Program, information processing method, and terminal

Abstract

To provide a method for presenting a search result to a user in relation to display of a chat room.SOLUTION: A program to be executed by a terminal that displays a chat room including a first user of a first terminal causes the terminal to execute: displaying the chat room on a display unit of the terminal; displaying image information with a search condition set thereto in the chat room, on the basis of an input by a user of the terminal on the chat room; and controlling, by a control unit of the terminal, to transmit a search result searched based on the search condition set to the image information to the first terminal by a communication unit of the terminal, and to display the search result in the chat room.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1-1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a program, an information processing method, a terminal, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] There are services (for example, messaging services) for exchanging content between accounts. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology for distributing advertisements using official accounts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-53929 A Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a program executed by a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal is executed by the terminal to display the chat room on a display unit of the terminal, display image information in the chat room having search conditions set thereon based on an input by a user of the terminal to the chat room, control the transmission of search results searched for based on the search conditions set in the image information to the first terminal by a communication unit of the terminal, and control the display of the search results in the chat room by a control unit of the terminal. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an information processing method for a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal includes displaying the chat room on a display unit of the terminal, displaying image information in the chat room having search conditions set thereon based on an input by a user of the terminal to the chat room, controlling a communication unit of the terminal to transmit search results searched based on the search conditions set in the image information to the first terminal, and controlling the display of the search results in the chat room by a control unit of the terminal. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal includes a display unit displaying the chat room and a control unit that controls displaying image information having search conditions set thereon in the chat room based on an input by a user of the terminal to the chat room, and the control unit controls transmission of search results searched based on the search conditions set in the image information to the first terminal via a communication unit of the terminal, and controls displaying the search results in the chat room. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal includes a processor that reads a program stored in a memory and executes processing based on the program, and the processor executes the following operations: displaying the chat room on a display unit of the terminal; displaying image information in the chat room with search criteria set thereon based on input by a user of the terminal into the chat room; controlling the transmission of search results searched for based on the search criteria set in the image information to the first terminal via a communication unit of the terminal; and controlling the display of the search results in the chat room. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1-1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 1-2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-3] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of account registration data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a search condition setting stamp database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-8] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-10] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-11] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a search condition setting stamp database according to a first modified example. [Figure 2-1] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-3] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a search condition setting stamp database according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-8] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second modified example. [Figure 2-10] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second modified example. [Figure 3-1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a search condition setting stamp management database according to the third embodiment. [Figure 3-2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3-3] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 3-4]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3-5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 3-6] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 4-1] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 4-3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 4-4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 5-1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 7-1] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of search condition setting stamp data according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-2] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-3] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-4] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-5] 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-6] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of search condition setting stamp data according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-7] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-8] 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device according to the seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] <Compliance with legal matters> It should be noted that the disclosures described herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the country of implementation, such as communications secrecy, as necessary for the implementation of the disclosure.

[0007] <Embodiment> In this specification, for ease of understanding, there are some places where the phrase "by way of example and not by way of limitation" is used, but please note that not only these places but also the entire embodiment described below are not limited to the contents of the description.

[0008] An embodiment for implementing a program or the like according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] First, a system may be, by way of example and not limitation, comprised of multiple devices. The multiple devices may be a combination of devices of the same type, a combination of devices of different types, or a combination of devices of the same type and devices of different types. Note that a system can be considered, for example and not by way of limitation, as a plurality of devices working together to perform some kind of processing.

[0010] Furthermore, a system relating to a client (client device) and a server can be considered to be, by way of example and not of limitation, at least one of the following: (1) Terminals and servers (2) Server (3) Terminal

[0011] (1) is, by way of example and not limitation, a system including at least one terminal and at least one server. One example of this is a client-server system.

[0012] The server is configured by the following devices, for example and not by way of limitation, and may be a single device or a combination of multiple devices.

