Program, information processing method, and terminal

Abstract

To improve chat convenience.SOLUTION: A program executed by a terminal displaying a chat room that includes a first user of a first terminal, comprises: performing control, by a control unit of the terminal, on displaying a first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in a first area of the chat room; acquiring, by the control unit, a second content, which is different from the first content; and controlling, by the control unit, on displaying the second content in a second area of the chat room different from the first area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1-1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a program, an information processing method, a terminal, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which users chat using a messaging service as an example of a chat service. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-160467 A Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a program executed by a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal is executed by the terminal to control, via a control unit of the terminal, displaying first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in a first area of ​​the chat room, to obtain, via the control unit, second content different from the first content, and to control, via the control unit, displaying the second content in a second area of ​​the chat room different from the first area. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an information processing method for a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal includes controlling a control unit of the terminal to display first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in a first area of ​​the chat room, acquiring second content different from the first content by the control unit, and controlling the control unit to display the second content in a second area of ​​the chat room different from the first area. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal is provided with a control unit that controls displaying a first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and a terminal in a first area of ​​the chat room, obtains a second content different from the first content, and controls displaying the second content in a second area of ​​the chat room different from the first area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1-1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Figure 1-2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of account registration data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of sub-content data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-9] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-10] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-14]10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-15] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-16] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-17] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-18] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-19] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-20] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-21] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-22] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 2-1] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second modified example. [Figure 2-3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of sub-content data according to a second modified example. [Figure 3-1] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3-2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3-3] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the third embodiment. [Diagram 3-4] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to a third modified example. [Figure 3-5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of sub-content data according to a third modified example. [Figure 4-1]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 5-1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-2] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fifth modified example. [Figure 6-1] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-2] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] <Compliance with legal matters> It should be noted that the disclosures described herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the country of implementation, such as communications secrecy, as necessary for the implementation of the disclosure.

[0007] <Embodiment> In this specification, there are some places where the phrase "by way of example and not by way of limitation" is used for ease of understanding, but not only the relevant places but also the entire embodiment described below are not limited to the contents of the description. Please note that this does not constitute a contract.

[0008] An embodiment for implementing a program or the like according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] The production of a terminal of the present invention (a terminal of the present invention) may include, by way of example and not limitation, the concept of a program (an application program, by way of example and not limitation) described in this specification being received (or being received and stored in) a terminal owned (possessed) by a user, thereby creating a state in which the functions of the present invention can be realized (a state in which the present invention can be executed) in the terminal.

[0010] Furthermore, the production of the system of the invention claimed in the present application (the system of the invention) may include the concept that, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which the functions of the invention of the system claimed in the present application can be realized (a state in which the invention claimed in the present application can be executed) is created by receiving, at a terminal included in the system of the present application, a program described in this specification (by way of example and not limitation, an application program) transmitted from a server included in the system of the present application (or by storing the received program in the terminal).

[0011] In addition, in this specification, a system may be, for example and not by way of limitation, configured to include a plurality of devices. The multiple devices may be a combination of devices of the same type, a combination of devices of different types, or a combination of devices of the same type and devices of different types. Note that the system is, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a system in which multiple devices cooperate to perform some processing. It can also be thought of as something like that.

[0012] Furthermore, a system relating to a client (client device) and a server can be considered to be, by way of example and not of limitation, at least one of the following: (1) Terminals and servers (2) Server (3) Terminal

[0013] (1) is, by way of example and not limitation, a system including at least one terminal and at least one server. One example of this is a client-server system.

[0014] The server is configured by the following devices, for example and not by way of limitation, and may be a single device or a combination of multiple devices.

[0015] Specifically, the server is configured to have at least one processor (for example and without limitation, CPU: Central Processing Unit, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, APU: Accelerated Processing Unit, DSP: Digital Signal Processor (for example and without limitation, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.), computer device (processor + memory), control device, arithmetic device, processing device, etc., and may be a configuration having multiple of the same type of any one device (for example and without limitation, CPU + CPU, homogeneous multi-core processor, etc.) or a configuration having multiple different types of any one device (for example and without limitation, CPU + DSP, heterogeneous multi-core processor, etc.), or may be a combination of multiple devices (for example and without limitation, processor + computer device, processor + arithmetic device, multiple devices made heterogeneous, etc.). The processor may be a virtual processor.

[0016] Also, when a server executes some processing, if the server is configured with a single device, the processing described in the embodiment is executed by the single device. If the server is configured with multiple devices, one device may execute some processing, and the other device may execute other processing. As a non-limiting example, if the server is configured with a processor and an arithmetic device, the processor may execute a first processing, and the arithmetic device may execute a second processing. Furthermore, when a configuration is made up of a plurality of devices, the devices may be arranged in locations physically separated from one another.

[0017] Furthermore, the functions of the server may be provided in the form of PaaS, IaaS, or SaaS in cloud computing, for example and without limitation.

[0018] The control unit of the system may be at least one of the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server. That is, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit of the system may be any of the following: (1A) only the control unit of the terminal, (1B) only the control unit of the server, or (1C) both the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server.

[0019] In addition, the control and processing (hereinafter collectively referred to as "control, etc.") performed by the control unit of the system may be performed by (1A) only the control unit of the terminal, (1B) only the control unit of the server, or (1C) both the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server. In addition, in (1C), as an example and not a limitation, some of the controls performed by the control unit of the system may be performed by the control unit of the terminal, and the remaining controls may be performed by the control unit of the server. In this case, the allocation (allocation) of the controls may be equal or may be allocated in different proportions.

[0020] Furthermore, when referring to a communication unit of a server, if the server is configured with a single device, it may be the communication unit itself that the single device has, or, if the server is configured with multiple devices, the communication unit of the server may be configured to include each communication unit that each device has. As an example and not by way of limitation, if a server comprises a first device and a second device, the first device having a first communication unit and the second device having a second communication unit, the communication unit of the server may be conceptualized as including the first communication unit and the second communication unit.

[0021] (2) is not limited to, but may be, for example, a system consisting of multiple servers (hereinafter, referred to as a "server system"). In this case, the configuration of each server may be the same as that described above.

[0022] The control etc. performed by the server system may be performed by only one of the multiple servers (2A), by only the other servers (2B), or by both the one server and the other servers (2C). In addition, in (2C), as an example and not a limitation, one server may perform part of the control etc. performed by the server system, and another server may perform the remaining control etc. In this case, the allocation (allocation) of the control etc. may be equal or may be allocated in different proportions.

[0023] (3) By way of example and not limitation, the system may be comprised of multiple terminals. The system may be, by way of example and not limitation, a system such as the following: A system that gives server functions to terminals (distributed system). This can be realized using blockchain technology, for example and not by way of limitation. A system in which terminals communicate wirelessly with each other. This can be realized, for example and without limitation, by communicating in a peer-to-peer (P2P) manner using short-range wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0024] The above is not limited to the control unit, but also applies to each functional unit such as an input / output unit, a communication unit, a storage unit, and a clock unit that may be components of the system.

[0025] In the following embodiment, a system including a terminal and a server (a client-server system) is illustrated as an example and not as a limitation. It should be noted that the server system described above in (2) can also be used as the server.

[0026] Also, instead of a system including a terminal and a server, a system not including a server, such as the above system (3) as an example and not a limitation, may be applied. In this case, the embodiment can be configured based on the above-mentioned blockchain technology. Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, data stored and managed in a server described in the following embodiment is stored on the blockchain. Then, the terminal generates a transaction to the blockchain, and when the transaction is approved on the blockchain, the data stored on the blockchain can be updated.

[0027] It should be noted that even when the term "terminal" is used, this is not limited to the meaning of a terminal as a client device in a client server. That is, a terminal may include the concept of a device other than in a client-server context.

[0028] Furthermore, in this specification, the expression "through a communication I / F" is used as appropriate. This is not intended to be limiting, but may indicate, by way of example, that a device transmits and receives various types of information and data through a communication I / F (through a communication unit) based on the control of a control unit (such as a processor).

[0029] In addition, in this specification, when the terms "related to" and "associated with" are used, "B related to A" or "B related to A" may mean, by way of example and not limitation, "B" having some kind of relationship with "A." Specific examples of this will be described later.

[0030] In addition, in this specification, when a device performs processing on two or more objects, such as "transmitting A and B" or "receiving A and B," this may include performing "A" and "B" in a synchronized manner (hereinafter referred to as "simultaneous"), and performing "A" and "B" with a different timing (hereinafter referred to as "non-simultaneous"). As an example and not a limitation, when referring to transmitting first information and second information, this may include both concepts of transmitting the first information and the second information in a synchronized manner and transmitting the first information and the second information with a lag in timing. In addition, taking into consideration the lag (time lag), "simultaneous" may include "almost simultaneously." do.

[0031] Note that, even if "A" and "B" are performed at different times, this only needs to be the processing targeting "A" and "B," and the purpose does not necessarily have to be the same. As an example and not a limitation, when the first information and the second information are transmitted as described above, it is sufficient to transmit the first information and the second information, and this may include cases where the first information and the second information are transmitted for the same purpose, as well as cases where the first information and the second information are transmitted for different purposes.

[0032] In the following embodiment, a messaging service is illustrated as an example of a service for users to chat (hereinafter referred to as a "chat service"). An application for realizing the chat service is referred to as a "chat application", and as an example, an application for realizing the messaging service is referred to as a "messaging application". By way of example and not limitation, a chat application may enable users to chat in chat rooms.

[0033] Note that messaging services (MS) (including instant messaging services (IMS)) can be considered as one form of social networking services (SNS). Therefore, messaging services and social networking services may or may not be distinguished. In other words, social networking services may include messaging services.

[0034] In addition, in the following embodiments, as an example of a messaging service, an instant messaging service (IMS) that transmits and receives simple messages between multiple devices (terminals, for example and not limitation) via a server is exemplified. In an instant messaging application, by way of example and not limitation, a user may You can have the conversation take place in a chat room.

[0035] A chat room (for example, but not limited to, a talk room) can be a UI (User Interface) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows each user to view content transmitted and received between the terminals of multiple users.

[0036] In a messaging service, a user may be able to exchange messages with any account via a talk room by, for example and not by way of limitation, registering the account as a "friend."

[0037] In addition, "friends" may refer, by way of example and not by way of limitation, to a relationship between a first user and a second user when the first user's account and the second user's account in a messaging application are associated unilaterally or bilaterally. By way of example and not limitation, a first user and a second user may be said to be "friends" if the first user's account is associated with the second user's account. Also, by way of example and not limitation, a first user and a second user may be said to be "friends" if the first user's account is associated with the second user's account, even if the second user's account is not associated with the first user's account.

[0038] In addition, talk rooms can include one-to-one user talk rooms (hereinafter referred to as "one-to-one talk rooms"), talk rooms for groups including multiple users (hereinafter referred to as "group talk rooms"), and talk rooms with OA businesses (as an example, but not limited to, businesses that are affiliated with messaging service providers) (hereinafter referred to as "OA talk rooms").

[0039] In addition, an account of a messaging application that is an account of a business operator and not a general user may be referred to as an "OA (Official Account)," and a user of this official account may be referred to as an "official user." This may also be referred to as an "official account user" or an "official account business operator," etc. In contrast, an account of a messaging application that is a user who is not an OA business is called a "general account," and a user of a general account is called a "general user." This may also be called a "general account user," etc. In other words, messaging application accounts may include general accounts and official accounts.

[0040] In addition, as a non-limiting example, OA operators may also be able to use a terminal similar to that of a user with a general account to send and receive messages with other devices via the server.

[0041] Further, a message (message information) may be, by way of example and not limitation, information that defines a sender and a destination used in a messaging service, and may be information that is composed of identification information (message ID) for identifying the message and message content. Additionally, message content may refer to, by way of example and not limitation, the contents of a message excluding the message ID. Message content may be one or more pieces of content.

[0042] Moreover, information set as identification information for identifying a message is referred to as a "message ID." It can also be considered that message content included in a message with the same message ID is identified by this message ID. Therefore, it can also be considered that identification information for identifying a message is substantially synonymous with identification information for identifying message content. Alternatively, individual identification information (message content ID) may be set for each message content, but this is not essential.

[0043] The content may include, by way of example and not limitation, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of still images and / or moving images), audio content in sound format (including voice), and the like. In addition, the content may include operation content such as buttons and icons for user operations, and link content such as URIs (including URLs).

[0044] The text may include, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of national characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, graphics, and symbols represented by character codes. Note that the text does not have to include at least one of the above characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and signs, and may include other text.

[0045] The image may include at least one of various types of image information, such as, for example and without limitation, an icon, a button, a stamp (sticker), an emoji, and a banner image.

[0046] Unlike the above definition, the superordinate concept of a message may be content, or content and message may be synonymous, or it is not necessary to define them in this way.

[0047] In the following embodiment, a service for a user to make a payment (hereinafter, referred to as a "payment service") is exemplified. An application for realizing the payment service is referred to as a "payment application." By way of example and not limitation, a payment application may enable a user to make payments using electronic currency.

[0048] In this specification, "electronic currency" refers to electronic currency that is distinguished from physical currency and may refer to electronic currency owned by a terminal managed in the various applications mentioned above or by a user of the terminal. In addition, "electronic currency" may be considered as "digital currency (digital money)." .

[0049] As one way of thinking, electronic currency can be considered as a concept that includes "electronic money," "virtual currency (crypto assets)," "central bank issued digital currency (CBDB)," etc.

[0050] In addition, electronic currency may be a "legal tender" or a "corporate currency". The implementation method of electronic currency may be "centralized finance (CeFi)" or "decentralized finance (DeFi)".

[0051] In the embodiment described below, electronic money as corporate currency in centralized finance will be described as an example of electronic currency, but is not limited thereto.

