Notification methods, programs, and non-temporary computer-readable storage media

Abstract

We provide technology to deliver information on investment topics. [Solution] A method by which a server 200 provides information on an investment topic to a group of user terminals 300, comprising: the server 200 transmitting a prediction input unit 512b, which includes a voting input unit 512c that generates voting data for the price movements of one or more investment topics, to each user terminal 300 constituting the group of user terminals 300; receiving voting data from the group of user terminals 300; generating voting result data by comparing upward predictions and downward predictions based on the voting data received from the group of user terminals 300; and transmitting a second screen area including the voting result data to the user terminals 300. The voting data includes either an upward prediction indicating an increase in the value of the investment topic or a downward prediction indicating a decrease in the value of the investment topic.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The disclosure according to the present application relates to a technology for providing information on investment topics. [Background Art]

[0002] When an investor makes an investment decision on, for example, a stock issue, various investment decision indicators related to the issue are referred to. Particularly in recent years, anyone can easily obtain a large amount of information on various investment topics such as stocks, bonds, foreign currencies, virtual currencies, and futures trading through the Internet. Quantitative and qualitative information from the past to the present that can be referred to as investment decision indicators covers a wide range and is enormous in volume. Patent Document 1 proposes a system that notifies a customer of an issue that matches the criteria of a stock investment index requested by the customer. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-29882 [Brief Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a technology for providing information on investment topics. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is a notification method for a computer device that notifies a user terminal of information relating to an investment topic, the notification method comprising: receiving an activity from the user terminal relating to the investment topic; assigning one or more characters from a plurality of characters having different personalities to the user terminal as a virtual assistant for notifying the information based on the activity; transmitting the information, which can be output as text, voice or animation, to the user terminal so that the characters can converse; changing the appearance of the characters according to the type and number of activities; and changing the type or number of times the information is notified to the user terminal according to the appearance of the characters.

[0006] In the aforementioned embodiment, the character can be used as a virtual assistant to notify the user terminal of information, thereby motivating the user to acquire that information.

[0007] In one embodiment described above, a character is assigned to the user terminal from among several characters with different personalities based on the activity received from the user terminal regarding the investment topic, thereby reflecting the user's interest in the investment topic in the character selection.

[0008] In one embodiment described above, the information, which can be output as text, voice, or animation as if the character were conversing, is transmitted to the user terminal, allowing the user to learn the information through conversation with the character. Therefore, the character can be used as a virtual assistant for obtaining information on investment topics.

[0009] In the aforementioned embodiment, by changing the appearance of the character according to the type and number of activities, the user's activity can be stimulated by using the change in the character as motivation.

[0010] In the aforementioned embodiment, by changing the type or frequency of information notified to the user terminal according to the character's appearance, it is possible to activate user activity by using the change in the character's appearance as motivation. In addition to changing the character's appearance, the diversification of the type and frequency of information notified can further improve user satisfaction with notifications. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] To clearly explain an embodiment illustrating one aspect of this disclosure, the drawings necessary for that explanation are briefly described. The drawings are merely illustrative of some embodiments and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. A person skilled in the art can obtain drawings of other relevant embodiments based on the drawings of this disclosure without using any particular inventive ability.

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of a computer device according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This is a functional configuration diagram of a server according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 4] This is a functional configuration diagram of a user terminal according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram of an information display screen according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart of an information provision method according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram of a topic display area according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] This is a flowchart of an information provision method according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram of a topic display area according to one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram of a notification screen according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram of the notification settings screen for each investment topic, according to one aspect of this disclosure. [Figure 12] It is an explanatory diagram of a notification setting screen for a user group according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] It is a functional configuration diagram of a server having a character notification function according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a character according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen for character notification according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] One aspect of the present disclosure will be described based on illustrated embodiments with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not unduly limit the content of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the present embodiment are necessarily essential as solution means for the present invention.

[0014] All embodiments and selectable embodiments included in the present disclosure may be combined with each other to form new embodiments. Furthermore, all technical features and selectable technical features included in the present disclosure can be combined with each other to form new technical features.

[0015] As used in the present disclosure, the term "or" is used as an inclusive term. For example, "A or B" means "A, B, or both A and B". Each of "A", "B", and "both A and B" satisfies "A or B".

[0016] When "first", "second", and "n-th (where n is a natural number)" are described in the present specification and claims, these are used to distinguish different elements, and are not intended to indicate a specific order, superiority or inferiority, or the like. Common components in each embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

[0017] The terms “up,” “down,” “front,” “back,” “left,” and “right,” and the directions or positional relationships expressed by such terms as used in this specification and claims, are based on the drawings and are for the convenience and brief explanation of the embodiments only. Therefore, unless explicitly defined or limited, it should be understood that no particular element or its use is explicitly or implicitly configured in a particular direction, nor does it limit the claims and embodiments.

[0018] When a number or element is modified by the terms “about,” “approximately,” “nearly,” or “substantially” as used in this specification and in the claims, it is understood to include the number and the numbers before and after it, and the element and anything that can be considered the same as that element. For example, when “about 3” is written, “3” and the numbers following it may be included in “about 3,” provided that the technical features and technical significance asserted in this disclosure are the same. Also, when “substantially identical B to A,” B may be included in the scope of “substantially” even if there are differences, as long as the technical features and technical significance asserted in this disclosure are the same.

[0019] As used in this specification and the claims, the term "**part" may include, for example, a "functional part" consisting of one or more hardware components and one or more software components running on that hardware. Hardware resources such as servers and user terminals described in this specification and the claims may include not only those consisting of a single device, but also those consisting of two or more devices connected in a communicative manner.

[0020] In the following embodiments, the information to be processed (programs, content, data, etc.) is represented by high or low signal values ​​as a set of binary bits consisting of 0s and 1s, and calculations and communication are performed by signal processing circuits comprising one or more hardware components.

[0021] Here, a signal processing circuit refers to a circuit composed of one or more circuits, circuits, processors, and memories, and includes application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (such as simple programmable logic devices (SPLDs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), etc.

[0022] The following describes an information processing method, information provision method, information provision system, information provision service, program (information provision program), and non-temporary computer-readable storage medium according to one aspect of this disclosure.

[0023] [1] Configuration of the information provision system (Figure 1)

[0024] An information provision system 100 according to one aspect of this disclosure is implemented by a server 200, as shown in Figure 1. The server 200 provides information provision services to a group of user terminals 300. Each of the user terminals 300 is configured to communicate with the server 200 via a communication network N and can utilize the information provision services (WEB services) provided by the server 200. In this specification and drawings, reference numeral 300 is used not only for the term "group of user terminals" but also for each individual "user terminal" that constitutes the group of user terminals 300.

[0025] The information provision system 100 is configured as a community for sharing information on investment topics. Herein, the term "investment topic" as used in this specification and in the claims means "investment target," and may specifically include foreign currencies (US dollar, dollar / yen, Australian dollar / yen, British pound / yen, euro / yen, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, Chinese yuan, Hong Kong dollar, New Zealand dollar, Indian rupee, etc.), commodity futures (gold, silver, palladium, platinum, copper, iron ore, crude oil, soybean oil, gasoline, natural gas, coffee, wheat, rice, sugar, cocoa, soybeans, etc.), domestic stock indexes, foreign stock indexes, bonds, cryptocurrencies, etc. Users can send posts, votes on price movement predictions, predicted values, etc., to the server 200 via the user terminal group 300 regarding investment topics of interest to the server 200, and can also receive information on these from the server 200.

[0026] In Figure 1, for the sake of explanation, the server 200 is shown as a single functional block. However, the server 200 can be composed of one or more computer devices 400 as hardware resources (Figure 2). The server 200 provides an "information provision service" to the user terminal group 300 by executing a program according to one aspect of this disclosure (hereinafter referred to as the "information provision program").

[0027] The information provision program 200A may be composed of, for example, a web application. The web application may consist of a presentation layer, an application layer, and a data layer. In this case, the hardware resources of server 200 may consist of a web server that constructs the presentation layer, an application server that constructs the application layer, and a database server that constructs the data layer.

[0028] The presentation layer may consist of a client-side program executed on the user terminal 300 and a server-side program executed on the server 200. The client-side program acts as the user interface on the user terminal 300, for example, by performing input and display functions via a web browser or application. The server-side program performs functions such as acquiring input data and commands from the user terminal 300 and outputting display data to the user terminal 300. The application layer consists of functions executed on the server 200, such as executing commands from the user terminal 300, processing data, and generating display screens. The data layer consists of functions executed on the server 200, such as extracting data from storage devices, updating data, and storing data.

