Processing unit, control unit, and program

Abstract

To provide a mechanism for introducing reaction functionality to services that do not currently have it implemented. [Solution] When the processing device receives an operation to add a reaction to content, it generates content identification information based on information about the content, and transmits the correspondence information to the management device in order to store correspondence information that associates the generated content identification information with reaction information including the content of the reaction in the management device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosure of this specification relates to a processing device, a management device, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] A reaction function is implemented in specific services such as SNS (Social Networking Service) and business support systems. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a specific example of a system that can attach a reaction to content. By using such a reaction function, users can easily react to content.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There are also services in which the reaction function is not implemented. In such services, users cannot use the reaction function. Therefore, even when a user wants to give a simple reaction to content, for example, the user has to perform an operation such as creating a text. For some users, it is difficult to easily give a reaction to content.

[0005] This disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a mechanism for introducing a reaction function to services in which the reaction function is not implemented.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, when a processing device receives an operation to add a reaction to content, it generates content identification information based on information about the content, and transmits the correspondence information to the management device in order to store correspondence information that associates the generated content identification information with reaction information including the content of the reaction in the management device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a mechanism is provided for introducing a reaction function to a service that does not have a reaction function implemented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the processing flow performed by a system according to one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a reaction result to content displayed on the screen of a terminal device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the processing flow performed by a system according to one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the processing flow performed by a system according to one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows the process performed by a terminal device in one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 7] This flowchart shows the process executed by the management server in one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of a terminal device and a management server according to one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of a terminal device and a management server according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following description relates to an apparatus, a control apparatus, and a program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Common or corresponding elements are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0010] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of System 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] System 1 includes multiple terminal devices 10 and a management server 20. The terminal devices 10 and the management server 20 are connected to communicate with each other via a network. In Figure 1, for convenience, only terminal devices 10A and 10B are shown as terminal devices 10. In reality, many terminal devices 10 are connected to the network. The management server 20 may consist of one computer or multiple computers.

[0012] Terminal device 10 is an example of a processing device, and is an example of a first device that is communicatively connected to a second device via a network. Management server 20 is an example of a management device, and is an example of a second device that is communicatively connected to the first device via a network. Any reference to elements using the designations “first,” “second,” etc., as used in this disclosure does not generally limit the number or order of those elements. These designations are used for convenience to distinguish between two or more elements. Therefore, references to first and second elements do not imply, for example, that only two elements are adopted, or that the first element must precede the second element.

[0013] The terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone. The terminal device 10 is not limited to a smartphone; it may also be other types of devices such as a tablet, a PC (Personal Computer), or a game console.

[0014] In the network shown in FIG. 1, devices such as servers for realizing various services (e.g., email service, SMS, web service, etc.) provided by each operator are connected. In FIG. 1, as an example, mail server 100, mail server 200, SMS system 300, SMS system 400, web server 500, and web server 600 are shown.

[0015] Mail server 100 and mail server 200 are, for example, separate mail servers provided on different platforms. SMS system 300 and SMS system 400 are also separate SMS systems provided on different platforms. Web server 500 and web server 600 also have different platforms and provide separate web services. No reaction function is implemented in any of these services.

[0016] A reaction is a stereotyped response made by a viewer of content to the content. The viewer can make a simple expression of intention with respect to the content by simply selecting a pre-prepared stereotyped response (an image, a video, an audio, or a combination of two or more of these).

[0017] The image is, for example, a stamp, an icon, a photo, characters, etc. that express emotions or feelings. As an example of an image, a smiling stamp or a heart stamp can be mentioned. The image also includes, for example, a stamp or an icon that moves in frames. The video is, for example, an extremely short video that expresses emotions or feelings. As an example of a video, a scene cut out from a movie can be mentioned. The audio is, for example, an audio that expresses emotions or feelings in short words (e.g., one word). Examples of the audio include "Like" and "I've read it".

[0018] The stereotyped response may be something made by the user himself / herself (a photo or video taken by the user, an illustration drawn by the user with an image editing app, the user's recorded audio, etc.). The stereotyped response may also be an image, a video, an audio generated by generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), or a combination of two or more of these.