[0052] It should be noted that corporate currency may also include physical currency such as coupons.

[0053] In the following description, the user of terminal 20A communicating with server 10 is referred to as "user AA", the user of terminal 20B as "user BB", the user of terminal 20C as "user CC", . . . .

[0054] <Example> An example of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described below. As one example, when a user of a certain terminal 20 has a talk room open, if a reply does not come immediately from the user with whom the user is talking, the user may leave the talk room. In the embodiment described below, by way of example and not limitation, in a messaging service, subcontent different from message content is provided in a talk room so that a user does not leave the talk room, and the subcontent is made viewable by the user to prevent the user from leaving the talk room. Also, as a non-limiting example, when a user has a chat room open and is waiting for a reply from the other party, the sub-content can be made available to the user so that the user does not feel bored.

[0055] In this embodiment, the content in the messaging service may include, by way of example and not limitation, main content and sub-content. By way of example and not limitation, main content may be substantially equivalent to message content associated with a messaging function in a messaging service, and may be information used in a messaging service to define source and destination. The main content may include, by way of example and not limitation, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of still images and moving images), sound content in sound format (including voice), operation content such as buttons and icons for user operation, and link content such as URIs (including URLs, etc.). The message content may be an example of the first content.

[0056] By way of example and not limitation, sub-content may be content that is not related to the messaging function of the messaging service, unlike the main content in the messaging service, and may be information used in the messaging service that does not have a defined sender and destination. The sub-content may include, by way of example and not limitation, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of still images and moving images), sound content in sound format (including voice), operation content such as buttons and icons for user operation, and link content such as URIs (including URLs, etc.). The sub-content may be an example of the second content.

[0057] Here, the sub-content may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following types of content: Video content News content Book content Advertising content

[0058] The video content is, by way of example and not limitation, content for providing a user with a video, and may be, by way of example and not limitation, content made up of image content, sound content, operation content, and the like.

[0059] The news content is, by way of example and not limitation, content for providing news to a user, and may be, by way of example and not limitation, content comprised of text content, image content, sound content, operational content, and the like.

[0060] Book content is, for example and not limitation, content for providing users with books (for example and not limitation, magazines, comics, paperbacks, novels, etc.), and may be, for example and not limitation, content composed of text content, image content, operational content, etc.

[0061] The advertisement content is, by way of example and not limitation, content for providing advertisements to a user, and may be, by way of example and not limitation, content consisting of text content, image content, sound content, and the like.

[0062] Hereinafter, the above-mentioned content type may be referred to as a “content type.” The content type may be considered as a type or category of content. Furthermore, the attribute of a content may be a concept including the media type, language, etc. of the content. As a non-limiting example, when the content type is "news", the content attributes may be considered to include "text", "image", "sound (audio)", etc. Note that this definition is merely an example, and the content attribute may be synonymous with the content type.

[0063] In addition, the sub-content may be provided by a business providing the messaging service, or may be provided by a business other than the business providing the messaging service (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as an "external business").

[0064] <First Example> The first embodiment is an example, not a limitation, that enables sub-content to be displayed in a talk room in a messaging service of a terminal 20 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a "terminal"). The contents described in the first embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0065] In the following illustrations and explanations, the name of the messaging application will be referred to as "Messaging App" where appropriate.

[0066] <System configuration> FIG. 1-1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the communication system 1, as an example and not a limitation, a server 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, . . . ) are connected via a network 30.

[0067] The server 10 has a function of providing a predetermined service (such as a messaging service, for example and not limitation) to a terminal 20 owned by a user via a network 30. The server 10 can also be expressed as a messaging server, for example and not limitation. In this embodiment, a messaging service provider (operator) is considered as a user of the server 10.

[0068] The number of servers 10 and the number of terminals 20 connected to the network 30 are not limited.

[0069] The terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, ...) may be any information processing terminal capable of implementing the functions described in each embodiment. The terminal 20 includes, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone (feature phone), a computer (such as, but not limited to, a desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (such as, but not limited to, a cable or satellite set-top box, digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (such as, but not limited to, a PDA (personal digital assistant), email client, etc.), a wearable device (such as a glasses-type device, a watch-type device, etc.), a VR (Virtual Reality) terminal, a smart speaker (a device for voice recognition), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The terminal 20 may also be expressed as an information processing terminal.

[0070] The configurations of the terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C can be the same as one another, for example and not for limitation. In addition, if necessary, the terminal used by the user X may be expressed as the terminal 20X, and the user information in a predetermined service associated with the user X or the terminal 20X may or may not be expressed as the user information X. The user information is information of a user associated with an account used by the user in a specific service. The user information includes, but is not limited to, information associated with a user, such as the user's name, the user's icon image, the user's age, the user's sex, the user's address, the user's hobbies and interests, and the user's identifier, which is input by the user or given by a specific service, and may be any one of these, or a combination of these, or may not be the same.

[0071] The network 30 plays a role of connecting one or more terminals 20 and one or more servers 10. In other words, the network 30 refers to a communication network that provides a connection path so that the above-mentioned various devices can be connected and then transmit and receive data.

[0072] One or more portions of network 30 may or may not be wired or wireless networks. Network 30 may include, by way of example and not limitation, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular network, integrated service digital networks (ISDN), wireless LAN, long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA), Bluetooth, satellite communications, or the like, or a combination of two or more thereof. Network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

[0073] The server 10 (not limited to, but an example of a server, information processing device, or information management device) has a function of providing a predetermined service to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be any device as long as it is an information processing device capable of realizing the functions described in each embodiment. The server 10 includes, not limited to, a server device, a computer (not limited to, but an example of, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (not limited to, but an example of, a cable, a satellite set-top box, a digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (not limited to, but an example of, a PDA, an email client, etc.), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The server 10 may also be expressed as an information processing device. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the server 10 and the terminal 20, the server 10 and the terminal 20 may or may not be expressed as information processing devices.

[0074] [Hardware (HW) configuration of each device] The hardware configuration of each device included in the communication system 1 will be described.

[0075] (1) Terminal hardware configuration FIG. 1-1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal 20. In FIG. The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a storage unit 28, a communication I / F 22 (interface), an input / output unit 23, a clock unit 29A, and a position calculation information detection unit 29B. The HW components of the terminal 20 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW configuration of the terminal 20 includes all of the components. For example and not for limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components are removable.

[0076] The communication I / F 22 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two devices is possible. The communication I / F 22 has a function of communicating with various devices such as the server 10 via the network 30. The communication I / F 22 transmits various data to various devices such as the server 10 according to instructions from the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 also receives various data transmitted from various devices such as the server 10 and transmits it to the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 22 is configured with a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0077] The input / output unit 23 includes a device for inputting various operations to the terminal 20, a device for outputting the results of processing performed by the terminal 20, etc. The input / output unit 23 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate from the input unit and the output unit, or may not be.

[0078] The input unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices that can receive input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 21. Examples of the input unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, hardware keys such as a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera (operation input via moving images), and a microphone (operation input by voice).

[0079] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 21. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (audio output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output and hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0080] By way of example only, the input / output unit 23 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a display unit 24, a sound input unit 25, a sound output unit 26, and an imaging unit 27.

[0081] The display unit 24 is realized by any one of all kinds of devices capable of displaying according to the display data written in the frame buffer, or a combination thereof. The display unit 24 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a touch panel, a touch display, a monitor (by way of example and not limitation, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)), a head mounted display (HDM), a projection mapping, a hologram, a device capable of displaying images, text information, and the like in air (which may or may not be a vacuum). Note that these display units 24 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D.

[0082] The sound input unit 25 is used to input sound data (including voice data; the same applies below). The sound input unit 25 includes a microphone and the like. The sound output unit 26 is used to output sound data and includes a speaker and the like. The imaging unit 27 is used to obtain image data (including still image data and moving image data; the same applies below.) The imaging unit 27 includes a camera and the like.

[0083] When the input / output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input / output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be disposed facing each other and have approximately the same size and shape.

[0084] The clock unit 29A is a built-in clock of the terminal 20, and outputs time information (timekeeping information). The clock unit 29A is configured to include, for example and not limitation, a clock using a crystal oscillator. The clock unit 29A can also be expressed as a timekeeping unit or a time information detection unit, for example and not limitation.

[0085] The clock unit 29A may or may not have a clock that conforms to the Network Identity and Time Zone (NITZ) standard or the like.

[0086] The position calculation information detection unit 29B is a functional unit that detects (measures) information (hereinafter referred to as "position calculation information") necessary for the control unit 21 to calculate (measure) the position of its own terminal 20. The position calculation information detection unit 29B can also be expressed as a position calculation sensor unit, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0087] The position calculation information detection unit 29B includes, by way of example and not limitation, a satellite positioning sensor (satellite positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), an inertial measurement sensor (inertial measurement unit (IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit))) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using an inertial navigation system, a UWB positioning sensor (UWB positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using UWB (Ultra Wide Band), and the like.

[0088] The satellite positioning unit includes, by way of example and not limitation, an RF receiving circuit that converts RF (Radio Frequency) signals, including positioning satellite signals transmitted from positioning satellites and received by an antenna (not shown), into digital signals, and a baseband processing circuit that performs correlation calculation processing or the like on the digital signals output from the RF receiving circuit to capture the positioning satellite signals, and outputs information such as satellite orbit data and time data extracted from the positioning satellite signals as information for position calculation.

[0089] The inertial measurement unit has an inertial sensor that is a sensor that detects information required for calculating the position of the terminal 20 by inertial navigation calculation. The inertial sensor includes, but is not limited to, a three-axis acceleration sensor and a three-axis gyro sensor, and outputs the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor as information for position calculation.

[0090] The UWB positioning unit includes, by way of example and not limitation, an ultra-wideband RF receiving circuit that converts an ultra-wideband RF (Radio Frequency) signal, including an ultra-wideband pulse signal for positioning transmitted from a positioning beacon and received by an antenna not shown, into a digital signal, and a relative position calculation processing circuit that calculates the relative position between the terminal 20 and the positioning beacon based on the digital signal output from the ultra-wideband RF receiving circuit. As an example and not by way of limitation, the UWB positioning unit may or may not cause the terminal 20 to function as a positioning beacon by transmitting an ultra-wideband RF signal including an ultra-wideband pulse signal for positioning from an antenna not shown.

[0091] As an example and not a limitation, the control unit 21 calculates the position of its own terminal 20 at regular timing or specific timing based on the position calculation information detected by the position calculation information detection unit 29B. The terminal position is referred to as the "terminal position", and the calculated terminal position is referred to as the "calculated terminal position". The control unit 21 may, but may not, associate the calculated terminal position with the date and time when the calculated terminal position is calculated and store it in the storage unit 28 as calculated terminal position history data.

[0092] The control unit 21 has a circuit physically structured to execute the functions realized by the code or instructions contained in the program, and is realized by a data processing device built into hardware, for example and not by way of limitation. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0093] The control unit 21 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0094] The storage unit 28 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the terminal 20. The storage unit 28 includes, by way of example and not limitation, various storage media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). In addition, the storage unit 28 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0095] Terminal 20 stores program P in storage unit 28, and executes this program P, causing control unit 21 to execute processing as each unit included in control unit 21. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 28 causes terminal 20 to realize each function executed by control unit 21. Also, this program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

[0096] (2) Server hardware configuration FIG. 1-1 shows an example of the HW configuration of the server 10. In FIG. The server 10 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication I / F 14 (interface), an input / output unit 12, and a clock unit 19. The components of the HW of the server 10 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW of the server 10 includes all the components as the configuration of the HW of the server 10. For example and not for limitation, the HW of the server 10 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components are removable.

[0097] The control unit 11 has circuits physically structured to execute functions realized by codes or instructions contained in a program, and is realized, for example and not by way of limitation, by a data processing device embedded in hardware.

[0098] The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), but may also be a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, or an FPGA, but is not limited to these in the present disclosure.

[0099] The storage unit 15 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the server 10. The storage unit 15 is realized by various storage media such as an HDD, an SSD, and a flash memory. However, in the present disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Furthermore, the storage unit 15 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0100] The communication I / F 14 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two devices is possible. The communication I / F 14 has a function of communicating with various devices such as the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communication I / F 14 transmits various data to various devices such as the terminal 20 according to instructions from the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 also receives various data transmitted from various devices such as the terminal 20 and transmits it to the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 14 is configured with a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0101] The input / output unit 12 includes a device for inputting various operations to the server 10, a device for outputting the results of processing by the server 10, etc. The input / output unit 12 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate input unit and output unit, or may not be the same.

[0102] The input unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of receiving input from a user and transmitting information related to the input to the control unit 11. The input unit is typically realized by hardware keys such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse. Note that the input unit may or may not include a touch panel, a camera (operation input via moving images), or a microphone (operation input by voice), as examples and without limitation.

[0103] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 11. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (sound output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output and hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0104] By way of example only, the input / output unit 12 includes a display unit 13, by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[0105] The display unit 13 is realized by a display or the like. The display is typically realized by a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)). The display may or may not be a head mounted display (HDM) or the like. These displays may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D. In the present disclosure, the display is not limited to these.

[0106] The clock unit 19 is a built-in clock of the server 10, and outputs time information (timekeeping information). The clock unit 19 is configured to include, for example and not limitation, an RTC (Real Time Clock) as a hardware clock, a system clock, etc. The clock unit 19 can also be expressed as a timekeeping unit or a time information detection unit, for example and not limitation.

[0107] (3)Other The server 10 stores a program P in the storage unit 15, and by executing this program P, the control unit 11 executes the processes of each unit included in the control unit 11. In other words, the program P stored in the storage unit 15 causes the server 10 to realize each function executed by the control unit 11. This program P may or may not be expressed as a program module. The same applies to other devices.