[0029] In Figure 1, the user terminal group 300 is shown as a single functional block for the sake of explanation. However, the user terminal group 300 is composed of a large number of user terminals 300 that can communicate with the server 200. The user terminals 300 can be composed of a communication-enabled computer device 400 (Figure 2). The computer device 400 can be an information and communication device, such as a notebook computer, desktop computer, tablet terminal, smartphone, smartwatch, wearable device, etc.

[0030] Each user obtains their own user account by registering for the information provision service provided by server 200. Each user account is, in principle, held by a different user (person). A user may use one or more user terminals 300. For each different user terminal 300 they use, a user can access the information provision service by logging in to their user account using their user ID and password. For example, a user can use both a smartphone and a laptop computer as user terminals 300 to access the information provision service.

[0031] [2] Explanation of hardware resources (Figure 2)

[0032] The hardware resources of the server 200 and user terminals 300 (user terminal group 300) that constitute the information provision system 100 can each be composed of one or more computer devices 400. Figure 2 is a block diagram of one computer device 400. The computer device 400 may, for example, include a control device 401, a storage device 402, an input device 403, an output device 404, a communication device 405, and a data transmission path 406.

[0033] The control device 401 is a central processing unit that executes information provision programs. The control device 401 controls the overall operation of the computer device 400 in order to make it function as a server 200 or a user terminal 300.

[0034] The storage device 402 includes one or more ROMs, RAMs, and external storage devices. The storage device 402 stores various programs, including information provision programs, and data processed by those programs.

[0035] The input device 403 may include one or more keyboards, mice, or touch panels.

[0036] The output device 404 may include one or more display devices or speaker devices, etc.

[0037] The communication device 405 controls communication with other computer devices 400, including the server 200, through the communication network N.

[0038] The data transmission line 406 is a signal line shared by the control device 401, storage device 402, input device 403, output device 404, or communication device 405 for sending and receiving data. The data transmission line 406 can be constructed by circuit wiring on a circuit board, cable wiring, or wireless communication.

[0039] [3] Functional configuration of server 200 (Figure 3)

[0040] The server 200 has multiple functional units. The server 200 may be configured to include a control unit 201 and a storage unit 202. The control unit 201 controls various operations performed by the server 200. The control unit 201 is configured by the control device 401 executing an information provision program. The storage unit 202 holds various programs and data, including the information provision program. The storage unit 202 can be configured by a storage device 402.

[0041] Control unit 201 [Figure 2]

[0042] The control unit 201 operates as a plurality of functional units as shown in Figure 3. Specifically, these functional units may include an acquisition unit 211, a monitoring unit 212, a data update unit 213, a data processing unit 214, and an output unit 215. The outlines of these functional units are described below, and their details will be further explained in the operation description below.

[0043] The acquisition unit 211 performs processing to acquire data transmitted from the user terminal 300 to the server 200 via the communication network N.

[0044] The monitoring unit 212 performs processing to monitor whether the data stored in the storage unit 202 has been updated. The data to be monitored includes voting data, predicted value data, prediction reason data, and notification setting data, etc., which are acquired by the server 200 from the user terminal group 300 and stored in the storage unit 202 (Figure 2).

[0045] The data update unit 213 performs the process of updating the data stored in the storage unit 202. The data to be updated includes voting data, predicted value data, prediction reason data, and notification setting data, etc., which are acquired by the server 200 from the user terminal group 300 and stored in the storage unit 202 (Figure 2).

[0046] The data processing unit 214 operates as multiple functional units and performs data processing. The data processing unit 214 may include a chart generation unit 221, a screen generation unit 222, a notification setting unit 223, a notification necessity determination unit 224, a sorting unit 225, and a recommendation unit 226.

[0047] The chart generation unit 221 generates various charts to be displayed on the user terminal group 300 and performs processing to update the charts in accordance with changes in the chart's basic data (population data). The chart generation unit 221 can generate charts for each investment topic. Specifically, charts for investment topics may include, for example, a chart, a voter turnout chart, or a forecast chart.

[0048] The chart may include charts provided by an external server and charts independently generated by the chart generation unit 221 based on external data.

[0049] The voter turnout chart is a graph generated using a large amount of voting data obtained from a group of 300 user terminals as population data for each investment topic. The forecast value chart is a graph generated using a large amount of forecast value data obtained from a group of 300 user terminals as population data for each investment topic. These will be discussed later.

[0050] The screen generation unit 222 executes a process to generate a screen for display on output devices 404, such as display devices, provided by the user terminal group 300. The screen may be configured to be displayable by the browser or application of the user terminal group 300. The screen may include one or more charts generated by the chart generation unit 221, posts obtained from the user terminal group 300, etc.

[0051] The notification setting unit 223 executes a process to set notification conditions for the user terminal 300. The server 200 can identify the notification target items for which notification conditions are set for the user terminal group 300. For example, notification target items may include when another user sets a predicted value, when the median pivot is notified, when a voter turnout alert is received, when a post or predicted value is favorited, when a post is shared, when a comment is made on a post, when a user is followed, etc. The details of the notification settings will be described further later.

[0052] The notification necessity determination unit 224 executes a process to determine whether one or more data items monitored by the monitoring unit 212 meet one or more notification conditions set on the user terminal 300.

[0053] The sorting unit 225 executes a process to change the display targets and display order of multiple data to be displayed on the user terminal 300 based on the display conditions specified by the user terminal 300.

[0054] The recommendation unit 226 executes a process to notify the user terminal 300 of information that is assumed to be of interest to the user. The information notified to the user terminal 300 may include posts, other users, etc. As described later, the user data storage unit 241 includes user attribute information such as occupation, area of ​​expertise in that occupation, investment history, and preferred investment areas. As an example, keywords (including key phrases) consisting of one or more noun phrases are extracted from the user's attribute information, and other users, posts by other users, or current news, etc. that contain the extracted keywords or co-occurring words of the extracted keywords in their attribute information are identified and designated as "recommended information." Then, for example, the user terminal 300 can be notified by a notification that includes a link to access that recommended information. The method of generating the "recommended information" is an example, and it can also be generated by statistical methods, machine learning methods, etc.

[0055] The user group setting unit 227 executes a process on each user terminal 300 that allows the user to arbitrarily group other users. The grouping function makes it possible to use the user group voting notification and prediction notification described later. Selecting or deselecting other users on each user terminal 300 can be done, for example, by placing checkboxes for group selection on the following user list screen or follower user list screen linked from the follow icon in the first display area 501.

[0056] The user evaluation unit 228 performs a process to evaluate the degree of user contribution to the community provided by the information provision system 100 based on user evaluation indicators. In this embodiment, the user evaluation indicators can be, for example, interest, engagement, and follower count, as described later. As will be described later, all of these user evaluation indicators can be quantified and calculated accordingly. Furthermore, as will be described later, the user evaluation unit 228 can also perform a process to perform an "overall evaluation" based on these user evaluation indicators. The information on these user evaluation indicators and the overall evaluation can be displayed on the following user list screen, follower user list screen, etc., as will be described later.

[0057] The output unit 215 performs output processing according to the data processing performed by the data processing unit 214. Output processing may include sending data from the server 200 to the user terminal group 300 via the communication network N.

[0058] The output unit 215 may include a screen transmission unit 231 and a notification transmission unit 232.

[0059] The screen transmission unit 231 executes the process of sending screen data, generated by the chart generation unit 221, screen generation unit 222, etc., for display on the user terminal 300, to the user terminal 300.

[0060] The notification transmission unit 232 executes a process to send a notification to the user terminal 300 based on the determination result of the notification necessity determination unit 224. The notification sent by the notification transmission unit 232 may include at least one of the following: an audio notification, an email notification, or an image or text message notification on a website screen or application screen. This ensures that the user terminal can reliably recognize the receipt of the notification. The notification sent by the notification transmission unit 232 may also include at least one of the following: a video or animation of a human character or anthropomorphic character speaking on a website screen, application screen, or the screen of the user terminal. This increases the user's attention to the notification because the notification is a video or animation of a human character or anthropomorphic character speaking.

