Mediation type chat system, mediation type chat device, and chat mediation method

Abstract

To provide a mediation type chat system, mediation type chat device, and chat mediation method for identifying a specific partner and making a conversation partner be recognized as a bot via a chat with a chat bot server to implement communication for making aware of no conversation partner.SOLUTION: A mediation type chat system 100 uses a mediation type chat device comprising a chat bot server, a chat mediation processing unit, and a user information management unit. The chat bot server executes processing of: when it is determined from information of chat data transmitted / received to / from a user terminal device that responding should be performed to a user associated with user information included in the chat data, generating a response; requesting the chat mediation processing unit to transmit the response; and, according to a result of the chat mediation processing unit determining whether or not the transmission of the chat response is necessary, using a chat transmission function to transmit the response to a user terminal device of a user identified on the basis of the associated user information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2-1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chat system, and in particular provides an intermediary chatbot system, an intermediary chat device, and a chat intermediation method that mediate between a specific number of user terminals. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, communication with others was conducted face-to-face or over the telephone, but with the spread of IT technology, email and video conferencing have been added, and various communication methods are used depending on the situation and purpose. In recent years, chat, where people communicate by inputting text in real time over the Internet, and chatbots that automatically converse using AI (artificial intelligence) technology have also come to be used as methods of communication, and as improvements have made these methods easier to use and more readily accessible, they are now being used widely in a variety of situations.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a chat system that transmits and receives chat data between a chat user's terminal and a chatbot on a chat server. Not only can chat data be transmitted and received between the chat user's terminal and the chatbot, but it also describes technology that changes the status of the chat user simply by sending the chat data entered by the chat user to the chatbot, making it easy to check the status. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-044729 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Although there are various methods of dialogue as mentioned above, when the parties communicate with each other, whether in person or via the Internet, in cases such as negotiations, especially when legal negotiations or conflicts of interest are involved, it is easy for emotions to build up and it is difficult to have a dialogue based on calm judgment. Furthermore, when specialized knowledge is required, the psychological burden on the parties is great, and it is not easy to reach a result that satisfies both parties. Therefore, in such cases, it is not uncommon for an agent or intermediary to intervene in the dialogue (discussion) between the parties, but there are issues of reliability and cost, and it is not easy to find someone who can act as an agent or intermediary.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an intermediary chat system and device that allows communication between parties without direct interaction, but through chat with a chatbot, making the other party aware that the other party is a bot, thereby preventing the other party from being conscious of their interlocutor and avoiding emotional dialogue. In other words, by using chatbots instead of the conventional method of dialogue (negotiation) that was conducted through an intermediary, negotiator, or agent, it is possible to improve the efficiency of negotiations while reducing the psychological burden on the parties involved in negotiations, particularly when the relationship between the parties has deteriorated, and to realize dialogue that allows for calm and objective judgment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present inventors have solved the above problems by the following means. [1] An intermediary chat system in which an intermediary chat device and a user terminal device are connectable via a network, The intermediary chat device includes a chatbot server, a chat intermediation processing unit, and a user information management unit; The chatbot server includes a receiving unit that receives chat data and user information transmitted from a user terminal device, a chat processing unit that has a chat function, generates a response to the chat data, and records a chat history, and a transmitting unit that transmits the response generated by the chat processing unit, the user information management unit comprises a user identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users, and a user-related identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user-related identifiers for associating users with each other; An intermediary chat system characterized in that when the chatbot server determines, based on the information in the chat data sent and received with the user terminal device, that a response should be sent to a user associated with the user information included in the chat data, it generates a response and sends the response to the user terminal device of the associated user via a chat intermediation processing unit.

[0008] [2] An intermediary chat system in which an intermediary chat device and a user terminal device are connectable via a network, The intermediary chat device includes a chat intermediation processing unit, at least two chatbot servers, and a user information management unit; The chatbot server includes a receiving unit that receives chat data and user information transmitted from a user terminal device, a chat processing unit that has a chat function, generates a response to the chat data, and records a chat history, and a transmitting unit that transmits the response generated by the chat processing unit, the user information management unit comprises a user identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users, and a user-related identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user-related identifiers for associating users with each other; An intermediary chat system characterized in that, when one of the at least two chatbot servers determines, based on the information in the chat data sent and received with the user terminal device, that a response should be sent to a user associated with the user information included in the chat data, it generates a response and sends the response to the user terminal device of the associated user via a chat intermediation processing unit.

[0009] [3] The chatbot server determines whether the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user by referring to the user identifier information recorded in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit in the chat processing unit, and if it determines that the user identifier of the sending user is not included, requests the user identifier management unit to execute a registration process for the user identifier of the sending user. This is an intermediary chat system described in [1] or [2].

[0010] [4] The chatbot server determines in the chat processing unit whether the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated by referring to the information recorded in the user identifier management unit or the user-related identifier management unit of the user information management unit, and if it determines that the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated, the chatbot server requests the user information management unit to perform a registration process.

[0011] [5] The intermediary chat system described in [1] or [2] is characterized in that, when the chat data includes a request to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated, the chatbot server requests the user information management unit to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated with the requested association to the same user-related identifier and execute a registration process in the user-related identifier management unit.

[0012] [6] An intermediary chat system characterized in that the process of associating with the same user-related identifier described in [5] above is performed by associating the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated and registering it as a new user-related identifier.

[0013] [7] An intermediary chat system characterized in that the process of associating with the same user-related identifier described in [5] is performed by associating the user identifier of the user to be associated with the user-related identifier that has been previously associated with the user identifier of the sending user, and then performing a registration process.

[0014] [8] An intermediary chat system characterized in that the process of associating with the same user-related identifier described in [5] above is a registration process in which the user identifier of the sending user is associated with a user-related identifier that has been previously associated with the user identifier of the user to be associated.

[0015] [9] The chatbot server is an intermediary chat system described in [1] or [2], characterized in that when the chat data includes a request to associate the user identifier of the sending user with a user-related identifier, the chat processing unit associates the user identifier of the sending user with the requested user-related identifier and requests the user information management unit to execute registration processing in the user-related identifier management unit.

[0016]

[10] The intermediary chat system described in [1] or [2] is characterized in that when the chatbot server determines that a response should be made to a user associated with the user information included in the chat data, it generates a response and executes a process of sending the generated response, user information, and a request to send the response to the chat intermediary processing unit.

[0017]

[11] The chat intermediary processing unit is characterized in that it identifies associated user information for the user information sent from the chatbot server along with a request to send a response, determines whether a chat response needs to be sent, and instructs and controls the execution of a process to send a chat response to the identified user based on the associated user information to the user terminal device of the identified user using a chat sending function, in accordance with the determination result.

[0018]

[12] An intermediary chat device comprising: a chatbot server connectable from a user terminal device; a user identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users; a user information management unit that has a user-related identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user-related identifiers for associating users; and a chat intermediation processing unit that controls the execution of sending a response to the user terminal device of the associated user upon request from the chatbot server; The chat intermediation processing unit identifies associated user information from the information recorded in the user information management unit in response to user information sent from the chatbot server along with a request to send a response, determines whether a chat response needs to be sent, and controls the execution of a process to send the response from the chatbot server to the user terminal device of the associated user according to the determination result.

[0019]

[13] A chat mediation method using an intermediary chat system, (1) The receiving unit of the chatbot server receives chat data transmitted from the user terminal device, and the chat processing unit of the chatbot server determines whether the user identifier of the transmitting user included in the chat data transmitted from the user terminal device is registered in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit; (2) If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is not registered in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit, register it in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit, (3) If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is registered in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit, the chat processing unit of the chatbot server associates the chat data sent from the user terminal device with the user information and records and saves it in the chat data recording unit of the intermediary chat device; (4) determining whether the chat data includes a user-related identifier or a user identifier of a user to be associated with the sending user in addition to the user identifier of the sending user; (5) If it is determined that the user is not included, a chat response is generated to be sent to the user to be associated. (6) If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is included, the sending user is associated with the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the associated user, and the associated identifier is recorded and stored in the user-related identifier management unit of the user information management unit, and then a process of generating a chat response to be sent to the associated user is executed; (7) requesting the chat mediation processing unit to transmit the generated response to the user terminal device of the associated user; (8) The chat intermediation processing unit that receives the request identifies the associated user information for the user-related identifier information sent from the chatbot server together with the request to send a response, (9) Execute a process of sending a response generated by the chatbot server to the user terminal device of the associated user based on the identified associated user information. A chat mediation method characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, when the chatbot server determines, based on the information in the chat data sent and received with the user terminal device, that a response should be sent to the user associated with the user information contained in the chat data, it executes a process to send the response to the associated user's user terminal device or another chatbot server via the chat intermediation processing unit.Therefore, the user can simply exchange chat messages with the chatbot, and the user who is the other party in the chat can be identified, and a chat response can be sent to that person if necessary. Furthermore, the chat intermediation processing unit identifies user information associated with a user identifier or a user-related identifier and links the user to the relevant user, so no additional settings are required and the intermediation system can be used without specialized knowledge.

