Information processing device, information processing terminal, information processing program, display method and system

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of easily recognizing a relation among a plurality of contents or a technique capable of limiting a response.SOLUTION: An information processing device for allowing a plurality of users to communicate with one another, Includes: an output unit for outputting information for displaying a first polygonal object containing a first message; and an acquisition unit for acquiring information on a second polygonal object containing a second message relating to the first message. The output unit outputs information for displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing terminal, an information processing program, a display method, and a system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in communication tools such as Internet bulletin boards and SNS (Social Networking Services) via a network, a method for displaying a plurality of related contents has been provided.

[0003] Non-Patent Document 1 describes that a link called a "res anchor" is used as a response to a post made by a user, and a relationship between the post and the response is indicated.

[0004] Non-Patent Document 2 describes that a message posted by a user is displayed in a rectangular box, and a reply to the posted message is displayed in an adjacent rectangular box.

[0005] With these techniques, the relationships between multiple pieces of content cannot be intuitively recognized, making it difficult to understand the relationships between the pieces of content, and making it difficult to distinguish the relationships when viewing the content.

[0006] Furthermore, if a message posted by a user is a topical topic, a large number of responses to the posted message are posted.

[0007] Non-Patent Document 3 describes a method for limiting the number of posts by a user. However, Non-Patent Document 3 does not limit the number of responses to a message, and therefore does not improve the relationships between contents. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] “Breaking News + @2ch Bulletin Board”, [online], [searched on March 15, 2023], Internet<https: / / 2ch.sc / 2ch.html> [Non-Patent Document 2] “Our How-to Note: Creating and posting tweets”, [online], [searched March 15, 2023], Internet<https: / / www.howtonote.jp / twitter / tweet / index7.html> [Non-Patent Document 3] "Gigazine Minus, a social networking site that limits posts to 100 times", [online], [searched March 15, 2023], Internet<https: / / gigazine.net / news / 20210920-minus-100-posts-sns / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, there is a demand for a communication tool that allows users to easily recognize the relationships between multiple pieces of content.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a technique that enables easy recognition of relationships between multiple pieces of content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] An information processing device for communication among multiple users according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an output unit that outputs information for displaying a polygonal first object including a first message, and an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message, wherein the output unit outputs information for displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object.

[0012] In the information processing device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first message is a preset message.

[0013] In the information processing device according to the third aspect of the present invention, one side of the second object is associated with one of the multiple sides of the first object that is not associated with another object.

[0014] In an information processing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object includes displaying at least a portion of the second object so that it is in contact with the first object.

[0015] In an information processing device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object includes displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object by a connecting object.

[0016] In the information processing device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the output section outputs information for displaying the relationship between the first object and the second object in a recognizable manner.

[0017] An information processing terminal for communication among a plurality of users according to a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises a display processing unit that displays a polygonal first object including a first message on a display unit, and an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message, and the display processing unit displays one side of the second object on the display unit in association with one side of the first object.

[0018] An information processing program according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device for communication between multiple users, which is capable of causing a computer to execute the following functions: outputting information for displaying a polygonal first object including a first message; obtaining information regarding a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message; and outputting information for displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object.

[0019] An information processing program according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is capable of causing a computer to execute the following functions in an information processing terminal for communication between multiple users: displaying a polygonal first object including a first message on a display unit; obtaining information about a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message; and associating one side of the second object with one side of the first object and displaying it on the display unit.

[0020] A display method by an information processing device for arranging a plurality of objects according to a tenth aspect of the present invention displays a polygonal first object including a first message, and based on a user's operation, displays a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message, such that one side of the second object is associated with one side of the first object.

[0021] A system according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a first display processing unit that displays a polygonal first object including a first message, and a second display processing unit that displays, based on a user's operation, a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message, such that one side of the second object is associated with one side of the first object. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing terminal, an information processing program, a display method, and a system that enable easy recognition of relationships between a plurality of pieces of content. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a server according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a user terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of object information according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal of the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an information processing operation in the server according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an information processing operation in the user terminal of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus, an information processing terminal, an information processing program, a display method, and a system according to the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0025] (Configuration example) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment.

[0026] The information processing system is a system for communication between multiple users. The information processing system includes a server 1 and a user terminal 2. The server 1 can be communicatively connected to the user terminal 2 via a network. Although three user terminals 2 are illustrated in FIG. 1, the number of user terminals 2 is not limited to the number illustrated. The server 1 is a server device that provides a communication service via a network. The server 1 is a device for communication between multiple users. The server 1 is an electronic device including a computer with information processing capabilities. The server 1 distributes content data to multiple user terminals 2 based on content data received from the user terminals 2. The content data includes text data indicating a comment or a message. The content data may include video data and still image data. In the following description, the content data is assumed to be text data indicating a message. The content data is also referred to as a message or message information. The content data is also referred to as a response or response information.

[0027] The server 1 provides a communication service that associates and displays messages posted by users of a plurality of user terminals 2. The messages include posted messages posted by users, etc., and responses to the posted messages. The posted messages may be messages that have been set in advance. The posted messages may be messages that are not associated with other messages. The posted messages indicate messages other than messages posted as responses to other messages. The posted messages are also referred to as initial messages. The posted messages may be, for example, messages that provide new topics. The posted messages may be messages that include questions for other users. The posted messages may be messages for starting communication with other users. The posted messages may be messages posted by users of the user terminals 2, or may be messages posted by an administrator of the server 1, an administrator of the information processing system, or the like. The posted messages are an example of a first message. In the following description, "post" may be read as "send" or "create".

[0028] A response refers to a message posted in response to a posted message. A response includes a message indicating a reaction to a posted message. A response includes a reply message to a posted message. A response is an example of a message related to a posted message. A response is posted by a user by selecting a posted message to associate with the response. A posted message associated with a response is also called a response target message. A response target message is an example of a first message. A response is an example of a second message.

[0029] For example, let us consider a case where a message indicating "Have you seen movie XXX?" (where, for example, "XXX" is the title of the movie) is posted as a posted message, and a message indicating "XXX was great" is posted as a response to the posted message. The posted message "Have you seen movie XXX?" is a response target message, and is an example of a first message. The response "XXX was great" is a message related to the response target message, and is an example of a second message.