[0013] Specifically, the server is configured to have at least one processor (for example and without limitation, CPU: Central Processing Unit, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, APU: Accelerated Processing Unit, DSP: Digital Signal Processor (for example and without limitation, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.), computer device (processor + memory), control device, arithmetic device, processing device, etc., and may be a configuration having multiple of the same type of any one device (for example and without limitation, CPU + CPU, homogeneous multi-core processor, etc.) or a configuration having multiple different types of any one device (for example and without limitation, CPU + DSP, heterogeneous multi-core processor, etc.), or may be a combination of multiple devices (for example and without limitation, processor + computer device, processor + arithmetic device, multiple devices made heterogeneous, etc.). The processor may be a virtual processor.

[0014] Also, when a server executes some processing, if the server is configured with a single device, the processing described in the embodiment is executed by the single device. If the server is configured with multiple devices, one device may execute some processing, and the other device may execute other processing. As a non-limiting example, if the server is configured with a processor and an arithmetic device, the processor may execute a first processing, and the arithmetic device may execute a second processing. Furthermore, when a configuration is made up of a plurality of devices, the devices may be arranged in locations physically separated from one another.

[0015] Furthermore, the functions of the server may be provided in the form of PaaS, IaaS, or SaaS in cloud computing, for example and without limitation.

[0016] The control unit of the system may be at least one of the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server. That is, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit of the system may be any of the following: (1A) only the control unit of the terminal, (1B) only the control unit of the server, or (1C) both the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server.

[0017] In addition, the control and processing (hereinafter collectively referred to as "control, etc.") performed by the control unit of the system may be performed by (1A) only the control unit of the terminal, (1B) only the control unit of the server, or (1C) both the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server. In addition, in (1C), as an example and not a limitation, some of the controls performed by the control unit of the system may be performed by the control unit of the terminal, and the remaining controls may be performed by the control unit of the server. In this case, the allocation (allocation) of the controls may be equal or may be allocated in different proportions.

[0018] Furthermore, when referring to a communication unit of a server, if the server is configured with a single device, it may be the communication unit itself that the single device has, or, if the server is configured with multiple devices, the communication unit of the server may be configured to include each communication unit that each device has. As an example and not by way of limitation, if a server comprises a first device and a second device, the first device having a first communication unit and the second device having a second communication unit, the communication unit of the server may be conceptualized as including the first communication unit and the second communication unit.

[0019] (2) is not limited to, but may be, for example, a system consisting of multiple servers (hereinafter, referred to as a "server system"). In this case, the configuration of each server may be the same as that described above.

[0020] The control etc. performed by the server system may be performed by only one of the multiple servers (2A), by only the other servers (2B), or by both the one server and the other servers (2C). In addition, in (2C), as an example and not a limitation, one server may perform part of the control etc. performed by the server system, and another server may perform the remaining control etc. In this case, the allocation (allocation) of the control etc. may be equal or may be allocated in different proportions.

[0021] (3) By way of example and not limitation, the system may be comprised of multiple terminals. The system may be, by way of example and not limitation, a system such as the following: A system that gives server functions to terminals (distributed system). This can be realized using blockchain technology, for example and not by way of limitation. A system in which terminals communicate wirelessly with each other. This can be realized, for example and without limitation, by communicating using a P2P (peer-to-peer) method using short-range wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth.

[0022] The above is not limited to the control unit, but also applies to each functional unit such as an input / output unit, a communication unit, a storage unit, and a clock unit that may be components of the system.

[0023] In the following embodiment, a system including a terminal and a server (a client-server system) is illustrated as an example and not as a limitation. It should be noted that the server system described above in (2) can also be used as the server.

[0024] Also, instead of a system including a terminal and a server, a system not including a server, such as the above system (3) as an example and not a limitation, may be applied. In this case, the embodiment can be configured based on the above-mentioned blockchain technology. Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, data stored and managed in a server described in the following embodiment is stored on the blockchain. Then, the terminal generates a transaction to the blockchain, and when the transaction is approved on the blockchain, the data stored on the blockchain can be updated.

[0025] It should be noted that even when the term "terminal" is used, this is not limited to the meaning of a terminal as a client device in a client server. That is, a terminal may include the concept of a device other than in a client-server context.