[0021] Furthermore, since a chatbot server is used, neither user needs to chat directly with the other user; the chatbot server references the chat data sent via chat and recorded in history to automatically generate responses so that a dialogue can be established. This allows users to communicate in a chat format via the chatbot, enabling objective and calm dialogue and negotiation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention; [Figure 2-1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a first embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 2-2] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a second embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic functional configuration of a chatbot server in an intermediary chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 4-1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of a first embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 4-2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of a second embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 5-1] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of processing when user information is transmitted in an embodiment of the mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 5-2] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of processing when user information is transmitted in an embodiment of the mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 6-1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a database of a user information management unit in an intermediary chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 6-2] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the database of the user information management unit in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 6-3]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the database of the user information management unit in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the association of user identifiers as an example of user-related identifiers in an embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart outlining an example of a processing flow in a basic configuration of an embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the flow of chat in an intermediary process using the intermediary chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 10-1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a chat using a chat application on the display unit of a user terminal device of an intermediary chat system according to the present invention; [Figure 10-2] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a chat using a chat application on the display unit of a user terminal device of an intermediary chat system according to the present invention; [Figure 10-3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a chat using a chat application on the display unit of a user terminal device of an intermediary chat system according to the present invention; [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the flow of chat in the intermediary processing using the intermediary chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the flow of chat in the intermediary processing using the intermediary chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing the association of chat data with user information in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing the association of chat data with user information in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another functional configuration of the embodiment of the mediated chat system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A mode for carrying out an mediated chat system and an mediated chat device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of the embodiments. It should be noted that the configurations, numerical conditions, etc. of the following embodiments of the invention are merely preferred examples. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the following embodiments. Many modifications can be made that achieve the effects of the present invention without departing from the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0024] [Overall configuration] The intermediary chat system of the present invention is configured such that an intermediary chat device 1 equipped with a chat intermediation processing unit 2 and a user terminal device 3 can be connected via a network 90, as shown in Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the intermediary chat system of the present invention, and Figures 2-1 and 2-2, which are block diagrams illustrating the functional configuration of an embodiment of the intermediary chat system of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an intermediary chat device, 2 is a chat intermediation processing unit, 3 is a user terminal device, 4 is a chatbot server, 5 is a user information management unit, 51 is a user identifier management unit, 6 is a user-related identifier management unit, 9 is a chat data recording unit, 90 is a network such as the Internet, and 100 is an intermediary chat system. Also, 31 is a chat application, 32 is a user identifier, 33 is a receiving unit, 34 is a transmitting unit, 35 is a display unit, and 36 is an input unit.

[0025] The intermediary chat system 100 of the present invention is a system in which a user uses a user terminal device 3 to interact with a specific person in a chat format via a chatbot, thereby realizing negotiations and discussions without having to interact directly.

[0026] FIG. 2-1 shows a first embodiment of the functional configuration of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. The intermediary chat system 100 of the present invention comprises an intermediary chat device 1, a chat intermediation processing unit 2, a chatbot server 4, and a user information management unit 5. The chatbot server 4 comprises a receiving unit 41 that receives chat data and user information sent from a user terminal device 3, a chat processing unit 40 that has a chat function, generates responses to chat data, and records chat history, and a sending unit 42 that transmits the responses generated by the chat processing unit 40. The user information management unit 5 comprises a user identifier management unit 51 that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users, and a user-related identifier management unit 6 that registers, records, and manages user-related identifiers for associating users with each other. The chatbot server 4 is configured to identify the associated user based on the user information contained in the chat data, as necessary, from the information in the chat data sent and received with the user terminal device 3, based on patterns generated by machine learning and / or user information in the chat flow, and if it determines that a response should be made to that user, generate a response in the chat processing unit 40 and send the response to the associated user's user terminal device 3 via the chat intermediary processing unit 2.

[0027] Figure 2-2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the functional configuration of an intermediary chat system according to the present invention. In the intermediary chat system 100, the intermediary chat device 1 comprises a chat intermediation processing unit 2, at least two chatbot servers 4 (4A, 4B, ... 4n), and a user information management unit 5. The chatbot server 4 (4A, 4B, ... 4n) comprises a receiving unit 41 that receives chat data and user information sent from the user terminal device 3, a chat processing unit 40 that has a chat function, generates responses to the chat data, and records the chat history, and a sending unit 42 that sends the responses generated by the chat processing unit 40. The user information management unit 5 comprises a user identifier management unit 51 that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users, and a user-related identifier management unit 6 that registers, records, and manages user-related identifiers for associating users with each other. Of the at least two chatbot servers 4 (4A, 4B), one chatbot server 4 (4A) identifies a user associated with the user information contained in the chat data based on patterns generated by machine learning and user information within the chat flow from the information in the chat data sent and received with the user terminal device 3, and if it determines that a response should be made to that user, it generates a response in the chat processing unit 40 and sends the response to the other chatbot server 4 (4B) via the chat intermediation processing unit 2.

[0028] [User terminal device] In the present invention, the user terminal device 3 is an electronic terminal operated by a user, such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, computer device, etc., and is equipped with at least a receiving unit 33 and a transmitting unit 34 for sending and receiving chat data, as well as a display unit 35 for displaying a chat screen using a chat application and displaying chat-style conversations, and an input unit 36 ​​such as a touch panel or keyboard, and is a terminal device capable of executing a chat application 31 that establishes chat-style dialogue. A user runs a chat application on any user terminal device 3, accesses the chatbot server 4, and implements the system according to the present invention.

[0029] [Intermediary chat device] As shown in Figures 2-1 and 2-2, the intermediary chat device 1 of the present invention is composed of a chat intermediation processing unit 2, a chatbot server 4, a user information management unit 5 having a user identifier management unit 51 and a user-related identifier management unit 6, a computer having a CPU, memory, a recording device, an input device, and various interfaces, but these do not have to be physically configured as a single unit, and all or part of their functions may be provided via a cloud server on a network, etc. Furthermore, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 and the chatbot server 4 may be configured as a single server that controls the respective processes, or may be configured as physically separate units.

[0030] In addition, this system can also be implemented by having the chatbot server 4 use a chat system that is widely available outside the intermediary chat device 1 and linking it with the chat intermediation processing unit 2. In this case, the intermediary chat device 1 is provided with an interface required for sending and receiving information, and a program for authenticating connection to external applications. For example, in a general-purpose chatbot system (hereinafter also referred to as an external chat system), the chat intermediation processing unit 2 can be accessed from a specified URL or address, and the chat intermediation processing unit 2 sends an authentication code for system connection to the accessed external chat system, and authentication is performed using the authentication code and password, enabling mutual transmission and reception of information. In this way, the intermediary chat device 1 of the present invention can be configured as a device that controls the chat intermediation processing unit 2 so that not only a single chatbot server 4 but multiple chatbot servers 4 can interact using chatbots.

[0031] [Chatbot Server] (First Example) The chatbot server 4 provided in the intermediary chat device 1 is composed of a receiving unit 41 that receives chat data sent from the user terminal device 3 via a chat application, a chat processing unit 40 that has a chat function and processes the received chat data to generate a response, and a sending unit 42 that sends question chat data and response chat data. The first embodiment is configured so that one chatbot server 4 controls correspondence between multiple pieces of user information and can send and receive chat data to and from multiple user terminal devices 3.