[0030] Responses include messages posted as responses to responses posted in response to posted messages. In this case, a response is a message related to the response. In this case, a response is also referred to as a response to a response. For example, a case will be described where a message indicating "AAA was particularly interesting" (for example, "AAA" is a scene from a movie) is posted as a response to a response "XXX was interesting" to a posted message "Have you seen movie XXX?". The response "XXX was interesting" is a response target message, and is an example of a first message. "Scene AAA was particularly interesting" posted as a response to a response target message is a message related to the response target message. A response to a response target message is an example of a second message. In the following description, a message and a response are also referred to as message information.

[0031] The message is displayed inside the object. The object is an area or a box that displays the message. In the following description, the object is an object having a polygonal frame or a box-shaped object. The user can view the message displayed inside the polygonal object. The user views the posted messages and selects the posted message to which the user wants to post a response as a response target message. The user can post a response to the response target message. The user can select one side of the polygonal object to specify the position of the object to which the response is posted. A plurality of objects including related messages are displayed in association with each other. For example, an object including a response target message is displayed in association with an object including a response. A plurality of related objects are also called related objects. For example, a plurality of related objects may be displayed so as to be connected to each other. Note that the object is not limited to a polygonal object, and may be any tangible object. Note that the polygonal object may be any object that can be reminiscent of a polygon. The polygonal object may be an object with a shape in which the vertices are changed. The polygonal object may be an object with a shape in which some of the sides are deformed.

[0032] The user terminal 2 is an electronic device including a computer that can be connected to a content source such as a video camera. The user terminal 2 is an electronic device for communication between multiple users. The user terminal 2 can be, for example, a television receiver (including an Internet television), a PC (Personal Computer), a mobile terminal (for example, a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop, a feature phone, a portable game console, a digital music player, an e-book reader, etc.), a VR (Virtual Reality) terminal, an AR (Augmented Reality) terminal, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0033] The user terminal 2 is equipped with, for example, at least one processor and a memory in which a program executed by the processor is stored, and is configured to be able to realize various functions by software or a combination of software and hardware.

[0034] The user terminal 2 is capable of receiving content data such as a message from the server 1 and presenting the content to the user via a display device 25, a speaker 26, or the like.

[0035] An example of the configuration of the server 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server 1 according to the embodiment. The server 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a timing unit 14 as shown in FIG.

[0036] The control unit 11 constitutes a computer corresponding to the central part of the server 1. The control unit 11 is a processing circuit having one or more processors. The processor is typically a central processing unit (CPU) and / or a graphics processing unit (GPU), but may be a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a digital signal processor (DSP). The control unit 11 has a memory. The memory has a read only memory (ROM) as a non-volatile memory area. The memory has a random access memory (RAM) as a volatile memory area. The processor loads a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 13 into the RAM. The processor executes the program loaded into the RAM, and the control unit 11 controls the overall operation of the server 1.

[0037] The communication unit 12 is a communication interface including a network interface card controller (NIC) for performing wired or wireless communication, and communicates with the user terminal 2 via a network.

[0038] The storage unit 13 can be realized by a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0039] The storage unit 13 includes an object information storage area 130. The object information storage area 130 stores object information. The object information includes message information received from the user terminal 2. The object information indicates information for displaying an object including the message information. The object information includes information about an object including a posted message, and information about an object including a response.

[0040] The object information includes object identification information, position information, message information, user identification information, and edge identification information. The object identification information is information capable of uniquely identifying each object. The object identification information may be, for example, an object number. The position information indicates the position at which an object is displayed on the display screen of the display device 25. The position information is, for example, coordinate information on the display screen. The message information indicates the content of the message. The message information may include text information, image data, audio data, or video data. The user identification information indicates information capable of uniquely identifying the user terminal 2 to which the message is output, or the user of the user terminal 2.

[0041] The edge identification information indicates information for identifying an edge of an object. For example, if the object is a hexagon, the edge indicates each edge of the hexagon. The edge identification information may be, for example, information for identifying each edge of the hexagon as "a, b, c, d, e, f". The edge identification information includes information indicating the relevance of objects. Specifically, the edge identification information includes information indicating which edge of another object each edge of an object is associated with. For example, if the edge "b" of object number "0" is associated with the edge "e" of object number "2", "2-e" is stored as the edge identification information of the edge "b" of object number "0". The storage unit 13 updates the object information every time it acquires object information. The edge identification information is not limited to the above, and may be any information that allows the relevance between objects to be recognized.

[0042] The storage unit 13 includes a user information storage area 131. The user information storage area 131 stores user information. The user information includes user identification information. The user identification information may be a user ID, a user name, or an icon indicating a user. The user information may include information indicating a follower relationship between users of the user terminal 2. The follower relationship is information indicating a following user and a followed user. Following indicates, for example, registration so that information is delivered. The user information may include log information regarding message posting. The log information may include information such as the number of times a message is posted and the date and time of posting the message. The user information may include information indicating a user rank of the user of the user terminal 2. The user rank indicates a user classification that distinguishes users in stages. For example, the user rank may include ranks such as premium user and normal user. A premium user may be a user with a higher user rank than a normal user. Restrictions may be applied to message posting depending on the user rank. The storage unit 13 updates the user information every time the user information is acquired.

[0043] The clock unit 14 is composed of an oscillator circuit and a variable PLL (Phase Locked Loop) for generating a clock signal, a counter circuit for counting the number of pulses of the clock signal, and the like. The clock unit 14 measures the time based on the number of pulses counted. The control unit 11 executes various controls at a timing based on the number of pulses counted by the clock unit 14. The control unit 11 also counts the elapsed time from the posting time of the object based on the time measured by the clock unit 14, and determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed. The control unit 11 may manage the behavior of the viewer or distributor based on the time measured by the clock unit 14.

[0044] The hardware configuration of the server 1 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. The server 1 allows the above-mentioned components to be omitted or changed and new components to be added as appropriate.

[0045] The following describes the functional configuration of the control unit 11. The control unit 11 functions as an acquisition unit 110, an object processing unit 111, and an output unit 112. Each unit can be interpreted as the control unit 11, a processor, or a processing circuit.

[0046] The acquisition unit 110 acquires object information. The acquisition unit 110 may acquire object information from the object information storage area 130. The object information includes information about an object including a posted message. An object including a posted message is also called a posted object. The posted object is an example of a first object. The object information includes information about an object including a response that has already been posted. An object including a response is also called a response object. The acquisition unit 110 acquires an object generation instruction for generating an object including a response from the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 12. The response object is an example of a second object. The object generation instruction includes identification information of an object including a response target message. An object including a response target message is also called a response target object. The response target object is an example of a first object. The object generation instruction includes a position where the response object is to be generated, and target edge identification information that identifies an edge of the response target object to which the response object is associated. The acquisition unit 110 acquires information about a polygonal object including a response related to the posted message via the communication unit 12.

