Online conference support device, online conference support system, and online conference support method

Abstract

To provide an online conference support device capable of appropriately controlling sending of a notification to a nonparticipant of an online conference.SOLUTION: An online conference support device includes: an acquisition part which acquires conference information for each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control part which controls sending of a notification to a nonparticipant who is a scheduled participant and has not yet joined a first online conference of the online conferences which has started on the basis of first conference information on the first online conference and second conference information on a second online conference, which is an online conference and started before the first online conference and for which the nonparticipant is scheduled to participate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an online conference support device, an online conference support system, and an online conference support method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the use of online conferences has increased dramatically. Accordingly, technologies to support online conferences have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a conference support system that can facilitate an online conference so that the conference proceeds smoothly. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-139436 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Support for online conferences can be considered not only for smoothly progressing the online conference as described in Patent Document 1, but also for cases where there are non-participants who have not participated even when the conference start time arrives. However, according to the findings of the present inventors, there is a problem that simply sending a notification to non-participants may disrupt the previous conference if the previous conference is important, and may send a notification even if the need to participate in the subsequent conference is low.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an exemplary objective thereof is to provide a technique for appropriately controlling the transmission of notifications to non-participants in an online conference. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An online conference supporting device according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition means for acquiring conference information related to each of a plurality of online conferences, and a notification control means for controlling the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the plurality of online conferences, based on first conference information related to the first online conference and second conference information related to a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

[0007] An online conference support system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition means for acquiring conference information related to each of a plurality of online conferences, and a notification control means for controlling the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the plurality of online conferences, based on first conference information related to the first online conference and second conference information related to a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

[0008] An online conference support method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition process for acquiring conference information related to each of a plurality of online conferences, and a notification control process for controlling transmission of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the plurality of online conferences, based on first conference information related to the first online conference and second conference information related to a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an exemplary effect is achieved in that the sending of notifications to non-participants in an online conference can be appropriately controlled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an online conference support device according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an online conference support system according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing an example of the flow of an online conference support method according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a system including an online conference support device according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of an operation of the online conference support device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification according to the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The following are examples of embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown below, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, an embodiment obtained by appropriately combining the technical means employed in each of the exemplary embodiments shown below may also be included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, an embodiment obtained by appropriately omitting a part of the technical means employed in each of the exemplary embodiments shown below may also be included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the effects mentioned in each of the exemplary embodiments shown below are examples of effects expected in the exemplary embodiments, and do not define the scope of the present invention. In other words, an embodiment that does not exhibit the effects mentioned in each of the exemplary embodiments shown below may also be included in the scope of the present invention.

[0012] First Exemplary Embodiment A first exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This exemplary embodiment is the basic form of each exemplary embodiment described later. The scope of application of each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment can be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in this disclosure to the extent that no particular technical obstacle occurs. In addition, each technical means shown in the drawings referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can also be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in this disclosure to the extent that no particular technical obstacle occurs.

[0013] (Configuration of online conference support device) The configuration of the online conference supporting device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the online conference supporting device 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the online conference supporting device 1 includes an acquisition unit (acquisition means) 11 and a notification control unit (notification control means) 12.

[0014] The acquisition unit 11 acquires conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences.

[0015] The notification control unit 12 controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants of the first online conference. The first online conference refers to an online conference that has started among multiple online conferences. A non-participant of the first online conference refers to a prospective participant who is not participating in the first online conference. Hereinafter, a non-participant of the first online conference may be simply referred to as a non-participant. The notification control unit 12 controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants based on the first conference information related to the first online conference and the second conference information related to the second online conference. The second online conference refers to an online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which a non-participant is a prospective participant.

[0016] (Effects of online meeting support devices) As described above, the online conference support device 1 employs a configuration for controlling the transmission of notifications to non-participants based on the first conference information on the online conference that has started and the second conference information on the online conference that the non-participant is planning to participate in before that. Therefore, the online conference support device 1 appropriately controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants, and can avoid, for example, interrupting the previous conference when the previous conference is important, or sending a notification even when the need to participate in the later conference is low.