[0019] In this embodiment, the content is an object to which a reaction can be given by a viewer. Exemplarily, the content includes a message, web content, and streaming content. The message is, for example, an email message, an SMS message, an MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) message, or a chat message. The web content is information published on the web and is text, an image, a video, audio, or a combination of two or more of these. The streaming content is an image, a video, audio, or a combination of two or more of these. An example of the streaming content is a live streaming video.

[0020] The content may be virtual space content such as a metaverse, or content that combines the real world and the virtual world. In this case, the user can give a reaction to the content using, for example, MR (Mixed Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), or the like. An example of the reaction in this case is a trace of an action (such as waving a hand) taken by a user wearing a VR device with respect to the content.

[0021] In this embodiment, a function for giving a reaction is introduced into the terminal device 10. Also, a common management server 20 for managing the reaction is arranged on the network. The function for giving a reaction is provided, for example, by a plugin of a mail client or a web browser. The function for giving a reaction may be incorporated into the content using an API (Application Programming Interface) or an inline frame (iframe).

[0022] Figure 2 illustrates how to use the reaction function in an email service that does not have reaction information implemented. Figure 2 shows an example of the processing flow executed in System 1, including a block diagram. The users of terminal devices 10A and 10B are denoted as User UA and User UB, respectively. Plugins for adding reactions are installed in the email clients of terminal devices 10A and 10B. Hereafter, these plugins will be referred to as "reaction plugins". For convenience, the reaction plugin installed in terminal device 10A will be referred to as "reaction plugin PA". The reaction plugin installed in terminal device 10B will be referred to as "reaction plugin PB".

[0023] Mail servers 100 and 200 include, for example, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) servers, IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) servers, and POP3 (Post Office Protocol Version 3) servers. In the example in Figure 2, user UA sends an email message to user UB. Specifically, user UA operates the mail client on terminal device 10A to create and send an email message. The mail client on terminal device 10A requests to send the email message using SMTP. Mail server 100 receives the email message sent by the mail client on terminal device 10A. Mail server 100 verifies the recipient's domain and uses DNS (Domain Name System) to identify the recipient's mail server (MX (Mail Exchanger) record). Mail server 100 performs routing and forwards the email message to the identified recipient's mail server 200.

[0024] Mail server 200 receives email messages from mail server 100. Mail server 200 performs security checks, such as spam checks and virus scans, and saves the email messages to the recipient's mailbox.

[0025] The email client on terminal device 10B connects to the mail server 200 using IMAP or POP3. The email client on terminal device 10B sends the recipient's authentication information to the mail server 200. After successful authentication, the email client on terminal device 10B downloads the recipient's email message stored in the mail server 200's mailbox. This allows user UB to view the email message from user UA.

[0026] Figure 3 shows an example of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 30 displayed on terminal devices 10A and 10B by a reaction plugin. GUI 30 is a user interface for users to react to content. GUI 30 is displayed, for example, superimposed on the content. GUI 30 displays multiple reaction buttons that represent standard responses, such as smiley faces and heart stamps. GUI 30 also displays the number of times each reaction button has been used.

[0027] For example, when a user UB touches a reaction button (e.g., a heart stamp button) on the GUI 30 displayed on the screen of terminal device 10B (see symbols A1 to A2 in Figure 2), the reaction plugin PB of terminal device 10B generates an Identification based on information about the content (see symbol A3 in Figure 2).

[0028] The management ID is an example of content identification information. The reaction plugin PB generates the management ID based on multiple pieces of information about the content. In the example in Figure 2, the content is an email message. In this case, the reaction plugin PB generates the management ID based on the message ID of the email message and the sender's email address.

[0029] As a more detailed example, the reaction plugin PB generates an administrative ID by inputting these two values ​​(message ID and sender's email address) into a predetermined function for ID generation. Since the combination of message ID and sender's email address is a unique pair, the administrative ID is generated as a unique key. The above function is, for example, a hash function.

[0030] Thus, when a processing unit (for example, a processing unit with a reaction plugin installed) receives an operation to add a reaction to content (for example, an operation to press a reaction button), it generates content identification information (for example, an administrative ID) based on information about the content (for example, a message ID and the sender's email address).