[0047] The object processing unit 111 determines whether or not the response object can be placed in association with the response target object based on the object generation instruction. The object processing unit 111, for example, refers to object information, and determines that the response object can be placed if no other object is associated with the side of the response target object indicated in the target side identification information. The object processing unit 111 determines that the response object can be placed if another object is associated with the side of the response target object. The object processing unit 111 may update the object information based on the object generation instruction.

[0048] The output unit 112 outputs information for displaying a polygonal posting object including a posted message on the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 12. Outputting information for displaying the posting object on the user terminal 2 includes displaying the posting object. The output unit 112 outputs information for displaying a polygonal response object including responses that have already been posted on the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 12. Outputting information for displaying the response object on the user terminal 2 includes displaying the response object. The output unit 112 includes a first display processing unit and a second display processing unit.

[0049] The output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the response object on the user terminal 2 in association with one side of the response target object via the communication unit 12. The output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the response object in association with one side of the response target object that is not associated with other objects among the multiple sides of the response target object. In one example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying at least a part of the response object in contact with the response target object. In this example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the response object in contact with one side of the response target object. In this example, the one side of the response object may be deformed to include an arrow-shaped symbol. The arrow-shaped symbol on the one side of the response object contacts one side of the response target object. In another example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the response object in association with one side of the response target object by a connection object. In this example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying an arrow-shaped connection object that connects one side of the response object to one side of the response target object. The connection object is not limited to an arrow-shaped connection object, and may be a straight line, etc.

[0050] The output unit 112 may output information for displaying the association between the response target object and the response object in a recognizable manner. The association between the response target object and the response object corresponds to the association between the response target message and the response message. The recognizable manner includes color, brightness or luminance, type of frame, etc. For example, the output unit 112 may output information for coloring the response target object and the response object in the same color.

[0051] The output unit 112 outputs information for displaying the response target object and the response object in a single two-dimensional space.

[0052] The output unit 112 may output information for changing and displaying at least a part of the response target object and the response object in a display mode according to an acquisition time when the information on the response target object and the information on the response object are acquired. The acquisition time corresponds to a posting time when the message or object is posted. For example, the output unit 112 may output information for changing the color, brightness, luminance, or the like of the response object every time a predetermined time has elapsed from the posting time of the response object.

[0053] When the object processing unit 111 determines that the response object cannot be placed, the output unit 112 may output error information to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 may display an error notification based on the error information. The error information is not limited to text information, and may be information including audio and video. The user terminal 2 may perform control not to accept a user operation based on the error information.

[0054] An example of the configuration of the user terminal 2 will be described. The user terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, an input device 24, a display device 25, a speaker 26, and a camera 27 as shown in FIG.

[0055] The control unit 21 constitutes a computer corresponding to the central part of the user terminal 2. The control unit 21 is a processing circuit having one or more processors. The control unit 21 has the same hardware configuration as the above-mentioned control unit 11. The processor loads a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 22 into the RAM. The processor executes the program loaded into the RAM, whereby the control unit 21 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 2.

[0056] The storage unit 22 can be realized by a non-volatile storage medium such as an HDD or SSD. The storage unit 22 includes an object information storage area 220. The object information storage area 220 stores object information. The object information includes object information acquired from the server 1. The storage unit 22 updates the object information every time the object information is acquired.

[0057] The storage unit 22 includes a user information storage area 221. The user information storage area 221 stores user information of the user of the user terminal 2. The storage unit 22 updates the user information every time the user information is acquired.

[0058] The communication unit 23 is a communication interface including a NIC for performing wired or wireless communication, and communicates with the server 1 via a network.

[0059] The input device 24 is a device capable of inputting data or instructions to the user terminal 2. For example, the input device 24 includes a keyboard, a touch panel, etc. The input device 24 includes a microphone capable of inputting voice.

[0060] The display device 25 is a device capable of displaying various images under the control of the control unit 21. For example, the display device 25 is a liquid crystal display or an EL (Electroluminescence) display, etc. The display device 25 is an example of a display unit.

[0061] The speaker 26 is a device capable of outputting sound under the control of the control unit 21 .

[0062] Camera 27 is a device capable of acquiring photographic data of a photographing range under the control of control unit 21.

[0063] The hardware configuration of the user terminal 2 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration. The user terminal 2 allows the omission or modification of the above-mentioned components and the addition of new components as appropriate.

[0064] The following describes the functional configuration of the control unit 21. The control unit 21 functions as an acquisition unit 210, an output unit 211, and a display processing unit 212. Each unit can be interpreted as the control unit 11, a processor, or a processing circuit.

[0065] The acquisition unit 210 acquires object information from the server 1 via the communication unit 23. The object information includes information on the posted object and information on the response object that has already been posted.

[0066] The acquisition unit 210 acquires an object generation instruction based on a user's operation. The object generation instruction includes a selection of a response target object by the user. The object generation instruction includes identification information of the response target object, a position where the response object is to be generated, and target side identification information.

[0067] The acquisition unit 210 acquires information about a polygonal response object including a response related to a response target message based on a user operation. The information about the response object includes message information indicating the content of the response. The message information includes text information based on a response message input by the user. The message information may include image data, audio data, or video data based on the input by the user.

[0068] The output unit 211 outputs the information related to the response object to the server 1 via the communication unit 23.

[0069] The display processing unit 212 displays a polygonal posting object including a posted message on the display device 25. The display processing unit 212 displays a polygonal response object including responses that have already been posted on the display device 25.

[0070] The display processing unit 212 displays a polygonal response object on the display device 25 based on a user operation. The display processing unit 212 displays one side of the response object on the display device 25 in association with one side of the response target object. The display processing unit 212 displays an object on the display device 25 based on object information acquired from the server 1. The display processing unit 212 displays an object on the display device 25 based on information for displaying the object acquired from the server 1. The display processing unit 212 may display a message corresponding to each object on the display device 25 by synthesizing or superimposing the message. The display processing unit 212 includes a first display processing unit and a second display processing unit.

[0071] The object information will now be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of object information according to the embodiment.

[0072] The object information is an example of data for managing objects displayed on the display device 25 of the user terminal 2.

[0073] The object information is, for example, a table that stores object identification information, position information, message information, user identification information, and edge identification information in association with each other. For example, object identification information "0" is associated with position information "x0, y0" and message information "Have you seen movie XXX?". User identification information associated with object identification information "0" indicates information identifying the user who generated the object identified by object identification information "0". In this example, object "0" identified by object identification information "0" is an initial object generated by the administrator of the service. Object "0" is associated with information identifying the administrator of the service. Object "0" is an object that includes the message "Have you seen movie XXX?" set by the administrator of the service.