[0017] (Configuration of online conference support system) This exemplary embodiment can also be realized as an online conference support system 2 configured by multiple devices, rather than a single online conference support device 1. The configuration of the online conference support system 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the online conference support system 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the online conference support system 2 includes an acquisition means 21 and a notification control means 22. The acquisition means 21 acquires conference information related to each of the multiple online conferences. The notification control means 22 controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants based on first conference information related to the first online conference and second conference information related to the second online conference.

[0018] (Effects of online meeting support systems) As described above, the online conference support system 2 employs a configuration for controlling the transmission of notifications to non-participants based on the first conference information about the online conference that has started and the second conference information about the online conference that the non-participant is planning to attend before that. Therefore, the online conference support device 1 appropriately controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants, and can avoid, for example, interrupting the previous conference when the previous conference is important, or sending a notification even when the need to attend the later conference is low.

[0019] (Online meeting support method flow) The flow of the online conference support method S1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flow diagram showing the flow of the online conference support method S1. As shown in Fig. 3, the online conference support method S1 includes an acquisition process S11 and a notification control process S12. In the acquisition process S11, one or more computers acquire conference information related to each of a plurality of online conferences. In the notification control process S12, the one or more computers control the transmission of a notification to non-participants based on first conference information related to the first online conference and second conference information related to the second online conference.

[0020] (Effects of online meeting support methods) As described above, the online conference support method S1 employs a configuration for controlling the transmission of notifications to non-participants based on the first conference information about the online conference that has started and the second conference information about the online conference that the non-participant is planning to participate in before that. Therefore, the online conference support device 1 appropriately controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants, and can avoid, for example, interrupting the previous conference when the previous conference is important, or sending a notification even when the need to participate in the later conference is low.

[0021] Second Exemplary Embodiment A second exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Components having the same functions as those described in the above exemplary embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted as appropriate. The scope of application of each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment can be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in this disclosure, as long as no particular technical hindrance occurs. In addition, each technical means shown in each drawing referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in this disclosure, as long as no particular technical hindrance occurs.

[0022] (Configuration of online conference support device) The configuration of a system 4 including an online conference supporting device 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 4 including an online conference supporting device 3. The system 4 has an online conference supporting device 3, an online conference system 40, and participant terminals 50-1 to 50-N connected via a network NW. Any of the participant terminals 50-1 to 50-N may be referred to as a participant terminal 50.

[0023] The online conference support device 3 includes an acquisition unit 11, a notification control unit 12, a specification unit 13, a communication unit 14, and a storage unit 15.

[0024] The acquisition unit 11 acquires conference information CI related to each of the multiple online conferences, and stores it in the storage unit 15. The acquisition unit 11 may acquire the conference information CI, for example, from a schedule management system (not shown) or the like, or from the online conference system 40. The notification control unit 12 controls the transmission of notifications to non-participants. The identification unit 13 identifies non-participants. The communication unit 14 communicates with the online conference system 40 and participant terminals 50 via the network NW.

[0025] The storage unit 15 stores a plurality of conference information CI. The conference information CI includes conference information CI related to each of a plurality of online conferences. The plurality of online conferences includes an online conference treated as a first online conference in the processing of the online conference support device 3, and an online conference treated as a second online conference. Therefore, it can be said that the conference information CI includes first conference information CI1 and second conference information CI2.

[0026] In one embodiment, each meeting information CI may include one or more of the following: Information indicating the start time of the online meeting - Online meeting participants Information indicating the job title of each prospective participant Information indicating the voluntary nature of each prospective participant's participation Information indicating whether there are external participants in online meetings Information indicating whether each prospective participant has agreed to participate Information indicating who is hosting the online meeting Information indicating the attributes of online meetings Information indicating the intention of each participant to be absent Information indicating the organizer's attendance request for each prospective participant The online conference system 40 is a system that realizes an online conference, and may be, for example, a system such as Zoom provided by Zoom Video Communications, Inc. of the United States, or Teams provided by Microsoft Corporation of the United States.

