Information processing system, information processing program, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide a technique that allows digital business cards to be more easily stored.SOLUTION: An information processing system is capable of exchanging messages with a user terminal via a messaging service. The information processing system stores, for each of one or more registrants, system reference information, registration reference information, and registrant information in association with information identifying the registrant, receives a request for access to the system reference information from the user terminal, and transmits first information to the user terminal, where the first information includes at least a portion of a draft message and the registrant information identified based on the system reference information. In response to receiving a first message that satisfies a predetermined condition from the user terminal, the information processing system transmits a second message including the registrant information to the user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In social encounters, the exchange of contact information using business cards and other devices is common. In recent years, digital business cards have increasingly replaced printed business cards. A digital business card refers to information such as one's profile and contact information in a digital format, or a service that provides such information to others (for example, by displaying it on their smartphone). Digital business cards themselves are a well-known technology, and services using IC cards that use NFC (Near Field Communication) technology are well-known.

[0003] Unlike paper business cards, the process of storing information is important for digital business cards. For example, when a recipient receives a URL for a web page that displays a profile or contact information, and the recipient displays the web page through a web browser program (browser) on their smartphone, they often feel like "I want to look back at this page later" or "I want to save this page somewhere." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-77198 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional techniques have had the problem of making it difficult to store digital business cards.

[0006] To save information such as a digital business card, you can simply save the URL of the digital business card. However, it is often a cumbersome process for users to actively save URLs on their smartphones. Even when using the bookmark function, the operation is difficult to understand, and very few users regularly use the bookmark function of browsers, especially on mobile devices such as smartphones.

[0007] It is also possible to save the screen displaying information as an image, rather than a URL, but the operation of the smartphone's OS is difficult to understand, and the operation itself is cumbersome (for example, a long press displays a menu, which requires further operations). Furthermore, it is difficult to extract contact information (such as name, phone number, email address, etc.) contained in the image as text, which makes it difficult to use.

[0008] It is also possible to save contacts using a contact saving application program (app) that is standard on the OS, but few users regularly use such apps, and they are not widely used.

[0009] It is also possible to distribute a user-friendly dedicated app for saving contacts; for example, Patent Document 1 describes an example of using such an app; however, it is time-consuming for users to install such an app.

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to provide a technique that makes it easier to store digital business cards. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] An example of an information processing system according to the present invention is an information processing system capable of exchanging messages with a user terminal via a messaging service, comprising: The information processing system includes: storing, for each of one or more registrants, information identifying the registrant, in association with system reference information, registration reference information, and registrant information; receiving a request for access to the system reference information from a user terminal; Send first information to the user terminal, where the first information includes at least a portion of a draft message and the registrant information identified based on the system reference information; In response to receiving a first message that satisfies a predetermined condition from a user terminal, a second message including the registrant information is transmitted to the user terminal.

[0012] According to one example, the first information is: information for starting a message sending / receiving program on the user terminal; information for causing the user terminal to generate at least a portion of a draft message; Includes:

[0013] According to one example, the information processing system transmits the first information to the user terminal in response to receiving the access request; the first information includes information for displaying a registrant information screen showing the registrant information, The registrant information screen includes: - operating means for starting a message sending / receiving program on the user terminal, or - operating means for initiating a procedure for starting a message sending / receiving program on the user terminal; is displayed.

[0014] According to one example, the system reference information is represented by information read from a recording medium.

[0015] According to one example, the registration reference includes a string representing a URL.

[0016] According to one example, the first information includes information describing a contact associated with the information processing system.

[0017] According to one example, the first information includes registration reference information identified based on the system reference information.

[0018] According to one example, the registrant information includes the registrant's name and contact information.

[0019] According to one example, the second message further includes the registration reference.

[0020] According to one example, the predetermined condition is: - the destination of said first message includes a specific contact; - the subject of the first message contains a specific string; - the body of said first message contains said registration reference; At least one of the following is satisfied.

[0021] According to one example, the first message and the second message are both emails or SMS messages.

[0022] According to one example, the information processing system transmits information about the first message to the registrant corresponding to the first message.