[0061] Memory unit 202 [Figure 2]

[0062] The memory unit 202 has storage units for various types of data, as described below. Each storage unit can be configured as a data table. In this specification and in the claims, the term "storage unit" is used synonymously with "memory".

[0063] • User data storage unit 241 : The user data storage unit 241 stores data (account data) related to accounts registered by users in order to use the information provision system 100. The account data includes data such as user ID, username (nickname), email address, attribute information, evaluation information, and following / follower information.

[0064] The "User ID" is an identification code used in the information provision system 100 to uniquely identify each account. The User ID is associated with information relevant to each individual user terminal 300.

[0065] "User name (nickname)" is information that is made public in the information provision system 100 in order to identify the user of the user terminal group 300.

[0066] The "email address" is registered during user registration and will be used as recipient information when sending notifications via email, as described below.

[0067] "Attribute information" is the user's profile and may include the user's self-introduction, occupation, area of ​​expertise in their occupation, investment history, preferred investment areas, interests, etc. At least one of these can be made public to other user terminals 300 depending on the user's settings.

[0068] "Evaluation information" may include information on interest, engagement, and follower count. "Interest" is information indicating the level of interest from other users, and is an evaluation metric calculated based on the number of views, favorites (likes), comments, and shares of posts made by other users. "Engagement" is information indicating the user's activity level, and is an activity evaluation metric calculated based on the number of posts made by the user themselves, and the number of views, favorites (likes), comments, and shares of posts made by other users. "Follower count" is the number of other users who follow the user.

[0069] Interest and engagement can be specifically represented by the total value of all evaluation items over a predetermined period, such as one week, one month, or three months. Individual users can also be ranked among all users based on the total value of these items. Furthermore, user ranking can be based on the proportion of each user's share of the total value of all users over the aforementioned predetermined period.

[0070] Furthermore, by combining interest rank, engagement rank, and follower count, it becomes possible to create a "comprehensive evaluation" of users that combines their proactivity with positive evaluations from other users. This is useful as an indicator of contribution to revitalizing the community and improving the quality of information accumulated in the information provision system 100.

[0071] An example of "overall evaluation" is user rating. User ratings can be any rating system, such as a 10-level rating, a 5-level rating, or a 3-level rating. For example, a user rating system could be implemented by setting a threshold value for each of three indicators: interest information, engagement information, and follower count, and assigning a predetermined rating if all three indicators exceed the threshold value. Examples of predetermined ratings include grades such as Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or grades such as Special Grade, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3. Such evaluation information can be made public to other user terminals 300.

[0072] By viewing the publicly available attribute and evaluation information of other users, users can identify users who are beneficial to them and easily collect information of high value to themselves.

[0073] • Submission data storage unit 242 : The posted data storage unit 242 stores data (posted data) posted by the user terminal 300 to the server 200. Each posted data may include a posted data ID to identify the individual posted data, the poster's user ID, the posting date and time, and content data including the posted text, photos, audio, video, and hashtags. In addition, the user IDs of users who favorited the post and the number of favorites may also be stored.

[0074] • Voting data storage unit 243 : The voting data storage unit 243 stores data (voting data) in which users have voted on predictions of future price movements of investment topics. Each voting data may include a voting data ID to identify the individual voting data, an investment topic ID to identify the investment topic, a user ID, voting date and time, and voting data (upward prediction or downward prediction). For each vote, the voting data is either an upward prediction or a downward prediction. The voting dates and times available for voting by the user terminal group 300 can be set by the server 200. Voting opportunities can be, for example, once or multiple times per day. However, from the standpoint of preventing abuse of prediction opportunities and ensuring the reliability of user predictions, it is preferable to set the voting opportunity to once a day. That is, it is preferable that the unit of "one day" is from 0:00:00 to 23:59:59, and that users predict whether the price movement of the investment topic will rise or fall during that day.

[0075] • Predicted value data storage unit 244 : The forecast data storage unit 244 stores future forecast values ​​(forecast data) for investment topics. Each forecast data may include a forecast data ID to identify individual forecast values, an investment topic ID to identify investment topics, a user ID, a forecast date and time, a forecast value (numerical value), etc. Forecast data can be set, for example, as a forecast value after a predetermined period has elapsed from the present. Specifically, it can be a forecast value one week from the present, a forecast value one month from the present, a forecast value three months from the present, a forecast value after an arbitrary period has elapsed from the present, etc. The specific timing for setting these forecast values ​​(one week from the present, one month from the present, three months from the present, etc.) can be set by the server 200. The forecast date and time can be the date and time when the forecast value is entered at the user terminal 300 or the date and time when the server 200 receives the forecast data from the user terminal 300, etc.

[0076] • Prediction reason data storage unit 245 : The prediction reason data storage unit 245 stores the reasons (prediction reason data) for predicting future predicted values ​​of investment topics. The prediction reason data may include a prediction reason data ID to identify individual prediction reasons, an investment topic ID to identify investment topics, a user ID, a prediction reason date and time, a prediction reason, etc. The prediction reason data may be, for example, text data written by the user in free text format. The prediction reason date and time can be the date and time when the predicted value was entered at the user terminal 300 or the date and time when the server 200 received the predicted value data from the user terminal 300, etc.

[0077] • Notification setting data storage unit 246 : The notification setting data storage unit 246 stores notification settings (notification setting data) related to investment topics that the server 200 makes to the user terminal 300. The content of the notification setting data varies depending on the target of the notification setting. The notification setting data will be described later.

[0078] • Comment data storage unit 247 : The comment data storage unit 247 stores comments (comment data) that users have added to posts or to prediction reasons made by other users. The comment data may include a comment data ID to identify individual comments, an investment topic ID to identify investment topics, a user ID, a comment target ID (post ID, prediction reason ID, etc.), the date and time the comment was made, and the content of the comment. Comments may be, for example, text data written by the user in their own words.

[0079] • Shared data storage unit 248 : The share data storage unit 248 stores information (share data) that a user has shared with other users. The share data may include a share identification ID, a post ID indicating the shared post, the user ID of the user who made the post that was shared, and the date and time of sharing.

[0080] • Favorite data storage section 249 : The favorites data storage unit 249 stores evaluation data (favorites data) that a user has made regarding other users' posts, comments on posts, predicted values, and prediction reasons. The favorites data may include the ID of the item that was favorited (post data ID, comment data ID, predicted value data ID, prediction reason ID), an investment topic ID that identifies the investment topic, a user ID, the date and time the item was favorited, etc.

[0081] • Follow data storage unit 250 : The follow data storage unit 250 stores data (follow data) for identifying other users that a user has followed (followed users). The follow data may include the user ID of the user who followed the user, the user ID of the user who was followed, the date and time of following, etc. Other users that have been followed can be displayed on the followed user list screen (not shown), which is linked from the follow icon in the first display area 501. The followed user list screen may be configured to include, for each followed user, the followed user's username, attribute information, evaluation information (interest, engagement, rating, etc.), group selection section (user group selection button), voting notification setting section (checkboxes, etc., for turning on / off the function to receive notifications about the voting results of followed users (upward prediction, downward prediction)), and prediction notification setting section (checkboxes, etc., for turning on / off the function to receive notifications about the predicted value and reason for the prediction made by the followed user).

[0082] • Follower data storage unit 251 : The follower data storage unit 251 stores data (follower data) for identifying other users (follower users) who are followed by a user. The follower data may include the user ID of the user who followed the user, the user ID of the user who was followed, the date and time of following, etc. Followers can be displayed on a follower user list screen (not shown) linked from the follower icon in the first display area 501. The follower user list screen may be configured to include, for each follower user, the follower user's username, attribute information, evaluation information (interest, engagement, rating, etc.), group selection section (user group selection button), voting notification setting section (checkboxes for turning on / off the function to receive notifications about follower users' voting results (upward prediction, downward prediction), prediction notification setting section (checkboxes for turning on / off the function to receive notifications about the predicted value and reason for the prediction made by the follower user).

[0083] • Group data storage unit 252 : The group data storage unit 252 stores data in which a user has grouped one or more other users. The number of groups can be set to one or more. For example, by grouping multiple other users who share common investment topics of interest, or by grouping other users with high ratings based on evaluation information, it becomes possible to easily access reliable information relevant to one's own investments.