[0108] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the description will be given assuming that the CPU of the terminal 20 and / or the server 10 executes the program P to realize the present invention.

[0109] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 and / or the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not realize each process by a CPU having a control circuit, but may also realize each process by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)) or a dedicated circuit. These circuits may or may not be realized by one or more integrated circuits, and the multiple processes shown in each embodiment may or may not be realized by one integrated circuit. Furthermore, an LSI may be called a VLSI, a super LSI, an ultra LSI, or the like, depending on the degree of integration. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0110] In addition, the program P (as an example, but not limited to, a software program, a computer program, or a program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may or may not be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium can store the program P in a "non-transitory tangible medium." In addition, the program P may or may not be for realizing part of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the program P may or may not be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure in combination with a program P already recorded in a storage medium.

[0111] Furthermore, when referring to a system program (a program executed by the system), the system is as described above. The above-mentioned system program is a program that can be executed by the entire system, and this program may be composed of individual programs of the devices that make up the system, for example and without limitation, and the programs stored in the individual devices that make up the system may be different from each other. In other words, it is not necessary for the programs to be common to the individual devices that make up the system. As an example and not a limitation, if a system is composed of a terminal and a server, and the system program is P1, the system program P1 is composed of a program P2 stored in the terminal and a program P3 stored in the server, and P2 and P3 are for executing the system program and may be different programs. As an example and not a limitation, the program P2 stored in the terminal may be a program that executes a first process and transmits the result of the first process to the server, and the program P3 stored in the server may be a program that executes a second process on the received result of the first process and transmits the result of the second process to the terminal.

[0112] The storage medium may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (such as, by way of example and not limitation, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk drive (HDD), a hybrid hard drive (HHD), an optical disk, an optical disk drive (ODD), a magneto-optical disk, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy diskette, a floppy disk drive (FDD), a magnetic tape, a solid state drive (SSD), a RAM drive, a secure digital card, or a drive, any other suitable storage medium, or a suitable combination of two or more of these. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, where appropriate. It should be noted that the storage medium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or medium capable of storing the program P. In addition, the storage medium may or may not be referred to as a memory.

[0113] The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 can realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by reading out the program P stored in a storage medium and executing the read out program P.

[0114] Furthermore, the program P of the present disclosure may or may not be provided to the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 via any transmission medium capable of transmitting a program (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 executes the program P downloaded via the Internet or the like, for example and not for limitation, to realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment.

[0115] In addition, each embodiment of the present disclosure may also be realized in the form of a data signal in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission. At least a part of the processing in the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 may or may not be realized by cloud computing configured with one or more computers. At least a part or all of the processing in the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. In this case, at least a part or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. At least a part or all of the processing in the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20. In this case, at least a part or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20.

[0116] Unless explicitly stated, the judgment configuration in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not essential, and a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is satisfied, or a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is not satisfied.

[0117] Note that the programs of the present disclosure are implemented using, by way of example and not limitation, scripting languages ​​such as ActionScript and JavaScript (registered trademark), compiler languages ​​such as Objective-C and Java (registered trademark), and markup languages ​​such as HTML Living Standard.

[0118] <Functional configuration> (1) Functional configuration of the server FIG. 1-2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by the control unit 11 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The control unit 11 includes, as a non-limiting example, an application management processing unit 111 as a functional unit. The application management processing unit 111 has a function of executing application management processing according to an application management processing program 151 stored in the storage unit 15, for example and not for limitation.

[0119] FIG. 1-3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. In the storage unit 15, for example and not for limitation, an application management processing program 151 executed as application management processing, account registration data 153, and sub-contents data 155 are stored.

[0120] The account registration data 153 is registration data related to the account of an application (messaging application in this embodiment), and an example of the data configuration is shown in FIG. 1-4. In the account registration data 153, for example and not by way of limitation, a user name, an application ID, and other registration information are stored in association with each other.

[0121] The user name is the name of the account of the terminal 20 that uses this application, and by way of example and not limitation, the name registered by the user of the terminal 20 when using the application is stored. The application ID is information used to identify an application account, or the account itself. This application ID is preferably a value unique to each account, and as a non-limiting example, a unique value (proper value) is set and stored by the server 10 for each account. The application ID is information associated with the terminal 20 or the user of the terminal 20, and is an example of information related to the terminal or information related to the user of the terminal. Other registration information may include, by way of example and not limitation, various types of information such as identification information for identifying terminal 20, the telephone number (terminal telephone number) of terminal 20, an email address (terminal email address), and authentication information such as passwords (login password, authentication password, etc.) used for various authentications in applications.

[0122] The identification information for identifying the terminal 20 may be, for example and not for limitation, a terminal ID (for example and not for limitation, an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)). Furthermore, the identification information for identifying the user of the terminal 20 may be, for example and not limited to, an application ID for a general user. Note that, the identification information for identifying the user of the terminal 20 may be, for example and not limited to, an application ID for an official user.

[0123] It should be noted that the application ID may or may not be replaced by a "user ID." Furthermore, if the application allows only one account to be registered per terminal 20, then, as a non-limiting example, "identification information for identifying terminal 20 = identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = application ID" can be used. Also, by way of example and not limitation, it may or may not be possible to assign multiple terminal IDs to one application ID. In this case, it may or may not be possible to simultaneously launch an application on multiple terminals 20 using one application ID as an identification (login) target. Also, instead of various IDs such as application IDs, it is possible to apply a method of managing accounts using information such as terminal telephone numbers. In this case, instead of storing ID information such as an application ID in account registration data 153, information such as a terminal telephone number can be stored in account registration data 153. Note that, instead of replacing ID information such as an application ID with information such as a terminal telephone number, ID information such as an application ID may or may not correspond one-to-one to information such as a terminal telephone number.

[0124] In the following embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that one account is registered for one terminal 20. Also, in this case, since "identification information for identifying terminal 20 = identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = application ID" as described above, the term "user of the account" used in the following explanation may or may not be substantially synonymous with "terminal of the account."

[0125] Sub-content data 155 is data relating to sub-content usable in an application (messaging application in this embodiment), and an example of the data configuration of sub-content data 155A is shown in FIG. 1-5. In sub-content data 155A, for example and not by way of limitation, a sub-content ID, a sub-content type, an estimated sub-content consumption time, a distributor URI, and other registration information are stored in association with each other.

[0126] The sub-content ID is information used to identify the sub-content. This sub-content ID is preferably a value unique to each sub-content, and as a non-limiting example, a unique value (proper value) is set and stored by the server 10 for each sub-content. The sub-content type is the name of the type of the sub-content. As the sub-content type, a type set for each sub-content by the server 10 or an external business is stored as a non-limiting example. The sub-contents estimated consumption time (referred to as the "estimated consumption time" as appropriate) is an estimated time required to consume the sub-contents. As the sub-contents estimated consumption time, a time set for each sub-content by the server 10 or an external business operator is stored as a non-limiting example. Here, the estimated sub-content consumption time is the estimated time required for a user to consume the sub-content, but is merely the estimated time required for a person with an average reading or listening speed to consume the sub-content. Therefore, the actual consumption time of the sub-content varies depending on the reading and listening speed of the user consuming the sub-content.

[0127] The estimated sub-content consumption time of video content is set to the total playback time of that video content, but as a non-limiting example, if the user can arbitrarily change the playback speed of the video content, then for example and not limitation, if a user watches the video content at 1.5x speed, the actual sub-content consumption time will be shorter than the estimated sub-content consumption time, and, as a non-limiting example, if a user watches the video content at 0.5x speed, the actual sub-content consumption time will be longer than the estimated sub-content consumption time.

[0128] The estimated sub-content consumption time for news content or book content is set to the estimated time required to read all the articles of the news content or all the books of the book content, but by way of example and not limitation, if a user has a fast reading speed, the actual sub-content consumption time will be shorter than the estimated sub-content consumption time, and, by way of example and not limitation, if a user has a slow reading speed, the actual sub-content consumption time will be shorter than the estimated sub-content consumption time.

[0129] The estimated sub-content consumption time of the advertising content is set to the estimated time required to consume the entire advertisement of the advertising content (the time required to read the text if the advertising content is text content, the time it takes for the image to be displayed if the advertising content is image content, etc.), but by way of example and not limitation, if there is a function to skip playback of the advertising content, then by way of example and not limitation, if a user skips playback of the advertising content, the actual consumption time of the sub-content will be shorter than the estimated sub-content consumption time.

[0130] The distribution source URI is a URI that indicates a link destination of a distribution source (business entity) that provides the sub-content, corresponding to the sub-content. By way of example and not limitation, the origin URI may be obtained and stored by parsing the address of the originating website or web page.

[0131] The other registration information may include, by way of example and not limitation, various types of information such as sub-content configuration data that constitutes the sub-content, the name of the sub-content, and link information for transitioning to other web pages associated with the sub-content.

[0132] (2) Functional configuration of the terminal FIG. 1-6 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit 21 of a terminal 20 in this embodiment. The control unit 21 includes, as a functional unit, an application processing unit 211 for executing application processing according to an application processing program 281 stored in the storage unit 28, for example and not for limitation.

[0133] FIG. 1-7 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. In the storage unit 28, for example and not for limitation, an application processing program 281 executed as application processing and an application ID 283 corresponding to this terminal 20 or the account of the user of the terminal 20 are stored.

[0134] <Display screen> An example of a display screen in this embodiment will be described. The transition of the display screens described below is merely an example of the transition of the display screens for implementing the method of the present disclosure. In the transition of the display screens illustrated below, some of the display screens may be omitted, or other display screens may be added. In addition, the terminology used on the display screen described below may differ from the terminology used in the processes described thereafter (some terminology may not be consistent), but this is merely for convenience and to provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the display screen from the user's perspective.

[0135] In the following, as an example and not a limitation, a case will be illustrated in which the terminal 20 is a smartphone equipped with a display unit 24 having a portrait display. For example, but not by way of limitation, a smartphone has a touch panel that functions as an input unit and is disposed opposite the display, thereby forming a touch screen. When an element such as an icon, button, item, or input area is displayed on the display, and a part of the touch panel that faces the area where the element is displayed is operated by a user, a program associated with the element or a subroutine of the program is executed. The transition of the display screens described below is merely an example of the transition of the display screens for realizing the method of the present disclosure. In the transition of the display screens illustrated below, the display of some of the display screens may be omitted, or other display screens may be added.

[0136] In addition, in one drawing or across multiple drawings, a flow of screen transition may be explained by showing a specific screen displayed on a different terminal 20. In this case, by way of example and not of limitation, a specific screen may be displayed on a different terminal 20 based on at least one of the following (triggered by at least one of the following): Automatically displayed Displayed when some kind of notification (including push notification, etc.; the same applies below) is sent to the terminal 20 and the user performs an operation in response to the notification. No notification is sent to the terminal 20, but it is displayed when the user performs a specific operation on the application. A notification is sent to the terminal 20, and the message is displayed when the user performs a specific operation on the application that sent the notification.

[0137] In the following, by way of example and not limitation, the message content display area TR1 is an example of a first area of ​​a chat room, and the sub-content display area TR2 is an example of a second area of ​​the chat room different from the first area.

[0138] 1-8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. In the following example, it is assumed that a user AA who is a user of a messaging application is registered as a friend with a user BB who is also a user of a messaging application. In addition, in the following, as an example and not a limitation, a display screen example is given in which sub-content is displayed in a one-to-one talk room between user AA and user BB, but the same can be applied to a group talk room or an OA talk room. In addition, in the following, the sub-content displayed in the chat room is illustrated as video content as an example and not as a limitation, but the same can be applied to other types of sub-content.

[0139] FIG. 1-8 is an example of a talk room screen of a messaging application displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A of user AA, by way of example and not by way of limitation. The screen is configured to display the name of the messaging application, "Messaging App," in the center of the top of the screen, and to display the icon image and user name (user AA in this example) of the messaging application of the user of the terminal 20A in the top right of the screen. Below that, the letters "BB" are displayed, indicating that this is a one-to-one talk room between user AA and user BB.

[0140] Below that, a message content display area TR1 for displaying message content (messages) to be sent (posted) to this talk room is displayed. Also, below the message content display area TR1, a message content input area for inputting and selecting message content to be sent to this chat room is configured to be displayed. In the message content display area TR1, for example and not by way of limitation, comments from user AA of the terminal 20A, which is the terminal itself, are displayed in speech bubbles on the right side, and comments from other users are displayed on the left side, each in a speech bubble as message content.

[0141] Moreover, a sub-contents display area TR2 for displaying sub-contents is configured to be displayed above the message content display area TR1. In this example, the subcontent display area TR2 is configured as an area that overlaps with the message content display area TR1. In this case, as a non-limiting example, layers may be set in the following order from the backmost layer to the frontmost layer: a layer of the background of the talk room, a layer of the message content, and a layer of the subcontent. Note that, as a non-limiting example, the subcontent display area TR2 may be displayed by starting a subcontent player provided as a function of a messaging application on the terminal 20. In this example, in the subcontent display area TR2, by way of example and not limitation, video content (in this example, a game walkthrough video) is displayed as subcontent.

[0142] In this way, when a user has a chat room open in a messaging application, the sub-content is always displayed at the top of the screen, so that even if the exchange of messages between users in the chat room has stopped, the user can be allowed to view the sub-content, thereby lengthening the time until the user leaves the chat room.

[0143] <Processing> FIG. 1-9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. In this figure, from the left, an example of a process executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, a process executed by the control unit 11 of the server 10, and a process executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B are shown. Note that the process described below is merely an example of a process for realizing the method of the present disclosure, and is not limited thereto. Another step may be added to the process described below, or some steps may be omitted (deleted) from the process described below.

