SNS management device, SNS management method, and computer program

Abstract

This can increase user activity on social media and revitalize social media platforms. [Solution] The SNS management device 1 comprises: a project management unit 14 that stores projects linked to communities set up within the SNS and for which support scores required for achievement are set; a support score management unit 15 that assigns support scores to users in each community for the activities of users in that community; a vote reception unit 16 that receives operations from users to vote for a project and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project; and a display control unit 11 that displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been achieved when the total value of the support scores voted for a project is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for an SNS (Social-Networking Service) - using company to efficiently access a plurality of users.

Background Art

[0002] So-called crowdfunding is known, in which a project that a fundraiser wants to realize is disclosed on the Internet to raise funds, and the project is realized with financial assistance from a plurality of fund providers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in a crowdfunding system having a dedicated SNS function, where a return is set for each amount of support, and a user can select and support the return he / she desires from among a plurality of set returns. Patent Document 2 discloses a system in which when a user provides paid support for a predetermined user content, system content corresponding to the content of the support is provided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0005] In recent years, many users have joined Social Networking Services (SNS) on the internet, and various kinds of information are being disseminated within SNS. SNS are used by companies promoting their products and by influencers. In this situation, increased user participation in SNS, along with user posts and reactions such as "likes," can revitalize SNS, making product promotion more effective and increasing the influence of influencers. While the cooperation of many users is essential for SNS revitalization, traditional crowdfunding has focused primarily on monetary support and has not contributed to SNS revitalization. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] This invention has been made in view of these problems, and one of its objectives is to provide an SNS management device that can increase user activity on SNS and revitalize SNS. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, an SNS management device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a project management unit that stores projects for which support scores necessary for achievement are set, linked to communities set within the SNS; a support score management unit that assigns the support scores to each community for the activities of users in the community; a voting reception unit that receives operations from users to vote for the projects with the support scores and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project; and a display control unit that displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been achieved when the total value of the support scores voted for the project is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0008] The voting reception unit may also accept input from the user for the number of support scores to be voted for in the project.

[0009] The aforementioned support score management unit may assign support scores to multiple types of activities, and may vary the number of support scores assigned depending on the type of activity.

[0010] To achieve the above objective, a computer executes the following processes: a project management process that stores projects for which support scores necessary for achievement are set, linked to communities set up within the SNS; a support score management process that assigns the support scores to each community for the activities of users in the community; a vote acceptance process that receives an operation from the user to vote for the project with the support scores and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project; and a display control process that displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been achieved when the total value of the support scores voted for the project is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0011] To achieve the above objective, a computer program according to yet another aspect of the present invention is a computer program for managing an SNS, which causes the computer to execute: a project management process that stores projects for which support scores necessary for achievement are set, linked to communities set up within the SNS; a support score management process that assigns the support scores to each community for the activities of users in the community; a vote acceptance process that receives an operation from the user to vote for the support score on the project and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users on the project for each project; and a display control process that displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been achieved when the total value of the support scores voted for on the project is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0012] Computer programs can be provided via download over networks such as the Internet, or by being recorded on various computer-readable storage media. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to increase user activity on social networking services (SNS) and revitalize SNS. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the SNS management device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows the first example of the processing flow of the SNS management device described above. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows a second example of the processing flow of the SNS management device described above. [Figure 4] This figure shows a first example of the screen displayed on a corporate terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 5] This figure shows a second example of the screen displayed on the corporate terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 6] This figure shows a third example of the screen displayed on the corporate terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 7] This figure shows a first example of the screen displayed on the user terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 8] This figure shows a second example of the screen displayed on the user terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 9] This figure shows a third example of the screen displayed on the user terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 10] This figure shows a fourth example of the screen displayed on the user terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 11] This figure shows a fifth example of the screen displayed on the user terminal by the SNS management device described above. [Figure 12]FIG. 6 shows a sixth example of a screen displayed on the user terminal by the SNS management device.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the SNS management device 1 is a device for managing an SNS (hereinafter, the SNS managed by the SNS management device 1 is also referred to as a "managed SNS"). In this SNS, after a plurality of users register accounts in the SNS, they log in to the accounts and perform browsing and posting via their respective user terminals 30. Each user participating in the managed SNS transmits content within the managed SNS, and other users participating in the managed SNS can view this content.

[0016] The SNS management device 1 is particularly a device that assigns a support score to users active in the managed SNS, sets a project to solicit votes for the support score from utilization companies, and manages the support scores voted by users. The utilization companies may be different from the administrator of the SNS management device 1, and a number of utilization companies set projects on the SNS via the SNS management device 1.