[0032] (Second Example) The chatbot server 4 in the second embodiment is composed of at least two chatbot servers 4A and 4B. In this embodiment, chat data sent from one user terminal device 3 via a chat application is received and processed by one chatbot server 4, and therefore the number of chatbot servers 4 corresponds to the number of user terminal devices 3. The chatbot servers 4A, 4B, ..., 4n may be controlled individually or collectively. The chatbot servers 4A, 4B, ..., 4n may be physically separate devices, or may be divided into multiple servers by a program so that one server controls multiple servers, and the divided servers may be assigned as chatbot servers 4A, 4B, ..., 4n, respectively.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the basic functional configuration of a chatbot server in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. The chatbot server 4 includes a receiving unit (receiving API) 41 that receives chat data sent from the chat application 31 of the user terminal device 3, a chat processing unit 40 that has basic chat functions such as providing a chat screen to the user, creating a chat room, analyzing received chat data, inquiring about user information, recording the history of chat data, and generating responses based on the chat data, and a sending unit (sending API) 42 that sends the response chat data generated by the chat processing unit 40 to the chat application 31 of the user terminal device 3. As mentioned above, the chatbot server 4 can be implemented by using the chatbot server 4 provided within the intermediary chat device 1, or by using the chatbot server of an existing external chatbot service that is generally available and connecting it to the chat intermediation processing unit 2. Any chatbot server 4 that can be connected from the user terminal device 3 will suffice, and is not limited to the above configuration.

[0034] 4-1 and 4-2 are block diagrams illustrating the basic configuration of an embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. Fig. 4-1 shows the basic configuration of a first embodiment, and Fig. 4-2 shows the basic configuration of a second embodiment. The basic configuration of the first embodiment of the intermediary chat system of the present invention shown in Figure 4-1 is an intermediary chat device 1 made up of a user terminal device 3A used by a user, a chatbot server 4 connected from the chat application 31 of the user terminal device 3A, and a chat intermediation processing unit 2 that identifies associated user information for user information sent from the chatbot server 4 along with a request to send a response, determines whether a chat response needs to be sent, and instructs the chatbot server 4 to generate a chat response to be sent to the identified user based on the associated user information based on the determination result, and the chatbot server 4 is controlled to generate a response in the chat processing unit 40 upon receiving an instruction to generate a chat response from the chat intermediation processing unit 2, and to execute a process of sending the response to the user terminal device 3B of the user identified by the chat intermediation processing unit 2 using a chat sending function.

[0035] Furthermore, the basic configuration of the second embodiment shown in Figure 4-2 is composed of a user terminal device 3A used by a user, a chatbot server 4A connected from the chat application 31 of the user terminal device 3A, a chat mediation processing unit 2 that receives an intermediation request from the chatbot server 4A to send a response to another chatbot server 4B, identifies the user information associated with the user identifier sent along with the request to send the response, determines whether a chat response needs to be sent, and identifies the user based on the associated user information depending on the determination result, another chatbot server 4B that is identified by the chat mediation processing unit 2 and to which the response from the chatbot server 4A is sent, and a user terminal device 3B that receives the response in chat format from the chatbot server 4B and displays the response to other users.

[0036] The above-mentioned "response" (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "response chat data," "chat," or "reply") not only represents answers or thoughts to questions from users or chatbots, but also includes questions to users or chatbots, and may be expressions or information that are necessary to convey to the other party in chat interactions via the chat mediation processing unit 2. This includes not only responses to other users identified as being related to the user, but also chat data returned as responses from other users. Therefore, once a chat-style conversation begins, the conversation is basically realized by sending and receiving responses from both sides.

[0037] The response sent from the chatbot server 4 may be text data that expresses a dialogue in chat format, or it may be a URL or two-dimensional code that requests access or download, or the document data itself.Therefore, the intermediary chat system 100 of the present invention makes it possible to provide information that was previously communicated directly by people or passed on by hand, by interacting with the chatbot servers 4 via the chat intermediary processing unit 2, rather than relying on human assistance.

[0038] The chatbot server 4 communicates between the chatbot and the user terminal device 3 by sending and receiving chat data. The chatbot server 4 analyzes the information in the chat data exchanged in a dialogue format and determines, from the analyzed information, whether or not a response should be sent to the user associated with the user information included in the chat data. In other words, it determines from the chat data whether or not there is a response that should be mediated. If it is determined that a response should not be sent to the associated user, the dialogue continues by sending and receiving chat data.

[0039] If it is determined that a response should be sent to the associated user, a response including the content to be sent to the associated user is generated, and the destination user information is sent to the chat mediation processing unit 2 along with a request to send the response. The decision as to whether to respond to the associated user is made by, for example, referring to the dialogue patterns formed by pre-learned machine learning, or the user information recorded in the user information management section within the chat flow of the chat history record. For example, if the chatbot answers the question "What is your purpose?" with "Negotiate an agreement," this chat flow does not determine that a response should be sent to the associated user, and the conversation continues as is, since there is no interaction to be had with the associated user or that user. On the other hand, if the chatbot asks, "Please enter the user identifier of the person who wishes to participate in this service," and the user responds with "User2," the chatbot server 4 will respond to the associated user, determine that the person to whom the response should be sent is "User2," generate a response along with information about "User2" asking, "Do you wish to participate in this service?", and send this generated response and the information about "User2" to the chat mediation processing unit 2, whereupon a process is executed to request mediation processing.

[0040] The response chat data is analyzed by the chat processing unit 40 based on the chat data received by the chatbot server 4 and information obtained from the chat flow recorded in the chat data recording unit 9, and the optimal answer can be selected and generated based on pre-set response patterns and dialogue patterns learned by machine learning artificial intelligence (AI). It is preferable to generate and set response patterns that include specialized elements depending on the type of negotiation to be conducted using the system of the present invention, or to have machine learning artificial intelligence learn response patterns in specialized fields. The machine learning artificial intelligence can utilize a well-known program system that understands the language of chat data, learns from chat data logs, automatically generates appropriate responses, and realizes questions and responses in a conversational format.

[0041] [Chat mediation processing unit] The chat intermediation processor 2 in the intermediary chat system according to the present invention performs intermediation processing for chat responses on at least two or more users' user terminal devices 3. Specifically, the chat intermediation processor 2 identifies the user to whom a response is to be sent from user information such as a user identifier or a user-related identifier, determines whether a response needs to be sent, and if it determines that a response needs to be sent, instructs the chatbot server 4 to generate a chat response and requests processing to send the response. In the first embodiment, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 requests the chatbot server 4 to process the response transmission, and in the second embodiment, it requests another chatbot server 4B to process the response transmission. In addition, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 checks in the user information management unit 5 whether there is any user information associated with the user information sent from the chatbot server 4 along with the request to send a response, and if there is no registration, it registers the information in the user identifier management unit 51 or the user-related identifier management unit 6 and stores it so that it can be referenced.

[0042] In other words, like an intermediary that mediates dialogue and negotiation between people, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 has the function of, for example, in the second embodiment, determining whether it is necessary to respond to a request from the chatbot server 4A to send a response to chat data sent by a user from a chat application on the user terminal device 3A, identifying the relevant user and linking them to the chatbot server 4B, sending a response to the chatbot server 4B, and mediating dialogue and negotiation between users between the chatbot server 4A and the chatbot server 4B. In this way, the chat mediation processing unit 2 mediates chat responses between related users, so that instead of users chatting directly with each other, a structure is created in which each user responds through a chat with a chatbot, making the user realize that the other party in the conversation is a chatbot, thereby realizing calm conversation and negotiation.

[0043] [User Information Management Department] In the present invention, information regarding user identification and relevance is registered and recorded in the user information management unit 5. The information recorded in the user information management unit 5 is managed so that it can be collated by the chatbot server 4 and the chat intermediation processing unit 2. The intermediary chat system 100 of the present invention uses a chatbot to send and receive chat responses to people with whom you wish to have a conversation, thereby enabling you to advance a conversation without being directly aware of the other person, and identifying the other person is an important element.

[0044] In the present invention, identifiers are used to manage user associations as information, and information about users is registered and recorded as user-related identifiers. The user identifiers used as identifiers in the present invention are assigned to identify users, and the registration, recording, and management of user identifiers are controlled by user identifier management unit 51. Furthermore, the registration, recording, and management of user-related identifiers, which are assigned to associate users with each other and enable the associations to be organized into a database, are controlled by user-related identifier management unit 6.