[0084] [4] Functional configuration of user terminal 300 (Figure 4)

[0085] The user terminal 300 is configured using the computer device 400 as a hardware resource and has multiple functional units. The user terminal 300 may include a control unit 301, an input unit 302, a storage unit 303, a notification processing unit 304, an output processing unit 305, and a communication unit 306.

[0086] The control unit 301 controls various operations performed by the user terminal 300 by executing the client-side information provision program 300A.

[0087] The input unit 302 accepts data input from the user. The data accepted includes posts, votes for price movement predictions, predicted values, and adding items to favorites.

[0088] The memory unit 303 stores client-side programs, screen display data, and the like that sent from the server 200.

[0089] The notification processing unit 304 receives notification settings entered by the user terminal 300 and processes notifications received from the server 200 to be displayed on the user terminal 300 according to the notification settings. Notifications can be displayed on the information display screen 500 of the information provision program 300A, or they can be configured to be received via email on the user terminal 300.

[0090] The output processing unit 305 outputs data to the output device 404 of the user terminal 300. The output device 404 is one or more display devices, speaker devices, etc. The information display screen 500 of the information provision program is displayed on the screen of the display device. Audio data, including sound, and video data are output from the speaker device.

[0091] The communications unit 306 performs data communication with the server 200.

[0092] [5] Example of information display screen configuration (Figure 5)

[0093] Figure 5 shows an example of an information display screen 500 implemented by information provision programs 200A and 300A. The information display screen 500 is displayed as a browser or application screen on the user terminal 300. Therefore, the information display screen 500 can be composed of a web page or application screen. The information display screen 500 is the screen displayed when the user terminal 300 is logged in. Therefore, the information display screen 500 is configured as a dedicated screen for each user terminal 300.

[0094] The information display screen 500 is not the top page, but rather shows the configuration of the chart display screen described later. The chart display screen 500A has a first display area 501, a second display area 502, and a third display area 503.

[0095] • First display area 501 : The first display area 501 displays multiple icons with links. The icons displayed in the first display area 501 are exemplified below, from top to bottom.

[0096] • Home icon: An icon used to navigate to the top page. • Post icon: An icon used to transition to a display screen showing a list of posts retrieved from user terminals group 300. • Chart icon: An icon used to transition to a chart display screen showing a list of charts for investment topics. • Current Events Icon: An icon used to transition to a screen displaying a list of current events. • Ranking icon: An icon used to transition to the user ranking display screen. • Comment icon: An icon that takes you to a screen displaying a list of other users' comments on your own posts, etc. • Help icon: An icon used to navigate to the help page. • Follow icon: An icon used to transition to a screen that displays a list of other users you are following (Followed Users List screen). • Follower icon: This icon is used to transition to a screen that displays a list of other users who are following you (follower list screen).

[0097] • Second display area 502 : The second display area 502 includes a post input section 511 and a topic display area 512. In Figure 5, for the sake of explanation, only two topic display areas are shown, but by scrolling the screen, topic display areas for other investment topics will be displayed.

[0098] • Submission input section 511 : The posting input section 511 is equipped with a text input area, allowing for free-form text input. In addition to text, it is also possible to attach videos, images, and audio to posts.

[0099] • Topic display area 512 : The topic display area 512 shown in Figure 5 is an example that includes, as an example, a chart 512a of investment topics and a prediction input unit 512b.

[0100] The first topic display area 512A is an example where the investment topic is Euro / US Dollar in the example shown in Figure 5. The second topic display area 512B is an example where the investment topic is US Dollar.

[0101] The first topic display area 512A and the second topic display area 512B each include a chart 512a and a prediction input unit 512b. The chart 512a can be set to either a live chart of an investment topic or a static chart at a predetermined point in time. The prediction input unit 512b includes a voting input unit 512c that generates voting data for the price movements of the investment topic. That is, the prediction input unit 512b is configured as the "first screen area".

[0102] • Voting input section 512c : The voting input unit 512c consists of an upward prediction input unit 512c1 for selecting an investment topic that will rise in value, and a downward prediction input unit 512c2 for selecting an investment topic that will fall in value. Therefore, the user terminal 300 can only input either an upward prediction or a downward prediction, and after sending the data to the server 200 once a day, it cannot send it again. The upward and downward predictions are predictions of whether the closing price of the market on the voting input day will be higher or lower than the closing price of the previous day.

[0103] The prediction input unit 512b further includes a prediction value input unit 512d into which prediction values ​​for investment topics can be input.

[0104] • Predicted value input unit 512d : In the example shown in Figure 5, the predicted value input section 512d includes a first input field 512d1 for "What is the predicted value one week from today?" and a second input field 512d2 for "What is the predicted value one month from today?". "One week from today" and "one month from today" are examples, and other elapsed periods may be added or changed. The user terminal 300 is configured not to send data again after sending it to the server 200 once a day.

[0105] The predicted value input unit 512d further includes a prediction reason input unit 512d3 in which the reason for the predicted value can be entered. The prediction reason input unit 512d3 allows free-form text input, enabling users to input predicted values ​​with a reason and make them public to other users. However, input in the prediction reason input unit 512d3 is optional.

[0106] • Predictive transmission unit 512e : The prediction input unit 512d is further equipped with a prediction transmission unit 512e for sending the prediction value and prediction reason to the server 200. Since the prediction reason is an arbitrary input item, it is possible to send data to the server 200 by inputting at least the prediction value, i.e., either the first input field 512d1 or the second input field 512d2. The data received by the server 200 is stored as "prediction value data" and "prediction reason data" in the prediction value data storage unit 244 and the prediction reason data storage unit 245, respectively.

[0107] • Third display area 503 : The third display area 503 includes a post display unit 513 for displaying posts acquired by the server 200 from the user terminal group 300. The post display unit 513 displays the username of the user who made the post at the top, and below it displays a portion of the posted text data (indicated by the horizontal line). The post display unit 513 also includes the user icon 513a of the user who made the post, a favorites input unit 513b, a comment input unit 513c, and a share input unit 513d.

[0108] The user icon 513a can be followed by clicking it. Therefore, the user icon 513a functions as a follow input field. The data received by the server 200 is stored as "follow data" in the follow data storage unit 250.

[0109] The favorites input section 513b allows you to add a post to your favorites by clicking on it. The data received by the server 200 is stored as "favorites data" in the favorites data storage section 249.

[0110] When the comment input section 513c is clicked, a comment input field is displayed, allowing the user to enter a comment and send it to the server 200. The data received by the server 200 is stored as "comment data" in the comment data storage section 247.

[0111] The share input unit 513d allows the user to share the post with their followers, etc., when clicked. When the server 200 receives a share command, it stores it as "share data" in the share data storage unit 248.

[0112] • Fourth display area 504 : A fourth display area 504 is provided above the first display area 501, the second display area 502, and the third display area 503. The fourth display area 504 has a search input unit 514 and a notification setting unit 515. The search input unit 514 can perform keyword searches on the data stored in the storage unit 202. The notification setting unit 515 is provided as a link button for transitioning to the notification setting screen for the user terminal 300. The method for setting notifications from the notification setting unit 515 will be described later.

[0113] • Homepage : Although the top page structure is not shown in the diagram, it includes the first display area 501 and the third display area 503 mentioned above, and the second display area 502 can be configured to include, from top to bottom, a post input section 511, at least one vote input section 512c, and a timeline containing multiple posts and current events news.

[0114] [6] Explanation of information provision (Figures 6 and 7)

[0115] An example of how information is provided by the information provision system 100 is described below. The methods and functions for providing information related to voting, methods and functions for providing information related to predicted values, and methods and functions for providing information through notifications are described below.

[0116] [6.1] Explanation of methods and functions for providing information on voting (Figures 5-7)

[0117] The following explanation will refer to the flowcharts in Figures 5 and 6, and Figure 7.

[0118] • Generation / transmission of voting data : On the user terminal 300, when the user clicks either the upward prediction input unit 512c1 or the downward prediction input unit 512c2 of the voting input unit 512c shown in Figure 5, the input unit 302 accepts it. The control unit 301 generates voting data according to the upward or downward prediction (Figure 6, S101). The control unit 301 transmits the generated voting data to the server 200 via the communication unit 306.