[0144] First, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits chat request information for requesting to chat with the user of the terminal 20B via a talk room to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 based on an input to the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20A (user input (operation input by the user, sound input, etc.) as an example and not a limitation). When the chat request information is received from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14, the control unit 21 of the server 10 executes a chat start process for chatting between the terminals 20A and 20B via the talk room (S110). In the chat start process, the control unit 11 of the server 10 generates a talk room ID for identifying the talk room, as an example and not a limitation, and transmits the generated talk room ID to each terminal 20 participating in the talk room via the communication I / F 14.

[0145] As an example and not a limitation, when a talk room ID is received from server 10 via communication I / F 22, control unit 21 of terminal 20A and control unit 21 of terminal 20B execute a chat start process to conduct a chat via the talk room between terminal 20A and terminal 20B (A110-B110). In the chat start process, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 causes the display unit 24 to display a talk room screen, for example and not for limitation.

[0146] The chat request information may be transmitted from the terminal 20B to the server 10.

[0147] As an example and not a limitation, when the chat start process is started, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits message content information (message content information exchanged in the past) corresponding to the content of the chat that had taken place between terminal 20A and terminal 20B via the talk room up until the chat start process was performed, and sub-content information associated with the sub-content, to terminal 20A and terminal 20B via the communication I / F 14 (S1010). Here, the sub-content information may include, by way of example and not limitation, a sub-content ID, a distributor URI, sub-content configuration data, and the like, corresponding to at least one or more sub-contents. When the message content information is received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 causes the display unit 24 to display the message content based on the received message content information (A1010-B1010). Furthermore, when the sub-content information is received from server 10 via communication I / F 22, control unit 21 of each terminal 20 causes display unit 24 to display the sub-content based on the received sub-content information (A1020-B1020).

[0148] Here, when sub-content information is received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 may, by way of example and not limitation, execute a storage process to store the received sub-content information in the memory unit 28. Furthermore, when sub-content information is received from server 10 via communication I / F 22, control unit 21 of each terminal 20 may, for example and without limitation, include all of the sub-content constituent data in the received sub-content information and display the sub-content on display unit 24 based on the sub-content constituent data (bulk download method), or may not include all of the sub-content constituent data in the received sub-content information and display the sub-content on display unit 24 while acquiring part of the sub-content constituent data stored in sub-content data 155 of memory unit 15 of server 10 based on the sub-content ID included in the received sub-content information (streaming method).

[0149] Then, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 judges whether the process is to be completed (A1090 and B1090). Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether the process is to be completed (S1090).

[0150] Here, when it is determined that the processing is to be terminated in any of the terminals (A1090: YES·B1090: YES), the control unit 21 of that terminal 20 may transmit processing termination information indicating that the processing is to be terminated to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0151] Then, when the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives the processing end information from the terminal 20 via the communication I / F 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, by way of example and not limitation, transmit the processing end information to another terminal 20 via the communication I / F 14. In addition, the server 10 may periodically inquire of the terminal 20 as to whether or not to continue processing, and based on the fact that the terminal 20 does not transmit information resulting from the inquiry to the server 10, the server 10 may determine that processing has been terminated at the terminal 20.

[0152] The second area may be any area within the chat room, and may be configured as an area that overlaps with the first area, as in the above example, or may be configured as an area separate from the first area (an area that does not overlap with the first area). Also, unlike the above example, the location is not limited to the upper part of the screen, but may be the lower part of the screen, etc. In this case, the location may be such that the visibility of the message content is not reduced. In addition, the second area may be configured as a fixed area (fixed area) whose position cannot be changed by the user, or as a variable area (variable path area) whose display position can be changed by the user through input such as an operation.

[0153] <Effects of the First Embodiment> According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, a user of a terminal can view a first content displayed in a first area of ​​a chat room while viewing a second content displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room, thereby preventing the user from leaving the chat room or being bored while waiting for a reply, by way of example and not limitation.

[0154] Also according to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, content stored on and transmitted from the server may be displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room.

[0155] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, the second content may be displayed in a second area that overlaps the first area in which the first content is displayed.

[0156] <First Modification (1)> When a condition for displaying the sub-content is met, the sub-content may be displayed in the talk room.

[0157] Fig. 1-10 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The left side of Fig. 1-10 is an example, not a limitation, and explanations of parts similar to the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, the subcontent is not displayed in the subcontent display area TR2 because the condition for displaying the subcontent (the subcontent display condition described later) is not satisfied. Note that a tab TB is displayed at the top of the message content display area TR1 to let the user know that the subcontent can be displayed.

[0158] By way of example and not limitation, when the user taps the tab TB, the subcontent display condition is met, and the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-10. This screen is similar to the screen shown in Figure 1-8 described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0159] In this way, when a user has a chat room of a messaging application open, if the sub-content display condition is not met (in this example, the user has not tapped tab TB), the sub-content is not displayed in the chat room, and if the sub-content display condition is met (in this example, the user has tapped tab TB), the sub-content is displayed in the chat room, thereby providing the user with display control of sub-content that is appropriate for the situation.

[0160] Fig. 1-11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. In the flowchart of Fig. 1-11, the description of the same parts as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0161] After A1010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines, by way of example and not limitation, whether or not a sub-contents display condition is met (A1110). When the sub-contents display condition is met (A1110: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A proceeds to the process of A1020, for example and not for limitation. When the sub-contents display condition is not met (A1110: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A skips the process of A1020 and proceeds to the process of A1090, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0162] Here, the sub-contents display conditions may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: An operation (input) was performed to display A certain amount of time has passed

[0163] The sub-content display condition “an operation has been performed to display” may include, by way of example and not limitation, a case where the user performs an operation to display the sub-content (in this example, an operation on the tab TB).

[0164] The sub-contents display condition "a certain period of time has elapsed" may include, by way of example and not limitation, a case where a certain period of time (one minute in this example) has elapsed without the sub-contents being displayed.

[0165] According to this variation, by way of example and not limitation, the second content may be displayed in the second area of ​​the chat room based on the set display conditions.

[0166] <First Modification (2)> It may be possible to change (switch) the subcontent to be displayed. Methods for changing the subcontent may include, but are not limited to, the following examples. - Swipe to change Change from the Change button Automatic change

[0167] By way of example and not limitation, swipe change may be a technique in which one subcontent is changed to another by a user swiping, where a right-to-left swipe may display a new subcontent and a left-to-right swipe may redisplay a previously displayed subcontent.

[0168] The change from the change button may be, for example and without limitation, a method of changing to another subcontent by a user operating a button or the like for changing subcontent displayed together with one subcontent (a button including the word "next" or a button including the word "previous"). As an example and without limitation, the next new subcontent may be displayed by tapping the button including the word "next" and the already displayed subcontent may be displayed again by tapping the button including the word "previous".

[0169] The automatic change may be, for example and not limitation, a method of automatically changing subcontent without any operation by the user. For example and not limitation, the subcontent may be automatically changed to another subcontent when an expected time for consumption of the subcontent has elapsed since the display of the subcontent.

[0170] A swipe change or a change from a change button may be an example of a change condition (switching condition) of the second content based on user input, and an automatic change may be an example of a change condition (switching condition) of the second content that is not based on user input.

[0171] Fig. 1-12 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 1-12 is the same as the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above, by way of example and not limitation, and therefore will not be described.

[0172] By way of example and not limitation, when the subcontent (game walkthrough video) in the subcontent display area TR2 is swiped from right to left by the user, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-12. Explanation of the parts of the screen on the right side of Figure 1-12 that are similar to the screen shown in Figure 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, based on the user swiping the sub-content (a game walkthrough video) from right to left, a portion of the pre-change sub-content (a game walkthrough video) in the middle of moving off-screen (to the left) is displayed on the left side of the sub-content display area TR2, and the post-change sub-content (a music video) in the middle of moving onto the screen is displayed on the right side of the sub-content display area TR2.

[0173] Fig. 1-13 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 1-13 is the same as the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above, by way of example and not limitation, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0174] By way of example and not limitation, when the subcontent (game walkthrough video) in the subcontent display area TR2 is swiped from right to left by the user, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-13. Explanation of the parts of the screen on the right side of Figure 1-13 that are similar to the screen shown in Figure 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, based on the sub-content (a game walkthrough video) being swiped from right to left by the user, a portion of the pre-change sub-content (a game walkthrough video) in the process of moving off-screen (to the left) is displayed on the left side of the sub-content display area TR2, and the post-change sub-content (baseball news content) in the process of moving onto the screen is displayed on the right side of the sub-content display area TR2.

[0175] Fig. 1-14 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. In the flowchart of Fig. 1-14, the description of the same parts as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0176] After A1020, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines, by way of example and not by way of limitation, whether or not a sub-content change operation has been performed (A1210). By way of example and not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the sub-content has been swiped by the user. When a sub-contents change operation is performed (A1210: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, by way of example and not limitation, causes the display unit 24 to display the changed sub-contents (A1220).

[0177] As a non-limiting example, the sub-content information that the server 10 transmits to each terminal may include information related to the display order of the sub-content, and the sub-content to be changed may be determined based on the information related to the display order of the sub-content. In addition, the sub-content information transmitted from the server 10 to each terminal may not include information related to the display order of the sub-contents, and the terminal receiving the sub-content information may decide which sub-content to display after the change.

[0178] When the sub-contents change operation is not performed (A1210: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A skips the process of A1220 and proceeds to the process of A1090, for example and not for limitation.

[0179] According to this modified example, by way of example and not limitation, based on a first input by a user of a terminal regarding a second content displayed in a second area of ​​a chat room, a third content different from the second content is displayed in the second area, making it possible to switch (change) the content.

[0180] <First Modification (3)> It is also possible to make it possible to view content corresponding to the subcontent displayed in the chat room through the service of the distributor. Hereinafter, the content corresponding to the subcontent is appropriately referred to as "distributor content." The source content may be content (not limited to, an example of a fourth content) related to the sub-content (not limited to, an example of a second content).

[0181] Techniques for viewing the source content from the subcontent may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: -Change from the source viewing button

[0182] As a non-limiting example, the change from the source viewing button may be a method of making the source content viewable by the user operating a button for viewing the source content displayed together with a sub-content (a button containing the words "View on source site").

[0183] Fig. 1-15 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 1-15 is an example and not a limitation, and the description of the parts similar to the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, at the bottom left of the sub-content display area TR2, by way of example and not limitation, a distributor viewing button HBT (a button containing the words "View on original site") for viewing content corresponding to the sub-content currently being displayed on the distributor's service is displayed superimposed on the sub-content (a game walkthrough video).

[0184] By way of example and not limitation, when the user taps the broadcast source viewing button HBT, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of FIG. 1-15. The description of the parts of the screen on the right side of FIG. 1-15 that are similar to the screen shown in FIG. 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, a browser area is configured below the top of the screen. The browser area displays a page specified by a URI, and displays a page for viewing a video from an external business that provides subcontent (a game walkthrough video) (a page including the content source, the title of the video, the person who posted the video, the number of views of the video, etc.).

[0185] In this way, by viewing the source content on a page for viewing videos from an external provider, users can consume the content with more information than when viewing sub-content in a chat room, thereby increasing the interest of users who are interested in the sub-content.

[0186] Fig. 1-16 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. In the flowchart of Fig. 1-16, the description of the same parts as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0187] After A1020, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines, by way of example and not by way of limitation, whether or not a source content display operation has been performed (A1310). By way of example and not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a source content viewing button has been tapped by the user. When the source content display operation is performed (A1310: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the display unit 24 to display the source content (A1320), for example and not for limitation.

[0188] As an example and not a limitation, when a source content display operation is performed (A1310: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may transmit source content viewing request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 to request viewing of the source content.

[0189] Then, when the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives source content viewing request information from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may transmit information similar to the source content viewing request information to the server of the external provider providing the sub-content via the communication I / F 22 based on the received source content viewing request information.

[0190] Then, when information similar to the source content viewing request information is received from server 10 via the communication I / F, the control unit of the external operator's server may transmit source content information for viewing the source content to server 10 via the communication I / F based on the information similar to the received source content viewing request information.

[0191] Then, when the distribution source content information is received from the external business via the communication I / F 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may transmit information similar to the distribution source content information via the communication I / F 14 to the terminal 20A.

[0192] Then, when information similar to the source content information is received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may cause the display unit 24 to display the source content based on the information similar to the received source content information.

[0193] If the source content display operation is not performed (A1310: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A skips the process of A1320 and proceeds to the process of A1090, for example and not for limitation.

[0194] Although the source content is exemplified here as the content related to the sub-content, the present invention is not limited to this. Content related to the sub-content may be any content that has some relevance to the sub-content, and may include, without limitation, content that is an excerpt of the sub-content or a summary (such as a digest version) of the sub-content.

[0195] According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, a fourth content related to the second content may be displayed based on a second input by a user of the terminal regarding the second content displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room.

[0196] <First Modification (4)> It may be possible to display the type of subcontent being displayed and the type of subcontent that can be displayed. It may also be possible to change (switch) the type of subcontent to be displayed. Methods for changing the type of subcontent may include, but are not limited to, the following examples: -Change from the type change button

[0197] The change from the type change button may be, for example and without limitation, a method in which a user operates a button or the like for changing the type of subcontent displayed together with one subcontent (a button including the characters "article", a button including the characters "video", a button including the characters "manga") to change the type of subcontent to another subcontent. For example and without limitation, when a subcontent whose type is "video" is displayed, tapping the button including the characters "article" may display a subcontent whose type is "news", and tapping the button including the characters "manga" may display a subcontent whose type is "book (manga)".

[0198] Fig. 1-17 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 1-17 is an example and not a limitation, and the description of the parts similar to the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, at the bottom of the subcontent display area TR2, by way of example and not limitation, type selection items SCI for changing the type of subcontent (item containing the characters "article", item containing the characters "video", item containing the characters "manga") are displayed. The type selection item corresponding to the type of subcontent currently being displayed (item "video" by way of example and not limitation) is underlined. Each item of these type selection items can be tapped by the user, and may function as a button.