[0026] Furthermore, in this specification, the expression "through a communication I / F" is used as appropriate. This is not intended to be limiting, but may indicate, by way of example, that a device transmits and receives various types of information and data through a communication I / F (through a communication unit) based on the control of a control unit (such as a processor).

[0027] In addition, with respect to the terms "related to" and "associated" in this specification, by way of example and not limitation, "B related to A" or "B related to A" may mean "B" having some kind of relationship with "A". Specific examples of this will be described later.

[0028] In addition, in this specification, when a device performs processing on two or more objects, such as "transmitting A and B" or "receiving A and B," this may include performing "A" and "B" in a synchronized manner (hereinafter referred to as "simultaneous"), and performing "A" and "B" with a different timing (hereinafter referred to as "non-simultaneous"). As an example and not a limitation, when referring to transmitting first information and second information, this may include both concepts of transmitting the first information and the second information in a synchronized manner and transmitting the first information and the second information with a lag in timing. In addition, taking into account the lag (time lag), "simultaneous" may include "almost simultaneously."

[0029] Note that, even if "A" and "B" are performed at different times, this only needs to be the processing targeting "A" and "B," and the purpose does not necessarily have to be the same. As an example and not a limitation, when the first information and the second information are transmitted as described above, it is sufficient to transmit the first information and the second information, and this may include cases where the first information and the second information are transmitted for the same purpose, as well as cases where the first information and the second information are transmitted for different purposes.

[0030] In the following embodiment, a messaging service is illustrated as an example of a service that allows users to chat (hereinafter, referred to as a "chat service"). An application for realizing the chat service is referred to as a "chat application," and an application for realizing the messaging service is referred to as a "messaging application." By way of example and not limitation, a chat application may enable users to chat in chat rooms.

[0031] Note that messaging services (MS) (including instant messaging services (IMS)) can be considered as one form of social networking services (SNS). Therefore, messaging services and social networking services may or may not be distinguished. In other words, social networking services may include messaging services.

[0032] In addition, in the following embodiments, as an example of a messaging service, an instant messaging service (IMS) that transmits and receives content in the form of simple messages between multiple devices (terminals, for example and not limitation) via a server is exemplified. By way of example and not limitation, an instant messaging application may allow users to talk in talk rooms.

[0033] A chat room (for example, but not limited to, a talk room) can be a UI (User Interface) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows each user to view content transmitted and received between the terminals of multiple users.

[0034] In addition, talk rooms can include one-to-one user talk rooms (hereinafter referred to as "one-to-one talk rooms"), talk rooms for groups including multiple users (hereinafter referred to as "group talk rooms"), and talk rooms with official account users (hereinafter referred to as "OA talk rooms").

[0035] An official account is an account of a business user, not of a general user, and the user of this official account can, for example and without limitation, be able to use a terminal similar to that of a general user to send and receive content (messages) with other devices via the server.

[0036] In this specification, content may be information transmitted from a source to a destination, and may be one or more pieces of content.

[0037] The content may include, by way of example and not limitation, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of still images and / or moving images), audio content in sound format (including voice), and the like. In addition, the content may include operation content such as buttons and icons for user operation, and link content such as link information (including, but not limited to, URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)).

[0038] The text may include, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of national characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, graphics, and symbols represented by character codes. Note that the text does not have to include at least one of the above characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and signs, and may include other text.

[0039] The image may include at least one of various types of image information, such as, for example and without limitation, an icon, a button, a stamp, an emoji, and a banner image.

[0040] <System configuration> FIG. 1-1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a communication system 1 according to the present embodiment. In the communication system 1, as an example and not a limitation, a server 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, . . . ) are connected via a network 30.

[0041] The server 10 has a function of providing a chat service (chat application) including a messaging service (messaging application) to official users and terminals 20 owned by the users via a network 30. The server 10 can also be expressed as a messaging server, a messaging service server, a messaging application management server, etc.

[0042] In this embodiment, a messaging service provider (operator) is considered as a user of the server 10.