[0023] According to one example, the information processing system comprises: receiving, from a user terminal, transmission permission information indicating whether transmission of information regarding the first message to the registrant corresponding to the first message is permitted or prohibited; If the transmission permission information indicates prohibition, the information regarding the first message is not output to the registrant corresponding to the first message.

[0024] An example of an information processing program according to the present invention causes a computer to function as the above-described information processing system.

[0025] An example of an information processing method according to the present invention includes: An information processing method in which an information processing system exchanges messages with a user terminal via a messaging service, comprising: The information processing method includes: the information processing system storing, for each of one or more registrants, information identifying the registrant in association with system reference information, registration reference information, and registrant information; receiving, by the information processing system, a request to access the system reference information from a user terminal; a step of transmitting first information to the user terminal by the information processing system, wherein the first information includes at least a portion of a draft message and the registrant information identified based on the system reference information; a step in which the information processing system transmits a second message including the registrant information to the user terminal in response to receiving a first message that satisfies a predetermined condition from the user terminal; Includes: [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to the information processing system, the information processing program, and the information processing method of the present invention, a user can more easily save a digital business card.

[0027] Effects other than those mentioned above will be explained by the embodiments and modifications described in this specification and the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of a configuration including a digital business card server 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the exchange of digital business cards according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the digital business card server 10 in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 20 in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 4 shows an example of the configuration of a registration information DB stored in the storage means 12 of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 3 is a flowchart of processing executed by the digital business card server 10 and the user terminal 20 in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] An example of a registrant information screen 50. [Figure 8] An example of the save method selection screen 60. [Figure 9] 7 is an example of an email program selection screen 70. [Figure 10] Example of explanation screen 80. [Figure 11] Example of new email creation screen 90. [Figure 12] An example of the unread email list screen 100. [Figure 13] 10 shows an example of a transmission permission information input screen 110. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Embodiment 1] 1 shows an example of a configuration including a digital business card server 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The digital business card server 10 is connected to one or more user terminals 20 via a communication network 30 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0030] The digital business card server 10 is an information processing system that can exchange messages via a messaging service with the user terminal 20. A system including the digital business card server 10 and the user terminal 20 is an information processing system that realizes digital business cards.

[0031] The digital business card server 10 executes the information processing method described in this specification. In this embodiment, the message is an email, the message sending / receiving program is an email program, and the messaging service is provided by an email server (not shown). Note that the message is not limited to an email, and may be, for example, a message (SMS message) sent via SMS (Short Message Service), in which case the message sending / receiving program is an SMS program, and the messaging service is provided by an SMS server (not shown). Other messaging services may also be used, such as a messaging service provided by a social networking service (SNS) or a communication tool.

[0032] An overview of the exchange of digital business cards according to the first embodiment will be explained using Figure 2. A user who presents a digital business card (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "business card registrant") presents a recording medium 40 on which information related to the digital business card is recorded to a user who receives the digital business card (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "business card recipient"). The business card recipient reads the information recorded on the recording medium 40 using their own user terminal 20 (for example, but not limited to, a smartphone). The user terminal 20 communicates with the digital business card server 10 based on the read information, thereby saving the contents of the digital business card.

[0033] Figure 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the digital business card server 10. The digital business card server 10 has a hardware configuration as a known computer, and includes, for example, a calculation means 11, a storage means 12, and an input / output means 13. The calculation means 11 includes, for example, a processor. The processor can be manufactured using an integrated circuit, ASIC, FPGA, etc. The storage means 12 includes, for example, a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory device or a magnetic disk device. Some or all of the storage medium may be non-transitory storage media.

[0034] The input / output means 13 includes a communication device such as a network interface. The communication device can function as both an input device and an output device. The communication device can perform wired communication and / or wireless communication. The input / output means 13 may also include input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and an output device such as a display and a printer.

[0035] The storage means 12 stores a registration information DB containing information related to digital business cards. The storage means 12 may also store a program (information processing program) not shown. The processor may execute this program, causing the digital business card server 10 to perform the functions described in this embodiment. In other words, this program causes the computer to function as the digital business card server 10.