[0017] In addition, the utilization companies can create and manage communities within the SNS and allow a plurality of users to participate and make posts. For example, the utilization companies create a management community related to their own commercial products, and encourage users to post content related to the commercial products within the management community.

[0018] The SNS management device 1 is connected to multiple corporate terminals 20 and user terminals 30 via a network NW. The corporate terminals 20 include a display unit 21 that displays information received from the SNS management device 1 and an input unit 22 that receives input from users. The user terminals 30 also include a display unit 31 that displays information received from the SNS management device 1 and an input unit 32 that receives input from users. The display units 21 and 31 are, for example, made up of displays, and the input units 22 and 32 are, for example, made up of touch panels or keyboards. The user terminals 30 may be personal computers, tablet terminals, smartphones, or other mobile terminals.

[0019] For the sake of explanation, we will refer to the terminal used by the company representative responsible for managing the community and setting up projects as the company terminal 20, and the terminal used by users who are assigned support scores and vote for projects using those scores as the user terminal 30. However, the company terminal 20 and the user terminal 30 may have equivalent hardware configurations.

[0020] Although only one corporate terminal 20 and one user terminal 30 are shown in the diagram, multiple corporate terminals 20 and user terminals 30 can be connected to the SNS management device 1 and participate in the SNS.

[0021] In this embodiment, it is assumed that there may be multiple client terminals equipped with the SNS management device 1. Furthermore, there may be multiple user terminals 30 equipped with the SNS management device 1. Additionally, there may be multiple servers equipped with the SNS management device 1. Moreover, the functions of the SNS management device 1 may be realized as a system through multiple network-connected configurations. Some or all of the functions of the SNS management device 1 may be realized through cloud computing.

[0022] ●Functional Configuration The SNS management device 1 consists of a storage medium such as memory, a processor, a communication module, and input / output interfaces, etc. The processor executes a computer program recorded on the storage medium to realize the functional blocks shown in Figure 1. The storage medium is a computer-readable recording medium and may include storage devices such as RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), disk drives, SSDs (solid-state drives), and flash memory. Here, non-temporary storage devices such as ROM, disk drives, SSDs, and flash memory may be included in the SNS management device 1 as separate storage devices distinct from memory.

[0023] The SNS management device 1, with the hardware configuration described above, mainly comprises a display control unit 11, a community management unit 12, a post management unit 13, a project management unit 14, a support score management unit 15, a vote acceptance unit 16, a storage unit 18, and a communication processing unit 19.

[0024] The display control unit 11 is a functional unit that displays content transmitted by users via user terminals 30 on the user terminals 30 of viewers belonging to the SNS. The display control unit 11 also displays content transmitted by users and information about projects set up by the company on the corporate terminal 20.

[0025] The community management unit 12 is a functional unit that manages communities that users can selectively belong to within the SNS. Communities are organized into multiple groups based on specific hobbies or ideologies, and users can select and join communities that are similar to their own hobbies or ideologies. Each user can participate in multiple communities. All users who wish to join a community may be able to join, or a user with the necessary authority may decide whether or not each user who wishes to join can participate. The community management unit 12 stores the identification information of users who are members of each community in the storage unit 18.

[0026] Each community has its own unique address, or unique URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Users can join a community by accessing this URL and performing a specific action. More specifically, when a user accesses this URL, if they have an account, that account is associated with the community corresponding to the URL. In this way, a user can belong to multiple communities with a single account. If the user terminal 30 is not logged in, accessing the community URL may display a login screen. The login screen may also display an area for accepting new user registrations or a button to transition to the new user registration screen. If the user does not have an account on the managed SNS, they can register through this login screen. Once user registration is complete, an account associated with the community corresponding to the URL is created. Note that the order of new user registration and specifying a community to join does not have to be reversed. After registering as a user on the management SNS's new user registration screen, users can also join a community by entering the community's unique URL or appropriate identification information.

[0027] The community management unit 12 stores in the memory unit 18 whether each community is managed by a user company or by an individual. User companies are permitted to perform various actions in their managed communities, such as creating projects to solicit support score votes from users.

[0028] The Post Management Unit 13 is a functional unit that manages content posted by users and responses to those posts. It accepts content posted by the Post Management Unit 13. The content may be text data or image data. The image data may include still images and videos. The content may also consist of multiple image data. Content posted via the Post Management Unit 13 can be viewed by users who are members of the community and by the user company that is the community administrator, by accessing the community within the SNS. In addition, each piece of content can be accompanied by reactions from other users or user companies, such as adding an icon reaction or posting a reply with text or an image.