[0199] By way of example and not limitation, when the "Article" item (button) is tapped by the user, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-17. The description of the parts of the screen on the right side of Figure 1-17 that are similar to the screen on the left side of Figure 1-17 described above will be omitted. In this example, in the subcontent display area TR2, as an example and not a limitation, news content (baseball news) is displayed as subcontent. In addition, the type selection item (as an example and not a limitation, the item "Article") corresponding to the type of the currently displayed subcontent is underlined.

[0200] Fig. 1-18 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. In the flowchart of Fig. 1-18, the description of the same parts as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0201] In this example, when sub-content information is received from server 10 via communication I / F 22, control unit 21 of each terminal 20 causes display unit 24 to display the sub-content based on the received sub-content information (A1020-B1020). This sub-content may include, by way of example and not limitation, a category selection item.

[0202] After A1020, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines, by way of example and not limitation, whether or not a sub-content type change operation has been performed (A1410). By way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 determines whether or not a selection item of a type that is not currently selected among the type selection items has been tapped by the user. When a sub-content type change operation is performed (A1410: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, by way of example and not limitation, causes the display unit 24 to display the sub-content after the type change (A1420).

[0203] If the sub-content type change operation has not been performed (A1410: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A skips the process of A1420 and proceeds to the process of A1090, for example and not for limitation.

[0204] According to this variation, by way of example and not limitation, information regarding the type of content is displayed in the second area of ​​the chat room, allowing the user to understand the type of content.

[0205] <First Modification (5)> It may be possible to display a subcontent list relating to subcontents that have been displayed so far, subcontents that are currently displayed, and subcontents that are to be displayed in the future. It may also be possible to change (switch) the subcontents to be displayed from the subcontent list.

[0206] Fig. 1-19 is a diagram showing an example of the transition of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 1-19 is an example and not a limitation, and the description of the part similar to the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, a sub-content list button LBT for displaying a sub-content list is displayed in the upper right portion of the sub-content display area TR2, by way of example and not limitation.

[0207] By way of example and not limitation, when the sub-content list button LBT is tapped by the user, the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of FIG. 1-19. The description of the parts of the screen on the right side of FIG. 1-19 that are similar to the screen on the left side of FIG. 1-19 described above will be omitted. In this example, a sub-content list display area LR for displaying a sub-content list is configured to the right of the message content display area TR1. In the sub-content list display area, by way of example and not limitation, from top to bottom, thumbnail images of sub-contents that have been displayed so far (music video), thumbnail images of sub-contents that are currently being displayed (game walkthrough videos), thumbnail images of sub-contents that will be displayed in the future (baseball news), etc. are displayed. In addition, a playback mark (a right-facing triangular object) is displayed on the thumbnail image of the currently displayed sub-content, indicating that the thumbnail image is the currently displayed sub-content.

[0208] Fig. 1-20 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. In the flowchart of Fig. 1-20, the description of the same parts as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0209] In this example, when sub-content information is received from server 10 via communication I / F 22, control unit 21 of each terminal 20 causes display unit 24 to display the sub-content based on the received sub-content information (A1020-B1020). This sub-content may include, by way of example and not limitation, a sub-content list button.

[0210] After A1020, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines, by way of example and not limitation, whether or not a sub-content list display operation has been performed (A1510). By way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the sub-content list button has been tapped by the user. When a sub-content list display operation is performed (A1510: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, by way of example and not limitation, causes the display unit 24 to display the sub-content list (A1520).

[0211] If the sub-content list display operation is not performed (A1510: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A skips the process of A1520 and proceeds to the process of A1090, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0212] According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, candidates for second content may be stored in a list, and based on content selected from the list, the second content may be obtained and displayed.

[0213] <First Modification (6)> In a talk room in a messaging service, sub-content may be made to be displayed when a talk partner is performing any input operation.

[0214] Fig. 1-21 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 1-21 is an example and not a limitation, and a description of the parts similar to the screen in Fig. 1-10 described above will be omitted. In this example, no tab TB is displayed at the top of the message content display area TR1 to let the user know that sub-contents can be displayed.

[0215] By way of example and not limitation, when any input is made by the person in the chat room (user BB), the display changes to the screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-21, by way of example and not limitation. Explanation of the parts of the screen on the right side of Figure 1-21 that are similar to the screen on the left side of Figure 1-21 described above will be omitted. In this example, an input content (message ". . . inputting") indicating that user BB is making some input is displayed at the bottom of message content display area TR1. Subcontent (a game walkthrough video) is displayed in subcontent display area TR2 by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[0216] Fig. 1-22 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in this modified example. In the flowchart of Fig. 1-22, the description of the same parts as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0217] After B1010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B, for example and not for limitation, transmits input information indicating that any input has been made by the user to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (B1610). Note that it may be possible to determine whether any input has been made by the user, and if the determination is YES, the processing of B1610 may be executed.

[0218] After S1010, when input information is received from terminal 20B via communication I / F 14, control unit 11 of server 10 transmits the received input information to terminal 20A via communication I / F 14 (S1610). Note that a determination may be made as to whether or not input information is to be received from terminal 20, and if the determination is YES, the process of S1610 may be executed.

[0219] After A1010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not input information has been received (A1610), by way of example and not limitation. If it is determined that input information has been received (A1610: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the display unit 24 to display subcontents, by way of example and not limitation (A1620). Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may cause the display unit 24 to display message content including the input information, by way of example and not limitation. When it is determined that no input information has been received (A1610: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A skips the process of A1620 and proceeds to the process of A1090, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0220] <Second Example> The second embodiment relates to a method for selecting sub-content to be displayed in a talk room in a messaging service. The contents described in the second embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0221] <Processing> Fig. 2-1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. In the flowchart of Fig. 2-1, the description of the parts that are the same as those in the flowchart of Fig. 1-9 described above will be omitted.

[0222] After A1010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A executes, by way of example and not limitation, a sub-content selection process (A2010), and executes the process of A1020 based on the sub-content selected in the sub-content selection process. In the sub-content selection process, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines, by way of example and not limitation, sub-content to be displayed in the process of A1020 from among the received sub-contents (sub-content information).

[0223] Methods for selecting sub-content in the sub-content selection process may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: Random selection Subcontent ID order ·Talk content support ·Response time

[0224] The random selection may be a method of randomly selecting from among sub-content candidates (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "sub-content candidates") included in the sub-content information. The sub-contents may be selected from among the sub-content candidates in order of the sub-contents IDs (as an example, and not a limitation, ascending order). The talk content correspondence may be a method of preferentially selecting subcontent related to the talk content of the talk room from among subcontent candidates. As a non-limiting example, a keyword for each subcontent (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a "subcontent keyword") may be set in the subcontent data 155, and when the text of the message content information is analyzed and a subcontent keyword is detected from the text, the subcontent for which the matching subcontent keyword is set may be preferentially selected. The response time support may be a method of preferentially selecting subcontent related to the average response time of the conversation partner in the chat room from among the subcontent candidates. As a non-limiting example, the average time taken by the conversation partner to reply (hereinafter referred to as "average response time") may be analyzed from the message transmission time included in the message content information, and subcontent with an expected subcontent consumption time close to the average response time may be preferentially selected. Note that the subcontent with an expected subcontent consumption time close to the average response time may be, for example and not limited to, subcontent with an expected subcontent consumption time shorter than the average response time, or, for example and not limited to, subcontent with an expected subcontent consumption time longer than the average response time, or, for example and not limited to, subcontent with the same average response time and expected subcontent consumption time.

[0225] Note that the sub-content selection process may be executed by control unit 11 of server 10. In this case, information regarding the results of the sub-content selection process may be included in the sub-content information.

[0226] <Effects of the second embodiment> According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, a second content selected based on a content reply of a first user of a first terminal may be obtained and displayed.

[0227] <Second Modification Example (1)> Methods for selecting sub-content in the sub-content selection process may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: - Sub-contents that your chat partner has favorited

[0228] As a non-limiting example, the sub-contents that the talk partner has favorited may be preferentially selected from among the sub-content candidates. As a non-limiting example, the sub-content data 155 may store information about users who have favorited each sub-content, and if the users who have favorited each sub-content include the talk partner, the sub-contents that the talk partner has favorited may be preferentially selected.

[0229] Fig. 2-2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. Fig. 2-2 is an example and not a limitation, and a description of the parts that are similar to the screen in Fig. 1-8 described above will be omitted. In this example, the sub-content that the conversation partner (user BB) has favorited is displayed, and based on this, favorite-related information FI (an icon containing the text "BB liked this 1 hour ago") is displayed at the top of the sub-content display area TR2, which includes information regarding the fact that user BB has favorited it and the time when user BB favorited it.

[0230] In this way, by displaying the sub-content that the conversation partner has favorited, the conversation partner can become aware of topics that interest the conversation partner regarding sub-content that is not related to the messaging function of the messaging service, thereby making the conversation more lively.

[0231] <Second Modification Example (2)> Sub-contents may be grouped according to any factor related to the sub-contents. Factors for grouping the sub-contents may include, but are not limited to, the following: - Estimated time to consume sub-content Sub-content type

[0232] The element for grouping sub-contents, "estimated consumption time of sub-contents," may be, for example and without limitation, such that sub-contents are grouped according to the length of the estimated consumption time of the sub-contents. As a non-limiting example, if the expected sub-content consumption time is equal to or greater than 0 seconds and less than 15 seconds, the group of sub-content for that sub-content consumption time may be set as group B001; if the expected sub-content consumption time is equal to or greater than 15 seconds and less than 30 seconds, the group of sub-content for that sub-content consumption time may be set as group B002; if the expected sub-content consumption time is equal to or greater than 30 seconds and less than 60 seconds, the group of sub-content for that sub-content consumption time may be set as group B003; and if the expected sub-content consumption time is 60 seconds or more, the group of sub-content for that sub-content consumption time may be set as group B004.

[0233] The element "sub-content type" for grouping sub-contents is, by way of example and not by way of limitation, such that sub-contents are grouped according to the sub-content type. As a non-limiting example, if the sub-content type is "video", the group of sub-content of that sub-content type may be set as group Z001; if the sub-content type is "news", the group of sub-content of that sub-content type may be set as group Z002; if the sub-content type is "book", the group of sub-content of that sub-content type may be set as group Z003; and if the sub-content type is "advertisement", the group of sub-content of that sub-content type may be set as group Z004.

[0234] Sub-contents may be selected based on these groups. In A2010 of FIG. 2-1, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may select sub-content in the sub-content selection process based on, for example and not limitation, the sub-content data 155B storing information on the grouped sub-contents shown in FIG. 2-3.

[0235] As a non-limiting example, when subcontent with a long expected time to consume the subcontent should be displayed (as a non-limiting example, if the chat room is with a chat partner with an average reply time of one minute or more), subcontent from group B004 may be selected first, and when subcontent with a short expected time to consume the subcontent should be displayed (as a non-limiting example, if the chat room is with a chat partner with an average reply time of ten seconds or less), subcontent from group B001 may be selected first.

[0236] According to such a configuration, it is possible to display suitable sub-contents depending on the situation, and the effect obtained by displaying the sub-contents can be further improved.

[0237] <Second Modification (3)> When one subcontent is being displayed and the person you are talking to performs any input operation, the display time of the subcontent may be changed to a time shorter than the normal display time, or the subcontent scheduled to be displayed next may be changed.

[0238] Methods for changing the display time of the sub-content from the normal display time to a shorter display time when the person you are talking to performs any input operation may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: Switch to the short version

[0239] The method of "switching to a short version" of changing the display time of a subcontent from a normal display time to a shorter display time may be, for example and without limitation, a method of switching to a short version of a subcontent that has been edited to a time shorter than the expected consumption time of the subcontent. Hereinafter, a subcontent with a normal display time will be referred to as a "normal subcontent" as appropriate, and a subcontent with a display time shorter than the normal display time will be referred to as a "shortened subcontent" as appropriate. As a non-limiting example, the normal sub-content may be switched to the shortened sub-content at a predetermined timing after the conversation partner performs any input operation.

[0240] The predetermined timing after the conversation partner performs any input operation may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: Immediately after the person you are talking to performs any input operation - The preset timing during which the regular sub-content is displayed after the other person performs any input operation

[0241] As a non-limiting example of the preset timing of the display time of the normal sub-content after the conversation partner performs any input operation, the timing and period during which the same content (scene) is displayed in the normal sub-content and the shortened sub-content may be stored in advance, and when the next scene of the normal sub-content is to start after the conversation partner performs any input operation, the corresponding scene of the shortened sub-content may be displayed from the start time.

[0242] Specifically, if one sub-content (for example, but not limited to, video content) is broadly divided into a first scene, a second scene, a third scene, and a fourth scene based on the content of the video, and the expected consumption time of the normal sub-content is 60 seconds and the expected consumption time of the shortened sub-content is 20 seconds, then the 0-15 second portion of the normal sub-content and the 0-5 second portion of the shortened sub-content correspond to the first scene, the 15-30 second portion of the normal sub-content and the 5-10 second portion of the shortened sub-content correspond to the second scene, the 30-45 second portion of the normal sub-content and the 10-15 second portion of the shortened sub-content correspond to the third scene, and the 45-60 second portion of the normal sub-content and the 15-20 second portion of the shortened sub-content correspond to the fourth scene.

[0243] Here, if the person you are talking to performs any input operation 3 seconds after the start of displaying the normal sub-content (in the middle of the first scene), the normal sub-content may continue to be displayed until the first scene ends, and then the abbreviated sub-content may be displayed when the second scene begins.