[0031] The reaction plugin PB uploads the correspondence information to the management server 20 (see symbol A4 in Figure 2). The correspondence information associates the management ID with the reaction information. The reaction information includes the content of the reaction performed by the user (for example, pressing a heart stamp). In other words, the reaction plugin PB sends the correspondence information to the management server 20 in order to store the correspondence information, which associates the identification information of the generated content (for example, the management ID) with the reaction information containing the content of the reaction, in the management server 20.

[0032] The management server 20 is connected to the database DB. The database DB may be located on the management server 20, or it may be located on another computer. The database DB stores records that associate management IDs with reaction information.

[0033] The management server 20 registers the correspondence information received from the terminal device 10B into the database DB (see symbol A5 in Figure 2). Specifically, the management server 20 searches for a record with the same management ID as the management ID included in the correspondence information. If a record with the same management ID is found, the management server 20 updates the record. More specifically, the management server 20 increases or decreases the number of reactions according to the reaction information included in the correspondence information.

[0034] For example, consider a case where "Smile 1, Heart 1" is registered as reaction information in a record. "Smile 1, Heart 1" indicates that a smile stamp and a heart stamp have been applied to the content once each. In this case, when user UB touches the heart stamp button, terminal device 10B sends corresponding information to management server 20. This corresponding information includes information indicating that the heart stamp button was touched once as reaction information. Therefore, management server 20, upon receiving the corresponding information, searches for the record and increments the number of heart stamps by 1 in the reaction information (i.e., "Smile 1, Heart 1"). In other words, management server 20 updates this reaction information to "Smile 1, Heart 2".

[0035] If no record with the same management ID is found, the management server 20 registers a new record. For example, when user UB touches the heart stamp button, terminal device 10B sends corresponding information to the management server 20. Upon receiving this corresponding information, the management server 20 creates a new record, registers the management ID in the newly created record, and also registers reaction information (for example, "Smile 0, Heart 1").

[0036] This section describes the case where an email message sent by user UA to user UB is displayed on the screen of terminal device 10A. When user UA opens an email message addressed to user UB by operating an email client, for example, at that time, the reaction plugin PA of terminal device 10A generates a management ID based on information about the content (see symbols A6 to A7 in Figure 2).

[0037] The reaction plugin PA generates the management ID in the same way as described above. That is, the reaction plugin PA generates the management ID by inputting two values ​​(message ID and sender's email address) into a predetermined function for ID generation. The reaction plugin PA uses the generated management ID to query the management server 20 for reaction information corresponding to the email message (see symbol A8 in Figure 2).

[0038] Thus, in this embodiment, the reaction plugin PA generates and queries for the management ID at the time the email message is opened. However, the timing of the management ID generation and query is not limited to this. The management ID generation and query may occur at other times, such as when the email message is received.

[0039] The management server 20 searches for records with the same management ID as the management ID included in the query from terminal device 10B (see symbol A9 in Figure 2). The management server 20 returns a response to terminal device 10A according to the search results (see symbol A10 in Figure 2). For example, if a matching record is found, the management server 20 sends the reaction information registered in that record (e.g., "Smile 1, Heart 0") to terminal device 10A. For example, if no matching record is found, the management server 20 sends reaction information indicating that there are no reactions (e.g., "Smile 0, Heart 0") to terminal device 10A.

[0040] The reaction plugin PA displays reaction information (such as "Smile 1, Heart 0", "Smile 0, Heart 0", etc.) included in the response from the management server 20 on the screen, as shown in Figure 3 (see symbol A11 in Figure 2).

[0041] Authentication processes such as SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) are performed on the mail server. This prevents sender impersonation. Furthermore, the message ID is information that only the sender and recipient of the email message can know. In other words, the management ID is generated using the sender's email address, whose legitimacy is guaranteed, and the message ID, which can only be known by the sender and recipient. Therefore, the management ID is information that is difficult for third parties to guess. Reaction information is exchanged between the management server 20 and the terminal device 10A using the management ID that is difficult for third parties to guess. Therefore, the security of reaction information is ensured.

[0042] The message ID and sender's email address are examples of common information obtained by both the sender and receiver of the content (in this case, the email message). Because the sender and receiver of an email message use this common information, they can always generate the same management ID for the same email message, without being subject to temporal or spatial constraints.