[0043] Unlike the present embodiment, a payment service (payment application) provider that enables electronic payment using electronic money (electronic currency) or the like may be a user of the server 10 and operate a messaging service. The payment service provider may or may not provide the messaging service as one function of the payment application.

[0044] The number of servers 10 and the number of terminals 20 connected to the network 30 are not limited.

[0045] The terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, ...) may be any information processing terminal capable of implementing the functions described in each embodiment. The terminal 20 includes, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone (feature phone), a computer (such as, but not limited to, a desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (such as, but not limited to, a cable or satellite set-top box, digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (such as, but not limited to, a PDA (personal digital assistant), email client, etc.), a wearable device (such as a glasses-type device, a watch-type device, etc.), a VR (Virtual Reality) terminal, a smart speaker (a device for voice recognition), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The terminal 20 may also be expressed as an information processing terminal.

[0046] The configurations of the terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C can be the same as one another, for example and not for limitation. In addition, if necessary, the terminal used by the user X may be expressed as the terminal 20X, and the user information in a predetermined service associated with the user X or the terminal 20X may or may not be expressed as the user information X. The user information is information of a user associated with an account used by the user in a specific service. The user information includes, but is not limited to, information associated with a user, such as the user's name, the user's icon image, the user's age, the user's sex, the user's address, the user's hobbies and interests, and the user's identifier, which is input by the user or given by a specific service, and may be any one of these, or a combination of these, or may not be the same.

[0047] The network 30 plays a role of connecting one or more terminals 20 and one or more servers 10. In other words, the network 30 refers to a communication network that provides a connection path so that the above-mentioned various devices can be connected and then transmit and receive data.

[0048] One or more portions of network 30 may or may not be wired or wireless networks. Network 30 may include, by way of example and not limitation, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular network, integrated service digital networks (ISDN), wireless LAN, long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA), Bluetooth, satellite communications, or the like, or a combination of two or more thereof. Network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

[0049] The server 10 (not limited to, but an example of a server, information processing device, or information management device) has a function of providing a predetermined service (messaging service in this embodiment) to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be any device as long as it is an information processing device that can realize the functions described in each embodiment. The server 10 includes, not limited to, a server device, a computer (not limited to, but an example of, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (not limited to, but an example of, a cable, a satellite set-top box, a digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (not limited to, but an example of, a PDA, an email client, etc.), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The server 10 may also be expressed as an information processing device. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the server 10 and the terminal 20, the server 10 and the terminal 20 may or may not be expressed as information processing devices.

[0050] [Hardware (HW) configuration of each device] The hardware configuration of each device included in the communication system 1 will be described.

[0051] (1) Terminal hardware configuration FIG. 1-1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal 20. In FIG. The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a storage unit 28, a communication I / F 22 (interface), an input / output unit 23, a clock unit 29A, and a position calculation information detection unit 29B. The HW components of the terminal 20 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW configuration of the terminal 20 includes all of the components. For example and not for limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components are removable.

[0052] The communication I / F 22 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two devices is possible. The communication I / F 22 has a function of communicating with various devices such as the server 10 via the network 30. The communication I / F 22 transmits various data to various devices such as the server 10 according to instructions from the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 also receives various data transmitted from various devices such as the server 10 and transmits it to the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 22 is configured with a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0053] The input / output unit 23 includes a device for inputting various operations to the terminal 20, a device for outputting processing results processed by the terminal 20, etc. The input / output unit 23 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate from the input unit and the output unit, or may not be.

[0054] The input unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices that can receive input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 21. Examples of the input unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, hardware keys such as a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera (operation input via moving images), and a microphone (operation input by voice).

[0055] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 21. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (audio output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output and hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0056] By way of example only, the input / output unit 23 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a display unit 24, a sound input unit 25, a sound output unit 26, and an imaging unit 27.

[0057] The display unit 24 is realized by any one of all kinds of devices capable of displaying according to the display data written in the frame buffer, or a combination thereof. The display unit 24 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a touch panel, a touch display, a monitor (by way of example and not limitation, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)), a head mounted display (HDM), a projection mapping, a hologram, a device capable of displaying images, text information, and the like in air (which may or may not be a vacuum). Note that these display units 24 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D.