[0074] The edge identification information is information indicating one edge of another object associated with one edge of an object. The edge identification information associated with the object identification information "0" indicates information for identifying an edge of another object associated with each edge of the object "0". In this example, each object is hexagonal, and each edge of the hexagon has one of "a, b, c, d, e, f" as identification information. In the example of FIG. 4, the edge of the object "0" indicated by the edge identification information "b" is associated with the edge indicated by the edge identification information "2-e". The edge indicated by the edge identification information "2-e" is the edge "e" of the object "2". The edge identification information indicates that the edge "b" of the object "0" is associated with the edge "e" of the object "2". The edge identification information may include information indicating that the edge is not associated with another object. The edge that is not associated with another object may be managed as "N / A" or the like. In the example of FIG. 4, for example, the edge "a" of the object "0" indicates that it is not associated with another object.

[0075] Note that the object is not limited to a hexagonal shape. The object may have any geometric shape, such as a polygon or a circle. The objects may have geometric shapes and be combined in succession. Each object may be an object of the same shape. Each object may be an object of a different shape. The number of sides indicated by the side identification information may vary depending on the shape of the object. If the object is circular, the side identification information may be information capable of identifying a position on the periphery of the object.

[0076] In addition, each object may limit users who can select the associated object. For example, an object may limit users who can select the associated object based on user rank. For example, an object associated with object "0" may be selectable only by premium users. For example, it may be set that only followers can select objects associated with an object. For example, it may be set that only followers of the user who created object "1" can select objects associated with object "1". Different fees may be set for each object associated with an object. For example, it may be set that different fees must be charged for an object associated with object "0" and an object associated with object "1".

[0077] In addition, the objects associated with each edge of the object may be restricted based on user information, etc. For example, the objects associated with each edge of the object may be restricted based on user rank. For example, the object associated with the edge "a" of the object "0" may be selectable only by premium users. For example, the objects associated with each edge of the object may be set to be only followers. For example, the users who can select the object associated with the object "1" may be only followers of the user who created the object "1". The objects associated with each edge of the object may be set to different fees for each edge. For example, the objects associated with the edge "a" of the object "0" and the objects associated with the edge "b" may be set to require different fees.

[0078] The object information may include time information indicating the posting time when each object was posted.

[0079] (Display example) A content display image displayed on the user terminal 2 will be described. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal 2 of the embodiment. The content display image is an image that can be viewed by the user of the user terminal 2.

[0080] The content display image Im1 includes an initial object and an object associated with the initial object. Each object includes a message input by a user who created the object. The message may be displayed in a message box or the like. The message box may include a scroll bar that allows scrolling through a long message. The message is not limited to text information, and may include data such as images and videos. Each object may include user identification information that can identify the user who created the object. The user identification information may include text information indicating a user name, a handle name, or the like. The user identification information may include an image such as a user icon. In the example of FIG. 5, user names "aaa", "bbb", etc. are shown.

[0081] In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that an initial object Ob0 including an initial message preset by a service administrator or the like has been posted. The content display image Im1 indicates that the user "aaa", the user "bbb", and the user "ddd" have selected the initial object Ob0 as a response target object and input a message related to the message included in the initial object Ob0 as a response. The content display image Im1 displays one side of the response target object and one side of the response object in association with each other. The content display image Im1 includes an arrow-shaped symbol such as a speech bubble mark indicating the relationship between the initial object Ob0 and the response object. The content display image Im1 may be displayed so that one side of the response target object and one side of the response object are in contact with each other. The content display image Im1 may be displayed so that one side of the response target object and one side of the response object are in contact with each other. The content display image Im1 may be displayed so that one side of the response target object and one side of the response object are in contact with each other at least in part by a connecting object. The shape of the connecting object may be an arrow shape or a straight line shape. The content display image Im1 may be displayed in a manner that allows the relationship between the response target object and the response object to be recognized. For example, the content display image Im1 may display the response target object and the response object in the same color or similar colors. The response target object and the response object may be associated without being linked objects. For example, the response target object and the response object may be associated by a display form that allows the relationship to be recognized. The display form includes, for example, the message text color, size, font, enclosed text, text decoration such as brightness or luminance, background color of the object, background brightness or luminance, background pattern, frame color, or blinking display.

[0082] A part of one side of the response target object or a connected object may have a function as an edit button. The edit button indicates a button that allows a user to create, edit, delete, etc. an object. The user can create, edit, delete, etc. an object by selecting the edit button by a touch operation or the like.

[0083] The initial object Ob0 may be associated with the same number of response objects as the number of sides of the shape of the object. In this example, the initial object Ob0 is a hexagon, so that it may be associated with six response objects. For example, when posting a message related to an initial message, the user selects one side of the initial object Ob0. The user can create a response object associated with the selected side of the initial object Ob0. The user can select an edge that is not associated with other objects among the multiple edges of the initial object Ob0. The user cannot select an edge that is associated with other objects among the multiple edges of the initial object Ob0. According to this example, the information processing system can limit the number of response objects that can be created by the user. Therefore, the information processing system can limit the number of responses that can be posted to a message. This allows the information processing system to suppress a phenomenon that is annoying to users, such as a large number of responses being posted to one message.

[0084] A response object can become a response target object. For example, an object created by user "bbb" as a response object of initial object Ob0 can be selected as a response target object by another user (e.g., user "eee"). Similarly, an object created by user "eee" can be selected as a response target object by another user (e.g., user "iii").

[0085] The content display image Im1 displays a plurality of objects including a response target object and a response object in one two-dimensional space. Therefore, the content display image Im1 can display a list of a plurality of objects. This allows the user to view a variety of opinions, and the information processing system can make it difficult for an echo chamber phenomenon to occur.

[0086] The content display image Im1 displays a plurality of objects in such a manner that the relationships between the plurality of objects can be recognized. In this manner, the information processing system allows a user who views the content display image Im1 to easily visually recognize which message was posted in response to which message.

[0087] According to this example, the information processing system can display the relationships between multiple objects as a content display image Im1 with high visibility on the user terminal 2. Therefore, the user can view responses to multiple messages as a list display. This allows the information processing system to provide an environment in which the echo chamber phenomenon is unlikely to occur. Also, the user can recognize the popularity of a message based on the number of associated objects. Furthermore, since the user can select an object including a message in which the user is interested and post a response, the user can post a response not only to the initial message but also to messages derived from the initial message. This allows the information processing system to increase the interest of communication.