[0043] When a reaction plugin accesses content (e.g., a message), it generates content identification information (e.g., a management ID) based on information about the content (e.g., a message ID and the sender's email address). Based on the generated content identification information, the reaction plugin queries the management server 20 for reaction information corresponding to the content. In response to the query from the processing unit (e.g., the reaction plugin) for reaction information corresponding to the content based on the content identification information, the management server 20 reads the corresponding reaction information from its storage unit (e.g., a database DB) and sends it to the processing unit. The reaction plugin retrieves the corresponding reaction information from the management server 20 and outputs the retrieved reaction information (e.g., displays it on the screen, plays it as audio, etc.).

[0044] According to this embodiment, by introducing a reaction function to the terminal device 10, users can react to various content and view reaction information. The interaction between the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 is independent of the interaction between the terminal device 10 and various services. Therefore, users can use the reaction function with various services regardless of the service platform. For example, users can react to email messages exchanged between email systems on different platforms and view reaction information. Thus, according to this embodiment, the reaction function can be introduced to services on various platforms that do not have a reaction function implemented.

[0045] Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2 and illustrates the use of the reaction function in an SMS system 300 where reaction information is not implemented. In the example in Figure 4, as a specific implementation of the reaction function, a reaction plugin is installed for each SMS application on terminal devices 10A and 10B. In the example in Figure 4, user UA sends an SMS message to user UB.

[0046] On the terminal device 10B, the GUI 30 is displayed superimposed on the screen showing the SMS message from the user UA. For example, when user UB touches a reaction button (for example, a heart stamp button) on the GUI 30 displayed on the screen of terminal device 10B (see symbols B1 to B2 in Figure 4), the reaction plugin PB of terminal device 10B generates a management ID based on information about the content (see symbol B3 in Figure 4).

[0047] In the example shown in Figure 2, the content is an SMS message. In this case, the reaction plugin PB inputs the date and time the SMS message was sent, the phone number of user UA (an example of the sender), and the phone number of user UB (an example of the recipient) into a predetermined function for ID generation to generate an administrative ID. Since the date and time the SMS message was sent, the sender's phone number, and the recipient's phone number are a unique combination, the administrative ID is generated as a unique key.

[0048] The reaction plugin PB uploads the response information to the management server 20 (see symbol B4 in Figure 4). The management server 20 registers the response information received from the terminal device 10B into the database DB (see symbol B5 in Figure 4).

[0049] This section describes the case where an SMS message sent by user UA to user UB is displayed on the screen of terminal device 10A. When user UA opens an SMS message addressed to user UB by operating an SMS application, for example, at that time, the reaction plugin PA of terminal device 10A generates a management ID based on information about the content (see symbols B6 to B7 in Figure 4). That is, the reaction plugin PA generates a management ID by inputting three values ​​(the date and time the SMS message was sent, the sender's phone number, and the recipient's phone number) into a predetermined function for ID generation. Using the generated management ID, the reaction plugin PA queries the management server 20 for reaction information corresponding to the SMS message (see symbol B8 in Figure 4).

[0050] The management server 20 searches for records with the same management ID as the management ID included in the query from the terminal device 10A (see symbol B9 in Figure 4). The management server 20 returns a response to the terminal device 10A according to the search results (see symbol B10 in Figure 4). The reaction plugin PA displays the reaction information included in the response from the management server 20 on the screen, for example, as shown in Figure 3 (see symbol B11 in Figure 4).

[0051] Figure 5 is similar to Figure 2 and illustrates the use of the reaction function in a Web server 500 that does not have reaction information implemented. In the example in Figure 5, GUI 30 is embedded in the Web content provided by Web server 500 using an inline frame (iframe). For convenience, the Web browser of terminal device 10A is referred to as "Web browser WA". The Web browser of terminal device 10B is referred to as "Web browser WB".

[0052] Figure 5 illustrates the case where a user UB touches a reaction button (for example, a heart stamp button) on a GUI 30 embedded in a terminal device 10B while the web content from the web server 500 is displayed on the terminal device 10B's screen (see symbols C1 to C2 in Figure 5). In this case, the web browser WB of the terminal device 10B generates a management ID based on information about the content, according to the command written in the embedded tag (for example, an iframe tag) (see symbol C3 in Figure 5).

