when posting is not permitted in step S730 , the CPU 31 may set the permission setting information to off.

[0175] In addition, in the first and second embodiments described above, the technology of the present disclosure is applied to a control system for providing a chat room, but it is not limited to a chat room. For example, the technology of the present disclosure can be applied to a system that performs a predetermined function. As an example of such a system, a system that performs processing on an object, such as a reservation system for items and a delivery system for delivering items, can be cited.

[0176] In the first and second embodiments described above, the chat room server 20 and the chat robot server 30 are exemplified as separate devices. However, the chat room server 20 and the chat robot server 30 may be implemented by a single device.

[0177] The above-mentioned processing may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit. In this case, it may be executed by one hardware or by a plurality of hardware.

[0178] In addition, the program for causing the chat robot server 30 to operate may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a floppy disk, a CN-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), or provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the program recorded in the computer-readable recording medium is usually transmitted and stored by a memory or a storage device. In addition, the program may be provided as a separate application software, or may be incorporated into the software of each device as a function of the chat robot server 30.

[0179] The embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, but the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes and improvements can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the main purpose, and the forms obtained by adding these changes and improvements are also included in the disclosed technical scope.

[0180] The description of the discussion of the present invention is provided for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise description disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. According to the present invention, various embodiments and various modifications contemplated are suitable for complying with the principles of the present invention and its practical application. The scope of the present invention is intended to be limited by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A control device comprising a processing unit that performs a printing process based on information posted by a plurality of users who are registered for each user group and can each participate in a chat room in which the plurality of users who participate can each post information, wherein after a first user in the information related to the printing process posts first information, if second information posted by a second user who is registered in a user group in which the first user is registered and is different from the first user is information that matches the content of the first information, the processing unit processes the first information and the second information as a series of information when performing the printing process, The first user and the second user are registered in advance in the same user group in order to share the print process.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein: The processing unit performs processing to ignore third information that is information posted by a third user who is not registered in a user group in which the first user is registered.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein: The processing unit processes third information as a contribution of information related to a print process different from the print process, wherein the third information is information contributed by a third user who is not registered in a user group in which the first user is registered.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein: The processing unit performs the following processing: when the first user characteristic and the second user characteristic are the same, it is judged that it is the matching information, wherein the first user characteristic is a characteristic related to the printing process determined for the first user who posted the first information, and the second user characteristic is a characteristic related to the printing process determined for the second user who posted the second information.

5. A control device comprising a processing unit, wherein, in a chat room in which a plurality of users can each participate and in which a plurality of users among the plurality of users can each post information, during execution of a printing process executed based on information posted by the plurality of users, if, after posting of first information among information related to the printing process, second information matching the content of the first information is posted, the processing unit processes the first information and the second information as a series of information when executing the printing process, The first information is contributed by a first user, and the second information is contributed by a second user. The first user and the second user are registered in advance in the same user group in order to share the print process.

6. The control device according to claim 5, wherein: When the content of the second information does not match the content of the first information, the processing unit performs processing to ignore the second information.

7. The control device according to claim 5, wherein: When the content of the second information does not match the content of the first information, the processing unit processes the second information as a contribution of information related to another printing process different from the printing process.

8. A computer-readable medium storing a control program, wherein the control program causes a computer to execute the following processing: In a chat room in which a plurality of users registered for each user group can each participate and in which a plurality of participating users among the plurality of users can each contribute information, when a print process is executed based on information contributed by each of the participating users, after a first user in the information related to the print process contributes first information, if second information contributed by a second user registered in the user group in which the first user is registered and different from the first user is information that matches the content of the first information, the first information and the second information are treated as a series of information when the print process is executed, The first user and the second user are registered in advance in the same user group in order to share the print process.

9. A computer-readable medium storing a control program, wherein the control program causes a computer to execute the following processing: In a chat room in which a plurality of users can each participate and in which a plurality of users among the plurality of users can each post information, during execution of a printing process that is executed based on information posted by the plurality of users, if second information matching the content of the first information is posted after first information among information related to the printing process is posted, the first information and the second information are treated as a series of information when the printing process is executed, The first information is contributed by a first user, and the second information is contributed by a second user. The first user and the second user are registered in advance in the same user group in order to share the print process.

10. A control device comprising a processing unit, wherein, in a chat room in which a plurality of participating users can each provide information, when, during execution of a printing process, after a first user in a series of information related to the printing process has provided first information, a second user different from the first user provides second information, the processing unit processes the second information as information provided by the first user who provided the first information, based on a predetermined permission condition for accepting the information provided by the second user different from the first user as part of the series of information, The first user and the second user are registered in advance in the same user group in order to share the print process.

11. The control device according to claim 10, wherein: In the chat room, each of a plurality of users registered for each user group can provide information, and the permission condition is that the second user is a user included in the user group in which a first user who provides the first information is registered.

12. The control device according to claim 10, wherein: The permission condition is that after permission information is provided to the chat room, the permission information indicates that information provided by a second user different from the first user is permitted as the series of information.

13. The control device according to claim 10, wherein: The permission condition is that instruction information is presented and the second user is a user who has responded to the instruction information, wherein the instruction information indicates an instruction to permit information provided by a user different from the first user as the series of information.

14. The control device according to claim 13, wherein: The instruction information is information indicating a button that provides information indicating a response when operated by any user among a plurality of users.

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