[0088] The information processing system may display the plurality of objects in a different display manner for each user who created the object. The information processing system may display the plurality of objects in a different display manner for each related object. The related object may include a message on a related topic.

[0089] The information processing system may change the display manner of a plurality of objects based on a user's operation. For example, the information processing system may change the display manner of objects related to a selected object based on a user's operation of selecting a specific object. The information processing system may perform display that emphasizes the borders of objects related to the selected object. This allows the information processing system to allow the user to easily recognize the relationship between a plurality of contents.

[0090] When a user selects a response target object, the user can control the number of subsequent responses depending on the selected side. For example, if the user does not want to create subsequent responses, the user can create a response object at a position where all sides of the response object are already surrounded by other objects. This allows the information processing system to provide diversity in communication and increase interest.

[0091] In addition, when the number of edges to which a response object can be newly associated is limited, such as when multiple response objects are posted in response to a posting object, the fee required to post a response object may be changed according to the number of edges to be newly associated. For example, the fee required to post a response object may be increased as the number of edges to which a response object can be newly associated is reduced. This allows the information processing system to increase the interest of communication.

[0092] 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal 2 according to the embodiment. The content display image Im2 includes an initial object Ob1.

[0093] The initial object Ob1 includes a message box M1. The message box M1 includes text information indicating an initial message preset by a service administrator or the like, such as "Have you seen the movie XXX?".

[0094] The initial object Ob1 includes edge identification information that can identify each edge of the object. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, each edge of the initial object Ob1 can be identified by edge identification information "a, b, c, d, e, f".

[0095] The example in Fig. 6 shows a state in which no other object is associated with any of the edges of the initial object Ob1. In this case, the user can select any one edge of the initial object Ob1. The user can create a response object associated with the selected edge, with the initial object Ob1 as the response target object.

[0096] In addition, each side of each object may be identifiable by side identification information "a, b, c, d, e, f" in the same manner as the initial object Ob1.

[0097] The initial object is not limited to an initial message set in advance by a service administrator, etc. The initial object may be a message posted by a user of the user terminal 2.

[0098] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal 2 of the embodiment. The content display image Im3 includes an initial object Ob1 and a response object Ob2. The content display image Im3 shows a state in which the side "f" of the initial object Ob1 is selected by the user "aaa" and the response object Ob2 is created. The response object Ob2 includes a message box M2. The message box M2 includes "XXX was interesting" as text information indicating a response associated with the initial message. The response object Ob2 includes user identification information N1. The user identification information N1 indicates a user name or the like that can identify the user who posted the response object Ob2.

[0099] The content display image Im3 displays the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob2 in association with one side portion having a speech bubble shape. The content display image Im3 may be displayed in a manner that allows the relationship between the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob2 to be recognized based on the direction of the arrow-shaped portion of the speech bubble shape. In the example of FIG. 7, the speech bubble shape is displayed as an arrow pointing from the response object Ob2 to the initial object Ob1. This allows the user to recognize that the message of the response object Ob2 is posted in response to the message of the initial object Ob1.

[0100] The example of FIG. 7 shows a state in which a response object Ob2 is associated with an edge "f" of an initial object Ob1. A user viewing this state can select any edge of the initial object Ob1 other than the edge "f" to create a response object. The user can create a response object associated with the selected edge, with the initial object Ob1 as the response target object. The user can also select any edge of the response object Ob2 other than the edge "c" to create a response object. The user can create a response object associated with the selected edge, with the response object Ob2 as the response target object.

[0101] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content display image displayed on the user terminal 2 of the embodiment. The content display image Im4 includes an initial object Ob1, a response object Ob2, and a response object Ob3. The content display image Im3 shows a state in which the edge "b" of the initial object Ob1 is selected by the user "bbb" and the response object Ob3 is created. The response object Ob3 includes a message box M3. The message box M3 includes "YYY was great" (for example, "YYY" is the name of the cast of the movie) as text information indicating the response associated with the initial message. The response object Ob3 includes user identification information N2. The user identification information N2 indicates a user name or the like that can identify the user who posted the response object Ob3.

[0102] The content display image Im4 displays the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob3 in association with one side of the speech bubble shape. The content display image Im4 may be displayed in a manner that allows the relationship between the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob3 to be recognized based on the direction of the arrow-shaped part of the speech bubble shape. In the example of FIG. 8, the speech bubble shape is displayed as an arrow shape pointing from the response object Ob3 to the initial object Ob1. This allows the user to recognize that the message of the response object Ob3 was posted in response to the message of the initial object Ob1.

[0103] The example of FIG. 8 shows a state in which a response object Ob2 is associated with an edge "f" of an initial object Ob1, and a response object Ob3 is associated with an edge "b" of the initial object Ob1. A user viewing this state can select any edge of the initial object Ob1 other than the edge "f" and the edge "b" to create a response object. The user can create a response object associated with the selected edge by using the initial object Ob1 as a response target object. The user can also create a response object by selecting any edge of the response object Ob3 other than the edge "e". The user can create a response object associated with the selected edge by using the response object Ob3 as a response target object.

[0104] Although display examples of the content display image displayed on the user terminal 2 have been described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, the display examples on the user terminal 2 are not limited to these.

[0105] (Example of operation) The operation of the server 1 will now be described. The process procedure described below is merely an example, and each process may be changed as much as possible. Each process may be omitted or replaced depending on the embodiment, and new processes may be added.

[0106] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an information processing operation in the server 1 of the embodiment.

[0107] In the following description, it is assumed that an initial message set in advance by a service administrator or the like has been posted. The initial message is displayed on the display device 25 of the user terminal 2 as an initial object. The user of the user terminal 2 posts a response as a message related to the initial message. Note that the user of the user terminal 2 may post a message related to the response after the response has been posted.

[0108] In the following example, the initial message is an example of a first message. A response related to the initial message is an example of a second message. The first message is assumed to be a response target message of the second message. The second message is assumed to be a message related to the response target message. In the following example, the information processing operation in server 1 will be described according to the examples of Figs. 6 to 8.