[0053] In the example in Figure 5, the content is web content. Even if the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the same, the content of web content may be updated. Therefore, the web browser WB follows the command written in the iframe tag and inputs the text within the body tag of the HTML (HyperText Markup Language) of the web content into a predetermined function for ID generation to generate a management ID. The possibility of multiple web contents having exactly the same text within the body tag is extremely low. Therefore, collisions of management IDs (e.g., hash values) do not practically occur. In other words, even in this case, the management ID is generated as a unique key.

[0054] The web browser WB uploads the correspondence information to the management server 20 according to the command written in the iframe tag (see symbol C4 in Figure 5). The management server 20 registers the correspondence information received from the terminal device 10B in the database DB (see symbol C5 in Figure 5).

[0055] This section describes the case where a user UA displays web content from the web server 500 on the screen of a terminal device 10A. When the user UA operates the web browser WA to access the web content, the web browser WA generates a management ID based on information about the content, according to the command written in the iframe tag (see symbols C6 to C7 in Figure 5). That is, the web browser WA generates a management ID by inputting the text within the body tag of the HTML of the web content into a predetermined function for ID generation. The web browser WA then queries the management server 20 for reaction information corresponding to the web content, using the generated management ID, according to the command written in the iframe tag (see symbol C8 in Figure 5).

[0056] The management server 20 searches for a record with the same management ID as the management ID included in the query from the terminal device 10A (see symbol C9 in Figure 5). The management server 20 returns a response to the terminal device 10A according to the search results (see symbol C10 in Figure 5). The web browser WA displays the reaction information included in the response from the management server 20 on the screen, for example, as shown in Figure 3 (see symbol C11 in Figure 5).

[0057] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the processes executed by the terminal device 10 (e.g., a reaction plugin). For example, when the terminal device 10 accesses content (opens a message, accesses web content, starts streaming playback, etc.), the processes shown in Figure 6 begin to run. For example, when the terminal device 10 stops accessing content (closes a message, closes web content, closes the streaming playback screen, etc.), the processes shown in Figure 6 end.

[0058] The steps in the flowcharts shown in the embodiments of this disclosure may be reordered, to the extent that they do not contradict each other. For example, the embodiments of this disclosure present the processing of various steps in an exemplary order, but are not limited to this order. Furthermore, the steps in the flowcharts shown in the embodiments of this disclosure may be performed in parallel or concurrently, to the extent that they do not contradict each other.

[0059] As shown in Figure 6, terminal device 10 generates a management ID (step S101). Terminal device 10 uses the generated management ID to query the management server 20 for reaction information corresponding to the content (step S102). Terminal device 10 receives a response from the management server 20 in response to the query (step S103). Terminal device 10 displays the reaction information included in the response from the management server 20 (GUI 30 including information such as "smile 1, heart 0" and "smile 0, heart 0") on the screen (step S104).

[0060] Terminal device 10 waits for an operation on the reaction button of GUI 30 (step S105). When the reaction button is pressed (step S105: YES), terminal device 10 generates a management ID (step S106). Terminal device 10 uploads correspondence information, which associates the generated management ID with the reaction information, to the management server 20 (step S107).

[0061] Here, we will explain the processes executed by the management server 20 using the flowchart shown in Figure 7. For example, when the management server 20 system starts up, the processes shown in Figure 7 begin to run. For example, when the management server 20 system stops, the processes shown in Figure 7 end.

[0062] The management server 20 determines whether it has received correspondence information (see step S107 in Figure 6) from the terminal device 10 (step S201). If correspondence information is received (step S201: YES), the management server 20 updates the database DB based on the correspondence information (creates a new record or updates an existing record) (step S202). The management server 20 sends the update result (for example, "Smile 1, Heart 0") to the terminal device 10 (step S203).

[0063] If no corresponding information has been received (step S201: NO) or after sending the update result in step S203, the management server 20 determines whether or not it has received a query from the terminal device 10 (step S204). If no query has been received (step S204: NO), the management server 20 returns to the process in step S201. If a query has been received (step S204: YES), the management server 20 searches for records in the database DB according to that query (step S205). The management server 20 returns a response to the terminal device 10 according to the search result (step S206) and returns to the process in step S201.

[0064] Returning to the explanation of the flowchart in Figure 6, terminal device 10 uploads the corresponding information in step S107 and then receives the update result (see step S203 in Figure 7) from the management server 20 (step S108). Terminal device 10 displays the reaction information ("Smile 1, Heart 0", "Smile 0, Heart 0", etc.) included in the received update result on the screen (step S109) and returns to the process in step S105.