[0027] The participant terminal 50 is a terminal through which a participant of an online conference connects to the online conference system 40, and may be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

[0028] Next, the operation of the online conference supporting device 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing an example of the operation of the online conference supporting device 3.

[0029] In step S20, the acquisition unit 11 acquires conference information CI relating to each of the multiple online conferences, and stores it in the storage unit 15.

[0030] In step S21, the identification unit 13 acquires current time information and determines whether the start time of any online conference has arrived based on the conference information CI. If the start time of any online conference has not arrived (NO in step S21), the identification unit 13 repeats step S21.

[0031] When the start time of any one of the online conferences arrives (YES in step S21), the online conference support device 3 thereafter treats the online conference as the first online conference.

[0032] Then, in step S22, the identification unit 13 acquires participant information indicating participants participating in the first online conference from the online conference system 40, and determines whether all the prospective participants are participating in the first online conference by referring to the first conference information CI1 related to the first online conference. If all the prospective participants are participating in the first online conference (YES in step S22), the online conference support device 3 completes the process.

[0033] If not all of the planned participants are participating in the first online conference (YES in step S22), in step S23, the identification unit 13 refers to the participant information and the first conference information CI1 to identify non-participants who are planned participants who have not yet participated in the first online conference.

[0034] Next, in step S24, the notification control unit 12 refers to the conference information CI to identify an online conference that started before the first online conference and in which non-participants are scheduled to participate, and treats it as the second online conference. At this time, the notification control unit 12 may check with the online conference system 40 whether the second online conference is ongoing. Then, the notification control unit 12 acquires the first conference information CI1 and the second conference information CI2 from the storage unit 15.

[0035] Next, in step S25, the notification control unit 12 refers to the first conference information CI1 to determine whether or not the non-participant is the organizer of the first online conference.

[0036] If the non-participant is not the organizer of the first online conference (NO in step S25), in step S26, the notification control unit 12 refers to the first conference information CI1 and calculates the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent. The intention to be absent of each planned participant may be information such as "want to attend", "don't want to attend", or "can't attend" input in advance by each participant. The notification control unit 12 may set the degree of intention to be absent to 0 when the intention of the non-participant is "want to attend", set the degree of intention to be absent to 10 when the intention of the non-participant is "don't want to attend", and set the degree of intention to be absent to the maximum value when the intention of the non-participant is "can't attend". In addition, the notification control unit 12 may use a default value when the intention of absence is not input.

[0037] In one aspect, when a request to participate in an online conference is made by chat, the intention of a non-participant to be absent may be calculated based on the content of the chat.

[0038] In step S27, the notification control unit 12 refers to the first conference information CI1 and calculates the degree of the attendance request for non-participants. The attendance request for each prospective participant may be information such as "please attend" or "don't have to attend" that is input in advance by the organizer. The notification control unit 12 may set the degree of the attendance request to 10 when the attendance request for non-participants is "please attend," and may set the degree of the attendance request to 0 when the attendance request for non-participants is "don't have to attend." Furthermore, the notification control unit 12 may use a default value when no attendance request is input.

[0039] Then, in step S28, the notification control unit 12 compares the non-participant's degree of intention to be absent with the degree of the request to attend for the non-participant. If the non-participant's degree of intention to be absent exceeds the degree of the request to attend for the non-participant (YES in step S28), in step S29, the notification control unit 12 transmits a notification to the participant terminal 50 of the organizer via the communication unit 14 indicating that the non-participant's degree of intention to be absent exceeds the degree of the request to attend for the non-participant.

[0040] On the other hand, if the degree of the non-participants' intention to be absent does not exceed the degree of the request for attendance for the non-participants (NO in step S28), in step S30, the notification control unit 12 calculates the importance of the first online conference based on the first conference information CI1, and calculates the importance of the second online conference based on the second conference information CI2.