[0029] The Project Management Unit 14 is a functional unit that manages projects set up within the community. The Project Management Unit 14 receives and stores information about the projects set up by user companies, i.e., project information. Project information includes, for example, the number of support scores (hereinafter also referred to as "achievement scores") required to complete the project, the details of the rewards to be given when the voted support scores reach the achievement score, and the deadline for voting on the project. The rewards may include, for example, real-world events such as in-person meetups, or the sending of digital content.

[0030] Furthermore, project information may have multiple achievement scores assigned to a single project, and different rewards may be associated with and stored for each achievement score. For example, higher achievement scores may be associated with more luxurious or higher-value rewards.

[0031] Furthermore, project information may include the conditions for users who are eligible to receive rewards for each type of reward. For example, the conditions may be that all users who voted with a support score will receive a reward, or that users who voted with a certain number of support scores or a certain number of users with the highest support scores will receive a reward.

[0032] Project Management Unit 14 may configure multiple projects for a single community.

[0033] The support score management unit 15 is a functional unit that assigns and manages support scores for user activities on social networking services (SNS). SNS activities include, for example, logging into a community, posting content on SNS, replying to other content, or sending reactions such as adding "like" icons or other stamps. SNS activities may also include completing quests set within a community.

[0034] The support score management unit 15 assigns support scores to each community. Specifically, the support score management unit 15 assigns support scores to users based on the number of content posts, comments, reactions, etc., within the community. Support scores may be assigned each time the SNS management device 1 receives user activity, or they may be assigned in batches at predetermined intervals.

[0035] The support score management unit 15 aggregates support scores for each community in which a user has performed a specified activity. In other words, users maintain a support score for each community. The support scores aggregated by the support score management unit 15 are displayed on the user's personal My Page, which is accessible to each user, allowing them to check their score. For example, when a user logs in and displays a page within a community (see community display screen G20 in Figure 8), the support score the user holds in that community will be displayed.

[0036] The support score management unit 15 may manage the activities to which support scores are awarded. The support score management unit 15 uniformly accepts the settings for activities to which support scores are awarded for multiple projects set up within the community via the corporate terminal 20. Alternatively, the support score management unit 15 may accept the settings for activities to which support scores are awarded on a project-by-project basis. The support score management unit 15 stores the set activities in the storage unit 18 in association with the projects.

[0037] The support score management unit 15 may award different support scores depending on the type of activity. For example, it is possible to set it so that 5 support points are awarded for one login, while 1 support point is awarded for every two "likes" of the icon. The support score management unit 15 accepts settings for the ratio of activity to the number of points awarded via the corporate terminal 20. With this configuration, the degree of incentive for activities within the managed SNS can be adjusted, thereby appropriately guiding user activity. Furthermore, with this configuration, measures that fluctuate the number of support points awarded, such as support score awarding campaigns that temporarily award a large number of support points, can be implemented.

[0038] The voting reception unit 16 accepts user input to vote for a project with support scores. The voting reception unit 16 accepts user input to select the project to vote for. The voting reception unit 16 also accepts user input to input the number of support scores to vote for a project. With this configuration, multiple support scores can be voted for in a single operation, making it convenient. Furthermore, even when multiple projects are set up for a single community, the number of support scores to vote for can be flexibly determined for each project.

[0039] The voting reception unit 16 totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project. If the total support score is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the display control unit 11 displays a message indicating that the project has been completed on a predetermined terminal, for example, a user terminal 30. The terminal that displays the message indicating that the project has been completed may be the user terminal 30 of a user who voted for the project, or it may be the user terminal 30 of a user participating in the community where the project is set up. This message may also be displayed when accessing the community or project page, or it may be displayed in a message box that can be viewed by community participants or voters after logging in to the management SNS. This message may also include push notifications from a dedicated app or notifications via email, etc.

[0040] Furthermore, the terminal that displays that the project has been completed may be a corporate terminal 20 that is visible to the user company. Upon seeing this display, the user company can then process the reward for the completed project. While the project reward is primarily processed by a person in charge at the user company, it may also be processed by the SNS management device 1. For example, if the reward is the sending of a digital gift, it can be processed by the SNS management device 1. In this case, the display control unit 11 may display on the corporate terminal 20, in lieu of or in addition to the reward completion notification, that the reward processing has been completed.