[0036] 4 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 also has a hardware configuration as a known computer, and can be configured as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The user terminal 20 includes, for example, a computing means 21, a storage means 22, and an input / output means 23. The computing means 21 includes, for example, a processor. The storage means 22 includes, for example, a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory device or a magnetic disk device. Some or all of the storage medium may be non-transitory storage media.

[0037] The input / output means 23 includes a user interface device such as a touch panel display and a communication device such as a network interface. The user interface device and the communication device can function as both an input device and an output device. The communication device can perform wired and / or wireless communication. The input / output means 23 may also include an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and an output device such as a printer.

[0038] The input / output means 23 includes a recording medium reading means 24. The recording medium reading means 24 is configured to be able to read information recorded on a recording medium, and may be configured to communicate according to, for example, NFC or other RFID standards, IEEE 802.15.1, or the like, may be configured to image and recognize a barcode (one-dimensional or two-dimensional), may be equipped with a magnetic reader for reading a magnetic stripe, may be equipped with an OCR device for recognizing characters, or may be configured to read information according to another method.

[0039] The storage means 22 may store a program (information processing program) not shown. The processor may execute this program, causing the user terminal 20 to perform the functions described in this embodiment. In other words, this program causes a computer to function as the user terminal 20.

[0040] Although the hardware configuration of the recording medium 40 is not particularly shown, it is configured to record information and to be able to read the information by an appropriate information reading device (such as the user terminal 20). For example, it may be configured to be able to communicate with the user terminal 20 via NFC or other RFID standards, IEEE 802.15.1, etc., or it may be configured so that a barcode (one-dimensional or two-dimensional) is printed and can be imaged externally, or it may be configured so that a magnetic stripe is attached and can be read by a magnetic reader, or it may be configured so that characters are printed and can be read by an OCR device, or it may be configured according to any other method.

[0041] The recording medium reading means 24 of the user terminal 20 is appropriately configured to be able to read information recorded on the recording medium 40 in accordance with the configuration of the recording medium 40. For example, if the recording medium 40 has an NFC communication function, the recording medium reading means 24 also has an NFC communication function.

[0042] 5 shows an example of the configuration of the registration information DB stored in the storage means 12. The registration information DB contains information about users (business card registrants) who submit digital business cards. For each of one or more business card registrants, the registration information DB associates information identifying the business card registrant (registrant ID) with the URL of the digital business card server 10 (system reference information), a URL indicating the location of business card information that represents the content of the digital business card to be registered (registrant reference information), and the content of the business card (registrant information).

[0043] The URL of the digital business card server 10 and the URL of the business card information are different for each business card registrant, and the recording medium 40 owned by each business card registrant records the URL of the digital business card server 10 that corresponds to that business card registrant.

[0044] The registrant information may be any information about the person who registered the business card, but as an example, it includes text data representing the name and contact information. By including the name and contact information, it is expected that the card will be used in a manner generally appropriate for the term "business card" or "digital business card." In this example, the contact information is an email address, but instead of or in addition to this, it may include an address, a telephone number, a URL of a specific page in an SNS (social networking service), etc. Furthermore, the registrant information may include other information, such as text data representing the place of employment, department, special skills, career history, job function, etc. (Figure 7, described below, corresponds to such an example).

[0045] 5, the URL of the digital business card server 10 and the URL of the business card information all belong to the same domain, but it is also possible to configure one or all of them to belong to different domains. In particular, the URL of the business card information may be the URL of a web page prepared by the business card registrant himself / herself.

[0046] 6 is a flowchart of the processing executed in this embodiment by the digital business card server 10 and the user terminal 20. The operations of the digital business card server 10 and the user terminal 20 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0047] Prior to the processing of Fig. 6, the business card registrant presents the recording medium 40 relating to the digital business card to the business card recipient. In response to this presentation, the business card recipient performs an operation to read information from the recording medium 40 using his / her own user terminal 20, and the processing of Fig. 6 is started.

[0048] 6, first, the user terminal 20 reads information from the recording medium 40 (step S1). The recording medium 40 stores the URL of the digital business card server 10, so the user terminal 20 can read it.