[0058] The sound input unit 25 is used to input sound data (including voice data; the same applies below). The sound input unit 25 includes a microphone and the like. The sound output unit 26 is used to output sound data and includes a speaker and the like. The imaging unit 27 is used to obtain image data (including still image data and moving image data; the same applies below.) The imaging unit 27 includes a camera and the like.

[0059] When the input / output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input / output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be disposed facing each other and have approximately the same size and shape.

[0060] The clock unit 29A is a built-in clock of the terminal 20, and outputs time information (timekeeping information). The clock unit 29A is configured to include, for example and not limitation, a clock using a crystal oscillator. The clock unit 29A can also be expressed as a timekeeping unit or a time information detection unit, for example and not limitation.

[0061] The clock unit 29A may or may not have a clock that conforms to the Network Identity and Time Zone (NITZ) standard or the like.

[0062] The position calculation information detection unit 29B is a functional unit that detects (measures) information (hereinafter referred to as "position calculation information") necessary for the control unit 21 to calculate (measure) the position of its own terminal 20. The position calculation information detection unit 29B can also be expressed as a position calculation sensor unit, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0063] The position calculation information detection unit 29B includes, by way of example and not limitation, a satellite positioning sensor (satellite positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), an inertial measurement sensor (inertial measurement unit (IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit))) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using an inertial navigation system, a UWB positioning sensor (UWB positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using UWB (Ultra Wide Band), and the like.

[0064] The satellite positioning unit includes, by way of example and not limitation, an RF receiving circuit that converts RF (Radio Frequency) signals, including positioning satellite signals transmitted from positioning satellites and received by an antenna (not shown), into digital signals, and a baseband processing circuit that performs correlation calculation processing or the like on the digital signals output from the RF receiving circuit to capture the positioning satellite signals, and outputs information such as satellite orbit data and time data extracted from the positioning satellite signals as information for position calculation.

[0065] The inertial measurement unit has an inertial sensor that is a sensor that detects information required for calculating the position of the terminal 20 by inertial navigation calculation. The inertial sensor includes, but is not limited to, a three-axis acceleration sensor and a three-axis gyro sensor, and outputs the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor as information for position calculation.

[0066] The UWB positioning unit includes, by way of example and not limitation, an ultra-wideband RF receiving circuit that converts an ultra-wideband RF (Radio Frequency) signal, including an ultra-wideband pulse signal for positioning transmitted from a positioning beacon and received by an antenna not shown, into a digital signal, and a relative position calculation processing circuit that calculates the relative position between the terminal 20 and the positioning beacon based on the digital signal output from the ultra-wideband RF receiving circuit. As an example and not by way of limitation, the UWB positioning unit may or may not cause the terminal 20 to function as a positioning beacon by transmitting an ultra-wideband RF signal including an ultra-wideband pulse signal for positioning from an antenna not shown.

[0067] As an example and not a limitation, the control unit 21 calculates the position of its own terminal 20 at regular timing or specific timing based on the position calculation information detected by the position calculation information detection unit 29B. The terminal position is referred to as the "terminal position", and the calculated terminal position is referred to as the "calculated terminal position". The control unit 21 may, but may not, associate the calculated terminal position with the date and time when the calculated terminal position is calculated and store it in the storage unit 28 as calculated terminal position history data.

[0068] The control unit 21 has a circuit physically structured to execute the functions realized by the code or instructions contained in the program, and is realized by a data processing device built into hardware, for example and not by way of limitation. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0069] The control unit 21 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0070] The storage unit 28 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the terminal 20. The storage unit 28 includes, by way of example and not limitation, various storage media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). In addition, the storage unit 28 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0071] Terminal 20 stores program P in storage unit 28, and executes this program P, causing control unit 21 to execute processing as each unit included in control unit 21. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 28 causes terminal 20 to realize each function executed by control unit 21. Also, this program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

[0072] (2) Server hardware configuration FIG. 1-1 shows an example of the HW configuration of the server 10. In FIG. The server 10 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication I / F 14 (interface), an input / output unit 12, and a clock unit 19. The components of the HW of the server 10 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW of the server 10 includes all the components as the configuration of the HW of the server 10. For example and not for limitation, the HW of the server 10 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components are removable.