[0041] In one embodiment, the notification control unit 12 may calculate the importance by assigning points to each item of the first conference information CI1 and the second conference information CI2, and adding (including the sum of weightings), multiplying, etc., the points assigned to each item. In addition, the method of calculating the importance by the notification control unit 12 may be arbitrarily selected by the organizer, etc.

[0042] The points to be assigned to each item of the first conference information CI1 and the second conference information CI2 are not particularly limited, but may be assigned as follows, for example. If the job title of the person attending the first online meeting or the second online meeting with the non-participants (the job title of each person attending other than the non-participants) is a department head, 5 points will be given; if the person is a division head, 4 points will be given; if the person is a section head, 3 points will be given; if the person is a chief, 2 points will be given; if the person is a person in charge, 1 point will be given; etc. If the position of a person who does not attend the first or second online meeting is a department head, 5 points will be given, if the person is a department manager, 4 points will be given, if the person is a section manager, 3 points will be given, if the person is a chief, 2 points will be given, if the person is a person in charge, etc. Optionality of participation of non-participants in the first online meeting or the second online meeting, e.g. 5 points if mandatory, 3 points if optional. - Whether or not there were external participants in the first online meeting or the second online meeting: 5 points if there were, 1 point if there were not. - Whether or not a non-participant agreed to participate in the first online meeting or the second online meeting: 5 points if they agreed, 2 points if they did not. For the host of the first online meeting or the second online meeting, 5 points if the non-attendee is the host, 1 point if the non-attendee is a non-host attendee, etc. For the attributes of the first online meeting or the second online meeting, for example, 5 points for a private online meeting and 1 point for a public online meeting.

[0043] In addition, if non-participants are not present at work, there is no need to calculate the figures.

[0044] In addition, the degree of intention of the non-participant to be absent calculated in step S26 multiplied by -1, and the degree of the organizer's request for non-participant to attend calculated in step S27 may be used as the points assigned to each item.

[0045] Also, points do not need to be awarded for all items, and points may be awarded for any one or more items. For example, points may be awarded only to the job titles of each participant other than non-participants, or points may be awarded to at least one of the other items in addition to the job titles of each participant other than non-participants.

[0046] The points assigned to each item may be changed as desired.

[0047] Then, in step S31, the notification control unit 12 compares the importance of the first online conference with the importance of the second online conference.

[0048] If the importance of the first online conference is higher than the importance of the second online conference in step S31, in step S32, the notification control unit 12 promptly transmits a participation request notification to the non-participant participant terminal 50 via the communication unit 14. The method of transmitting the notification is not particularly limited, and the notification control unit 12 may transmit the notification via the online conference system 40, or via a messaging system such as Outlook provided by Microsoft Corporation, or by email, or via a notification function of a smartphone, for example.

[0049] The notification control unit 12 may also transmit a notification indicating that a participation request has been sent to non-participants to the participant terminal 50 of the host of the first online conference or to each participant, as shown in Fig. 6. At this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the notification may indicate that the importance of the first online conference is higher than the importance of the second online conference.

[0050] On the other hand, if the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference in step S31, in one embodiment, the notification control unit 12 determines to delay the notification of the participation request to the non-participants. In this case, in step S33, the notification control unit 12 may transmit a notification indicating that the participation request to the non-participants will be transmitted after a predetermined time to the participant terminal 50 of the organizer or each participant of the first online conference, as shown in FIG. 7. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, in the notification, the notification control unit 12 may indicate that the notification of the participation request is to be promptly transmitted to the participant terminal 50 of the non-participant via the communication unit 14.

[0051] Then, in step S34, the notification control unit 12 waits until a predetermined time has elapsed, and then, in step S32, the notification control unit 12 causes the communication unit 14 to transmit a participation request notification to the participant terminals 50 of the non-participants.