[0119] • Updating population data : In the server 200, the acquisition unit 211 receives the voting data (S103) and stores it in the voting data storage unit 243 of the storage unit 202 (S105). The voting data storage unit 243 stores voting data acquired from a large number of user terminals 300. Therefore, when the control unit 201 acquires new voting data, it causes the storage unit 202 to update the population data stored in the voting data storage unit 243 (S107). As used in this specification and the claims, "time of voting" may refer to the date and time when the server 200 stores the voting data received from the user terminal 300 in the voting data storage unit 243 of the storage unit 202. However, this is an example, and it may also refer to the date and time when the voting input unit 512c is clicked by the input unit 302 of the user terminal 300, or the date and time when the acquisition unit 211 of the server 200 receives the voting data from the user terminal 300.

[0120] • Monitoring and calculation of voter turnout : The monitoring unit 212 of the control unit 201 monitors whether or not the population data is being updated (S109). When the monitoring unit 212 detects that the population data has been updated, the data processing unit 214 of the control unit 201 performs the voter turnout calculation (S111).

[0121] The population data is the total number of votes. As the number of upward prediction data increases, the percentage of upward prediction votes relative to the total number of votes increases. As the number of downward prediction data increases, the percentage of downward prediction votes relative to the total number of votes increases. The data processing unit 214 calculates the percentage of upward and downward prediction votes, with the total number of votes set as 100%. The data processing unit 214 generates the result of this vote percentage calculation as "voting result data".

[0122] • Generate voter turnout charts : The data processing unit 214 sends the voting result data to the chart generation unit 221. The chart generation unit 221 generates a voter turnout chart 512f showing the change in voter turnout over a predetermined voting period based on the voting result data (S111). The control unit 201 sends the voter turnout chart 512f to the output unit 215. The screen transmission unit 231 of the output unit 215 transmits the data including the voter turnout chart 512f to the user terminal 300 as a "second screen area" (S113).

[0123] The control unit 301 of the user terminal 300 sends the data received via the communication unit 306 to the output processing unit 305, and updates and displays the prediction input unit 512b of the topic display area 512 (S115).

[0124] • Update of the topic display area after voting. : Figure 7 illustrates the updated state of the second topic display area 512B when voting was conducted on the US dollar price movement prediction shown in Figure 5. The update state of the second topic display area 512B is the same for investment topics other than the US dollar. Figure 7 shows only the second topic display area 512B extracted from the second display area 502.

[0125] Assuming that an upward prediction has been voted for, after the vote, the upward prediction input unit 512c1 is inverted and the number of votes for upward predictions up to that point is displayed. The same applies if a downward prediction has been voted for. Below the prediction reason input unit 512d3, multiple voter turnout charts 512f are displayed. In this embodiment, four voter turnout charts 512f are shown as an example in Figure 7, but there may be two or more, or even four or more, as long as there is one or more. These four voter turnout charts 512f represent "voter turnout charts for multiple voting periods". Any other period can be set as the "voting period".

[0126] The first voter turnout chart, 512f, is the 24-hour voter turnout chart, 512f1. This chart shows the voter turnout using the total number of votes cast within the past 24 hours as the basis for the population data update. It is a 100% stacked bar graph, with the left side representing an upward trend and the right side representing a downward trend. Both the upward and downward trends are shown numerically as percentages. The "(616)" next to "24 hours" represents the population data, i.e., the total number of votes.

[0127] The second voter turnout chart, 512f, is the 7-day voter turnout chart, 512f2. This chart shows the voter turnout using the total number of votes cast within the past 7 days as the population data, based on the time the population data was updated. The rest of the explanation is the same as for the 24-hour voter turnout chart, 512f1.

[0128] The third voter turnout chart, 512f3, is the 30-day voter turnout chart. This chart shows the voter turnout using the total number of votes cast within the past 30 days as the population data, based on the time the population data was updated. The rest of the explanation is the same as for the 24-hour voter turnout chart, 512f1.

[0129] The fourth voter turnout chart 512f is a line graph 512f4 showing the change in voter turnout. The vertical axis of the graph represents the percentage, and the horizontal axis represents the time axis. The scale of the vertical axis where it intersects the horizontal axis is 0%. Therefore, the upper part of the horizontal axis represents the voter turnout predicted to rise, and the lower part of the horizontal axis represents the voter turnout predicted to fall. Clicking the display period change section 512f5 allows the output processing section 305 to change the time on the horizontal axis of the line graph 512f4 to the past year, 6 months, 3 months, etc. These horizontal axis times are examples, and other periods can also be used. Clicking the daily / weekly chart switching section 512f6 allows the output processing section 305 to change the display of the line graph 512f4 to daily / weekly charts. When the cursor is placed over the line graph 512f4, the date and the voter turnout values ​​for the predicted rise and fall will be displayed in a pop-up. In the daily display, data can be displayed on a daily basis, and in the weekly display, data can be displayed on a weekly basis.

[0130] [6.2] Explanation of the method and function of providing information on predicted values ​​(Figures 5, 8, and 9)

[0131] The following explanation will refer to the flowcharts in Figures 5 and 8, and Figure 9.

[0132] • Generation and transmission of predicted value data : On the user terminal 300, the user inputs predicted values ​​into either the first input field 512d1 or the second input field 512d2 of the predicted value input unit 512d shown in Figure 5, and the input unit 302 receives them. If input is also made into the prediction reason input unit 512d3, the input unit 302 also receives that. The control unit 301 generates predicted value data and prediction reason data and transmits them to the server 200 via the communication unit 306 (Figure 8, S201). Note that the prediction reason is optional input, so if it is not entered, the prediction reason data is not generated and is not transmitted to the server 200. The following describes the case where prediction reason data is generated.

[0133] • Updating population data : In the server 200, the acquisition unit 211 receives the predicted value data (S203) and stores it in the predicted value data storage unit 244 of the storage unit 202 (S205). The prediction reason data is stored in the prediction reason data storage unit 245 of the storage unit 202 (S205). The predicted value data storage unit 244 and the prediction reason data storage unit 245 store predicted value data and prediction reason data acquired from a large group of user terminals 300. Therefore, when the control unit 201 acquires new data from the user terminals 300, it causes the storage unit 202 to update the population data stored in the predicted value data storage unit 244 and the prediction reason data storage unit 245 (S207).

[0134] • Calculation of the median of monitoring and predicted values. : The monitoring unit 212 of the control unit 201 monitors whether or not the population data is updated (S209). When the monitoring unit 212 detects an update to the population data, the data processing unit 214 of the control unit 201 performs calculation of the median of the predicted values ​​(S211). The calculation of the median of the predicted values ​​is performed using the data from the past 24 hours as the population data, based on the time the population data was updated.

[0135] Furthermore, the screen generation unit 222 of the control unit 201 generates a display unit 512h of other users' predictions, which includes other users' prediction information, including the predicted values ​​and reasons for predictions submitted by other users in the past for the same investment topic (S211).

[0136] The control unit 201 sends the median of the predicted values ​​and the other user prediction display unit 512h to the output unit 215. The screen transmission unit 231 of the output unit 215 transmits the data including the median of the predicted values ​​and the other user prediction display unit 512h to the user terminal 300 as a "second screen area" (S213).

[0137] The control unit 301 of the user terminal 300 sends the data received via the communication unit 306 to the output processing unit 305, and updates and displays the prediction input unit 512b of the topic display area 512 (S215).

[0138] • Updating the topic display area after submitting predicted values. : Figure 9 illustrates the state in which the prediction input section 512b of the second topic display area 512B is updated by the screen generation unit 222 when the predicted value for US dollars shown in Figure 5 is submitted. Figure 9 shows only the prediction input section 512b of the second topic display area 512B extracted from the second display area 502.

[0139] After submitting the predicted values, the median of the predicted values, 512d4, is displayed to the right of the predicted value input section 512d. Although not shown in the illustration, it is also possible to display a median chart in addition to the median 512d4. The median chart can be displayed as a line graph with the vertical axis representing monetary value and the horizontal axis representing time. The median chart can display the forecast for one week from now and the forecast for one month from now as separate line graphs.

[0140] Below the line graph 512f4, the sort selection section 512g and the other user prediction display section 512h are displayed.

[0141] The sort selection unit 512g can rearrange the multiple other user prediction information 512h1, 512h2 contained in the other user prediction display unit 512h. The sorting unit 225 performs the sorting process. For example, the other user prediction information 512h1, 512h2 can be sorted and displayed based on one or more of the following: newness or age in time series, high or low rating of the user, or high or low prediction value. The number to the right of the sort selection unit 512g is the number of other user prediction information items.