[0073] The control unit 11 has circuits physically structured to execute functions realized by codes or instructions contained in a program, and is realized, for example and not by way of limitation, by a data processing device embedded in hardware.

[0074] The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), but may also be a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, or an FPGA, but is not limited to these in the present disclosure.

[0075] The storage unit 15 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the server 10. The storage unit 15 is realized by various storage media such as an HDD, an SSD, and a flash memory. However, in the present disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Furthermore, the storage unit 15 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0076] The communication I / F 14 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two devices is possible. The communication I / F 14 has a function of communicating with various devices such as the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communication I / F 14 transmits various data to various devices such as the terminal 20 according to instructions from the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 also receives various data transmitted from various devices such as the terminal 20 and transmits it to the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 14 is configured with a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0077] The input / output unit 12 includes a device for inputting various operations to the server 10, a device for outputting the results of processing by the server 10, etc. The input / output unit 12 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate input unit and output unit, or may not be the same.

[0078] The input unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of receiving input from a user and transmitting information related to the input to the control unit 11. The input unit is typically realized by hardware keys such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse. Note that the input unit may or may not include a touch panel, a camera (operation input via moving images), or a microphone (operation input by voice), as examples and without limitation.

[0079] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the processing results processed by the control unit 11. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (sound output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output and hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0080] By way of example only, the input / output unit 12 includes a display unit 13, by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[0081] The display unit 13 is realized by a display or the like. The display is typically realized by a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)). The display may or may not be a head mounted display (HDM) or the like. These displays may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D. In the present disclosure, the display is not limited to these.

[0082] The clock unit 19 is a built-in clock of the server 10, and outputs time information (timekeeping information). The clock unit 19 is configured to include, for example and not limitation, an RTC (Real Time Clock) as a hardware clock, a system clock, etc. The clock unit 19 can also be expressed as a timekeeping unit or a time information detection unit, for example and not limitation.

[0083] (3)Other The server 10 stores a program P in the storage unit 15, and by executing this program P, the control unit 11 executes the processes of each unit included in the control unit 11. In other words, the program P stored in the storage unit 15 causes the server 10 to realize each function executed by the control unit 11. This program P may or may not be expressed as a program module. The same applies to other devices.

[0084] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the description will be given assuming that the CPU of the terminal 20 and / or the server 10 executes the program P to realize the present invention.

[0085] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 and / or the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not realize each process by a CPU having a control circuit, but may also realize each process by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)) or a dedicated circuit. These circuits may or may not be realized by one or more integrated circuits, and the multiple processes shown in each embodiment may or may not be realized by one integrated circuit. Furthermore, an LSI may be called a VLSI, a super LSI, an ultra LSI, or the like, depending on the degree of integration. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0086] In addition, the program P (as an example, but not limited to, a software program, a computer program, or a program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may or may not be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium can store the program P in a "non-transitory tangible medium." In addition, the program P may or may not be for realizing part of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the program P may or may not be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure in combination with a program P already recorded in a storage medium.

[0087] Furthermore, when referring to a system program (a program executed by the system), the system is as described above. The above-mentioned system program is a program that can be executed by the entire system, and this program may be composed of individual programs of the devices that make up the system, for example and without limitation, and the programs stored in the individual devices that make up the system may be different from each other. In other words, it is not necessary for the programs to be common to the individual devices that make up the system. As an example and not a limitation, if a system is composed of a terminal and a server, and the system program is P1, the system program P1 is composed of a program P2 stored in the terminal and a program P3 stored in the server, and P2 and P3 are for executing the system program and may be different programs. As an example and not a limitation, the program P2 stored in the terminal may be a program that executes a first process and transmits the result of the first process to the server, and the program P3 stored in the server may be a program that executes a second process on the received result of the first process and transmits the result of the second process to the terminal.