[0052] As an example of the flow after step S30, the notification control unit 12 can calculate the importance of the second online conference as 5 points (with consent to participate) + 5 points (job title information of other participants (department head)) + 5 points (participation (required)) = 15, and calculate the importance of the first online conference as 5 points (with consent to participate) + 2 points (job title information of other participants (responsibility)) + 5 points (participation (required)) = 12. In this case, since the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference, the notification control unit 12 will delay the transmission of a notification of a participation request to the participant terminal 50 of the non-participant.

[0053] (Modification) In one embodiment, the online conference support device 3 may be realized as an online conference support system including a plurality of devices.

[0054] In one embodiment, the online conference supporting device 3 or an online conference supporting system equivalent to the online conference supporting device 3 may be incorporated into an online conference system 40.

[0055] In one embodiment, the notification control unit 12 may stop sending a notification of a participation request to the participant terminal 50 of the participant when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference by a predetermined value or more. This makes it possible to avoid interrupting the previous conference when the previous conference is particularly important.

[0056] In one embodiment, when a non-participant is the organizer of the first online conference and the importance of the second online conference is higher than that of the first online conference, the notification control unit 12 may transmit a notification to the participant terminal 50 of the participant of the first online conference indicating that the organizer is participating in another important online conference. This can alleviate the anxiety of the participant when the organizer is not participating in the first online conference.

[0057] Also, in a case where the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference in step S31, in one embodiment, the notification control unit 12 may have the host of the first online conference select whether or not to delay the notification of the participation request to the non-participants, rather than deciding to delay the notification of the participation request to the non-participants. For example, the notification control unit 12 may transmit a notification to the host of the first online conference for selecting whether or not to delay the notification of the participation request to the non-participants, as shown in FIG. 8, and control whether or not to delay the notification of the participation request to the non-participants according to the response.

[0058] In addition, instead of automatically performing the processing from step S24 onwards when the start time of the first online conference arrives, the notification control unit 12 may, for example, send a notification to the organizer or participants of the first online conference to select which expected participants to send a notification to based on the importance of those participants, as shown in FIG. 9, and perform the processing from step S24 onwards for the selected non-participants.

[0059] Alternatively, the online conference system 40 may identify participants of the online conference by voice recognition, and the identification unit 13 may identify non-participants based on the participants of the online conference identified by the online conference system 40. In this case, the identification unit 13 may identify non-participants not in response to the arrival of the start time of the first online conference, but in response to the failure of a prospective participant who has been called upon in the first online conference to respond.

[0060] In addition, in one embodiment, the notification control unit 12 may change the content of the notification to non-participants or change the recipient of the notification based on the first conference information CI1 and the second conference information CI2 (such as sending a notification to the mobile phone of a non-participant or sending a notification to the participant terminal 50 of the organizer of the second online conference).

[0061] (Effects of online meeting support devices) As described above, the online conference supporting device 3 employs a configuration in which the notification control unit 12 calculates the importance of the first online conference based on the first conference information CI1, calculates the importance of the second online conference based on the second conference information CI2, and controls the transmission of a notification based on a comparison between the importance of the first online conference and the importance of the second online conference. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the online conference supporting device 1, the online conference supporting device 3 provides the effect of appropriate control according to the importance of the online conference.

[0062] As described above, the online conference supporting device 3 employs a configuration in which the notification control unit 12 delays or stops sending a notification when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the online conference supporting device 1, the online conference supporting device 3 has the effect of being able to control the online conference with higher priority.

[0063] As described above, the online conference support device 3 employs a configuration in which the notification control unit 12 calculates the importance of the first online conference based at least on the job titles of each of the planned participants of the first online conference other than the non-participants, and calculates the importance of the second online conference based at least on the job titles of each of the planned participants of the second online conference other than the non-participants. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the online conference support device 1, the online conference support device 3 has the effect of being able to appropriately calculate the importance based on the job titles of the participants.