[0041] The memory unit 18 is a database that stores information related to the management of the social networking service (SNS). For example, the memory unit 18 primarily stores information about communities, information about user companies, and information about users. As for community information, for example, it stores identification information of the user company managing the SNS, the content of the community, and information about projects set up in the community. As for user information, for example, it stores identification information of the community to which the user belongs, and information about the support score held for each community.

[0042] The communication processing unit 19 is a functional unit that sends and receives information with the corporate terminal 20 and user terminal 30 via the network NW. For example, it receives login information, content input, and support scores for voting from the corporate terminal 20 and user terminal 30. The communication processing unit 19 also transmits pages within the SNS and content posted by users to the corporate terminal 20 and user terminal 30.

[0043] According to this SNS management device 1, the project setting and support score voting functions encourage users aiming to achieve the project to actively participate in activities within the managed SNS, thereby revitalizing the community. When the community is active, users think about and share more about the products, which also leads to more effective sales promotion for the user company.

[0044] ●Processing flow Using Figure 2, we will explain the flow of a series of processes that the SNS management device 1 executes in response to a user company's instructions in this embodiment. Before this process begins, the SNS management device 1 registers the user's SNS information. More specifically, the SNS management device 1 has the user enter their user ID and password on the appropriate user registration page of the SNS and registers the SNS account associated with that user ID and password.

[0045] The enterprise terminal 20 transmits information about the community to be configured to the SNS management device 1 (step S11), and the SNS management device 1 receives it. The enterprise terminal 20 also transmits information about the project to be configured within the community to the SNS management device 1 (step S12), and the SNS management device 1 receives it. The SNS management device 1, using its display control unit 11, displays the community and project information on the community page (see community display screen G20 in Figure 8) for the user terminal 30 (step S13). The user terminal 30 performs various activities on the displayed community page (step S14). The SNS management device 1 determines whether or not the activity entered by the user terminal 30 is eligible for support score (step S15). Then, for the eligible activity (Y in step S15), it assigns a predetermined support score (step S16). Multiple user terminals 30 each perform various activities for the community, and the SNS management device 1 assigns support scores to each activity, linked to the user and the community. Steps S14 to S16 are repeated as appropriate.

[0046] Next, using Figure 3, we will explain the process flow for users to vote for a project by assigning a support score. First, the user terminal 30 receives a request to display the project page associated with the community to which the user belongs (step S21). The SNS management device 1 receives this request and displays the project page on the user terminal 30 (step S22). The user terminal 30 also sends a request to vote for the selected project (step S23). Furthermore, the user terminal 30 receives the number of support scores to vote for the selected project (step S24).

[0047] The SNS management device 1 totals the support scores received from multiple user terminals 30 (step S25). The SNS management device 1 determines whether the total support scores meet the project's achievement score (step S26). If the achievement score is met and the project is achieved (Y in step S26), it displays this information on the corporate terminal 20 and user terminals 30 (step S27).

[0048] ●Screen example Here, we will explain examples of screen transitions on the enterprise terminal 20 using Figures 4 to 6. In the following explanation, the operation of selecting buttons or icons on the screen refers to various user operations such as tapping or clicking, depending on the terminal's functions.

[0049] Figure 4 shows an example of the project management screen G10, which accepts project settings input via the corporate terminal 20, and is an example where the common settings tab G11, which is common to all projects, is active. When the common settings tab G11 is active, the project management screen G10 displays the target action setting area G13, where the actions to which support scores will be awarded are set. In the target action setting area G13, for example, the setting of whether or not to award support scores for each target action such as login, posting, commenting, adding the "like" icon, adding a stamp, and completing a quest is accepted. In addition, for each action, the setting of the number of support scores to be awarded for the number of actions is accepted. In the example in the figure, 5 support points are awarded for one login, while 1 support point is awarded for two "like" icons. Furthermore, the target action setting area G13 accepts the setting of the daily limit on the number of times each action can be awarded.

[0050] Figure 5 shows an example of the individual settings tab G12, which accepts project-specific settings, being active on the project management screen G10. When the individual settings tab G12 is active, the individual settings area G14, which accepts settings for each project, is displayed on the project management screen G10.

[0051] In the individual settings area G14, the names of one or more projects set for the community, the implementation period for each project, and whether or not the public status is displayed are shown. Each project also has a "View Details" button and a "Delete" button, allowing users to navigate to a screen displaying project details or delete a set project. Furthermore, the individual settings area G14 also displays an "Add Project" button, allowing the enterprise terminal 20 to add a project linked to the community it configures.