[0049] Next, the user terminal 20 transmits an access request to the read URL (step S2), and the digital business card server 10 receives this from the user terminal 20 (step S3). In this way, the URL of the digital business card server 10 is represented by the information read from the recording medium 40, and in particular, is represented as a predetermined access destination associated with the digital business card server 10.

[0050] Next, in response to receiving this access request, the digital business card server 10 generates first information related to the URL and transmits it to the user terminal 20 (step S4). The first information includes, for example, HTML data. This HTML data includes registration reference information and registrant information identified based on the URL of the accessed digital business card server 10, and in particular, includes information for displaying a registrant information screen showing this registrant information on the user terminal 20.

[0051] The digital business card server 10 can refer to the registration information DB (Fig. 5) to obtain the registrant information associated with the accessed URL and include it in the HTML data. The HTML data also includes a specific email address associated with the digital business card server 10 (an email address associated with the digital business card server 10 itself, as opposed to one included in the registrant information). The digital business card server 10 can use this email address as part of the draft text of the email to be sent to the digital business card server 10 (the contents of the To: field).

[0052] In this embodiment, the HTML data includes an email address associated with the digital business card server 10, but as a variant, if SMS is used as the messaging service, the HTML data may include a telephone number associated with the digital business card server 10 instead of an email address.

[0053] The user terminal 20 receives the HTML data sent from the digital business card server 10 (step S5). In this embodiment, the email address is sent from the digital business card server 10 to the user terminal 20 at steps S4 and S5, but as will be described later, the email address can also be sent at a later point in time.

[0054] Next, the user terminal 20 displays a screen in accordance with the received HTML data, thereby displaying the registrant information screen (step S6). The user terminal 20 can display the screen and accept operations from step S7 onwards by executing, for example, a general web browser program.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows an example of a registrant information screen 50. In this embodiment, the registrant information screen 50 displays text data 51 representing at least a portion of the registrant information. In the example of FIG. 7, the registrant's place of employment, department, name, address, and other information (in this example, special skills, career history, and job function) are included. The registrant information screen 50 also displays an image 52 associated with the business card registrant. The image 52 can be, for example, a photograph of the business card registrant or an image provided by the business card registrant.

[0056] Furthermore, an operation means 53 (contact display button) is displayed on the registrant information screen 50. In response to an operation on the operation means 53 (for example, a tap operation or a click operation, which can be designed appropriately depending on the configuration of the user terminal 20; the same applies below), the user terminal 20 displays the contact information of the business card registrant. The displayed contact information is, for example, stored in the registration information DB.

[0057] Furthermore, operation means 54 (information save button) is displayed on registrant information screen 50. Operation means 54 functions as operation means for starting a procedure (information save procedure) for starting an email program on user terminal 20. When user terminal 20 accepts an operation (information save operation) on operation means 54 (step S7), it starts the information save procedure described below, thereby saving the contents of registrant information screen 50.

[0058] Furthermore, one or more other operation means 55 (SNS buttons) are displayed as operation means on the registrant information screen 50. Each operation means 55 corresponds to a different SNS service, and in response to an operation, the user terminal 20 transmits an access request to the page of the business card registrant on that SNS service.

[0059] The following describes the information storage procedure that is started in response to an operation on the operation means 54. The information storage procedure is a procedure for storing registrant information in the user terminal 20. When the information storage procedure is started, the user terminal 20 first displays a storage method selection screen.

[0060] 8 shows an example of a save method selection screen 60. The save method selection screen 60 displays an operation means 61 for instructing saving by email, operation means 62 and 63 for instructing saving by other means, and an operation means 64 for instructing cancellation.

[0061] In response to an operation on operation means 61, user terminal 20 displays an email program selection screen, which will be described later. In response to an operation on operation means 62 and 63, user terminal 20 starts a specific application program for saving information, and saves the contents of registrant information screen 50 via that application program. In response to an operation on operation means 64, user terminal 20 erases saving method selection screen 60 (or may display registrant information screen 50 again).