[0244] According to such a configuration, when switching from normal subcontents to shortened subcontents, the normal subcontents that have been displayed and the shortened subcontents that are switched to and displayed can be seamlessly switched to the shortened subcontents without causing a difference in content.

[0245] Additionally, techniques for changing the subcontent to be displayed next may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: Change the sub-content that was scheduled to be displayed next

[0246] "Changing subcontent scheduled to be displayed from next time onwards" may be, for example and not by way of limitation, a method of resetting subcontent scheduled to be displayed from next time onwards (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "display-scheduled subcontent"). As an example and not by way of limitation, when resetting the display-scheduled subcontent, a subcontent with a shorter expected subcontent consumption time may be selected as the display-scheduled content.

[0247] <Third Example> The third embodiment relates to enabling a user to know the presence of a user with whom he or she is talking. The contents described in the third embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

[0248] Some users may not keep the chat room displayed on the display unit 24 while talking to a talk partner (they may not always see the contents of the chat), and may talk to other talk partners or put the messaging application in the background or off. In other words, there is a possibility that the talk partner will not reply for a while, and in such a case, waiting for a long time may be a waste of time.

[0249] <Display screen> FIG. 3-1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. In the screen on the left side of FIG. 3-1, both user AA and user BB have entered the talk room, but then user BB has left (left, left the room), and based on that, in the screen in the center of FIG. 3-1, under the latest message content sent by user AA, which is displayed in the message content display area TR1 below the subcontent display area TR2, presence information PI including the characters "BB has left" is displayed as an example of information regarding user BB's presence. Also, in this example, the aforementioned source viewing button HBT (a button including the characters "View on source site") is displayed in the lower left of the subcontent display area TR2 in a manner superimposed on the subcontent. The source viewing button HBT may be displayed in association with information such as the URI of the storage destination of the source content (such as the URL of the source site), by way of example and not of limitation.

[0250] When the source viewing button HBT is tapped, the source site is opened by a web browser (or an application browser) and the source content is displayed on the display unit 24, as shown, by way of example and not limitation, on the right side of FIG. 3-1.

[0251] FIG. 3-2 is a diagram showing another example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. The screen on the left side of Figure 3-2 corresponds to the screen in the center of Figure 3-1, but in this example, by way of example and not limitation, a full screen display button FBT containing the words "View in full screen" for displaying the currently displayed sub-content in full screen is displayed in the lower left corner of the sub-content display area TR2 superimposed on the sub-content.

[0252] When the full screen display button FBT is tapped, as shown by way of example and not limitation on the right side of FIG. 3-2, the sub-content display area TR2 is expanded to fill the entire display unit 24, and the sub-content is displayed in full screen. Note that, in this example, after full screen display, the user AA turns the terminal 20 to landscape orientation, and accordingly, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A rotates and displays the sub-content. In addition, a display original size button (MBT) containing the words "View in original size" for viewing this sub-content in its original size is displayed at the bottom left of the screen, and when this display original size button (MBT) is tapped, it is configured so that the display can be returned to the screen shown on the left side of Figure 3-2, by way of example and not limitation.

[0253] <Processing> FIG. 3-3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in this embodiment. In S3010, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the message content information and the first sub-content information via the communication I / F 14 to the terminal 20A and the terminal 20B, respectively. In response to this, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B each display the message content in the message content display area TR1 of the display unit 24 (A3010, B3010). After A3010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the first subcontent in the subcontent display area TR2 (A3020). Similarly, after B3010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B displays the first subcontent in the subcontent display area TR2 (B3020).

[0254] If it is determined in B1090 based on the input from user BB that the talk is to end (B1090: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B transmits end information indicating that the talk is to end to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (B3020). After S3010, when it is determined that termination information has been received from terminal 20B via communication I / F 14 (S3030: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10, by way of example and not limitation, transmits the presence information and second sub-content information of user BB to terminal 20A via communication I / F 14 (S3030).

[0255] Here, the presence information may include, for example and not for limitation, information regarding the presence of user BB (user AA's conversation partner) (in this example, information such as "Left" (leaving, leaving), "Absent", "Away from desk", etc.). As one example, the user's presence may be determined by server 10 based on information transmitted from terminal 20, or may be determined by server 10 based on information transmitted from terminal 20 as a result of server 10 making an inquiry to terminal 20.

[0256] In addition, the second sub-content information may include, by way of example and not limitation, information for displaying the source content of the sub-content displayed on terminal 20A (the sub-content being distributed in the case of streaming distribution) (by way of example and not limitation, the URI of the storage destination of the source content, information of an object such as a button associated with this URI on the terminal 20A side, and information of an object such as a button associated with this URI on the server 10) and information for full-screen display (by way of example and not limitation, information of an object such as a ``full-screen display button'').

[0257] The second sub-content information may be regarded as information regarding a mode in which the sub-content is displayed on the terminal 20A after the user BB leaves the talk room. The first sub-content information is content that is not related to the messaging function in the messaging service and may be an example of information used in the messaging service that does not specify a sender and a destination, while the second sub-content information may be an example of information for changing the display mode of the first sub-content information based on the other party leaving the chat room. Specifically, the first sub-content information may be, by way of example and not limitation, information for displaying the first sub-content of video content, news content, etc. (such as the video content on the left side of Figure 3-1) displayed in a chat room. Furthermore, the second sub-content information may be, for example and without limitation, information for changing the display mode of the first sub-content (such as superimposing the distribution source viewing button HBT on the sub-content in the center of Figure 3-1, or superimposing the full screen display button FBT on the sub-content on the left side of Figure 3-2), or may be information for providing a more suitable display control for the sub-content to a user who has been dropped by his or her conversation partner.

[0258] After A3020, if it is determined that the presence information and the second subcontent information have been received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A3030: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the received presence information to be displayed in the message content display area TR1 of the display unit 24 (A3040). Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the second subcontent to be displayed in the subcontent display area TR2 of the display unit 24 based on the received second subcontent information (A3050). In this case, the subcontent display area TR2 may display information on objects such as buttons based on information for displaying the above-mentioned source content. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A advances the process to A3090.

[0259] In addition, when user BB leaves the talk room and then re-enters the talk room (when the talk room is displayed on display unit 24 of terminal 20B), information such as "BB has entered the room" may be displayed on display unit 24 of terminal 20A as presence information for user BB.

[0260] Here, the above-mentioned presence information may be an example of information related to the user's presence. The information related to the user's presence may be information that has some relationship with the user's presence (such as "leave / enter", "presence / absence", "in / away", "seated / away", etc.), and may include, by way of example and not limitation, information that allows the user or device to identify the user's presence. In addition to information for displaying the sub-content full screen, as a non-limiting example, information for enlarging or reducing the area in which the sub-content is displayed from a default size based on user input may be displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20.

[0261] <Effects of the third embodiment> According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, a user of a first terminal can grasp the presence of a first user based on information about the presence of the first user of the first terminal displayed in a chat room, thereby improving efficiency.

[0262] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, information for displaying the fourth content (by way of example and not limitation, the content of the source of the subcontent displayed in the second area of ​​the chat room) based on information regarding the presence of the first user of the first terminal can be displayed in the second area, providing the user of the terminal with a lead to display the fourth content. By way of example and not limitation, the user can be made aware that there is no reply from the other party, providing the user of the terminal with an opportunity to concentrate on the subcontent.

[0263] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, it is possible to display information for enlarging the area in which the second content is displayed based on information regarding the presence of the first user of the first terminal, and provide the user of the terminal with a guide for enlarging the area in which the second content is displayed, thereby improving efficiency. By way of example and not limitation, it is possible to make the user recognize that there is no reply from the other party, and to provide the user of the terminal with an opportunity to concentrate on the subcontent.

[0264] <Third Modification (1)> The terminal 20 or the server 10 may select and acquire sub-contents selected based on information regarding the presence of the user with whom the user is to talk.

[0265] FIG. 3-4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device under the control of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A in this modified example, and shows the process following S3020 of the process in FIG. 3-3 as an example and not a limitation. After A3040, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs a second subcontent selection process (A3110). Specifically, as a non-limiting example, the second subcontent to be displayed by the process of A3050 is determined from among the subcontents stored in the storage unit 28. As a non-limiting example, if it is determined that the presence of the user BB has become "left the room" based on the information on the presence of the user BB received from the server 10, a second subcontent of a video longer than the currently displayed subcontent and different from the first subcontent may be selected. As a non-limiting example, a subcontent based on the subcontent data 155C storing information on the video subcontent shown in FIG. 3-5 and having a longer consumption time than the displayed subcontent (as a non-limiting example, the subcontent of the video in group C002 set as a long group) is selected. The control unit 11 of the server 10 may execute the second subcontent selection process. In this case, as a non-limiting example, when S3020: YES in the process of FIG. 3-4, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform the second subcontent selection process and perform the process of S3030. The control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the second subcontent selected in the second subcontent selection process (or selected by the server 10) to be displayed in the subcontent display area TR2 of the display unit 24 (A3050).

[0266] In addition, by using the same process as above, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may select a second subcontent that is a shorter video than the currently displayed subcontent when it determines that the presence of the user BB has changed from "Leaving" to "Entering" based on the information transmitted from the server 10. The same may be true when the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs the second subcontent selection process.

[0267] Alternatively, the server 10 may transmit a set number of pieces of sub-content data to the terminal 20 in advance, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may store the data in the storage unit 28. Then, in A3110, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may select and acquire sub-content data based on information regarding the presence of the user BB from the sub-content data stored in the storage unit 28, and display the selected data in the sub-content display area TR2 of the display unit 24.

[0268] Also, in the case where subcontents such as news articles are displayed instead of subcontents of videos, as a non-limiting example, if it is determined that the presence of user BB has become "left the room", a subcontent of an article (longer article) having more characters, lines, or pages than the current subcontent may be selected. As a non-limiting example, a second subcontent may be selected from group B004 based on subcontent data 155B shown in FIG. 2-3. Also, if it is determined that the presence of user BB has become "entered", a subcontent having a shorter number of characters, lines, or pages than the current subcontent (shorter article) may be selected. As a non-limiting example, a second subcontent may be selected from group B001 based on subcontent data 155B shown in FIG. 2-3.

[0269] According to this variation, by way of example and not limitation, second content selected based on information regarding the presence of a first user of a first terminal may be obtained and displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room.

[0270] Additionally, according to this variant, by way of example and not limitation, a second content, which is video content having a playback time based on information about the presence of the first user of the first terminal, can be obtained and displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room.

[0271] <Fourth Example> The fourth embodiment is an embodiment in which a user moves from one talk room to another talk room. The contents described in the fourth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

[0272] Moving talk rooms may mean, by way of example and not limitation, displaying a certain talk room (first talk room) on display unit 24, and then hiding that talk room and displaying another talk room (second talk room) on display unit 24. Since a user can talk in multiple chat rooms, a user may talk in a second chat room after talking in a first chat room. In this case, for example and not by way of limitation, a user who is viewing subcontent in the first chat room may not necessarily move to the second chat room after viewing the subcontent to the end.

[0273] <Display screen> FIG. 4-1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. As mentioned above, the screen on the left side of Figure 4-1 displays a chat room in which user AA is talking to user BB, and the letters "BB" are displayed at the top of the screen, indicating that it is a one-to-one chat room between user AA and user BB. The message content sent from user AA and the message content sent from user BB are displayed in the message content display area TR1 below the subcontent display area TR2. Also, the subcontent of the video "Battle Terminology Explanation: Basic Edition" described above is displayed in the subcontent display area TR2.

[0274] The screen on the right side of Figure 4-1 shows that user AA has then left the chat room with user BB and entered a chat room with another friend, user CC. The letters "CC" are displayed at the top of the screen, indicating that this is a one-to-one chat room between user AA and user CC. In the message content display area TR1 below the subcontent display area TR2, the message content sent by user AA and the message content sent by user CC are displayed. Even though the user has moved to another chat room, the subcontent display area TR2 displays the subcontent of the video "Battle Terminology Explanation: Basic Edition," which is the same as the video on the left side of FIG. 4-1. The playback time of the subcontent of this video is the same as the video on the left side of FIG. 4-1, and user AA is configured to be able to watch the continuation of this subcontent from the playback time he or she was watching on the screen on the right side of FIG. 4-1.

[0275] <Processing> 1-9 and the like, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may store information such as a sub-content ID of the sub-content transmitted to the terminal 20A in association with the application ID of the user AA, based on information indicating that the first talk room has been hidden and transmitted from the terminal 20A. When the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives information requesting talk information of a second talk room different from the first talk room and transmitted from the terminal 20A, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform chat start processing, and in S1010, based on the sub-content ID stored in the storage unit 15 in association with the application ID of the user AA, transmit sub-content information including the sub-content of the sub-content ID to the terminal 20A.

[0276] In addition, when the batch download method is applied, when the first talk room is hidden, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may store the sub-content ID of the most recently displayed sub-content in the storage unit 28. Then, when the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the second talk room, the control unit 21 may display the sub-content of the sub-content ID based on the sub-content ID stored in the storage unit 28.

[0277] Furthermore, if the sub-content is video content, control unit 21 of terminal 20A acquires information on the playback time of the video when the first talk room was hidden (as an example, and not a limitation, the elapsed time from the start of playback) and stores it together with the sub-content ID in memory unit 28. Then, when control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays the second talk room, it may display the sub-content ID from the playback time based on the playback time stored in memory unit 28. When the streaming method is applied, the control unit 11 of the server 10 (or the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A) acquires information on the playback time of the video as described above. Then, when the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives information requesting talk information of a second talk room different from the first talk room, transmitted from the terminal 20A, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform chat start processing, and in S1010, based on the sub-content ID and the playback time stored in association with the application ID of the user AA in the storage unit 15, may stream the sub-content of the sub-content ID from the playback time.