[0065] Figure 8 shows an example of the functional configuration of the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. As shown in Figure 8, the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 include a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, a communication unit 130, an input unit 140, and an output unit 150.

[0066] Note that Figure 8 only shows one example of the functional blocks of the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. The terminal device 10 and the management server 20 may also have other functional blocks not shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 may be configured to omit some functional blocks.

[0067] The control unit 110 controls the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. The control unit 110 can be composed of a controller, control circuit, or control device as described based on common understanding in the art relating to this disclosure.

[0068] The storage unit 120 stores information used by the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. The storage unit 120 can be configured, for example, with memory, storage, or a device that can be described based on common understanding in the technical field related to this disclosure.

[0069] The communication unit 130 facilitates communication between the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 (for example, mutual communication between the two). The communication unit 130 can be composed of a transmitter / receiver, a transmitting / receiving circuit, or a transmitting / receiving device as described based on common understanding in the art relating to this disclosure. The communication unit 130 may also consist of a transmitting unit and a receiving unit.

[0070] The input unit 140 receives input from the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. The input unit 140 may also be connected to a predetermined device, storage medium, etc., to receive data input. The input unit 140 may output the input results to, for example, the control unit 110.

[0071] The input unit 140 can be configured with input devices such as keyboards, mice, and buttons, input / output terminals, and input / output circuits, as described based on common understanding in the technical field related to this disclosure. The input unit 140 may also be integrated with the display unit (for example, as a touch panel).

[0072] The output unit 150 outputs to the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. The output unit 150 may also include a display unit for displaying images, an audio output unit for outputting sound, and the like.

[0073] The display unit can be configured with a display device such as a display or monitor, as described based on common understanding in the technical field related to this disclosure. The audio output unit can be configured with an output device such as a speaker, as described based on common understanding in the technical field related to this disclosure.

[0074] The block diagrams used in the above description of the embodiments represent functional units. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the means of realizing each functional block are not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized by a single physically coupled device, or by two or more physically separated devices connected by wired or wireless means.

[0075] For example, an apparatus according to one embodiment of this disclosure (a terminal device 10 and a management server 20) may function as a computer that performs various processes according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0076] Figure 9 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 10 and the management server 20. Physically, the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 may be configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, memory 1002, storage 1003, communication device 1004, input device 1005, output device 1006, bus 1007, etc.

[0077] In this embodiment, devices, circuits, units, servers, etc., can be interpreted interchangeably. The hardware configuration of the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 may include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or it may be configured to omit some of the devices.

[0078] For example, although only one processor 1001 is shown in the diagram, there may be multiple processors. Furthermore, processing may be performed by a single processor, or it may be performed by two or more processors simultaneously, sequentially, or by other means. Processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips.

[0079] Each function in the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 is realized by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, which causes the processor 1001 to perform calculations and control communication by the communication device 1004, and the reading and / or writing of data to the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0080] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer, for example, by running the operating system. The processor 1001 may consist of a central processing unit (CPU) that includes interfaces with peripheral devices, control units, arithmetic units, registers, etc. Each part, such as the control unit 110, may be implemented by the processor 1001.

[0081] The processor 1001 reads programs (program code), software modules, data, etc., from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and performs various processes accordingly. The program used is one that causes the computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above embodiment. For example, the control unit 110 may be implemented by a control program that runs on the processor 1001. Other functional blocks may also be implemented by control programs. The control program is stored, for example, in the memory 1002.

[0082] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically EPROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), or other suitable storage media.

[0083] Memory 1002 may also be called a register, cache, or main memory. Memory 1002 can store executable programs (program code), software modules, etc., for carrying out a method according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0084] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium. Storage 1003 may consist of at least one of the following: a flexible disk, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM)), a digital multipurpose disk, a Blu-ray disk), a removable disk, a hard disk drive, a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, stick, key drive), a magnetic stripe, a database, a server, or other suitable storage medium.

[0085] The storage 1003 may also be called an auxiliary storage device. The memory unit 120 may be implemented by the memory 1002 and / or the storage 1003.