[0062] 9 shows an example of email program selection screen 70. Email program selection screen 70 is displayed in response to an operation on operation means 61 of storage method selection screen 60. In this embodiment, user terminal 20 can selectively use multiple email programs to send and receive emails, and can accept the selection of the email program to be used via email program selection screen 70.

[0063] Displayed on email program selection screen 70 are operation means 71 for selecting a first email program, operation means 72 for selecting a second email program, and operation means 73 for issuing a cancellation instruction. Although not shown, email program selection screen 70 may also display operation means for selecting other messaging services (such as for selecting SMS).

[0064] The first email program is, for example, so-called webmail. This can be used via a web browser and communicates with the mail server in HTML format. The second email program can be used by executing an email program installed on the user terminal 20 and communicates with the mail server in a format such as SMTP, POP, or IMAP. Note that the above are merely examples, and the email program format is not limited to these.

[0065] In addition, if user terminal 20 can only use a single email program, the display of email program selection screen 70 may be omitted, or email program selection screen 70 may be displayed with only operation means 71 and 73 displayed, and operation means 72 for selecting a second email program may not be displayed.

[0066] When user terminal 20 receives an operation on operation means 71 or 72, it displays an explanation screen according to the corresponding email program.

[0067] 10 shows an example of an explanation screen 80. An explanation of how to operate the GUI of the email program that will be launched subsequently is displayed on the explanation screen 80. This explanation includes an explanation 81 and an explanation image 82.

[0068] In this example, explanatory text 81 is a message that reads, "When you send an email, you will receive an automatic reply that you can review at any time." In other words, it explains that by simply performing a send operation on the draft email prepared thereafter, a reply email will be automatically sent in response, and the contents of registrant information screen 50 will be saved in user terminal 20, allowing you to review the contents of registrant information screen 50 at any time. Explanation image 82 is an image that explains the send operation for the email program. The image includes an image 82a of the send button in the email program that will be launched thereafter, and urges the user to operate the send button.

[0069] In this way, the explanation screen 80 explains that the business card recipient does not need to perform any additional operations in the email program that will be launched afterwards, but simply needs to perform the sending operation on the automatically prepared draft.

[0070] Furthermore, operation means 83 for actually starting the email program is displayed on explanation screen 80. When user terminal 20 receives an operation on operation means 83 (step S8), it starts the email program selected on email program selection screen 70 (FIG. 9) (step S9).

[0071] 8, 9, and 10 may be omitted. For example, user terminal 20 may be configured to start a specific e-mail program in response to an operation on operation means 54 (information save button) on registrant information screen 50 of Fig. 7. In this case, operation means 54 on registrant information screen 50 functions as operation means for directly starting the e-mail program on user terminal 20.

[0072] After starting the email program, the user terminal 20 displays a new email creation screen (step S10).

[0073] 11 shows an example of a new email creation screen 90. The new email creation screen 90 displays a draft of the email being created and a send button 91. The draft of the email is automatically generated by the user terminal 20 (however, it is of course possible for the business card recipient to edit the draft via the new email creation screen 90).

[0074] At least a part of the draft text is generated based on information (first information) sent from the digital business card server 10 to the user terminal 20. The draft text includes information indicating the destination of the email (To:). This can be specified, for example, by the URL scheme "mailto:". The destination is not the contact information of the business card registrant, but an email address as a contact associated with the digital business card server 10 itself.

[0075] The draft text also includes information indicating the sender (From:) of the e-mail. The sender is the e-mail address of the business card recipient, and is automatically input by the user terminal 20 via an e-mail program, for example.

[0076] The draft also includes information representing the subject of the email (Subject:). In the example of FIG. 11, the subject is entered as "[Personal Note] Met with Suzuki XX on 2024 / 05 / 26." In this example, the subject includes at least part of the registrant information (name) and the date the draft email was generated. The subject can be specified, for example, by the subject parameter of the URL scheme "mailto:."

[0077] The draft text may also include information about the business card registrant as the main text, and may include, for example, at least a portion of the information displayed on the registrant information screen 50. In the example of Fig. 11, the name of the business card registrant, the URL of the business card information (registration reference information), the business card registrant's contact information (email address and phone number in this example), place of employment, access destination of SNS, etc. are displayed. The main text can be specified, for example, by the body parameter of the URL scheme "mailto:".