[0045] By using an identifier in this way, it becomes possible to unambiguously distinguish and identify specific user information from other user information. A user identifier or a user-related identifier may be a number or symbol, a specific user name or user ID, an email address, or a combination thereof. In addition, in order to more accurately identify users, chat data can be combined with specific user information or multiple pieces of user information to make the two related, and a user-related identifier can be assigned to the combination and registered. The user-related identifier management unit 6 can not only refer to user information from specific user-related identifier information, but can also refer to user identifiers and other user-related identifiers from each element of user information registered in association with a user-related identifier. Therefore, for example, if a user-related identifier b is registered for user B by combining the user identifier and email address, the user identifier and email address can be referenced as user information from the user-related identifier b. At the same time, it is also possible to extract the user-related identifier b from the user identifier and reference the email address from the information in the user-related identifier b. By combining various elements and assigning and recording user-related identifiers, it is possible to unambiguously and accurately identify specific users.

[0046] Figures 5-1 and 5-2 are explanatory diagrams that explain the processing when user information is sent, where Figure 5-1 shows the case when a user identifier is sent and Figure 5-2 shows the case when an association request is sent. In the diagram shown in Figure 5-1, information "User1" is sent from the chat application on user terminal device 3A of user 1 as the user identifier of user 1, and information "User2" is sent from the chat application on user terminal device 3B of user 2 as the user identifier of user 2, and is received by receiving unit 41 of the intermediary chat device 1. The information received by the receiving unit 41 is recorded and saved in the chat data recording unit 9, and the user identifier is registered and saved in the user identifier management unit 51 of the user information management unit 5. In the figure, user identifier management unit 51 records, as user identifier information, that "User1" is the user identifier of user 1, and "User2" is the user identifier of user 2.

[0047] In the diagram shown in Figure 5-2, a request for association with "User2" is sent from the chat application on user terminal device 3A of user 1. In this case, when sending a chat from the chat application, a request for association with "User2" is sent along with information on user identifier "User1" as a unique identifier for identifying the user who is the sender (sending user), and the information received by receiving unit 41 of intermediary chat device 1 is recorded and saved in chat data recording unit 9, and the association of the combination of the sending user's user identifiers "User1" and "User2" is recorded as a user-related identifier in user-related identifier management unit 6 of user information management unit 5. In the figure, the user identifier "User1" and the user identifier "User2" are recorded as user-related identifier information in the user-related identifier management unit 6 as being related to each other.

[0048] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a database of the user information management unit in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. Figure 6-1(a) is an example of a user management table in which user identifiers are recorded. In this example, each user identifier is assigned to a user serial ID in the user management table and registered. In the figure, user serial ID 1 is registered as user identifier "User1," and user serial ID 2 is registered as user identifier "User2." FIG. 6-1(b) is an example of a user-related management table in which user-related identifiers are recorded. In the example shown in the figure, a combination of user serial IDs becomes a user-related identifier, and each combination is assigned and registered as a related serial ID in the user-related management table. In the figure, user serial IDs 1 and 2 are registered as related serial ID 1. In this case, referring to the user-related table in FIG. 6(a), user serial ID 1 is User1 and user serial ID 2 is User2, so User1 and User2 are considered to be related, and related serial ID 1 is recorded as the user-related identifier in the user-related identifier management unit 6.

[0049] FIG. 6-2 shows an example of another database in the user information management unit. Figure 6-2(a) is an example of a user management table in which user identifiers are recorded. In this example, user identifiers are recorded in the user management table, and in the user relationship management table of Figure 6-2(b), combinations of the user identifiers are registered as user-related identifiers. In this case, User1 and User2 are considered to be related, and this relationship is recorded in the user-related identifier management unit 6 with a user-related identifier.

[0050] FIG. 6-3 shows an example of yet another database in the user information management unit. Figure 6-3(a) is an example of a user management table in which user identifiers are recorded, and each user identifier is assigned and registered as a user serial ID in the user management table. In the figure, user serial ID 1 is registered as user identifier "User1", and user serial ID 2 is registered as user identifier "User2". Figure 6-3(b) is a user-related identifier table in which user-related identifiers are registered, and Figure 6-3(c) shows a user-related identifier user management table in which a combination of the user serial ID recorded in (a) and the user-related identifier recorded in (b) is registered as a user-related identifier. In this case, user-related identifier 1 and User 1 linked to user serial ID 1 are considered to be related, and are assigned to a management serial ID and recorded in the user-related identifier management unit 6 as a user-related identifier.

[0051] In the example of Figure 6-3(c), the user-related identifier "4" is registered in association with three user identifiers via management serial IDs 6, 7, and 8. That is, by referring to the management table in Figure 6-3(c), it can be seen that User 1 linked to user serial ID 1 via management serial ID 6 is associated with user-related identifier "4," that User 3 linked to user serial ID 3 is associated with user-related identifier "4" via management serial ID 7, and that User 5 linked to user serial ID 5 is associated with user-related identifier "4" via management serial ID 8. In this way, a plurality of user identifiers can be registered in association with one user-related identifier, and vice versa.

[0052] The user identifier and user-related identifier recorded in the user information management unit 5 as described above are referenced by the chatbot server 4 and the chat intermediation processing unit 2 when identifying the associated user, determining whether a chat response needs to be sent, and executing the process of sending the response. Therefore, when a request to send a response is received from the chatbot server 4, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 identifies the relevant user information from the user identifier and user-related identifier information recorded in the user information management unit 5, and sends a response to the associated user terminal device 3 and chatbot server 4. The user information managed by the user information management unit 5 in this way is an important element in identifying related users, and by using this information to accurately identify users without ambiguity, a reliable intermediary chat system can be provided.Therefore, the user information is managed so that the relationship can be uniquely identified by the chatbot server 4 and the chat intermediation processing unit 2.

[0053] In this embodiment, the case where user relevance is determined based on chat data and user-related identifiers is described, but it is also possible to set and register a unique user ID or the like as a user identifier for each user terminal device 3 or for each chat application, and link the relationships between user identifiers and register them as one of the user-related identifiers. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the association of user identifiers as an example of user-related identifiers. In the figure, the user identifier "User1" is set on the user terminal device 3A of user A, the user identifier "User2" is set on the user terminal device 3B of user B, and the user identifier "User3" is set on the user terminal device 3C of user C.

[0054] For example, if user A requests in advance that the user identifier "User2" be registered as being related, as in the example of processing when user information is sent in Figure 5-2, the user identifier "User1" of user A and the user identifier "User2" of user B will be registered in the user-related identifier management unit 6 with the user-related identifier "1" as the association. Then, the chatbot server 4 determines that user A, identified by the user identifier "User1", is related to user B, identified by the user identifier "User2", based on the information of the user-related identifier "1" linked to the information of the user identifier "User1". Then, based on the above-mentioned determination, the chatbot server 4 requests the chat intermediation processing unit 2 to send the response from user A to user B. The chat intermediation processing unit 2 receives the request, identifies the user identifier "User2" of user B, and determines whether a chat response needs to be sent to user B. If the user-related identifier "1" that associates user A's user identifier "User1" with user B's user identifier "User2" is confirmed and it is determined that a chat response needs to be sent, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 instructs the chatbot server 4 or another chatbot server 4B to execute processing to generate a chat response in the chat processing unit 40. Then, the chatbot server 4 or another chatbot server 4B executes a process of sending the response generated for sending to the user terminal device 3B of user B to the user terminal device 3B of user B using the chat sending function.

[0055] Note that a user identifier identifies a user, and there does not necessarily have to be one user identifier for one user; one user may have multiple user identifiers, and there is a 1:n relationship between users and user identifiers. It is possible that the user identifier may not be determined even if the user is decided, but it is preferable that the user is decided once the user identifier is decided. For example, if user A registers a unique user identifier "User1" on user terminal device 3 and also registers the user identifier "User1" in the registered account of the chat application, even if the chatbot server 4 is accessed from a terminal other than the registered user terminal device 3 and the unique user identifier of the user terminal device 3 cannot be used, the user identifier of the registered account of the chat application can be used, making it possible to identify the user. Furthermore, the user identifier does not necessarily have to be a single piece of information, but may be a collection of information that can identify a user by combining multiple pieces of information. Note that the user identifier may be set arbitrarily or may be assigned automatically. By registering and managing the user identifier and the user-related identifier in association with each other in this way, it becomes easier to identify related parties.