[0109] The output unit 112 outputs object information for displaying a polygonal initial object including an initial message to the user terminal 2 (step S1). In step S1, for example, the output unit 112 acquires object information from the storage unit 13. The object information includes object information on the initial object. The object information may include object information on a response object associated with the initial object. The object information may include object information on a response object associated with the response object. The output unit 112 outputs the acquired object information to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 displays the initial object based on the object information. When the object information includes object information on the response object, the user terminal 2 may display the response object based on the object information. Note that the output unit 112 may output information for displaying a message corresponding to each object by combining or superimposing it on the message to the user terminal 2.

[0110] The acquisition unit 110 acquires an object generation instruction for generating a response object including a response from the user terminal 2 (step S2). In step S2, for example, the acquisition unit 110 acquires the object generation instruction based on an operation of the user of the user terminal 2. The object generation instruction includes an instruction to select a response target object. The object generation instruction may include information indicating a position at which the response object is to be generated. The object generation instruction may include information indicating one side of the response target object to which the response object is to be associated. In this example, it is assumed that the user of the user terminal 2 selects the initial object Ob1 as the response target object.

[0111] The object processing unit 111 judges whether or not the response object can be placed in association with the response target object based on the object generation instruction (step S3). In step S3, for example, the object processing unit 111 judges whether or not the response target object selected by the user is an object to which the response object can be associated. The object processing unit 111 may judge whether or not one side of the response target object selected by the user is an side to which the response object can be associated. The object processing unit 111 judges whether or not the initial object has an side that is not associated with other objects based on the object information. The object processing unit 111 may judge whether or not the side selected by the user is an side that is not associated with other objects based on the object information. In this example, it is assumed that the side "f" of the initial object Ob1 is selected by the user of the user terminal 2. In this case, the object processing unit 111 judges whether or not the side "f" of the initial object Ob1 is an side that is not associated with other objects. The determination by the object processing unit 111 that the side is an side that is not associated with other objects corresponds to the determination that the response object can be placed.

[0112] If the object processing unit 111 determines that the response object can be placed (step S3: YES), the process proceeds from step S3 to step S5. If the object processing unit 111 determines that the response object cannot be placed (step S3: NO), the process proceeds from step S3 to step S4.

[0113] In response to the object processing unit 111 determining that the response object cannot be placed, the output unit 112 outputs error information to the user terminal 2 (step S4). In step S4, for example, the output unit 112 outputs a notification indicating that the response object cannot be created to the user terminal 2. The notification may be any one of text information, image data, audio data, and video data, or a combination of these. Note that the output unit 112 may output an instruction to the user terminal 2 to perform processing that does not accept the selection of a response target object by the user.

[0114] The acquisition unit 110 acquires object information related to a response object including a response (step S5). In step S5, for example, the acquisition unit 110 acquires information indicating a response related to a response target message based on an operation of a user of the user terminal 2. In this example, the acquisition unit 110 acquires text information indicating a response related to an initial message. The acquisition unit 110 may acquire position information indicating a position where a response object is displayed. The acquisition unit 110 may acquire side identification information identifying one side of an initial object to which the response object is associated. The acquisition unit 110 may acquire time information indicating a posting time when the response was posted by a user. The time when the response was posted corresponds to the acquisition time when information related to the response object was acquired.

[0115] The output unit 112 outputs object information for displaying the response object on the user terminal 2 (step S6). In step S6, for example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the response object in association with one side of the response target object. In one example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying at least a part of the response object in contact with the response target object. In the example of FIG. 7, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the initial object Ob1 in contact with one side of the response object Ob2. The output unit 112 may output information for displaying one side of the initial object Ob1 in contact with a part of one side of the response object Ob2. In another example, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side of the response object in association with one side of the response target object by a link object. In the example of FIG. 7, the output unit 112 outputs information for displaying one side portion having a balloon shape connecting one side of the initial object Ob1 with one side of the response object Ob2. The output unit 112 may output information for displaying a connection object that connects one side of the initial object Ob1 and one side of the response object Ob2. The display mode of the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob2 by the output unit 112 is not limited to the above. The output unit 112 may output information for displaying the relationship between the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob2 in a recognizable manner. The output unit 112 outputs information for displaying the response target object and the response object in one two-dimensional space.

[0116] The output unit 112 may output information for displaying the response target object and the response object in a manner that allows the relationship between the response target object and the response object to be recognized. For example, the output unit 112 may output information for displaying the initial object Ob1 and the response object Ob2 in the same background color. The output unit 112 may output information for displaying the response target object and at least a part of the response object in a different display manner according to the acquisition time at which the information on the response target object and the information on the response object are acquired. For example, the output unit 112 may output information for changing the background color of the response object Ob2 according to the elapsed time from the time at which the response object Ob2 is acquired. This allows the user to visually recognize the display duration of the response object.

[0117] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an information processing operation in the user terminal 2 of the embodiment.

[0118] In the following description, it is assumed that the user of user terminal 2 posts a response to the initial message. Note that, after another user posts a response to the initial message, the user of user terminal 2 may post a response to the response posted by the other user.

[0119] In the following example, the initial message is an example of a first message. A response related to the initial message is an example of a second message. The first message is assumed to be a response target message of the second message. The second message is assumed to be a message related to the response target message. In the following example, the information processing operation in user terminal 2 will be described according to the examples of Figs. 6 to 8.

[0120] The acquiring unit 210 acquires object information from the server 1 (step S11). In step S11, for example, the acquiring unit 210 acquires object information related to an initial object. The acquiring unit 210 may acquire object information related to a response object associated with the initial object. The acquiring unit 210 may acquire information related to a response object associated with the response object. The user terminal 2 may store the acquired object information in the storage unit 22.

[0121] The display processing unit 212 displays a polygonal initial object including the initial message on the display device 25 (step S12). In step S12, for example, the display processing unit 212 displays the initial object on the display device 25 based on the object information. The display processing unit 212 may display a response object associated with the initial object on the display device 25 based on the object information. The display processing unit 212 may display a response object associated with the response object on the display device 25 based on the object information.

[0122] The acquisition unit 210 acquires an object generation instruction based on a user's operation (step S13). In step S13, for example, the acquisition unit 210 acquires a selection instruction for a response target object based on a user's operation. The user's operation includes, for example, an operation of selecting the initial object Ob1 by touch input or the like. The user's operation may include an operation of selecting one side of the initial object Ob1 by touch input or the like. Note that the display processing unit 212 may display a button or the like that can select one side of the initial object Ob1 when a pointer such as a mouse pointer is placed on the initial object Ob1 by the user. In this case, the user's operation includes an operation of selecting by touch input or the like of a selectable button. The acquisition unit 210 may acquire information indicating a position at which a response object is to be generated. The acquisition unit 210 may acquire information indicating one side of an initial object to which a response object is associated. The output unit 211 outputs the object generation instruction acquired by the acquisition unit 210 to the server 1. The server 1 determines whether or not the response object can be placed in association with the response target object based on the object generation instruction. The acquisition unit 210 acquires information indicating whether or not the response object can be placed from the server 1. Note that, if the acquisition unit 210 acquires information indicating that the response object cannot be placed, the process repeats step S13.