[0078] The body of the email may also include instructions on what to do after sending the email. In the example of Figure 11, the body includes the message "If you send it as is, the email will be returned to your mailbox and you can review it at any time." In other words, the recipient of the business card does not need to perform any additional steps, and can simply send the prepared draft.

[0079] On the new email creation screen 90, the user terminal 20 accepts an email sending operation in response to the operation of the send button 91 (step S11), and in response sends the contents of the draft text as an email (step S12). As described above, the destination of this email is the digital business card server 10, so the digital business card server 10 receives this email (step S13). Here, the email sent from the user terminal 20 to the digital business card server 10 is called the "first email" (first message).

[0080] In response to receiving the first email, the digital business card server 10 generates a second email (second message) as a reply to the first email and sends it to the digital business card server 10 (step S14). The destination of the second email is the sender of the first email, i.e., the business card recipient. The user terminal 20 receives the second email (step S15).

[0081] The sender of the first e-mail (user terminal 20) is usually the computer that read the URL in step S1, but it may be a different computer. For example, the business card recipient may transfer a draft of an e-mail created in one user terminal 20 to another user terminal, and send the first e-mail from the other user terminal.

[0082] The digital business card server 10 may also treat all received emails as first emails and send them as second emails, but as a variant, it may treat the received email as first emails and send them as second emails only if the email satisfies certain conditions for being a first email. The certain conditions may be, for example, that one or more of the following conditions are satisfied: The destination of the first e-mail includes a specific e-mail address associated with the process of FIG. 6, among the contacts (e-mail addresses) managed by the digital business card server 10. - The subject of the first email contains a specific string associated with the process in Figure 6. - The body of the first email contains a predetermined URL (eg, registration reference information).

[0083] The predetermined conditions may be any combination of the above conditions, and may include conditions other than those above.

[0084] The subject and body of the second email may be the same as those of the first email, but they may not be the same, and for example, the explanation of what happens after sending the email (e.g., a message such as "If you send this email as is, a reply will be sent to your mailbox and you can review it at any time") that was included in the body of the first email may be deleted.

[0085] Since the first email contains the registrant information, the second email also contains the registrant information, allowing the recipient to later review the second email and view information related to the registrant.

[0086] As a variant, even if the body of the first e-mail does not contain registrant information, the digital business card server 10 can add the registrant information to the body of the second e-mail. The registrant information to be added can be identified based on, for example, the destination of the first e-mail, the subject of the first e-mail, the URL included in the body of the first e-mail, etc.

[0087] FIG. 12 shows an example of the unread email list screen 100. In this example, the subject "[ An email with the same subject as "Meeted Suzuki XX on 2024 / 05 / 26" is listed as an unread email, and the recipient of the business card will know that this email contains information about the person who registered the business card.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the information used in the processing from steps S4 to S12 that is sent from the digital business card server 10 to the user terminal 20 (first information) can be included in HTML data and sent all at once in step S4, for example, but the timing and format of sending are not limited to this. For example, after step S7, the user terminal 20 may notify the digital business card server 10 that an information saving operation has been performed, and the digital business card server 10 may respond by sending a draft of the first e-mail to the user terminal 20.

[0089] In this way, at least one of the following pieces of information can be configured to be sent from the digital business card server 10 to the user terminal 20 as part of the first information at any timing after step S4 and before step S10. - Business card information URL (registration reference information) - Name and contact details (registrant information) In step S9, information for launching an email program on the user terminal 20 (for example, using the URL scheme "mailto:") - information for the user terminal 20 to generate at least part of the message draft in step S10 (for example, via the URL scheme "mailto:" or its parameters); - Information representing an email address associated with the digital business card server 10

[0090] As described above, the digital business card server 10 according to the first embodiment allows business card recipients to store digital business cards more easily.