[0056] Similarly, if user A requests in advance to register that he is related to user identifier "User3," user A's user identifier "User1" and user C's user identifier "User3" are registered in the user-related identifier management unit 6 as user-related identifier "2," and user A, identified by user identifier "User1," and user C, identified by user identifier "User3," are managed as being related to each other. In this way, if the user-related identifier management unit 6 registers a relationship between user identifier "User1" and user identifier "User2" using user-related identifier "1" and a relationship between user identifier "User3" using user-related identifier "2," there is no user-related identifier that associates user identifier "User2" with user identifier "User3." Therefore, it is not possible to determine whether there is a relationship between user B, who is identified by user identifier "User2," and user C, who is identified by user identifier "User3." Even if the user identifier "User1" is registered in association with the user identifier "User2" and the user identifier "User3," the user identifiers "User2" and "User3" are not associated by a user-related identifier, so the user identifiers "User2" and "User3" are determined to have no association with each other, and the chat mediation processing unit 2 does not mediate between them.

[0057] It should be noted that a user-associated identifier can be associated with zero or more user identifiers, and a user identifier can be associated with multiple user identifiers and user-associated identifiers. In other words, the user-related identifier and the user identifier have an n-to-n relationship, and even if one is determined, the other may not be determined. The user-related identifier may be a single piece of information, or may be a set of information that combines multiple pieces of information to uniquely identify the user's association. The user-related identifier management unit 6 in the present invention registers the relationships between users as user-related identifiers as described above, thereby systematically storing the relationships between users in a database, and records and saves the relationships to clarify the criteria for judgment by the chat mediation processing unit 2 and prevent erroneous judgments.

[0058] [User information registration process] In the present invention, the chatbot server 4 executes a process of registering information about a user from chats sent from the user terminal device 3 in the user information management unit 5 as described above. The following is an example of the procedure of the registration process by the chatbot server 4. (Example 1) Registration process of sending user's user identifier The chatbot server 4 that has received the chat data determines whether the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user by referring to the user identifier information recorded in the user identifier management unit 51 of the user information management unit 5 in the chat processing unit 40, and if it determines that the user identifier of the sending user is not included, requests that the user identifier of the sending user be registered in the user identifier management unit 51. By this process, the user identifier of the sending user is registered and recorded.

[0059] (Example 2) Registration process of association between the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated When the chatbot server 4 receives the chat data, it determines whether the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated by referring to the information recorded in the user identifier management unit 51 or the user-related identifier management unit 6 of the user information management unit 5 in the chat processing unit 40. If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is included, the user identifier is associated with the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated, and a request is made to the user information management unit 5 to execute a registration process. By this process, when the sending user sends chat data from the user terminal device 3, if the data contains a user-related identifier or a user identifier of the user to be associated in addition to the sending user's user identifier, the sending user's user identifier and the user-related identifier, or the sending user's user identifier and the user identifier of the user to be associated, are associated as necessary and registered and recorded in the user information management unit 5.

[0060] (Example 3) Registration process based on association request When the chat data includes a request to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated, the chatbot server 4 requests the user information management unit 5 to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated with the same user-related identifier and execute a registration process in the user-related identifier management unit 6. Through this process, the user identifier of the sending user and the user identifier of the user to be associated with the requested user are registered and recorded in one user-related identifier as being associated.

[0061] The following processing cases are available as processing for associating with the same user-related identifier in the registration processing of the above (Example 3). (Case a) The user identifier of the sending user and the user identifier of the user to be associated are associated and registered as a new user-associated identifier. (Case b) A user-related identifier that has been previously associated with the user identifier of the sending user is associated with the user identifier of the user to be associated, and registration processing is performed. (Case c) The user identifier of the sending user is associated with a user-associated identifier that is previously associated with the user identifier of the user to be associated, and registration processing is performed. Each of the above processing cases is selected by referring to the information recorded in the user information management unit 5, and this processing causes the user identifier of the sending user and the user identifier of the user to be associated to be associated with the same user-related identifier and registered and recorded.

[0062] The above is the registration process when a request is made to associate the user identifier of the user to be associated with the sending user.In addition, the chat data may contain a request to associate the user identifier of the sending user with a user-related identifier. In this case, the chat processing unit 40 of the chatbot server 4 requests the user information management unit 5 to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the requested user-related identifier and to execute registration processing in the user-related identifier management unit 6.

[0063] An example of the process of saving the association between chat data and users in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the association of chat data with user information in the mediated chat system according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown here, a case will be described in which chat data and a user identifier [User1] are transmitted from the chat application of the user terminal device 3 by user A. The user identifier [User1] is a registered account of the chat application, and is automatically assigned when chat data is sent. The chatbot server 4 receives the chat data and the user identifier [User1] information sent from the chat application of the user terminal device 3 at the receiving unit 41 (S21). The chat processing unit 40 of the chatbot server 4 checks whether the received user identifier [User1] is registered (S22), i.e., whether the chat data contains user information registered in the user information management unit 5, against the user information management unit 5 of the intermediary chat device 1, and if not registered, instructs the user information management unit 5 to perform registration processing and registers the user identifier [User1] (S23). Thereafter, the chat data is associated with the user identifier [User1] and stored in the chat data recording unit 9 (S24). By the above process, the registration of the user identifier [User1] and the process of saving the chat data associated with the user identifier are completed.

[0064] Figure 14 is also a flowchart showing the association of chat data and user information in an intermediary chat system according to the present invention, and similar to the case shown in Figure 13, it explains another example of processing when user A sends chat data and a user identifier [User1] from the chat application on user terminal device 3. The chatbot server 4 receives the chat data and the user identifier [User1] sent from the chat application of the user terminal device 3 at the receiving unit 41 (S31). The chat processing unit 40 of the chatbot server 4 checks whether the received user identifier [User1] is registered (S32), i.e., whether the chat data contains user information registered in the user information management unit 5, against the user information management unit 5 of the intermediary chat device 1, and if not registered, instructs the user information management unit 5 to perform registration processing and registers the user identifier [User1] in the user identifier management unit 51 (S33). Next, the user-related identifier management unit 6 is checked to see if a valid user-related identifier associated with the user identifier [User1] is registered (S34), and if not registered, the user-related identifier [1] associated with the user identifier [User1] is registered in the user-related identifier management unit 6 (S35). Thereafter, the chat data is stored in the chat data recording unit 9 in association with the user identifier [User1] and the user-related identifier (S36). By the above process, the process of associating and saving the chat data with the user identifier [User1] and the user-related identifier [1] is completed.

[0065] The user association can be registered in advance using a user-associated identifier when the user identifier is set. For example, when using the intermediary chat system of the present invention, a registered account for the chat application is set, and at the same time, the chatbot server 4 sets the registered account as a user identifier, assigns a user-related identifier, and executes a registration process in the user-related identifier management unit 6. In addition, by setting a user identifier for each user terminal device that runs a chat application, users are assigned a unique user identifier without having to be particularly aware of the identifier, making it possible to operate the system from that user terminal device without stress.

[0066] The process of saving user associations is not limited to the above example, and various information can be registered and recorded using user-related identifiers to make the task of identifying related parties more efficient.

[0067] Next, a specific example of processing in the mediated chat system according to the present invention will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 8 outlining an example of the processing flow in the basic configuration of an embodiment of the mediated chat system according to the present invention. The processing flow of the basic configuration begins with initial processing, in which the chat application 31 on the user terminal device 3A is launched to connect to the chatbot server 4A. The chatbot server 4 then uses its chat processing unit 40A to identify the user information of the user using the user terminal device 3A, creates a chat room to enable chat-style interaction with the user terminal device 3A, and provides a chat screen, thereby controlling the device to a state in which it can chat with the user terminal device 3A.

[0068] Then, the chatbot server 4A receives chat data transmitted in a chat format by the chatbot from the user terminal device 3A at the receiving unit 41 (S1). Chat data includes user information such as the user identifier, name, and gender of the sending user (sending user), information such as the purpose of use and desired conditions, and information necessary to identify a specific target user with whom the user wishes to interact, such as the target user's user identifier or user-related identifier, or user information such as an email address and phone number. Then, the chat processing unit 40A of the chatbot server 4A first determines whether the user identifier of the sending user in the chat data in chat format sent from the user terminal device 3 is registered in the user identifier management unit 51 (S2).

[0069] If the user identifier of the sending user is not registered, the user identifier of the sending user is registered in the user identifier management unit 51 of the user information management unit 5 (S3).