[0064] As described above, in the online conference support device 3, each conference information further includes at least one of information indicating the voluntariness of participation of each planned participant of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the presence or absence of an external planned participant in the online conference, information indicating the presence or absence of acceptance of participation of each planned participant of the online conference, information indicating the organizer of the online conference, information indicating the attributes of the online conference, information indicating the degree of intention of each planned participant of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the organizer's request for attendance of each planned participant of the online conference, and the notification control unit 12 is configured to calculate the importance of the first online conference and the second online conference based on these pieces of information. Therefore, according to the online conference support device 3, in addition to the effects of the online conference support device 1, the effect of being able to more appropriately calculate the importance can be obtained.

[0065] As described above, the online conference support device 3 employs a configuration in which the notification control unit 12 notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the importance of the second online conference is higher than that of the first online conference. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the online conference support device 1, the online conference support device 3 provides an effect that the organizer can more appropriately understand the circumstances of non-participants.

[0066] As described above, the online conference supporting device 3 employs a configuration in which the identifying unit 13 identifies non-participants in response to the arrival of the start time of the first online conference. Therefore, according to the online conference supporting device 3, in addition to the effects of the online conference supporting device 1, the effect of automatically identifying non-participants and performing processing can be obtained.

[0067] As described above, the online conference support device 3 employs a configuration in which, when a non-participant is not the organizer of the first online conference and the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent from the first online conference exceeds the degree of the non-participant's request to attend the first online conference, the organizer of the first online conference is notified of this. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the online conference support device 1, the online conference support device 3 provides the effect that the organizer can more appropriately understand the circumstances of the non-participant.

[0068] [Software implementation example] Some or all of the functions of online conference supporting devices 1, 3 and online conference supporting device 2 (hereinafter also referred to as "the above-mentioned devices and systems") may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (IC chip), or by software.

[0069] In the latter case, each of the above devices and systems is realized, for example, by one or more computers that execute instructions of a program, which is software that realizes each function. An example of such a computer (hereinafter, referred to as computer C) is shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of computer C that functions as each of the above devices.

[0070] The computer C includes at least one processor C1 and at least one memory C2. The memory C2 stores a program P for operating the computer C as each of the above-mentioned devices. In the computer C, the processor C1 reads and executes the program P from the memory C2, thereby realizing the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices and the system.

[0071] The processor C1 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro processing unit (MPU), a floating point number processing unit (FPU), a physics processing unit (PPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a quantum processor, a microcontroller, or a combination thereof. The memory C2 may be, for example, a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a combination thereof.

[0072] The computer C may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program P during execution and for temporarily storing various data. The computer C may further include a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices. The computer C may further include an input / output interface for connecting input / output devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and a printer.

[0073] Furthermore, the program P can be recorded on a non-transitory tangible recording medium M that can be read by the computer C. Such a recording medium M can be, for example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, or a programmable logic circuit. The computer C can obtain the program P via such a recording medium M. Furthermore, the program P can be transmitted via a transmission medium. Such a transmission medium can be, for example, a communication network or broadcast waves. The computer C can also obtain the program P via such a transmission medium.

[0074] [Additional Note 1] This disclosure includes the techniques described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the techniques described in the following appendices, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0075] (Appendix 1) An acquisition means for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control means for controlling the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the plurality of online conferences, based on first conference information about the first online conference and second conference information about a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

[0076] (Appendix 2) The notification control means Calculating an importance of the first online conference based on the first conference information; Calculating an importance of the second online conference based on the second conference information; 2. The online conference support device according to claim 1, wherein the sending of the notification is controlled based on a comparison between the importance of the first online conference and the importance of the second online conference.

[0077] (Appendix 3) 3. The online conference support device according to claim 2, wherein the notification control means delays or stops sending the notification when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference.

[0078] (Appendix 4) Each piece of conference information includes information indicating the job title of each person who is scheduled to attend the online conference corresponding to the conference information; The notification control means Calculating the importance of the first online conference based at least on the job title of each of the planned participants of the first online conference other than the non-participants; 3. The online conference support device according to claim 2, further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating the importance of the second online conference based on at least the job title of each of the prospective participants in the second online conference other than the non-participants.