[0123] The acquiring unit 210 acquires information indicating a response message related to the initial object based on a user operation (step S14). In step S14, for example, the acquiring unit 210 acquires text information indicating the response message input by the user. Note that the acquiring unit 210 may acquire image data, audio data, video data, or the like as the information indicating the response message. The user terminal 2 may store the information indicating the acquired response message in the storage unit 22. The information indicating the acquired response message is included in the object information of the response object.

[0124] The display processing unit 212 displays the polygonal response object on the display device 25 (step S15). In step S15, for example, the display processing unit 212 displays the initial object and the response object on the display device 25 based on the object information stored in the storage unit 22. The display processing unit 212 displays the initial object and the response object in association with each other. For example, the display processing unit 212 displays the side "c" of the response object Ob2 in association with the side "f" of the initial object Ob1.

[0125] The output unit 211 outputs information related to the response object to the server 1 (step S16). In step S16, for example, the output unit 211 outputs object information of the response object to the server 1. The server 1 stores the object information acquired from the user terminal 2 in the storage unit 13. The server 1 can output information for associating and displaying a plurality of objects including an initial object and a response object to the user terminal 2 based on the object information.

[0126] (effect) As described above, according to this embodiment, an information processing device for communication between multiple users outputs information for displaying a polygonal first object including a first message, obtains information regarding a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message, and outputs information for displaying one side of the second object in association with one side of the first object.

[0127] As a result, the information processing device can display the response to the first message on the user terminal in a manner that allows the user to recognize the relationship between the multiple messages by associating the response to the first message with an edge of the first object and displaying the response via the user terminal. For example, the information processing device can output information that associates one edge of the response object with one edge of the response target object and displays the response to the first message to the user terminal. Therefore, the user can easily recognize the response to one message. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technology that allows the user to easily recognize the relationship between multiple contents.

[0128] Furthermore, the information processing device can limit the number of responses to the first message displayed on the user terminal by displaying the responses to the first message via the user terminal in association with the sides of the first object. For example, the information processing device can limit the number of responses to a hexagonal response target object to the number of sides at most. Therefore, the user does not feel annoyed by a large number of responses being posted to one message. The information processing device can improve the annoyance of communication services via a network. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technology that can limit responses.

[0129] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for displaying a first object including a preset message as a first message to a user terminal. For example, an administrator of the information processing device can provide a topic of conversation by displaying a first object including a preset message via the user terminal.

[0130] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for displaying one side of the second object as being associated with an edge of the first object that is not associated with any other object. This allows the information processing device to provide a technique for easily recognizing the relationship between multiple contents. Furthermore, when a response object is already associated with the response target object, the information processing device can limit the number of responses to the response target object to the number of edges that are not associated with any other object. Therefore, the user does not feel the annoyance of a large number of responses being posted to one message. The information processing device can further improve the annoyance of communication services via a network.

[0131] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for displaying at least a part of the second object so as to be in contact with the first object. For example, the information processing device can output information for displaying one side of the response object so as to be in contact with one side of the response target object to a user terminal. Therefore, the user can more easily recognize the response to one message. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technique for easily recognizing the relationship between multiple contents.

[0132] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for displaying one side of the second object and one side of the first object in association with a connecting object. For example, the information processing device can output information to a user terminal that displays one side of a response object and one side of a response target object as if they are in contact with each other via an arrow-shaped speech bubble mark or the like. Therefore, the user can more easily recognize the response to one message. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technology that allows the relationship between multiple contents to be easily recognized.

[0133] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for displaying the relationship between the first object and the second object in a recognizable manner. For example, the information processing device can display the relationship between the response target object and the response object in a recognizable manner such as color via a user terminal. Therefore, the user can more easily recognize the relationship between multiple response target messages and the responses associated therewith. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technology that allows the relationship between multiple contents to be easily recognized.

[0134] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for displaying a first object and a second object in one two-dimensional space. For example, the information processing device can display a list of the relationships between multiple response target objects and the response objects associated therewith via a user terminal. Therefore, the user can more easily recognize the relationship between multiple response target messages and the responses associated therewith. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technology that allows the user to easily recognize the relationship between multiple contents.

[0135] According to this embodiment, the information processing device can output information for changing and displaying at least a part of the display mode of the first object and the second object according to the acquisition time when the information on the first object and the information on the second object are acquired. For example, the information processing device can display the temporal relationship between a plurality of response target objects and the response objects associated therewith via the user terminal. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the display duration of the plurality of objects. For example, the user can recognize which object is an old object and which object is a new object, and can select to respond to the newer object. The user can easily recognize the temporal relationship between the plurality of response target messages and the responses associated therewith. In this way, the information processing device can provide a technology that allows the relationship between a plurality of contents to be easily recognized.

[0136] As described above, according to this embodiment, an information processing terminal for communication among multiple users displays a polygonal first object including a first message on a display device, obtains information regarding a polygonal second object including a second message related to the first message, and displays one side of the second object on the display device in association with one side of the first object.

[0137] As a result, the information processing terminal can display a response to a first message in a manner that allows the relationship between multiple messages to be recognized by associating the response with an edge of the first object. For example, the information processing terminal can display one edge of a response object in association with one edge of a response target object. Therefore, a user can easily recognize a response to one message. In this way, the information processing terminal can provide a technology that allows the relationship between multiple contents to be easily recognized.

[0138] Furthermore, the information processing terminal can limit the number of responses to the first message by displaying responses to the first message in association with the sides of the first object. For example, the information processing terminal can limit the number of responses to a hexagonal response target object to the number of sides at most. Therefore, the user does not feel annoyed by a large number of responses being posted to one message. The information processing terminal can improve the annoyance of communication services via a network. In this way, the information processing terminal can provide a technology that can limit responses.

[0139] [Variations] The control unit 21 of the user terminal 2 may realize the function of the control unit 11 of the server 1. In this case, the acquisition unit 210 of the user terminal 2 acquires object information from the server 1. The display processing unit 212 of the user terminal 2 synthesizes or superimposes messages corresponding to the objects to display the objects in association with each other.