[0070] If the user identifier of the sending user is registered in the user identifier management unit 51, the chat processing unit 40 of the chatbot server 4A associates the chat data with the user information and stores it in the chat data recording unit 9 (S4).

[0071] Then, the chatbot server 4A determines in the chat processing unit 40 whether the chat data includes a user-related identifier or a user identifier of a user to be associated in addition to the user identifier of the sending user (S5).

[0072] If the chatbot server 4A determines that the chat data does not include the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated, it executes a response generation process (S7). If it is determined that the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated, a user information association process is performed (S6), and then a response generation process is performed (S7).

[0073] The chatbot server 4A requests the chat intermediation processing unit 2 to transmit the generated response to the associated user's user terminal device 3B via the chat intermediation processing unit 2 (S8).

[0074] Upon receiving the request, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 identifies the user associated with the user information sent from the chatbot server 4A along with the request to send a response, and determines whether a response needs to be sent (S9). For example, if a user-related identifier associated with the user identifier of another user at the user's request has already been recorded in the user information management unit 5, and the user information sent from the chatbot server 4A as the destination of the response is the user identifier or user-related identifier of the target user recorded in the user information management unit 5, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 refers to this recorded information in the user information management unit 5 and determines that a response needs to be sent.

[0075] If it is determined that transmission is necessary, the chatbot server 4A executes a process of sending the response generated by the chatbot server 4A to the user terminal device 3B of the associated target user in chat format based on the identified and associated user information (S10). If it is determined that a response does not need to be sent to the other user, the chat intermediation processing unit 2 returns a response sending request to the chatbot server 4A and instructs the chatbot server 4A to separately request information about the other user.

[0076] According to the above flow, the response sent from user terminal device 3A is sent to user terminal device 3B via the chat intermediation processing unit 2, and the chat intermediation processing unit 2 performs the intermediation processing of the dialogue between the user of user terminal device 3A and the user of user terminal device 3B. The second embodiment is a case in which the chat mediation processing unit 2 instructs another chatbot server 4B to perform a response transmission process, and the processing flow is similar.

[0077] The above basic processing flow will be explained using an example of a chat screen displayed on the display unit 35 of the user terminal device. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the flow of chat in the intermediary processing using the intermediary chat system according to the present invention, and shows the processing when the chatbot server 4 has already recorded and stored the user identifiers of user A and user B. In other words, this is an example of a case where the chatbot server 4 can identify user B's user terminal device 3B using user B's user identifier sent from user A. First, a chat start signal is sent from the chat application 31 on the user terminal device 3A used by user A to the chatbot server 4 of the mediated chat device 1 (111). The chatbot server 4 receives the chat start signal and sends a chat about question 1 to the user terminal device 3A of user A (112). The user terminal device 3A of user A sends answer 1 to the question from the chatbot server 4 (113).

[0078] The chatbot server 4 sends a chat for question 2 in response to answer 1 (114). In response to this, the user terminal device 3A of user A sends answer 2 as an answer to question 2 (115). In response to this, user A's user terminal device 3A transmits the identification information of the other party they wish to mediate to the chatbot server 4 (116). The other party's identification information is a user identifier, a user management identifier, and other information about the user that have been registered in advance in the user information management unit 5. When the chat is sent from user A's user terminal device 3A, the chatbot server 4 receives the other party's identification information transmitted from user A's user terminal device 3A. Here, the user identifier of user B is used as the identification information of the other party.

[0079] The chatbot server 4 identifies the other party associated with user A's user identifier or user-related identifier registered in user A's user terminal device 3A from the received identification information, creates a response, and requests the chat intermediation processing unit 2 to send the response.

[0080] The chat intermediation processing unit 2 determines whether it is necessary to send a response to user B based on the information in the user information management unit 5, and if it determines that it is necessary, it instructs the chatbot server 4 to send a response to user device 3B of user B. In this embodiment, since the content of the response is a "chat participation request," the chat intermediation processing unit 2 determines that it is necessary to send a response, and instructs the chatbot server 4 to send a chat request to the identified other party, user B, in chat format.

[0081] In response to an instruction from the chat mediation processing unit 2, the chatbot server 4 sends a response to the user terminal device 3B of user B (117). In this embodiment, a chat message is sent to the effect that user A has requested to join the chat. In this case, if user A and user B are already using the same chat application, a request to join the chat can be sent as a response from user A to the chat screen of user B's chat application.

[0082] User B's user terminal device 3B receives the chat participation request through the chat display of the chat application, and sends a chat response indicating that the user is OK to participate in the chat (118). Upon receiving a response from user B's user terminal device 3B, the chatbot server 4 sends a request to user A's user terminal device 3A to confirm the other party information to see if the other party that user A wishes to mediate is user B (119). In response to the request from the chatbot server 4 to confirm the other party information, the user terminal device 3A of user A replies by chat that it has confirmed the information (120). The chatbot server 4 receives confirmation of the other party's information and, based on the previous response from user B's user terminal device 3B, sends a notification to user A's user terminal device 3A that the other party has responded that they will participate (121). Through the above process, the user terminal device 3A of user A receives a chat participation notification in chat format from the other party, user B. Thereafter, the user terminal device 3A mediates the chat between user A and user B through a similar chat exchange process.

[0083] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a chat flow in the intermediary processing shown in FIG. 9, using a chat application on the display unit of a specific user terminal device. In the diagram shown in Figure 10-1, when the chat application 31 is launched on the display unit 35 of the user terminal device 3, for example, the user name "User A" and the user identifier [User1] for identifying User A are displayed on the screen. The display unit 35 displays a series of chat conversations controlled by the chatbot server 4 via the chat application 31.

[0084] A series of chat interactions (hereinafter also referred to as chats) on this screen are associated with the user identifier User1 of the user information as chat data, and this information is recorded historically in the chat data recording unit 9 by processing by the chat processing unit 40 of the chatbot server 4.

[0085] First, the user terminal device 3A of user A starts a chat by activating the chat application 31, and sends a signal to the chatbot server 4 (FIG. 9 (111)), and the display unit is displayed so that chat interaction is possible. Then, the chatbot server 4, which has received the signal, sends Question 1 in chat format to the user terminal device 3A of User A (112). In the diagram in Figure 10-1, the chatbot sends Question 1, "Would you like to use this service?" In response, user A transmits answer 1 to question 1 from user terminal device 3A (113). In the figure, answer 1 is transmitted as "Yes."

[0086] The chatbot server 4 responds to the answer from user A's user terminal device 3A by sending question 2 (114). In the figure, question 2 is sent as "Do you know the other party's information?" In response, the chatbot server 4 checks whether user A has information about the other party for whom they wish to mediate. In response to this, if User A has information about the person he / she wishes to mediate, he / she will send a response 2 of "Yes" from the user terminal device 3A (115), and will also send "User2" as the other party identification information for the person he / she wishes to mediate to the chatbot server 4 (116).

[0087] The chatbot server 4, which has received the other party identification information, identifies the other party from pre-registered user information, and after processing by the chat mediation processing unit 2, sends a chat requesting participation in the chat to user B's user terminal device 3B (117). The diagram shown in Figure 10-2 is an example of the display unit of User B's user terminal device 3B, which sends a chat participation request saying, "User 2, User A would like to use this service with User 2," and presents multiple-choice responses (117).

[0088] In response, user B's user terminal device 3B sends a response that the user is OK to participate in the chat (118). At that time, user B sends a chat to collect information so that user A can confirm that he or she is user B. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10-2, the chatbot server 4 replies with a chat message saying, "User2, please enter your name for confirmation," and user B's user terminal device 3B replies with a chat message saying, "This is user B." Since "User2" has already been registered as user B's user identifier, this is a valid response for verifying the identity of the user. In this embodiment, the name is asked as an example, but by asking about the user identifier information recorded for User2 or information that can be confirmed from the contents of the user-related identifier information (for example, email address, telephone number, etc.), it is possible to redundantly confirm that the person is the person in question.

[0089] The chatbot server 4, which has received a response from user B's user terminal device 3B, sends a request to user A's user terminal device 3A to confirm the other party (119). Figure 10-3 shows the display unit of user A's user terminal device 3A, and the chatbot server 4 sends a request to user A's user terminal device 3A to confirm the other party information, asking, "Is User2 user B?" In response to this, user A's user terminal device 3A confirms that the user name of the other party is user B and replies "Yes" to confirm (120). As a result, the fact that the related information between user A's user identifier "User1" and user B's identifier "User2" has been authenticated is recorded in user information management unit 5.