[0142] Other users' prediction information 512h1 and 512h2 includes the username 512h3 (indicated as "XXXX" and "YYY" in Figure 9), the prediction date 512h4 (indicated as "Prediction on 2 / 5"), the predicted value 512h5 (predicted value one week later (indicated as "132 USD"), the predicted value one month later (indicated as "133 USD")), the reason for the prediction 512h6 (indicated as "Looking at MACD, the predicted value seems to be around this much," and "I think the dollar will remain strong for a while because interest rate differentials with other countries will continue"), the favorites input section 512h7, and the user prediction notification setting section 512h8. By referring to these other users' prediction display sections 512h, users can easily obtain diverse perspectives and information from other users on investment topics.

[0143] [6.3] Explanation of the method and function of providing information by notification (Figures 10 and 11)

[0144] Clicking the notification settings section 515 in the fourth display area 504 shown in Figure 5 displays the notification screen 516 as shown in Figure 10. The notification screen 516 lists the notifications that have been set up. Seven notifications are shown here as an example, but other notifications can be displayed by scrolling the notification screen 516. The seven notifications shown as an example are five notifications related to voter turnout, one notification related to the median of the predicted value, and one notification related to the predicted value of other users. In this way, the notification settings will be explained in detail, including the settings for voter turnout, the median of the predicted value, and the predicted value of other users.

[0145] The notification screen 516 shown in Figure 10 is provided with a notification settings selection section 516a. Clicking the notification settings selection section 516a displays the following link items: (A) "Notification Settings", (B) "Chart Notification Settings", and (C) "Open Notification Page".

[0146] (A) "Notification Settings" allows you to select the types of notifications you want to receive. Examples of selectable notification items include user prediction notifications, median pivot notifications, voter turnout alerts, favorites, shares, profile views, featured posts, post-related notifications, comment-related notifications, and follow notifications.

[0147] (B) The "Chart Notification Settings" allows you to set up notifications related to charts. Selectable notification items can include notifications for vote turnout charts, median pivot notifications, and user prediction notifications. Chart notification settings can be configured on the notification settings screen 517, which specifies an investment topic, as shown in Figure 11. The notification settings screen 517 can be accessed from the notification settings selection section 516a, or by clicking the notification settings section 512i in the prediction input section 512b in Figure 5.

[0148] In the notification settings screen 517 shown in Figure 11, you can set "Median Pivot Notification" 517a and "Voting Results Notification" 517b (Voting Turnout Chart Notification). Specific explanations of these will be provided later.

[0149] (C) Clicking "Open notification page" displays a list of multiple notifications, as shown in Figure 10.

[0150] The following explains voter turnout chart notifications, median pivot notifications, and user prediction notifications.

[0151] • Notification of voting results (notification of voter turnout chart) : The voting result notification system works by setting thresholds for the predicted voter turnout (24 hours, 7 days, 30 days), and when the predicted value exceeds the threshold, the server 200 notifies the user terminal 300. The threshold is either the lower limit or the upper limit of the predicted value. It is possible to set the threshold to be below the lower limit or above the upper limit. Notifications can be set by checking checkbox 517b on the notification settings screen 517 shown in Figure 11, and disabled by unchecking it. <Notification settings example 1> • Notification target: Voting results on a specific investment topic over the past 24 hours • Notification conditions: Lower / upper limits of voter turnout for upward / downward forecasts. • Notification setting example: If you vote that the price movement of an investment topic will rise, a notification will be sent to the user terminal 300 if, within 24 hours after voting, the lower limit of the vote percentage for the upward prediction exceeds 10% or the upper limit of the vote percentage for the upward prediction exceeds 30%.

[0152] <Notification settings example 2> • Notification target: Voting results on a specific investment topic over the past 7 days • Notification conditions: Lower / upper limits of voter turnout for upward / downward forecasts. • Notification setting example: If you vote that the price movement of an investment topic will decline, a notification will be sent to the user terminal 300 if, within 7 days after voting, the lower limit of the vote percentage for the decline prediction exceeds 10% or the upper limit of the vote percentage for the rise prediction exceeds 30%.

[0153] <Notification settings example 3> • Notification target: Voting results on specific investment topics over the past 30 days • Notification conditions: Lower / upper limits of voter turnout for upward / downward forecasts. • Notification setting example: If you vote that the price movement of an investment topic will decline, a notification will be sent to the user terminal 300 if, within 30 days after voting, the lower limit of the vote percentage for the decline prediction exceeds 10% or the upper limit of the vote percentage for the rise prediction exceeds 30%.

[0154] • Median pivot notification : Median pivot notifications are a feature that allows you to receive notifications about the forecast status for one week and one month from now, based on the median of the previous day's forecast chart for an investment topic. You can set up notifications by checking checkbox 517a on the notification settings screen 517 shown in Figure 11, and you can disable notifications by unchecking it.

[0155] • User prediction notifications : User prediction notifications are a function that allows users to receive notifications about predicted values ​​and reasons for predictions made by other users. In the notification screen 516 shown in Figure 10, the third notification from the bottom ("Person A's prediction") is a user prediction notification. The other user prediction information 512h1 and 512h2 shown in Figure 9 include a user prediction notification setting section 512h8, and clicking on this allows users to receive notifications about it.

[0156] • User voting notifications User voting notifications are a feature that allows users to receive notifications about upward or downward predictions voted for by other users.

[0157] • Predictive notifications for user groups : User group prediction notifications are a function that allows users to receive notifications about the predicted values ​​of multiple other users that they have arbitrarily grouped together. Data related to user groups is stored in the group data storage unit 252 of the server 200. In addition to receiving notifications about the predicted values ​​of individual users included in a user group, it can also be configured to receive notifications about the median or average of the predicted values ​​of the user group.

[0158] • User group voting notification : User group voting notifications are a function that allows users to receive notifications about the voting results of multiple other users that they have arbitrarily grouped together. Data related to user groups is stored in the group data storage unit 252 of the server 200. In addition to receiving notifications about the voting results of individual users included in a user group, it can also be configured to receive notifications about the voting rate of the user group's voting results (the ratio of upward predictions to downward predictions).

[0159] Figure 12 shows the user group settings screen 518 for configuring prediction notifications and voting notifications for the aforementioned user groups. The figure shows an example where three user groups (1-3) can be configured, but the number is arbitrary. The user group settings screen 518 may include a group selection unit 518a, a group member display unit 518b, a group voting notification setting unit 518c, and a group prediction value notification setting unit 518d.

[0160] The group selection unit 518a allows users to select or deselect user groups 1 to 3 as notification targets by checking or unchecking checkboxes. The group member display unit 518b displays the usernames of the users included in user groups 1 to 3, respectively. The group voting notification setting unit 518c and the group prediction value notification setting unit 518d allow users to select or deselect notifications by checking or unchecking checkboxes.

[0161] [7] Effects of the Embodiment

[0162] The effects of the embodiments illustrated in this disclosure, including those already described, will now be explained.

[0163] A first aspect of this disclosure is a method by which a server 200 provides information on an investment topic to a group of user terminals 300, comprising: the server 200 transmitting a prediction input unit 512b as a “first screen area” including a voting input unit 512c that generates voting data for the price movements of one or more investment topics to each user terminal 300 constituting the group of user terminals 300; receiving voting data from the group of user terminals 300, wherein the voting data includes either an upward prediction indicating an increase in the value of the investment topic or a downward prediction indicating a decrease in the value of the investment topic; generating voting result data by comparing the upward prediction and the downward prediction based on the voting data received from the group of user terminals 300; and transmitting a “second screen area” including the voting result data to the user terminals 300. A second aspect of this disclosure is a program including instructions for the server 200 to perform the method described above. A third aspect of this disclosure is a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium including instructions for the server 200 to perform the method described above.

[0164] According to this system, each user can learn about the predictions (upward or downward) made by a large number of users (user terminal group 300) regarding the price movements of an investment topic, through voting result data provided by server 200. The trends in predictions by many users can provide an opportunity for users to become aware of overlooking important information, or overestimating or underestimating information. In this way, each user can use the predictions of many other users to inform their own investment decisions.

[0165] The voting results data included in the second screen area may include one or more voting percentages showing upward and downward predictions for one or more voting periods retrospectively from the time of voting. By knowing the voting percentages on the user terminal 300, users using the user terminal 300 can know the predictions of a large number of users (user terminal group 300) regarding the price movements of the investment target.