[0278] The same may be applied to other subcontents as well as video subcontents. As a non-limiting example, when a user of terminal 20 is viewing book subcontents in a first talk room, the same subcontents may be displayed when a second talk room is displayed on display unit 24. Also, information on the page number of the subcontents when the first talk room is hidden may be saved, and when the second talk room is displayed on display unit 24, the page of the subcontents of the same book with the saved page number may be displayed. The same may be true for article content such as news content.

[0279] <Effects of the Fourth Embodiment> According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, when a second chat room different from a first chat room is displayed on terminal 20 from the first chat room, the second content displayed in the first chat room can also be displayed in a second area of ​​the second chat room.

[0280] <Fifth Example> The fifth embodiment relates to changing the display of sub-contents based on a reply or the like from a conversation partner user. The contents described in the fifth embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

[0281] Depending on the user, even when the user is engaged in a conversation with the conversation partner, there may be cases where the user becomes so engrossed in the sub-content that he or she neglects to reply to the conversation partner.

[0282] <Display screen> FIG. 5-1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. In the screen on the left side of Figure 5-1, in the message content display area TR1 below the sub-content display area TR2, message content containing the text “Please tell me about a good Western restaurant” is displayed as the latest message content sent from user AA. Subsequently, based on receiving new message content from user BB in reply to this message content (in this example, message content including the web URL of the Western restaurant and message content including an image of the Western restaurant), these message contents are displayed in the center screen of Figure 5-1 below the message content including the above text "Please tell me about a good Western restaurant." Also, by way of example and not limitation, a “New Arrival” button NBT, which is an example of new information to inform user AA that new message content has been received, is displayed in the lower left corner of the sub-content display area TR2 superimposed on the sub-content.

[0283] When the "New Arrival" button NBT is tapped, as shown on the right side of FIG. 5-1, by way of example and not limitation, approximately the bottom 1 / 5 of the subcontent is displayed on the display unit 24, with the horizontal width of the subcontent display area TR2 remaining the same and the vertical width shrinking upward (the subcontent display area TR2 is folded). Also, a tab TB similar to the screen on the left side of FIG. 1-10 is displayed in association with the subcontent display area TR2, and when the tab TB is operated, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A is configured to expand and unfold the subcontent display area TR2 downward for display.

[0284] <Processing> FIG. 5-2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in this embodiment. After B1010, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B transmits message content information including the message content as a reply to the message content from the user AA to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (B5010). In response to this, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the message content information to the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S5010).

[0285] After A1020, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not message content information (new message content information) has been received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A5010), and if it determines that it has been received (A5010: YES), it causes the display unit 24 to display the message content and new information based on the message content information (A5020). The latest information may be, for example and not by way of limitation, information indicating that a message content has been newly received from user BB, and may be, for example and not by way of limitation, information on an object such as the "New" button described above. Also, for example and not by way of limitation, the latest information may be displayed in the subcontent display area TR2. However, it is not limited to this, and may be displayed in the message content display area TR1.

[0286] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A judges whether or not a condition for reducing the sub-contents (hereinafter, referred to as a "sub-contents reduction condition") is met (A5030). Here, the sub-contents reduction condition may include, by way of example and not limitation, any one of the following conditions: - Operations have been performed on new information - The set time has elapsed since new message content information was received or displayed An operation has been performed on the message content display area TR1 (the area of ​​the message content balloon may or may not be excluded).

[0287] If it is determined that the sub-contents reduction condition is met (A5030: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A reduces and displays the sub-contents displayed in the sub-contents display area TR2 (A5040). Here, as a pattern for reducing and displaying the subcontent, any of the following patterns may be applied as examples and are not limited thereto. At least one of the vertical width and the horizontal width of the subcontent display area TR2 is reduced at a rate at which a part of the subcontent is displayed on the display unit 24. The ratio of the length and width of the subcontent display area TR2 is reduced without changing the ratio of the length and width of the subcontent, and the display position is changed, at the rate at which a part of the subcontent is displayed on the display unit 24. At least one of the vertical width and horizontal width of the subcontent display area TR2 is reduced at a rate at which the entire subcontent is displayed on the display unit 24. The subcontent display area TR2 is reduced without changing the ratio of its vertical width to its horizontal width and its display position is changed so that the entire subcontent is displayed on the display unit 24. -Hide subcontent

[0288] When the sub-content is to be hidden, the display of the sub-content display area TR2 may be erased, or the display of the sub-content displayed in the sub-content display area TR2 may be erased. Furthermore, making the sub-content invisible may conceptually include leaving a portion of the sub-content visible as described above but narrowing at least the visible range (area), or may include reducing the size of the sub-content as described above.

[0289] Also, as a non-limiting example, when the "New Arrivals" button is operated on the screen in the center of Figure 5-1, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may perform control in A5040 to hide the above-mentioned sub-content (sub-content non-display control). Also, as a non-limiting example, instead of the "New Arrivals" button on the screen in the center of FIG. 5-1, a "Hide" button, a "Reduce" button, or the like may be displayed. Also, both the "Hide" button and the "Reduce" button may be displayed, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may perform control corresponding to the button operated by the user in the A5040 (sub-contents non-display control or sub-contents reduced display control).

[0290] In addition, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may perform the above control not every time the terminal 20A receives new message content information, but, by way of example and not limitation, when the terminal 20A has received new message content information a set number of times since the last time the terminal 20A received message content information. Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, when a set time has elapsed after new message content information has been received, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may perform the above control.

[0291] <Effects of the Fifth Example> According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, when new message content (not limited to, an example of the fifth content) is sent from the first terminal to the terminal, information for hiding the second content displayed in the second area is displayed in the chat room, thereby providing the user of the terminal with a guide for hiding the second content. This also makes it easier for the user to view the first area and the fifth content. As a result, by way of example and not limitation, it is possible to prevent a reply from being neglected.

[0292] Also, according to this embodiment, for example and not for limitation, after a new message content (not for limitation, an example of the fifth content) is sent from the first terminal to the terminal, the second content can be hidden after a set time has elapsed. As a result, for example and not for limitation, it is possible to prevent a reply from being neglected.

[0293] <Fifth Modification (1)> In the above embodiment, when new message content is received, the new message content may be displayed superimposed on the sub content. In this case, if the received new message content satisfies the set condition, the new message content may be displayed superimposed on the sub content.

[0294] Fig. 5-3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. The screen on the left side of Fig. 5-3 is the same as the screen on the left side of Fig. 5-1. After that, based on receiving new message content including a web URL of a Western restaurant from user BB as a reply to the message content sent from user AA, the message content "Please tell me about a good Western restaurant" moves up, and the received message content is displayed in a speech bubble from the left side below the message content "Please tell me about a good Western restaurant" (not shown). Also, in this example, based on receiving message content including an image of a Western restaurant at the same time, the above two message contents move up, and the received message content is displayed in a speech bubble from the left side below the message content including the web URL of the Western restaurant (not shown).

[0295] Thereafter, it is assumed that a message content including a relatively long text is subsequently transmitted from user BB and received by terminal 20A. Specifically, as a non-limiting example, it is assumed that a message content including the text "It's a shop near my company" is transmitted from user BB and received by terminal 20A. In this case, as a non-limiting example, based on the fact that the number of characters of the received message content including the text "It's a shop near my company" has reached the set number of characters, as a non-limiting example, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A controls so that the message content is displayed superimposed on the sub-content display area TR2 configured as an area superimposed on the message content display area TR1. Specifically, as a non-limiting example, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A controls to change the order of the layers so that, from the backmost layer to the frontmost layer, the layers are the background layer of the talk room, the sub-content layer, and the message content layer. As a result, in this example, as shown in the screen on the right side of Figure 5-3, the message content "Tell me about a good Western restaurant" sent by user AA, the message content including the web URL of the Western restaurant sent by user BB, and the top of the message content including an image of the Western restaurant are displayed superimposed on the subcontent display area TR2. However, in this example, the most recent message content including the text "It's a restaurant near my office..." is not superimposed on the subcontent display area TR2 due to its display position.

[0296] As a non-limiting example, when the first newly received message content satisfies the set conditions, the message content may be controlled to be displayed partly or entirely superimposed on the subcontent display area TR2. As a non-limiting example, in the example of the screen diagram, when the first newly received message content is a message content including the above-mentioned text "It's a shop near my office...", the message content may be displayed partly or entirely superimposed on the subcontent display area TR2. This is determined by the relationship between the position constituting the subcontent display area TR2 (top, middle, bottom, etc. of the screen) and its size, and the number of sent and received message contents, the size of the balloons, etc.

[0297] In the above example, when the message content including the text "It's a shop near my office..." satisfies the set condition, control unit 21 of terminal 20A may control the message content to be displayed in subcontent display area TR2 by scrolling, etc. In this case, the message content may be controlled so that the entire message content is superimposed on the subcontent display area TR2, or a part of the message content may be controlled so that the message content is superimposed on the subcontent display area TR2.

[0298] The set condition is not limited to the condition based on the number of characters of the newly received message content as described above. As a non-limiting example, a condition may be set such that the number of lines of text when the newly received message content is displayed in a speech bubble is equal to or greater than a set number of lines, based on the number of characters that can be displayed per line when the newly received message content is displayed in a speech bubble. Also, as a non-limiting example, a condition may be set that the newly received message content includes an image.

[0299] According to this modification, when new message content (not limited to, but an example of the fifth content) is transmitted from the first terminal to the terminal, the fifth content can be displayed superimposed on the second area. This makes it possible, not limited to, but an example, to make it easier for the user of the terminal to recognize the fifth content, which is the content replied by the first user. As a result, not limited to, but an example, it is possible to prevent the reply from being neglected.

[0300] <Fifth Modification (2)> Some messaging applications (chat applications) may determine that a message content sent by the user has been "read" when the message content is received or displayed on the talk partner's terminal 20 while the talk room is being displayed, and may display information (such as characters or a mark) indicating that the message content has been "read" on the message content sent by the user. In this case, if information indicating that the message content has been "read" is displayed on the message content sent by the user while the user is viewing sub-content, the user may become impatient in replying.

[0301] Therefore, as a non-limiting example, information indicating "read" may not be displayed in the message content sent by oneself until the user operates the "New" button as described above, or when the sub-content is displayed full screen until the full screen display is cancelled. In this case, as one method, even if the server 10 determines whether or not the message has been read, determines that the message has been read, and transmits information indicating that the message has been read to the terminal 20, the terminal 20 may not display the information indicating that the message has been read until the above-mentioned condition is met, and may display the information indicating that the message has been read only when the above-mentioned condition is met.

[0302] <Sixth Example> The sixth embodiment relates to sharing the displayed sub-content with a conversation partner or the like. The contents described in the sixth embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

[0303] <Display screen> FIG. 6-1 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. On the left side of Figure 6-1, as an example and not a limitation, a "Share" button SBT for sharing the displayed sub-content with a chat partner user BB is displayed superimposed on the sub-content in the lower left corner of the sub-content display area TR2.

[0304] When the "Share" button SBT is tapped, as shown in the center of FIG. 6-1, for example and not limitation, sharing confirmation information SCI for confirming with the user that the displayed subcontent is to be shared is displayed superimposed on the center of the screen. Then, when the "Yes" button for permitting sharing of the subcontent included in the sharing confirmation information SCI is operated, the subcontent is shared with user BB. Then, as shown in the screen on the right side of FIG. 6-1, under the message content "Tell me about a good Western restaurant" sent from user AA on the screen on the left side of FIG. 6-1, as a message content sent from user AA, a message content MCT61 including a URL of a distribution site of the content that distributes the subcontent and a message content MCT62 including a title and an image of the subcontent are displayed in a balloon on the right side of the message content display area TR1 as a message content sent from user AA, for example and not limitation.

[0305] FIG. 6-2 is a diagram showing another example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. The left side of FIG. 6-2 shows, as an example and not a limitation, a state in which a user touches any position in the subcontent display area TR2 and slides his / her finger (may be a drag-and-drop operation) to the message content display area TR1. Then, as an example and not a limitation, as shown on the right side of FIG. 6-2, under the message content "Tell me about a good Western restaurant" sent from user AA on the left screen of FIG. 6-2, as an example and not a limitation, a message content MCT61 including the URL of the original site of the content of the source of the subcontent and a message content MCT62 including the title and image of the subcontent are displayed in a balloon from the right side of the message content display area TR1 as message content sent from user AA. Note that when a user touches any position in the subcontent display area TR2 on the left screen of FIG. 6-2 and slides his / her finger, sharing confirmation information may be displayed as in the screen in the center of FIG. 6-1, and when sharing OK is selected, the subcontent is shared with user BB, and the screen on the right side of FIG. 6-2 may be displayed.

[0306] <Processing> In this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, in the processing of FIG. 1-9 and the like, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may display the shared information when displaying the sub-content on the A1020. When the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines that the set sharing conditions (such as an operation on the shared information being performed, or an operation of touching a position within the sub-content display area TR2 and sliding it into the message content display area TR1) have been met, the control unit 21 may transmit sub-content sharing request information including information such as the sub-content ID of the displayed sub-content to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. When the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives sub-content sharing request information from terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14, it may generate message content such as, for example and without limitation, message content including a web URL of the content that distributes the sub-content and message content including an image of the sub-content, and transmit the message content information to terminals 20B and 20A via the communication I / F 14.

[0307] Note that, when the set sharing condition is satisfied, control unit 21 of terminal 20A may generate message content including a web URL of the distribution source content of the subcontent and message content including an image of the subcontent, display the generated message content on display unit 24 of terminal 20A, and then include the generated message content in subcontent sharing request information and transmit the information to server 10. Then, control unit 11 of server 10 may transmit the message content information to terminal 20B via communication I / F 14.