[0091] For example, there is no need for complicated and confusing operations, such as when saving information in a special format (such as a URL itself, a screen, or information from a special application). Also, when saving an image, an operation to extract text data is required to use the contact information, but in the first embodiment, such an operation is not required because the data is saved as an email. Furthermore, the user terminal 20 can be operated using a general web browser program and email program, and there is no need to install a dedicated application for digital business cards.

[0092] [Embodiment 2] In the second embodiment, the digital business card server 10 performs additional processing on the information related to the business card recipient in the first embodiment. The second embodiment will be described below, but explanations of parts common to the first embodiment may be omitted.

[0093] In step S13, the digital business card server 10 receives information about the business card recipient from the user terminal 20. The information about the business card recipient is represented, for example, by information about the first e-mail, and specifically includes information about the sender of the first e-mail. The information about the sender of the first e-mail includes, for example, an email address (for example, what is included in the "From:" field), a name (for example, what is also included in the "From:" field), signature information (for example, what is included in the body of the e-mail), information about the digital signature, etc. The digital business card server 10 stores the received information about the business card recipient in the storage means 12.

[0094] If an SMS message is used as the first message instead of the first email, the information about the sender of the first message may include a phone number.

[0095] The digital business card server 10 also transmits information about the business card recipient to the corresponding business card registrant. For example, in the example of FIG. 11, the information is sent to Suzuki XX, i.e., the registrant whose registrant ID is "001." The specific destination of the information can be specified in advance for each business card registrant, and for example, contact information stored in the registrant information DB may be used. The information is transmitted in the form of, for example, email, but may also be an SMS message, HTML data generated in response to a request from the business card registrant to access a specified URL, or other format.

[0096] In this way, the digital business card server 10 according to the second embodiment transmits information about the first email to the registrant corresponding to the first message. With this configuration, the business card registrant can know who has accessed their registrant information.

[0097] As a variation of the second embodiment, the digital business card server 10 may be configured so that the business card recipient can decide whether or not to provide the business card recipient's information to the business card registrant. For example, the digital business card server 10 may receive predetermined transmission permission information from the business card recipient. The transmission permission information indicates whether or not information about the first electronic mail (such as an email address or a name) is permitted or prohibited from being sent to the registrant corresponding to the first electronic mail.

[0098] The transmission permission information is received, for example, from the user terminal 20. The transmission and reception format of the transmission permission information can be designed arbitrarily, but an example will be described below.

[0099] The digital business card server 10 may request the input of transmission permission information as part of the information storage procedure. For example, a screen for inputting transmission permission information may be displayed in response to an operation on the operation means 61 of the storage method selection screen 60 (FIG. 8).

[0100] 13 shows an example of such transmission permission information input screen 110. Transmission permission information input screen 110 displays operation means 111 for permitting the transmission of information related to the first e-mail, operation means 112 for prohibiting the transmission of information related to the first e-mail, and operation means 113 for issuing a cancellation instruction.

[0101] When the user terminal 20 accepts an operation on the operation means 111, it transmits transmission permission information indicating that information about the first message is permitted to be sent to the registrant to the digital business card server 10. On the other hand, when the user terminal 20 accepts an operation on the operation means 112, it transmits transmission permission information indicating that information about the first message is prohibited from being sent to the registrant to the digital business card server 10.

[0102] The format and timing of transmission of the transmission permission information can be designed arbitrarily; for example, it may be sent from the user terminal 20 to the digital business card server 10 immediately after the operation means 111 or 112 is operated, or it may be sent later together with other information. It may also be expressed as part of the draft text of the first e-mail, for example, by including a specific character string in the draft text. For example, if the transmission permission information indicates permission, the draft text may include a message saying "Your information will be made public to Suzuki XX," and if the transmission permission information indicates prohibition, the draft text may include a message saying "Your information will not be made public to Suzuki XX."

[0103] If the transmission permission information indicates permission, the digital business card server 10 outputs information about the first email to the corresponding registrant, as described above. On the other hand, if the transmission permission information indicates prohibition, the digital business card server 10 does not output information about the first email to the corresponding registrant. This configuration makes it possible to protect the privacy of the business card recipient according to their wishes.