[0166] The voting results data may include a voter turnout chart showing the change in voter turnout over one or more voting periods. Users using user terminal 300 can easily see the time-series changes (trends in predictions) of predictions for a large number of users (user terminal group 300) by using the voter turnout chart provided by server 200.

[0167] The first screen area may include a prediction value input section 512d on which investment topic prediction values ​​can be entered. This allows the server 200 to collect specific prediction values ​​for investment topics from a large number of users (user terminal group 300). The collected prediction values ​​can be used by the large number of users (user terminal group 300) as reference information for making investment decisions.

[0168] The prediction value input unit 512d may include a prediction reason input unit 512d3 into which the reason for the prediction value can be input. This allows the server 200 to collect prediction reasons that led to an upward or downward prediction from a large number of users (user terminals). The collected prediction reasons can be used by the large number of users (user terminals 300) as reference information for making investment decisions.

[0169] The second screen area may include a user prediction display unit 512h that includes user prediction information, which includes the predicted values ​​and reasons for the predictions of one or more other users. This allows the user to know not only the voting result data, but also more specific predicted values ​​and reasons for the predictions of other users. As a result, the user (user terminal 300) can collect the perspectives of other investors' investment decisions.

[0170] The server 200 may include sorting and displaying multiple pieces of other user prediction information contained in the other user prediction display unit 512h by one or more of the following criteria: newness or age in time series, high or low evaluation of the user, and high or low prediction value. This can improve the convenience of information gathering for the user.

[0171] The server 200 may include receiving notification settings from user terminals 300, where the notification settings include either a lower limit or an upper limit for the voting rate during the voting period, and sending notifications to user terminals 300 based on the notification settings. The server 200 may also include receiving notification settings from user terminals 300, where the notification settings include either a lower limit or an upper limit for the predicted value, and sending notifications to user terminals 300 based on the notification settings. This makes it possible to grasp in real time the thinking of a large number of users (user terminal group 300) regarding price movement predictions (changes in upward and downward predictions, changes in their voting rates, changes in predicted values) through notifications, thereby enabling individual investors (users) to quickly and easily access events that occur.

[0172] The server 200 may receive notification settings from the user terminal 300, where the notification settings include the server 200 receiving voting data from one or more other users, and send a notification to the user terminal 300 based on the notification settings. This allows the user to, for example, know that a specific user they are interested in has voted, and to use this as an opportunity to consider investment decisions.

[0173] The server 200 may receive notification settings from the user terminal 300, where the notification settings include the server 200 receiving predicted values ​​from one or more other users, and send a notification to the user terminal 300 based on the notification settings. This allows the user to know, for example, that a specific user they are interested in has entered predicted values, which can provide an opportunity to consider investment decisions.

[0174] The server 200 may receive notification settings from the user terminal 300, and the notification settings may include the server 200 receiving the reasons for prediction values ​​from one or more other users, and sending a notification to the user terminal 300 based on the notification settings. This allows the user to, for example, learn the reasons for prediction values ​​from a specific user they are interested in, and use this as an opportunity to consider investment decisions.

[0175] The notification may include at least one of the following: an audio notification, an email notification, or an image or text message notification on a website or app screen. This ensures that the user terminal 300 is reliably aware of the receipt of the notification.

[0176] The notification may include at least one of the following: a video or animation in which a human character or anthropomorphic character speaks to the user on a website screen, an app screen, or the screen of the user terminal 300. This allows for increased user attention to the notification because the notification is a video or animation in which a human character or anthropomorphic character speaks.

[0177] [8] Other embodiments relating to the notification

[0178] The following embodiments describe other embodiments relating to notifications. Specifically, embodiments relating to using a character as a virtual assistant for the user and having the character send notifications to the user terminal 300 (hereinafter referred to as "character notifications") will be described.

[0179] The server 200 of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the configuration of the control unit 201 and the storage unit 202. Since the other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment, redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0180] The data processing unit 214 of the control unit 201 further includes a character notification setting unit 261, a character selection unit 262, and a notification data generation unit 263, and these functional units constitute a "character notification unit". The storage unit 202 further includes a character data storage unit 271 and a notification model storage unit 272, and these functional units constitute a "character notification storage unit".

[0181] The character notification setting unit 261 executes a process to set the notification conditions for character notifications to the user terminal 300. The character notification setting unit 261 sends a character notification setting screen 520A to the user terminal 300, for example, as shown in Figure 15. The character 521 is displayed in the upper part of the character notification setting screen 520A.

[0182] Character 521 is displayed with the initial character Egg521a on the far left, and then Baby521b, Teenager521c, and Adult521d are displayed to the right. Baby521b, Teenager521c, and Adult521d are evolved forms of Character 521 from Egg521a, and are shown here as silhouettes. Character 521 evolves according to the level of activity of the user terminal 300 towards the information provision system 100. This point will be discussed further later.

[0183] In the middle section of the character notification settings screen 520A, notification settings items are displayed. Here, the notification settings items displayed are the alarm setting section 520a1, the gender setting section 520a2, and the economic event selection section 520a3. For example, pressing the alarm setting section 520a1 will display the alarm editing screen 520B.

[0184] The alarm editing screen 520B has an alarm editing section, which includes a time setting section 520b1, a market selection section 520b2, an alarm pattern setting section 520b3, an alarm sound setting section 520b4, and a snooze time setting section 520b5.

[0185] Pressing the market selection button 520b2 transitions to the market selection screen 520C. The market selection screen 520C lists numerous investment topics, from which the user selects the investment topic for which they wish to receive notifications. The number of selectable investment topics varies depending on the evolution stage of the character 521, with Egg 521a having the fewest options and Adult 521d having the most. The alarm pattern setting button 520b3 sets the notification date. The notification date can be selected from one or more days of the week. The alarm sound setting button 520b4 sets the type of alarm sound, and the snooze time setting button 520b5 sets the duration for which the snooze function is activated. The settings are saved by pressing the save button 520b6.

[0186] The character selection unit 262 performs the function of selecting a character 521 to be assigned to the user terminal 300 based on the user terminal 300's "activity". The opportunities to assign a character 521 to the user terminal 300 are (1) when Egg 521a evolves into Baby 521b, (2) when Baby 521b evolves into Teenager 521c, and (3) when Teenager 521c evolves into Adult 521d.

[0187] The "activity" of user terminal 300 includes, for example, the following data, all of which are stored daily in the storage unit 202 of server 200 for each user terminal 300.

[0188] 〔activity〕 • Login count: Each time user terminal 300 logs in to server 200, the login count is counted as "1". • Post View Count: Each time you click on a post displayed in section 513 to view its entirety, the view count is counted as "1". • Number of ratings for a post: Each time you press the favorite input field 513b on a post to add it to your favorites, the rating count will be increased by "1". • Number of times a post is shared: Each time you share a post by pressing the share input field 513d, the share count will be increased by "1". • Number of comments on a post: Each time a comment is entered and submitted using the comment input field 513c, the number of comments is counted as "1".

[0189] The count of these activities is recorded, and reaching at least a certain threshold value at each stage of evolution—(1) evolution to Baby521b, (2) evolution to Teenager521c, and (3) evolution to Adult521d—is a condition for evolution.

[0190] Character 521 includes multiple characters 521 with different appearances and personalities, as shown in Figure 14. The type of information notified to the user terminal 300 may differ for each character 521. Specifically, one or more investment topics are assigned as "personalities" to each character 521, and the information regarding investment topics (investment topic information) notified to the user terminal 300 differs for each character 521. Note that in Figure 14, only some characters 521 show Teenager 521c and Adult 521d after Baby 521b, while the specific illustrations for Teenager 521c and Adult 521d are omitted for the other characters 521. Also, in Figure 14, only the top-level character 521 shows diagonal lines indicating evolution to other characters 521, while the other characters 521 omit these diagonal lines for simplification. Furthermore, the characters 521 shown in Figure 14 are illustrative examples, and other characters 521 may also be included.

[0191] In the evolutions described above (1) to Baby521b, (2) to Teenager521c, and (3) to Adult521d, as shown in Figure 14, the character 521 before and after the evolution may be of the same type, or they may be of a different type. Therefore, the character 521 before evolution and the character 521 after evolution may have different personalities. The type of character 521 after evolution is determined by estimating the investment topics of high interest based on the "activity" of the user terminal 300.