[0308] <Effects of the Sixth Embodiment> According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, when a first user makes an input to move a second content displayed in a second area to a first area, the second content can be transmitted to a first terminal.

[0309] <Seventh Example> The seventh embodiment is an embodiment regarding money generated when sub-content is provided by an external business operator. The contents described in the seventh embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted.

[0310] When a messaging service provider generates money by using subcontent provided by an external provider, the following patterns are possible, but are not limited to these. -Payment of money from external businesses to messaging service providers Payments from messaging service providers to external providers

[0311] In the pattern of "external business paying money to messaging service provider," as an example and not a limitation, it is expected that when the sub-content provided by the external business is viewed by users of the message service, awareness and sales of products and services related to the sub-content will increase, so the external business may pay money to the messaging service provider to have the messaging service use the sub-content.

[0312] In the "messaging service provider pays money to an external provider" pattern, as a non-limiting example, it is expected that the sub-content provided by the external provider can be viewed by users using the message service, thereby extending the time until the users leave the chat room, so the messaging service provider may be willing to pay the external provider to provide the sub-content.

[0313] <Other Examples> In the above-mentioned embodiments, sub-content that has been "liked" or the like by a user in the talk room, or more specifically, sub-content that has been given user input to "like" or the like by a user in the talk room, may be transmitted to the terminal 20 of the user with whom the user is talking. In addition, sub-content to which a user has input to indicate a favorable or affirmative reaction to the displayed sub-content, not limited to a “Like”, may be transmitted to the terminal 20 of the user with whom the user is talking.

[0314] According to this, by way of example and not limitation, it is possible to make it possible for the second content to be displayed on the terminal in response to an input (not limiting, an example of a third input) made by the first user of the first terminal to his / her own terminal 20 to "like" or the like.

[0315] Furthermore, when a set time has elapsed between when the terminal 20 receives new message content from the terminal 20 of the talk partner user after sending message content from the user to the talk partner, that is, when the time the user has been waiting for a reply from the talk partner has elapsed, by way of example and not limitation, confirmation information for confirming with the user whether or not to display the subcontent may be displayed on the display unit 24. Then, when the user inputs to display the subcontent based on this confirmation information, the terminal 20 may display the subcontent in the subcontent display area.

[0316] According to this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, when a set time has elapsed after the content is sent from the terminal to the first terminal, information regarding the display of the second content can be recommended to be displayed in the chat room, thereby encouraging the user of the terminal to view the second content when a reply from the chat partner is likely to be long.

[0317] Techniques for favorite subcontent may include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: Tap the Favorites button -Double tap on the subcontent

[0318] As a non-limiting example of tapping the favorite button, a favorite button for registering the sub-content as a favorite may be displayed together with the sub-content, and the corresponding sub-content may be registered as a favorite when the user taps this favorite button.

[0319] As a non-limiting example of double-tapping on sub-content, the user may double-tap any area of ​​the sub-content display area TR2 in which the sub-content is displayed, thereby registering the corresponding sub-content as a favorite.

[0320] Although an example has been given in which the sub-contents included in the sub-content list are preset, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the user may be able to set the sub-contents as desired. As a non-limiting example, if a user viewing a certain subcontent wants to view the subcontent again later, an add list button for adding the subcontent to a list for later viewing may be displayed along with the subcontent, and when the user taps the add list button, the subcontent may be added to the subcontent list.

[0321] When a thumbnail image in the subcontent list is tapped, the subcontent corresponding to the tapped thumbnail image may be displayed in the subcontent display area TR2.

[0322] When user AA of terminal 20A switches the viewing of the sub-content to the original site or full screen based on the presence (e.g., leaving) of the person he or she is talking to (user BB of terminal 20B), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A may, for example and not by way of limitation, send (notify) terminal 20B of information regarding the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content (for example and not by way of limitation, an icon containing the message "45 seconds remaining").

[0323] Based on receiving the information regarding the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B may cause the display unit 24 to display information regarding the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content (for example and not limitation, an icon including a message such as "45 seconds remaining"). By displaying information regarding the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content being viewed by user AA of terminal 20A, user BB of terminal 20B who has left the room, for example, can know the end time of the sub-content being viewed by user AA of terminal 20A, and this can motivate user BB to return from his / her absence more quickly.

[0324] Note that the information related to the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content being viewed by the user AA of the terminal 20A, which is displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B, may be, for example and without limitation, updatable information. As a non-limiting example, information relating to the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content displayed on display unit 24 of terminal 20B may be updated and displayed in response to the estimated remaining consumption time of the sub-content being viewed by user AA of terminal 20A, which decreases over time ("45 seconds remaining," "44 seconds remaining," ..., "1 second remaining," etc.). According to such a configuration, when user BB leaves the room, user BB can understand the real situation of user AA who is waiting by consuming sub-content, and thus user BB can be motivated to return from his / her absence more quickly.

[0325] In the above example, sub-contents are grouped based on estimated consumption time or type, and sub-contents may be selected from any of the groups. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. Sub-contents may be grouped based on providers of the sub-contents, or sub-contents may be selected from groups grouped based on providers of the sub-contents. As a non-limiting example, first, as a first sub-content, a sub-content may be selected from a group of video content posted by a general user MM, and then, as a second sub-content, a sub-content may be selected from a group of video content provided by an external business operator P.

[0326] When multiple sub-contents are displayed, the sub-contents may all be displayed at the same time. By way of example and not limitation, when multiple sub-contents are displayed, each sub-content may be displayed for a set amount of time, such as 15 seconds or 40 seconds.

[0327] Furthermore, when a plurality of sub-contents are displayed, the maximum time for which each sub-content is displayed may be the same. By way of example and not limitation, any subcontent may not exceed 30 seconds per subcontent. As a non-limiting example, if the expected consumption time of the original sub-content is longer than 30 seconds, the portion exceeding 30 seconds may be cut, or it may be edited to become a shortened version of the video content as described above.

[0328] The video content may include, for example and without limitation, a series of video content continuously posted by one contributor (general user, external business, etc.). Such video content consisting of a series of video content is appropriately referred to as "continuous video content." As a non-limiting example, if there is continuous video content posted by a general user MM (as a non-limiting example, continuous video content (10+15+20=45 seconds) consisting of video content M1 (10 seconds), video content M2 (15 seconds), and video content M3 (20 seconds)), the continuous video content (45 seconds) may be displayed as sub-content, or a portion of the video content that makes up the continuous video content (as a non-limiting example, only video content M1 (10 seconds)) may be displayed as sub-content.

[0329] A configuration may be applied in which subcontents may be selected from groups grouped according to providers of the subcontents, a configuration may be applied in which the maximum time for which each subcontent is displayed may be the same for all, and a configuration may be applied in which the subcontents may include continuous video content and video content that constitutes the continuous video content.

[0330] Note that the unit of subcontent is not limited to one, and may be, for example, one subcontent or one group of subcontent.

[0331] As an example and not a limitation, suppose there is a continuous video content posted by a general user MM (as an example and not a limitation, a continuous video content (10+15+20=45 seconds) consisting of video content M1 (10 seconds), video content M2 (15 seconds), and video content M3 (20 seconds)) and a continuous video content posted by a general user NN (as an example and not a limitation, a continuous video content (5+15=20 seconds) consisting of video content N1 (5 seconds) and video content N2 (15 seconds)).

[0332] And, by way of example and not limitation, any sub-content may be displayed for a maximum of 15 seconds per sub-content. Here, the sub-contents may be selected in the following order (1) to (5), for example and not for limitation. (1) Video content M1 (10 seconds) (2) Video content M2 (15 seconds) (3) Video content M3 (20 seconds) However, the last 5 seconds of video content M3 have been cut because it exceeds 15 seconds. (4) Video content N1 (5 seconds) (5) Video content N2 (15 seconds)

[0333] Also, by way of example and not limitation, any subcontent may be displayed for a maximum of 30 seconds per group (provider) of subcontent. Here, the sub-contents may be selected in the following order (1) to (2), for example and not for limitation. (1) Poster (User MM) (M1) Video content M1 (10 seconds) (M2) Video content M2 (15 seconds) (M3) Video content M3 (20 seconds) However, the last 15 seconds of video content M3 was cut because it exceeded 30 seconds. (2) Poster (User NN) (N1) Video content N1 (5 seconds) (N2) Video content N2 (15 seconds)

[0334] When the display of one sub-content ends (the estimated consumption time has elapsed), information about the sub-content to be displayed next or information about sub-content recommended to the user may be displayed. When one subcontent is being displayed, information about the next subcontent to be displayed, information about subcontent recommended to the user, etc. may be displayed.

[0335] For example and not limitation, an end screen displayed when displaying one subcontent ends may display information about the next subcontent to be displayed (thumbnail image of the next subcontent to be displayed), information about subcontent recommended to the user (thumbnail image of the subcontent recommended to the user), etc. For example and not limitation, this thumbnail image may include information for displaying the corresponding subcontent by tapping by the user.

[0336] <Other> At least a part of the processing that is to be performed by the terminal 20 in the above embodiment and the like may be performed by the server 10. Conversely, at least a part of the processing that is to be performed by the server 10 in the above embodiment may be performed by the terminal 20. In addition, the processes described in the above embodiments may be realized by one server, or the processes described in the above embodiments may be realized by a server system made up of multiple servers.

[0337] Note that, as an example and not a limitation, a system configured with one or more servers may be defined as a server system, and the server of the present invention may be a server system.

[0338] In addition, in the above embodiments, a server for distributing various applications (a server from which the terminal 20 downloads applications) may be configured as a server different from a server for providing the corresponding service (application). In other words, a server for distributing applications and a server for performing application management processing, etc., described in the above embodiments, etc., may be configured as physically separated servers, or may be configured as a single server.

[0339] Furthermore, the application is not limited to various application programs, but may include, for example and without limitation, a program for providing a function of another service as one function of a base application (for example and without limitation, a program for providing a function of an advertisement delivery service as one function of a messaging application, or vice versa), a program for updating the base application, etc. Also, data used in the application program (which may include data for updating the application, etc.) may be included.

[0340] In the above embodiment, the present invention is realized by a client-server system, but the present invention is not limited to this. As described above, the present invention may be realized by a system such as a distributed system that provides the terminal 20 with the functions of a server or server system. As an example, the process described in the flowchart of the above embodiment as being performed by a server or server system may be performed by a terminal.

[0341] As described above, the contents described in the above embodiments, the modifications, other embodiments, and the like can be applied in combination with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0342] 1. Communication Systems 10 Server 20 Terminals 30 Network

Claims

1. A program executed by a terminal that displays a chat room including a first user of the first terminal, performing control by a control unit of the terminal to display a first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in a first area of ​​the chat room; acquiring, by the control unit, a second content different from the first content; The terminal controls, via the control unit, to display the second content in a second area of ​​the chat room, which is different from the first area.

2. The program according to claim 1, The second content is a content stored in a server and transmitted from the server.

3. The program according to claim 1 or 2, The terminal executes control by the control unit to display a third content, which is different from the second content, in the second area based on a first input by a user of the terminal regarding the second content displayed in the second area.

4. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The terminal executes control by the control unit to display a fourth content related to the second content based on a second input by a user of the terminal regarding the second content displayed in the second area.

5. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The terminal causes the control unit to perform control to display information about a type of content in the second area.

6. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The terminal executes, by the control unit, obtaining the second content selected based on the reply of the content of the first user.

7. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, performing a process of storing candidates for the second content in a list by the control unit; The terminal acquires the second content by the control unit based on the content selected from the list.

8. The program according to claim 4, The terminal causes the control unit to control displaying information regarding the presence of the first user in the chat room.

9. The program according to claim 8, Displaying information for displaying the fourth content in the second area is executed by the terminal based on information regarding the presence of the first user.

10. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The terminal displays, on a display unit of the terminal, information for enlarging an area for displaying the second content, based on information regarding the presence of the first user.

11. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 10, Obtaining, by the control unit, the second content selected based on information regarding the presence of the first user is executed by the terminal.

12. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the second content is video content; Obtaining, by the control unit, the second content having a playback time based on information about the presence of the first user is executed by the terminal.

13. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the chat room is a first chat room; When a second chat room different from the first chat room is displayed from the first chat room, the terminal controls the control unit to display the second content displayed in the first chat room in the second area of ​​the second chat room.

14. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 13, The second content is content for which a third input is made by the first user.

15. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 14, When a fifth content is transmitted from the first terminal to the terminal, the terminal executes displaying, in the chat room, information for hiding the second content displayed in the second area.

16. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 15, When a set time has elapsed after a fifth content is transmitted from the first terminal to the terminal, the terminal causes the control unit to perform a process of hiding the second content.

17. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 16, When a fifth content is transmitted from the first terminal to the terminal, the terminal causes the control unit to perform control to superimpose and display the fifth content in the second area.

18. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 17, When the first user performs an input to move the second content displayed in the second area to the first area, the terminal executes control to transmit the second content to the first terminal via the control unit.

19. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 18, The second region is an area that is overlapped with the first region.

20. 20. The program according to claim 1, When a set time has elapsed after content has been transmitted from the terminal to the first terminal, the terminal executes control such that the control unit displays information regarding the display of the second content in the chat room.

21. 1. An information processing method for a terminal that displays a chat room including a first user of a first terminal, comprising: performing control by a control unit of the terminal to display a first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in a first area of ​​the chat room; acquiring, by the control unit, a second content different from the first content; The method includes controlling, by the control unit, to display the second content in a second area of ​​the chat room, which is different from the first area.

22. A terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal, The chat room further includes a control unit that controls displaying a first content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in a first area of ​​the chat room, acquires a second content different from the first content, and controls displaying the second content in a second area of ​​the chat room different from the first area.

Images