[0090] Thereafter, the chatbot server 4 notifies user A's user terminal device 3A that the other party will be joining the chat (121), and user A's user terminal device 3A receives the notification, enabling interaction via chat in the chat room between user A's user terminal device 3A and user B's user terminal device 3B, with the chatbot server 4 remaining in a state capable of performing intermediation processing.

[0091] Figure 11 is also an explanatory diagram showing another example of the chat flow in the intermediation processing using the intermediary chat system of the present invention. This example shows the processing when User A and User B are not associated and User A (user identifier User1) is unable to provide the chatbot server 4 with information that allows the chatbot server 4 to identify the other party. First, a chat start signal is sent from the chat application 31 on the user terminal device 3A used by user A to the chatbot server 4 of the mediated chat device 1 (211). The chatbot server 4 receives the chat start signal and sends a chat about question 1 to the user terminal device 3A of user A (212). The user terminal device 3A of user A sends answer 1 to the question from the chatbot server 4 (213).

[0092] The chatbot server 4 sends a chat for question 2 in response to answer 1 (214). In response to this, the user terminal device 3A of user A sends answer 2 as an answer to question 2 (215). In this embodiment, user A's user terminal device 3A does not have the identification information of the other party for whom the user wishes to mediate, and is unable to send it to the chatbot server 4. Therefore, the chatbot server 4 provides a means for associating the other party with the other party through the chat mediation processing unit 2. In Figure 11, the chatbot server 4 sends an "authentication code" to user A's user terminal device 3A (216). User A's user terminal device 3A transfers the "authentication code" sent from the chatbot server 4 to the desired intermediary party (217).

[0093] Upon receiving the "authentication code," user terminal device 3B of user B transfers the "authentication code" to chatbot server 4 (218). Upon receiving the "authentication code," chatbot server 4 checks the "authentication code" to verify whether it is the "authentication code" sent to user A's user terminal device 3A, and if it does not match the "authentication code" sent to user A's user terminal device 3A, returns an authentication error to user B's user terminal device 3B (219).

[0094] If the "authentication code" matches, the chatbot server 4 sends a request to confirm the other party information to the user terminal device 3A of user A (220). The method of confirmation is that when the authentication code is transferred from the user terminal device 3B of user B, the chatbot server 4 receives information that can identify the individual, such as a user name, user identifier, email address, or phone number, and verifies whether this information matches the information held by user A, prompting the user to confirm the other party information.

[0095] Then, the user terminal device 3A of user A checks the other party information, and if it is not the party desired for mediation, it returns an authentication error (221) and transfers the authentication code again. If it is confirmed that the counterparty information from the chatbot server 4 matches the counterparty who wishes to mediate, the confirmation is returned to the chatbot server 4 via chat (223).

[0096] The chatbot server 4 receives confirmation of the other party's information and, based on the previous response from user B's user terminal device 3B, sends a notification to user A's user terminal device 3A that the other party will be participating (224). Through the above flow, the user terminal device 3A of user A receives a chat participation notification from the other party, user B, in a chat format. Then, since it is determined through the authentication code that User1 and User2 are related, they are registered in the user information management unit 5 with a user-related identifier. After that, User1 and User2 can be mutually identified without having to verify the authentication code, etc., and the chat mediation process is carried out.

[0097] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the flow of chat in the intermediary processing using the intermediary chat system of the present invention. This example shows the processing in which, through the processing of FIG. 9 or FIG. 11, user A and user B or user identifier User1 and user identifier User2 are associated by the chat intermediary processing unit 2, and after the other party information is confirmed and intermediary processing is executed on user A's user terminal device 3A, user A and user B negotiate with the intermediary chat device 1 as an intermediary, with the aim of reaching an agreement on a contract or the like.

[0098] After User A's user terminal device 3A sends (311) confirmation from the other party, User B, the chatbot server 4 notifies User 2 via chat of the answer to Question 1 that was already received from User 1 (312). User B's user terminal device 3B receives the answer to Question 1 from User 1.

[0099] User B reviews the received answer to User 1's question 1 and sends a request to change the answer from User 1 from User B's user terminal device 3B to the chatbot server 4 (313). In response to the change request from User B's user terminal device 3B, the chatbot server 4 generates a chat response based on information learned by machine learning through automatic analysis of the chat flow of the chat data with User A's user terminal device 3A recorded in the chat data recording unit 9, as well as pre-registered collected information and response pattern information, and sends Question 1 to User B's user terminal device 3B (314). Upon receiving Question 1, User B's user terminal device 3B transmits (315) an answer to Question 1. The chatbot server 4 transmits (316) to User B a message indicating that the answer has been received.

[0100] 12, User B sends a request to change the answer to User 1's question 2, which he has already received, from his user terminal device 3B to the chatbot server 4 (317). In response to the change request from User B's user terminal device 3B, the chatbot server 4 generates a chat response based on information learned by machine learning through automatic analysis of the chat flow of the chat data with User A's user terminal device 3A recorded in the chat data recording unit 9, as well as pre-registered collected information and response pattern information, and sends Question 2 to User B's user terminal device 3B (318). Upon receiving Question 2, User B's user terminal device 3B transmits (319) an answer to Question 2. The chatbot server 4 transmits (320) a message indicating that the answer has been received. The user terminal device 3B of User B requests the chatbot server 4 to notify User1 of the updated response (321).

[0101] Upon receiving the request, the chatbot server 4 receives a notification instruction to User1 based on the judgment of the chat intermediation processing unit 2, and notifies the user terminal device 3A of User A of the revised response from User2 (322). As a result, the user terminal device 3A of User A receives the change response from User2. User A sends the received request to change the answer to User 2's question 1 from his user terminal device 3A to the chatbot server 4 (323). In response to the change request from User A's user terminal device 3A, the chatbot server 4 generates a chat response based on information learned by machine learning through automatic analysis of the chat flow of the chat data with User B's user terminal device 3B recorded in the chat data recording unit 9, as well as pre-registered collected information and response pattern information, and sends Question 1 to User A's user terminal device 3A (324). Upon receiving Question 1, User A's user terminal device 3A transmits (325) an answer to Question 1. The chatbot server 4 transmits (326) a message indicating that the answer has been received.

[0102] 12, User A sends a request to change the answer to User A's question 2, which has already been received, from user terminal device 3A to chatbot server 4 (327). In response to the change request from User A's user terminal device 3A, the chatbot server 4 uses AI to generate a chat response based on information learned by machine learning through automatic analysis of the chat flow of the chat data with User A's user terminal device 3B recorded in the chat data recording unit 9, as well as pre-registered collected information and response pattern information, and sends Question 2 to User A's user terminal device 3A (328). Upon receiving Question 2, User A's user terminal device 3A transmits (329) an answer to Question 2. The chatbot server 4 transmits (330) a message indicating that the answer has been received. User A's user terminal device 3A requests the chatbot server 4 to notify User 2 of the updated response (331).

[0103] As described above, the intermediary chat system of the present invention is configured to ask the other party questions regarding negotiation matters via the chatbot server 4, obtain the answer via the chatbot server 4, and then return the answer to the chatbot server 4, thereby obtaining an answer from the other party.If necessary, chats with each user are repeated until an appropriate answer is obtained by the machine learning artificial intelligence (AI) of the chatbot server 4 from the recorded chat flow and other information. The chatbot server 4 then checks whether User A and User B have changed their answers (332, 333), receives replies from both parties that their answers have not changed (334, 335), and completes the negotiation agreement. It then notifies both parties that the agreement has been completed (336, 337), and the negotiation ends.

[0104] In this way, the mediated chat system of the present invention is configured so that associated users do not respond to each other in chats directly, but rather responses are generated through the chatbot server 4 so that they can interact with the chatbot, and the conversation progresses.

[0105] FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating another functional configuration of an embodiment of an mediated chat system according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the chat intermediary device 1' is configured to include a chat intermediation processing unit 2, a user information management unit 5, a receiving unit 7, a transmitting unit 8, and a chat data recording unit 9, and the chatbot server 4 (4'a, 4'b) is configured separately and independently.