[0104] User terminal 20 may display email program selection screen 70 (FIG. 9) in response to an operation on operation means 111 or 112. User terminal 20 may also display storage method selection screen 60 (FIG. 8) again in response to an operation on operation means 113.

[0105] The first and second embodiments described above can be modified as follows.

[0106] In the first and second embodiments, the system reference information and the registration reference information are character strings representing a URL, enabling access using the commonly used HTTP protocol. The system reference information and the registration reference information may be in a format other than a character string, as long as they represent a URL, and may further include information other than a URL. Furthermore, instead of the information representing a URL, they may include other information that identifies the destination of an access request.

[0107] In the first and second embodiments, the "To:" field is used as an example of a field that indicates the destination of an e-mail, but the destination is not limited to this, and "Cc:" and "Bcc:" etc. can also be used.

[0108] In the first and second embodiments, a first e-mail and a second e-mail are sent and received between the digital business card server 10 and the user terminal 20. However, other types of messages (for example, a first SMS message and a second SMS message) may be sent and received instead. In that case, the URL scheme may use "sms:" instead of "mailto:".

[0109] Those skilled in the art can add, change, or delete components as desired in each of the above-described embodiments. For example, the digital business card server 10 can be configured with multiple computers connected via a communication network. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 10...Digital business card server 20...User terminal 30...Communication Network 40...Recording media 50...Registrant information screen 60...Save method selection screen 70...Email program selection screen 80...Explanation screen 90...New email creation screen 100...Unread email list screen 110...Transmission permission information input screen

Claims

1. An information processing system capable of exchanging messages with a user terminal via a messaging service, comprising: The information processing system includes: storing, for each of one or more registrants, information identifying the registrant in association with system reference information, registration reference information, and registrant information; receiving a request for access to the system reference information from a user terminal; Send first information to the user terminal, wherein the first information includes at least a portion of a draft message and the registrant information identified based on the system reference information; In response to receiving a first message that satisfies a predetermined condition from a user terminal, transmitting a second message including the registrant information to the user terminal. Information processing system.

2. The first information is information for starting a message sending / receiving program on the user terminal; information for causing the user terminal to generate at least a portion of a draft message; Including, The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. the information processing system transmits the first information to the user terminal in response to receiving the access request; the first information includes information for displaying a registrant information screen showing the registrant information, The registrant information screen includes: - operating means for starting a message sending / receiving program on the user terminal, or - operating means for initiating a procedure for starting a message sending / receiving program on the user terminal; is displayed, The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. the system reference information is represented by information read from a recording medium; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. The registration reference information includes a string representing a URL. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

6. the first information includes information representing a contact associated with the information processing system; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

7. the first information includes registration reference information identified based on the system reference information; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

8. The registrant information includes the name and contact information of the registrant. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

9. the second message further includes the registration reference information; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

10. The predetermined condition is: - the destination of said first message includes a specific contact; - the subject of the first message contains a specific string of characters; the body of said first message contains said registration reference; At least one of the following is satisfied: The information processing system according to claim 1 .

11. the first message and the second message are both emails or SMS messages; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

12. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing system transmits information about the first message to the registrant corresponding to the first message.

13. The information processing system includes: receiving, from a user terminal, transmission permission information indicating whether transmission of information regarding the first message to the registrant corresponding to the first message is permitted or prohibited; If the transmission permission information indicates prohibition, the information regarding the first message is not output to the registrant corresponding to the first message. The information processing system according to claim 12.

14. An information processing program that causes a computer to function as the information processing system according to claim 1.

15. An information processing method in which an information processing system exchanges messages with a user terminal via a messaging service, comprising: The information processing method includes: the information processing system storing, for each of one or more registrants, information identifying the registrant in association with system reference information, registration reference information, and registrant information; receiving, by the information processing system, a request to access the system reference information from a user terminal; a step of transmitting first information to the user terminal by the information processing system, wherein the first information includes at least a portion of a draft message and the registrant information identified based on the system reference information; a step in which the information processing system transmits a second message including the registrant information to the user terminal in response to receiving a first message that satisfies a predetermined condition from the user terminal; An information processing method, including:

Images