[0088] The storage medium may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (such as, by way of example and not limitation, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk drive (HDD), a hybrid hard drive (HHD), an optical disk, an optical disk drive (ODD), a magneto-optical disk, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy diskette, a floppy disk drive (FDD), a magnetic tape, a solid state drive (SSD), a RAM drive, a secure digital card, or a drive, any other suitable storage medium, or a suitable combination of two or more of these. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, where appropriate. It should be noted that the storage medium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or medium capable of storing the program P. In addition, the storage medium may or may not be referred to as a memory.

[0089] The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 can realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by reading out the program P stored in a storage medium and executing the read out program P.

[0090] Furthermore, the program P of the present disclosure may or may not be provided to the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 via any transmission medium capable of transmitting a program (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 executes the program P downloaded via the Internet or the like, for example and not for limitation, to realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment.

[0091] In addition, each embodiment of the present disclosure may also be realized in the form of a data signal in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission. At least a part of the processing in the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 may or may not be realized by cloud computing configured with one or more computers. At least a part or all of the processing in the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. In this case, at least a part or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. At least a part or all of the processing in the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20. In this case, at least a part or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20.

[0092] Unless explicitly stated, the judgment configuration in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not essential, and a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is satisfied, or a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is not satisfied.

[0093] Note that the programs of the present disclosure are implemented using, by way of example and not limitation, scripting languages ​​such as ActionScript and JavaScript (registered trademark), compiler languages ​​such as Objective-C and Java (registered trademark), and markup languages ​​such as HTML5.

[0094] <First Example> In the first embodiment, as an example and not a limitation, the terminal 20 displays a talk room (not a limitation, but an example of a chat room) in a messaging application. Then, stamp content (not a limitation, but an example of image information) for which a search condition is set based on an input to the talk room by a user of the terminal 20 itself is displayed in the talk room, and a search result searched based on the search condition set in the stamp content is sent to the terminal 20 of a user who is a talk partner included in the talk room, and is displayed in the talk room displayed on the terminal 20 itself.

[0095] For example, but not limited to, users who are chatting in a chat room of a messaging application may want to hold various events such as a dinner party or a drinking party, and may search for information about the event. In this embodiment, search conditions are set in advance in the stamp content, and the transmission of the stamp content in which the search conditions are set is used as a trigger to present the search results to the user.

[0096] The contents described in the first embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0097] Search results may be displayed based on at least one of the following, by way of example and not limitation: (1) Data in a database on an external server (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as "external data") (2) Data in the database of the server 10 (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as “internal data”)

[0098] In the following, it is assumed that the internal data is stored in the database of server 10; however, as a non-limiting example, the internal data may be stored in the database of a server other than server 10, which is managed by a messaging service provider.

[0099] [Functional configuration of each device] (1) Server FIG. 1-2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by the control unit 11 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The control unit 11 includes, as a functional unit, an application management processing unit 111 for executing messaging application management processing in accordance with an application management processing program 151 stored in the storage unit 15, for example and not for limitation.

[0100] FIG. 1-3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The memory unit 15 stores, by way of example and not limitation, an application management processing program 151 executed as a messaging application management processing, account registration data 153, a search engine database 155, a search condition setting stamp management database 157, and an account management database 159.

[0101] The account registration data 153 is registration data related to an account of a messaging application, and an example of the data configuration is shown in FIG. 1-4. In the account registration data 153, for example and not by way of limitation, a user name, an application ID, and other registration information are stored in association with each other.

[0102] The user name is the name of the account of the terminal 20 that uses the application, and as a non-limiting example, the name that the user of the terminal 20 registers when using the application is stored.

[0103] The application ID is information used to identify an application account, or the account itself. This application ID is preferably a value unique to each account, and as a non-limiting example, a unique value (proper value) is set and stored by the server 10 for each account. The application ID is information associated with the terminal 20 or the user of the terminal 20, and is an example of information related to the terminal or information related to the user of the terminal.