[0079] (Appendix 5) Each conference information further includes at least one of information indicating optionality of participation of each planned participant of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the presence or absence of external planned participants in the online conference, information indicating the presence or absence of consent of each planned participant of the online conference, information indicating the organizer of the online conference, information indicating attributes of the online conference, information indicating the degree of intention of each planned participant of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the organizer's request for attendance of each planned participant of the online conference, The notification control means Calculating an importance of the first online conference further based on the at least one piece of information included in the first conference information; 5. The online conference support device according to claim 4, further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating an importance of the second online conference based on the at least one piece of information included in the second conference information.

[0080] (Appendix 6) The online conference support device according to claim 2, wherein the notification control means, when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference, notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference.

[0081] (Appendix 7) 2. The online conference support device according to claim 1, further comprising a specifying means for specifying the non-participants in response to the arrival of a start time of the first online conference.

[0082] (Appendix 8) Each piece of conference information includes information indicating a host of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the degree of intention of each of the planned participants of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the host's request for attendance of each of the planned participants of the online conference; The online conference support device described in Appendix 1, wherein the notification control means, when the non-participant is not the organizer of the first online conference and the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent from the first online conference exceeds the degree of the request for the non-participant to attend the first online conference, notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent exceeds the degree of the request for attendance.

[0083] (Appendix 9) An acquisition means for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control means for controlling the sending of notifications to non-participants who are planned participants and have not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the multiple online conferences, based on first conference information about the first online conference and second conference information about a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

[0084] (Appendix 10) An acquisition process for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control process for controlling the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the plurality of online conferences, based on first conference information about the first online conference and second conference information about a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

[0085] (Appendix 11) An online conference support program for operating a computer as the online conference support device according to any one of appendices 1 to 8, the online conference support program causing the computer to function as each of the means.

[0086] (Appendix 12) A non-transitory medium on which the online conference support program described in Appendix 11 is recorded.

[0087] [Additional Note 2] This disclosure includes the techniques described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the techniques described in the following appendices, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0088] (Appendix 1) at least one processor, the at least one processor comprising: An acquisition process for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; an online conference support device that executes a notification control process to control the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the multiple online conferences, based on first conference information about the first online conference and second conference information about a second online conference that is an online conference that started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

[0089] The online conference support device may further include a memory, and the memory may store a program for causing the at least one processor to execute each of the processes.

[0090] (Appendix 2) In the notification control process, the at least one processor Calculating an importance of the first online conference based on the first conference information; Calculating an importance of the second online conference based on the second conference information; 2. The online conference support device according to claim 1, wherein the sending of the notification is controlled based on a comparison between the importance of the first online conference and the importance of the second online conference.

[0091] (Appendix 3) The online conference support device of claim 2, wherein in the notification control process, the at least one processor delays or stops sending the notification when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference.

[0092] (Appendix 4) Each piece of conference information includes information indicating the job title of each person who is scheduled to attend the online conference corresponding to the conference information; In the notification control process, the at least one processor Calculating the importance of the first online conference based at least on the job title of each of the planned participants of the first online conference other than the non-participants; 3. The online conference support device according to claim 2, further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating the importance of the second online conference based on at least the job title of each of the prospective participants in the second online conference other than the non-participants.

[0093] (Appendix 5) Each conference information further includes at least one of information indicating optionality of participation of each planned participant of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the presence or absence of external planned participants in the online conference, information indicating the presence or absence of consent of each planned participant of the online conference, information indicating the organizer of the online conference, information indicating attributes of the online conference, information indicating the degree of intention of each planned participant of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the organizer's request for attendance of each planned participant of the online conference, In the notification control process, the at least one processor Calculating an importance of the first online conference further based on the at least one piece of information included in the first conference information; 5. The online conference support device according to claim 4, further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating an importance of the second online conference based on the at least one piece of information included in the second conference information.