[0106] In this configuration, for example, a chat application 31 for using a commonly used bot service is set up on user A's user terminal device 3A, and a chatbot server 4' that can be connected to from that chat application is used. In this case, the chatbot server 4'a is not directly controlled by the chat intermediary device 1, so the chatbot server 4'a accesses the chat intermediary device 1' via a communication line. Access can be confirmed by setting an authentication code, password, etc.

[0107] The information from the chatbot server 4'a is then processed by the chat intermediation processing unit 2, which identifies the relevant party or registers it in the user information management unit 5, and performs intermediation processing such as sending a response. The chat data sent from the chatbot server 4'a is then saved in the chat data recording unit 9, and the chat intermediation processing unit 2 manages the information required for the intermediation processing so that the information in the chat data recording unit 9 can be referenced together with the information in the user information management unit 5.

[0108] Furthermore, even if a chat application 31 for using other bot services is set up on user B's user terminal device 3B, by making it possible to connect from that chat application to the chatbot server 4'b, information about user B can be collected, registered, and managed via the chat intermediation processing unit 2.

[0109] As a result, the chat intermediary device 1' records information about user A and information about user B, making it possible to associate and identify users even if the chat applications that serve as contact points are different and the bot services do not match. With this configuration, each user can realize the intermediary chat system according to the present invention while using the bot service that they are familiar with, making it an easy-to-use system. In this configuration, the functions of the other functional components are the same as those described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0110] As described above, the intermediary chat system 100 of the present invention associates chat data and user information contained in the chat data sent from the user terminal device 3 via a chat application with a user identifier and a user-related identifier, and identifies a specific party from the user identifier and user-related identifier information. This makes it possible to easily and accurately identify the user who is the other party in a chat, and to safely execute the intermediary process. In implementing the mediated chat system according to the present invention, it is also possible to add a function of notifying the relevant user of the receipt of response chat data by push notification. Furthermore, if a chat-style input interface with a question-and-answer format is used, it becomes possible to generate responses that do not require the input of a large amount of data, which further reduces the psychological burden on the user. [Industrial Applicability]

[0111] The intermediary chat system, intermediary chat device, and chat intermediation method of the present invention enable communication via a chatbot server without direct contact with people, and therefore, for example, by having the chatbot server learn translation, it can also be used as a communication tool between users who speak different languages. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 1. Intermediary chat device 2. Chat mediation processing unit 3. User terminal device 31 Chat Applications 32 User Identifier 33 Receiving unit 34 Transmitter 35 Display section 36 Input section 4, 4a, 4b Chatbot Server 40 Chat processing section 41 Receiving unit 42 Transmitter 5. User Information Management Department 51 User Identifier Management Unit 6. User-related Identifier Management Unit 7. Receiving section 8. Transmitter 9 Chat data recording section 90 Internet and other networks 100 Intermediary Chat System

Claims

1. An intermediary chat system in which an intermediary chat device and a user terminal device are connectable via a network, The intermediary chat device A chatbot server, a chat mediation processing unit, and a user information management unit are provided. The chatbot server a receiving unit that receives chat data and user information transmitted from a user terminal device; a chat processing unit having a chat function, generating a chat data response, and recording a chat history; a sending unit that sends a response generated by the chat processing unit; The user information management unit a user identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users; a user-associated identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user-associated identifiers for associating users with each other; When the chatbot server determines, based on the information in the chat data transmitted and received with the user terminal device, that a response should be sent to a user associated with the user information included in the chat data, it generates a response and transmits the response to the user terminal device of the associated user via a chat intermediation processing unit. The present invention relates to an intermediary chat system.

2. An intermediary chat system in which an intermediary chat device and a user terminal device are connectable via a network, The intermediary chat device is A chat mediation processing unit, at least two chatbot servers, and a user information management unit are provided, The chatbot server a receiving unit that receives chat data and user information transmitted from a user terminal device; a chat processing unit having a chat function, generating a chat data response, and recording a chat history; a sending unit that sends the response generated by the chat processing unit, The user information management unit a user identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users; a user-associated identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user-associated identifiers for associating users with each other; When one of the at least two chatbot servers determines, based on the information in the chat data transmitted and received with the user terminal device, that a response should be sent to a user associated with the user information included in the chat data, the chatbot server generates a response and transmits the response to the user terminal device of the associated user via a chat mediation processing unit. The present invention relates to an intermediary chat system.

3. The chatbot server determines whether the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user by referring to the user identifier information recorded in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit in the chat processing unit, and if it determines that the chat data does not contain the user identifier of the sending user, requests the user identifier management unit to perform a registration process for the user identifier of the sending user.

4. The chatbot server determines in the chat processing unit whether the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated by referring to information recorded in the user identifier management unit or the user-related identifier management unit of the user information management unit, and if it determines that the chat data contains the user identifier of the sending user and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated, the chatbot server associates the user identifier of the sending user with the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated and requests the user information management unit to perform registration processing.

5. The intermediary chat system described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the chat data includes a request to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated, the chatbot server requests the user information management unit to associate the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated with the requested association with the same user-related identifier and execute a registration process in the user-related identifier management unit.

6. An intermediary chat system characterized in that the process of associating with the same user-related identifier as described in claim 5 is performed by associating the user identifier of the sending user with the user identifier of the user to be associated and registering it as a new user-related identifier.

7. An intermediary chat system characterized in that the process of associating with the same user-related identifier described in claim 5 is performed by associating the user identifier of the user to be associated with a user-related identifier that has been previously associated with the user identifier of the sending user, and then performing a registration process.

8. An intermediary chat system characterized in that the process of associating with the same user-related identifier described in claim 5 is a registration process in which the user identifier of the sending user is associated with a user-related identifier that has been previously associated with the user identifier of the user to be associated.

9. The chatbot server is characterized in that, when the chat data includes a request to associate the user identifier of the sending user with a user-related identifier, the chat processing unit associates the user identifier of the sending user with the requested user-related identifier and requests the user information management unit to perform registration processing in the user-related identifier management unit.

10. The intermediary chat system described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the chatbot server determines that a response should be made to a user associated with user information included in the chat data, it generates a response and executes a process of sending the generated response, user information, and a request to send the response to the chat intermediation processing unit.

11. The intermediary chat system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chat intermediation processing unit identifies user information associated with user information sent from the chatbot server along with a request to send a response, determines whether a chat response needs to be sent, and instructs and controls the execution of a process to send a chat response to the identified user based on the associated user information to the user terminal device of the identified user using a chat sending function depending on the determination result.

12. An intermediary chat device, a chatbot server that can be connected to a user terminal device; a user identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user identifiers that identify users; a user information management unit including a user-related identifier management unit that registers, records, and manages user-related identifiers for associating users with each other; a chat mediation processing unit that controls the execution of sending a response to the user terminal device of the associated user in response to a request from the chatbot server; The chat intermediation processing unit identifies associated user information from the information recorded in the user information management unit in response to user information sent from the chatbot server along with a request to send a response, determines whether a chat response needs to be sent, and controls the execution of a process to send the response from the chatbot server to the user terminal device of the associated user according to the determination result.

13. A chat mediation method using an mediated chat system, (1) The receiving unit of the chatbot server receives chat data transmitted from the user terminal device, and the chat processing unit of the chatbot server determines whether the user identifier of the transmitting user included in the chat data transmitted from the user terminal device is registered in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit; (2) If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is not registered in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit, register it in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit; (3) If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is registered in the user identifier management unit of the user information management unit, the chat processing unit of the chatbot server associates the chat data sent from the user terminal device with the user information and records and saves it in the chat data recording unit of the intermediary chat device; (4) determining whether the chat data includes a user-related identifier or a user identifier of a user to be associated with the sending user in addition to the user identifier of the sending user; (5) If it is determined that the user does not include the associated user, a chat response is generated to be sent to the associated user. (6) If it is determined that the user identifier of the sending user is included, the sending user's user identifier and the user-related identifier or the user identifier of the user to be associated are associated with each other and recorded and stored in the user-related identifier management unit of the user information management unit, and then a process of generating a chat response to be sent to the user to be associated is executed; (7) requesting the chat mediation processing unit to transmit the generated response to the user terminal device of the associated user; (8) The chat intermediation processing unit that has received the request identifies the user information associated with the user-related identifier information sent from the chatbot server together with the request to send a response, (9) Execute a process of sending a response generated by the chatbot server to the user terminal device of the associated user based on the identified associated user information. A chat mediation method characterized by:

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