[0052] Figure 6 is an example of the screen displayed when the detailed display button is selected in the individual settings area G14 shown in Figure 5. In Figure 6, the project details display area G15 is displayed on the project management screen G10 instead of the individual settings area G14. In the project details display area G15, for example, the project name, project completion conditions, project setting period, and conditions for users who will receive rewards are displayed and can be entered via the corporate terminal 20. For project completion conditions, for example, the total value of support scores obtained through voting, as well as the number of people who voted for support scores, can be set as a minimum number of supporters. For the conditions for users who will receive rewards, it is possible to select and input one of the following: all users who voted for support scores, users whose number of voted support scores is above a certain amount, or a certain number of users with the highest number of support scores.

[0053] Next, examples of screens displayed on the user terminal 30 will be explained using Figures 7 to 12. Figure 7 shows the community display screen G20 that appears when the user terminal 30 logs into the community. A pop-up screen G21 indicating that support points have been acquired upon login is partially superimposed on the community display screen G20. In the example shown in the figure, it indicates that 5 support points have been acquired upon login. The pop-up screen G21 disappears after a predetermined time or after a predetermined operation, and only the community display screen G20 is displayed.

[0054] Figure 8 shows the community display screen G20. The community display screen G20 displays the overview display area G22, the support score display area G23, the quest display area G24, and the project display area G25, etc. The overview display area G22 is an area that shows an overview of the community, for example, the name of the community and the illustration set for the community are displayed. The support score display area G23 is an area that displays the support score that the user has for the community.

[0055] Quest display area G24 is an area that displays information about quests that, upon completion, earn support points for the community. In the example shown in the figure, a banner is displayed that transitions to a screen showing details of quests recommended for early participation in a community, also known as welcome quests. However, the display is not limited to this; for example, a list of quests set for the community may also be displayed.

[0056] The project display area G25 is the area that displays information about the projects set up in the community. In the example shown in the figure, the names of two projects and buttons to display the details of each project are displayed. When one of these buttons is selected, the display screen transitions to the project details display screen G30 shown in Figure 9.

[0057] The project details display screen G30 shown in Figure 9 displays the project information set in the project management screen G10, as well as the number of support scores the project has received to date. A support button G31 is also displayed, which allows users to vote for the project. Selecting the support button G31 displays the pop-up screen G32 shown in Figure 10. As shown in Figure 10, the pop-up screen G32 displays an area for entering the support score to be voted.

[0058] Figure 11 shows the project details screen G40 for another example. In this figure, the icons of users who have voted for support scores for the displayed project are listed.

[0059] Figure 12 shows how the community display screen G20 displays a message indicating that a project has been completed when the total support score exceeds a predetermined value. In Figure 12, the support score display area G23 shows the message "Your participating project has been completed" and an operator that transitions to a screen where users can view details of the completed project.

[0060] ● Effects of this embodiment According to this embodiment, user activity on social networking services (SNS) can be increased, thereby revitalizing the SNS. Consequently, user companies can revitalize their managed communities and effectively conduct sales promotion activities. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1 SNS management device 11 Display Control Unit 12 Community Management Department 13 Post Management Department 14. Project Management Department 15. Support Score Management Department 16. Voting Department 18 Memory section 19 Communication Processing Unit 20 Enterprise terminals 30 User terminals

Claims

1. The project management department stores projects linked to communities set up within the SNS, for which support scores are set to be required for achievement. A support score management unit that assigns the support score to each community for the activities of users in the community, A voting reception unit receives an operation from the user to vote for the project with the support score, and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project. A display control unit that displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been completed when the total value of the support scores voted for in the project is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, Equipped with, SNS management device.

2. The voting reception unit receives input from the user for the number of support scores to vote for the project. The SNS management device according to claim 1.

3. The support score management unit assigns support scores to multiple types of activities, and varies the number of support scores assigned depending on the type of activity. The SNS management device according to claim 1.

4. A project management process that stores projects linked to communities set up within SNS, with the support score required for achievement assigned accordingly. A support score management process that assigns the support score to each community for the activities of users in the community, The voting acceptance process receives an operation from the user to vote for the project with the support score, and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project. A display control process that, when the total value of the support scores voted for in the project exceeds a predetermined value, displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been achieved, The computer executes How to manage SNS.

5. A computer program that manages social networking services, On the computer, A project management process that stores projects linked to communities set up within SNS, with the support score required for achievement set accordingly. A support score management process that assigns the support score to each community for the activities of users in the community, The voting acceptance process receives an operation from the user to vote for the project with the support score, and totals the support scores voted for by multiple users for each project. A display control process that, when the total value of the support scores voted for in the project exceeds a predetermined value, displays on a predetermined terminal that the project has been achieved, To execute Computer program.

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