[0140] In the above-mentioned step S3, the object processing unit 111 of the server 1 may refer to the user information and determine whether or not the object can be placed depending on the user who selected the response target object. For example, a case will be described in which the users who can place the response object are limited to the followers of the response target object. The object processing unit 111 determines whether or not the user of the user terminal 2 that has acquired the response object generation instruction is a follower of the response target object. In step S3, if the user is a follower of the response target object, the object processing unit 111 determines that the response object can be placed. If the user is not a follower of the response target object, the object processing unit 111 determines that the response object cannot be placed. In this way, the information processing system can limit the users who can post the response object and further limit the number of responses.

[0141] The object processing unit 111 of the server 1 may determine the relevance between the response message and the response target message. For example, the object processing unit 111 determines the relevance between the response message and the response target message using a known technique such as text analysis. The object processing unit 111 may determine that a response object can be placed based on the determination that the response message and the response target message are related. The object processing unit 111 may determine that a response object cannot be placed based on the determination that the response message and the response target message are not related. In this way, the information processing system can limit the response objects that can be posted based on the relevance of the messages, and further limit the number of responses.

[0142] The object processing unit 111 of the server 1 may associate a user who created a response object related to a response target object with a user who created the response target object. For example, the object processing unit 111 may store, in the user information, information indicating the relationship between user A who created a response target object and user B who created a response object. The relationship between users may be a follower relationship. This allows the information processing system to allow a user to recognize the relationship between users based on the relationship between multiple objects. Therefore, the information processing system can allow a user to easily recognize the relationship between multiple objects in relation to the user relationship.

[0143] The multiple objects may each have a different shape. For example, the initial object may be a hexagon and the response object may be a triangle. In this case, the user of the user terminal 2 may specify the shape of the response object as an instruction to generate a response object. This allows the information processing system to improve the interest of communication by making the shape of the object selectable.

[0144] The multiple objects are not limited to polygonal shapes, and may be any shape. In this case, the server 1 may limit the number of response objects associated with the initial object to a predetermined number. Similarly, the number of response objects associated with the response object may be limited to a predetermined number. For example, if the initial object is circular, the predetermined number may be set to "6" by an administrator of the server 1, etc. In this case, regardless of the shape of the object, it is possible to limit the number of objects that can be connected to each other. This allows the information processing system to limit the number of responses.

[0145] The information processing system may rearrange and display a plurality of related objects in a linear fashion based on a user's operation. For example, the information processing system may rearrange and display objects related to a selected object in a linear fashion based on a user's operation of selecting a specific object. This allows the information processing system to easily recognize the relationship between a plurality of contents.

[0146] [Other embodiments] Although the example in which the server 1 includes the storage unit 13 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The storage unit 13 may be included in a device different from the server 1.

[0147] The information processing device may be realized by one electronic device as described above with the server 1 as an example, or may be realized by a system in which functions are distributed among a plurality of electronic devices.

[0148] Some of the above-described embodiments may be applied to one or more electronic devices such as an information processing device, as well as to a method executed by one or more electronic devices. The above-described embodiments may be applied to a program capable of causing a computer of an electronic device to execute each function.

[0149] The program may be transferred in a state where it is stored in an electronic device, or in a state where it is not stored in an electronic device. In the latter case, the program may be transferred via a network, or in a state where it is recorded on a recording medium. The recording medium is a non-transitory tangible medium. The recording medium is a computer-readable medium. The recording medium may be in any form, such as a CD-ROM or a memory card, as long as it is capable of storing the program and is readable by a computer.

[0150] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. The embodiments may be combined as appropriate, and in that case, the combined effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiment includes various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combinations selected from the multiple components disclosed. For example, if the problem can be solved and the effect can be obtained even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, the configuration from which the components are deleted can be extracted as an invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0151] 1...server, 2...user terminal, 11...control unit, 12...communication unit, 13...memory unit, 14...timekeeping unit, 21...control unit, 22...memory unit, 23...communication unit, 24...input device, 25...display device, 26...speaker, 27...camera, 110...acquisition unit, 111...object processing unit, 112...output unit, 130...object information storage area, 131...user information storage area, 210...acquisition unit, 211...output unit, 212...display processing unit, 220...object information storage area, 221...user information storage area, Im1 to Im4...content display images, M1 to M3...message boxes, N1 to N2...user identification information, Ob0, Ob1...initial object, Ob2 to Ob3...response object.

Claims

1. An information processing device for communication between multiple users, An output unit that outputs information for displaying a first geometric object containing a first message, An acquisition unit that acquires information about a second geometrically shaped object which includes a second message related to the first message contained in the first object, Equipped with, The output unit outputs information for displaying the second object in association with a selected portion of the first object. Information processing device.

2. The first message mentioned above is a pre-configured message. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The second object is associated with the portion of the first object that is not associated with any other object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. Displaying the second object in relation to the selected portion of the first object includes displaying the second object such that at least a portion of it is in contact with the first object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. Displaying the second object in association with the selected portion of the first object includes displaying the second object and the selected portion of the first object in association with a linked object. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The output unit outputs information for displaying the relationship between the first object and the second object in a manner that allows recognition of the relationship between them. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. An information processing terminal for communication between multiple users, A display processing unit that displays a first geometrically shaped object containing a first message on the display unit, An acquisition unit that acquires information about a second geometrically shaped object which includes a second message related to the first message contained in the first object, Equipped with, The display processing unit displays the second object on the display unit in association with a selected portion of the first object. Information processing terminal.

8. A computer included in an information processing device for communication between multiple users, A function to output information for displaying a first geometric object containing a first message, A function to obtain information about a second geometrically shaped object that includes a second message related to the first message contained in the first object, A function to output information for displaying the second object in association with a selected portion of the first object, An information processing program capable of executing [the specified action].

9. A computer included in an information processing terminal for communication between multiple users, A function to display a first geometrically shaped object containing the first message on the display unit, A function to obtain information about a second geometrically shaped object that includes a second message related to the first message contained in the first object, A function to display the second object on the display unit in association with a selected portion of the first object, An information processing program capable of executing [the specified action].

10. A display method using an information processing device that arranges multiple objects, Display a first geometric object containing the first message, Based on user interaction, a second geometric object containing a second message related to the first message contained in the first object is displayed such that the second object is associated with a selected portion of the first object. Display method.

11. A first display processing unit that displays a first geometric object containing a first message, A second display processing unit that, based on user operation, displays a second geometrically shaped object containing a second message related to the first message contained in the first object, such that the second object is associated with a selected portion of the first object; A system equipped with these features.

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