[0094] (Appendix 6) The online conference support device of Appendix 2, wherein in the notification control process, when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference, the at least one processor notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference.

[0095] (Appendix 7) The online conference support device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor further performs a process of identifying non-participants in response to the arrival of a start time of the first online conference.

[0096] (Appendix 8) Each piece of conference information includes information indicating a host of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the degree of intention of each of the planned participants of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the host's request for attendance of each of the planned participants of the online conference; The online conference support device of Appendix 1, wherein in the notification control process, when the non-participant is not the organizer of the first online conference and the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent from the first online conference exceeds the degree of the request for the non-participant to attend the first online conference, the at least one processor notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent exceeds the degree of the request for the non-participant to attend the first online conference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1,3 Online meeting support device 2. Online meeting support system 11...Acquisition part 12 Notification control section 13...Specific section 14. Communications Department 15...Storage section 21...Method of acquisition 22 Notification control means 40 ···Online conference system 50 Participant terminal CI ···Conference Information CI1 ···First Conference Information CI2 ···Second Conference Information

Claims

1. An acquisition means for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control means for controlling the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the multiple online conferences, based on first conference information regarding the first online conference and second conference information regarding a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

2. The notification control means Calculating an importance of the first online conference based on the first conference information; Calculating an importance of the second online conference based on the second conference information; The online conference support device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a control unit configured to control the sending of the notification based on a comparison between an importance of the first online conference and an importance of the second online conference.

3. The online conference support device according to claim 2 , wherein the notification control means delays or stops transmission of the notification when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference.

4. Each piece of conference information includes information indicating the job title of each person who is scheduled to attend the online conference corresponding to the conference information; The notification control means Calculating the importance of the first online conference based at least on the job titles of each of the planned participants of the first online conference other than the non-participants; The online conference support device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating an importance of the second online conference based on at least a job title of each of the planned participants of the second online conference other than the non-participants.

5. Each conference information further includes at least one of information indicating the optionality of participation of each planned participant of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the presence or absence of external planned participants in the online conference, information indicating the presence or absence of consent to participation of each planned participant of the online conference, information indicating the organizer of the online conference, information indicating attributes of the online conference, information indicating the degree of intention of each planned participant of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the organizer's request for attendance of each planned participant of the online conference, The notification control means Calculating an importance of the first online conference further based on the at least one piece of information included in the first conference information; The online conference support device according to claim 4 , further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating an importance of the second online conference based on the at least one piece of information included in the second conference information.

6. 3. The online conference support device of claim 2, wherein the notification control means, when the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference, notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the importance of the second online conference is higher than the importance of the first online conference.

7. 2. The online conference support device according to claim 1, further comprising: a specifying unit that specifies the non-participants in response to the arrival of a start time of the first online conference.

8. Each piece of conference information includes information indicating a host of the online conference corresponding to the conference information, information indicating the degree of intention of each of the planned participants of the online conference to be absent, and information indicating the degree of the host's request for attendance of each of the planned participants of the online conference; 2. The online conference support device of claim 1, wherein the notification control means notifies the organizer of the first online conference that the non-participant's degree of intention to be absent from the first online conference exceeds the degree of the request for the non-participant to attend the first online conference when the non-participant is not the organizer of the first online conference and the degree of the non-participant's intention to be absent from the first online conference exceeds the degree of the request for the non-participant to attend the first online conference.

9. An acquisition means for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control means for controlling the sending of notifications to non-participants who are planned participants and have not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the multiple online conferences, based on first conference information regarding the first online conference and second conference information regarding a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

10. An acquisition process for acquiring conference information relating to each of a plurality of online conferences; and a notification control process for controlling the sending of a notification to a non-participant who is a planned participant and has not yet participated in a first online conference that has started among the plurality of online conferences, based on first conference information regarding the first online conference and second conference information regarding a second online conference that has started before the first online conference and in which the non-participant is a planned participant.

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