[0192] The "activity" used to estimate the level of interest in an investment topic includes, for example, the following data, all of which are stored in the storage unit 202 of the server 200 for each user terminal 300.

[0193] 〔activity〕 • Investment topics tagged with posts viewed, rated, shared, or commented on by user terminal 300 • Investment topics and their co-occurring words included in posts viewed, rated, shared, or commented on by user terminal 300. • Investment topics on which user terminal 300 made prediction votes, predicted values, and reasons for predictions. • Attribute data and activity of other users followed by user terminal 300

[0194] The character selection unit 262 selects a character 521 that is estimated from the user terminal 300's activities as described above, each time the conditions for character 521 to evolve are met, and selects the character 521 stored in the character data storage unit 271 to set as the virtual assistant for the user terminal 300.

[0195] Character 521 can vary the type and frequency of information it notifies the user terminal 300 depending on its type and the stage of evolution it is in (Baby521b, Teenager521c, or Adult521d). In other words, the information notified can be customized based on the user's activity.

[0196] The information notified to the user terminal 300 may include "self-configured information" and "automatically generated information." This information is generated by the notification data generation unit 263.

[0197] "Self-configured information" is information that is set up for notification by operating the user terminal 300. This may include information related to investment topics as explained in Figure 15 (for example, market information, related news information, changes in prediction votes, changes in prediction values, etc.).

[0198] The automatically generated information is information generated by the notification data generation unit 263 using information stored in the memory unit 202. The memory unit 202 includes a notification model storage unit 272 for generating notification texts. The notification model storage unit 272 stores the learning model used by the notification data generation unit 263, and for example, the notification data generation unit 263 can automatically generate notification texts based on the data stored in the memory unit 202.

[0199] The information notified to user terminal 300 may include "investment topic information" and "other user activity information." Examples of these are listed below.

[0200] [Investment Topic Information] • Information regarding the price movements of investment topics. • Information on news articles about investment topics • Information on seminars related to investment topics

[0201] [Other user activity information] • Posts containing text, audio, video, or URL links related to investment topics • Evaluation of submitted articles • Voting on predictions for upward or downward price movements of investment topics. • Predicted values ​​for predicting price movements of investment topics • Reasons for predicting price movements of investment topics • Followers added by other users

[0202] The notification data generation unit 263 can notify the user terminal 300 of the information stored in the storage unit 202 as information related to investment topics, based on the data stored in the storage unit 202.

[0203] Notifications from character 521 on user terminal 300 can be output as text, voice, or animation, in a manner that allows character 521 to converse.

[0204] [9] Effects of the embodiment relating to the notification In the above embodiment, the character 521 can be used as a virtual assistant to notify the user terminal 300 of information, thereby motivating the user to acquire the information.

[0205] In the above embodiment, based on the activity received from the user terminal 300 regarding the investment topic, a predetermined character 521 is assigned to the user terminal 300 from among a plurality of characters 521 with different personalities, thereby reflecting the user's interest in the investment topic in the character selection.

[0206] In the above embodiment, information that can be output as text, voice, or animation is transmitted to the user terminal 300 so that character 521 can converse, allowing the user to learn information through conversation with character 521. Therefore, character 521 can be used as a virtual assistant to obtain information on investment topics.

[0207] In the above embodiment, by changing the appearance of the character 521 according to the type and number of activities, the user's activity can be stimulated by using the change in the character 521 as motivation.

[0208] In the above embodiment, by changing the type or frequency of information notified to the user terminal 300 according to the appearance of the character 521, it is possible to activate user activity by using the change in the appearance of the character 521 as motivation. In addition, by diversifying not only the change in the character's appearance but also the type and frequency of information notified, user satisfaction with notifications can be further improved.

[0209]

[10] Variation

[0210] The above-described embodiment is merely an example for illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, for example, the configuration of the information display screen 500 shown in the drawings and the arrangement of its display elements are merely examples.

[0211] The memory unit 200 can store calendar data for each user terminal 300. The calendar data can be entered by the user operating the user terminal 300, or the control unit 201 may automatically input economic seminars and other information stored in the memory unit 202. Furthermore, the calendar data may be included in notifications sent to the user terminal 300. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0212] 100 Information Provision System 200 servers 200A Information Provision Program 300 user terminals (user terminals) 400 Computer devices 500 Information display screen 501 First display area 502 Second display area 503 Third display area 504 Fourth display area 511 Submission Input Section 512 Topic display area 512A First topic display area 512B Second topic display area 512a Chart 512b Predictive Input Section 512c Voting Input Section 512d Predicted value input section 512d1 First input field 512d2 Second input field 512d3 Prediction reason input section 512d4 median 512e Predictive Transmission Unit 512f Voter Turnout Chart 512f4 line graph 512g sort selection section 512h Other User Prediction Display Section 512i Favorites Input Section 512j User Prediction Notification Settings Section 513 Post Display Section 513a User Icon 513b Favorites Input Section 513c Comment Input Section 513d Share Input Section 514 Search Input Section 515 Notification Settings Section 516 Notification screen 516a Notification settings selection section 517 Notification settings screen 518 User Group Settings Screen

Claims

1. The notification method, In a computer device that notifies user terminals of information regarding investment topics, The user terminal receives activity regarding the investment topic, Based on the aforementioned activity, one or more characters with different personalities are assigned to the user terminal as virtual assistants for notifying the aforementioned information. The information that can be output as text, audio, or animation so that the character can converse is transmitted to the user terminal, Depending on the type and number of activities, the character's appearance will be changed. This includes changing the type or frequency of the information notified to the user terminal according to the appearance of the character, Notification method.

2. The assignment of the character to the user terminal is performed based on the activity. The notification method according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned activity is The number of logins to the information provision service provided by the aforementioned computer device, The number of views of posts distributed through the aforementioned information service, The number of ratings for the aforementioned post, The number of times the aforementioned post was shared, The number of comments posted on the aforementioned post, Posting of articles containing text, audio, video, or URL links related to the aforementioned investment topic, Evaluation of the aforementioned post, Voting regarding predictions of upward or downward price movements for the aforementioned investment topic. Predicted values ​​regarding the price movements of the aforementioned investment topic, Reasons for the prediction regarding the price movement of the aforementioned investment topic, and The following users added by the aforementioned other user, Including at least one of the following: The notification method according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned information is information customized based on the aforementioned activity. The notification method according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned information includes investment topic information relating to the investment topic stored in the computer device, The notification method according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned investment topic information is, Information regarding the price movements of the aforementioned investment topic, Information regarding news articles on the aforementioned investment topic, and Information regarding seminars on the aforementioned investment topic, Including at least one of the following: The notification method according to claim 5.

7. The aforementioned information includes other user activity information received from other user terminals stored in the computer device. The notification method according to claim 1.

8. The aforementioned other user activity information is, Posts containing text, audio, video, or URL links related to the aforementioned investment topic, Evaluation of the aforementioned post, Voting regarding predictions of upward or downward price movements for the aforementioned investment topic. Predicted values ​​regarding the price movements of the aforementioned investment topic, Reasons for the prediction regarding the price movement of the aforementioned investment topic, and The following users added by the aforementioned other user, Including at least one of the following: The notification method according to claim 7.

9. A program that causes a computer device to operate as a server that notifies user terminals of information related to investment topics, The aforementioned program, The user terminal receives activity regarding the investment topic, Based on the aforementioned activity, one or more characters with different personalities are assigned to the user terminal as virtual assistants for notifying the aforementioned information. The information that can be output as text, audio, or animation so that the character can converse is transmitted to the user terminal, Depending on the type and number of activities, the character's appearance will be changed. Depending on the appearance of the character, the type or number of times the information is notified to the user terminal is changed, Includes an order to perform program.

10. A non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that stores a program that causes a computer device to operate as a server that notifies user terminals of information related to investment topics, The aforementioned program, The user terminal receives activity regarding the investment topic, Based on the aforementioned activity, one or more characters with different personalities are assigned to the user terminal as virtual assistants for notifying the aforementioned information. The information that can be output as text, audio, or animation so that the character can converse is transmitted to the user terminal, Depending on the type and number of activities, the character's appearance will be changed. Depending on the appearance of the character, the type or number of times the information is notified to the user terminal is changed, Includes an order to perform Non-temporary computer-readable storage medium.

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