[0086] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transceiver / receiver device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network. The communication device 1004 is also referred to as, for example, a network device, network controller, network card, or communication module. The communication device 1004 may include a SIM card. The communication unit 130 may also be implemented by the communication device 1004.

[0087] The input device 1005 is an input device that accepts input from an external source (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, etc.). The output device 1006 is an output device that outputs to an external source (e.g., a display, speaker, etc.). The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be configured as an integrated unit (e.g., a touch panel). The input section 140 and the output section 150 may be implemented by the input device 1005 and the output device 1006, respectively.

[0088] Each device, such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may consist of a single bus or different buses may be used for communication between devices.

[0089] Furthermore, the terminal device 10 and the management server 20 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and some or all of each functional block may be realized by such hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0090] In addition, terms used in this disclosure and / or terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meaning.

[0091] The information, parameters, etc., described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a given value, or other corresponding information. Furthermore, the names used for parameters, etc., in this disclosure are not limited in any way.

[0092] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of the various different techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0093] Information, signals, etc., may be input and output via multiple network nodes. Input and output information, signals, etc., may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or managed using a table. Input and output information, signals, etc., may be overwritten, updated, or appended to. Output information, signals, etc., may be deleted. Input information, signals, etc., may be transmitted to other devices.

[0094] Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, and so on, whether they are called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or by any other name.

[0095] Furthermore, software, instructions, information, etc., may be transmitted and received via at least one of a transmission medium and a signal waveform. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technology (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) and wireless technology (such as infrared or microwave), then at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included in the definition of a transmission medium.

[0096] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible in the implementation stage without departing from its essence. Also, the functions performed in the embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate as possible. The embodiments described above include various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of the multiple constituent elements disclosed. For example, if the effect can be obtained even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments, then the configuration with these constituent elements deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0097] For example, in the case of streaming content such as live video streams, the management server 20 may also record the time when reactions were made (for example, 35 minutes after the start of the live stream). In other words, the management server 20 may record the number of reactions as time-series data. For example, times when there are many reactions can be considered to be times when the live stream was exciting. The operator of the management server 20 can utilize this time-series data for various purposes, such as providing it to live streamers. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0098] 1: System 10: Terminal device 20: Management Server 100: Mail Server 200: Mail Server 300: SMS System 400: SMS System 500: Web server 600: Web server

Claims

1. When an operation to add a reaction to content is received, identification information for the content is generated based on the information about the content, To store correspondence information in the management device, which associates the identification information of the generated content with the reaction information including the content of the reaction, the correspondence information is transmitted to the management device. Processing device.

2. When accessing the aforementioned content, identification information for the content is generated based on information about the aforementioned content. Based on the identification information of the generated content, the management device is queried for reaction information corresponding to the content. The corresponding reaction information is obtained from the management device, Output the acquired reaction information. The apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The information relating to the said content includes multiple pieces of information relating to the said content, Based on the aforementioned multiple pieces of information, the system generates identification information for the content. The apparatus according to claim 1.

4. If the content is a message, the multiple pieces of information are common information obtained by both the sender and receiver of the message. The apparatus according to claim 3.

5. If the content is an email message, the information includes the message ID (Identification) and the sender's email address. The apparatus according to claim 3.

6. If the content is an SMS (Short Message Service) message, the multiple pieces of information include the date and time the SMS message was sent, the sender's phone number, and the recipient's phone number. The apparatus according to claim 3.

7. A management device capable of communicating with the processing device described in any one of claims 1 to 6, The corresponding information received from the processing unit is stored in the storage unit. In response to an inquiry from the processing unit, which is an inquiry for reaction information corresponding to the content based on the content identification information, the corresponding reaction information is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the processing unit. Management device.

8. When an operation to add a reaction to content is received, identification information for the content is generated based on the information about the content, To store correspondence information, which associates the identification information of the generated content with the reaction information including the content of the reaction, in the management device, the computer is instructed to perform the process of transmitting the correspondence information to the management device. program.

9. The system stores correspondence information in the memory unit, which associates content identification information and reaction information including the content of the reaction, received from the processing unit. In response to an inquiry from the processing unit, which is an inquiry for reaction information corresponding to the content based on the content identification information, the computer is instructed to perform a process of reading the corresponding reaction information from the storage unit and transmitting it to the processing unit. program.

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