[0104] Other registration information may include, by way of example and not limitation, various types of information such as identification information for identifying terminal 20, the telephone number (terminal telephone number) of terminal 20, an email address (terminal email address), and authentication information such as passwords (login password, authentication password, etc.) used for various authentications in applications.

[0105] The identification information for identifying the terminal 20 may be, for example and not for limitation, a terminal ID (for example and not for limitation, an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)). Furthermore, the identification information for identifying the user of the terminal 20 may be, for example and without limitation, an application ID or an official application ID. It should be noted that the application ID may or may not be replaced by a "user ID."

[0106] Furthermore, if the application allows only one account to be registered per terminal 20, then, as a non-limiting example, "identification information for identifying terminal 20 = identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = application ID" may be used.

[0107] Also, by way of example and not limitation, it may or may not be possible to assign multiple terminal IDs to one application ID.

[0108] Also, instead of the application ID, it is possible to apply a method of managing accounts using information such as a terminal phone number. In this case, instead of storing the application ID in the account registration data 153, information such as the terminal telephone number can be stored in the account registration data 153.

[0109] The search engine database 155 is a database of search engines managed by the messaging service provider (server 10).

[0110] For example and not by way of limitation, messaging service providers may use robot-type search engines to search and collect various information on the web. Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, various external data may be collected by crawling using a crawler (bot). Hereinafter, the information (contents) of the external data will be referred to as "external information" for convenience.

[0111] For example, but not by way of limitation, the server 10 can analyze the acquired external information, convert it into searchable data, and register (index) it in the search engine database 155. In this way, the server 10 can perform search processing.

[0112] In the search engine database 155, for example and without limitation, external information, link information of external data (hereinafter referred to as "external link information"), etc. can be stored in association with a data ID, which is identification information for uniquely identifying data.

[0113] The link information may be, for example and not by way of limitation, a "URI." In this case, the external link information may be information for accessing an external server different from server 10, for example and not by way of limitation, information for accessing an external server to obtain data in the external server's database. Various devices can access an external server based on the external link information and display an external page including the target external information.

[0114] The link information (for example, but not limited to, a URI) may or may not be described according to a description scheme specified by the messaging service provider.

[0115] In addition, a terminal 20 having a messaging application installed can display an external page using the messaging application's browser (hereinafter referred to as an "in-app browser (internal browser)"), for example and not limitation, based on link information being specified while the messaging application is running.

[0116] Alternatively, an external page may be displayed using an external browser (hereinafter, referred to as an "external browser") that is not an in-app browser.

[0117] In addition to or instead of the external data, the search engine database 155 may store the above-mentioned (2) internal data based on at least one of the following information, by way of example and not limitation: (2-1) Internal original information (2-2) Externally compiled information (2-3) Composite information

[0118] (2-1) Internal original information may be, by way of example and not limitation, search information generated independently by a messaging service provider. It is also conceivable that messaging service providers may build their own search systems. It is possible to generate search information without necessarily acquiring external information, and there may be cases where no external information that can be referenced exists in the first place.

[0119] In this case, the search engine database 155 may store, by way of example and not by way of limitation, internal original information, link information of internal data based on the internal original information, and the like, in association with a data ID.

[0120] (2-2) The external organized information may be information obtained as a result of organizing external information. There may be cases where a messaging service provider wishes to organize external information and use it for search. By way of example and not limitation, organizing information can refer to adjusting the original information (content) without altering it. By way of example and not limitation, this can include editing the content, deleting some of the content, extracting key parts of the content, summarizing the content, etc. The organization of external information may also be referred to as organization of external data.

[0121] In this case, the search engine database 155 may store, by way of example and not limitation, external organization information, link information of internal data based on the external organization information, and the like, associated with a data ID.

[0122] It is not essential to organize the external information, and the external information may or may not be reused (used as is).

[0123] (2-3) Composite information can be information generated based on external information and internal original information. There may be cases where a messaging service provider wishes to use internal original information for searching while referring to external information.

[0124] In this case, the search engine database 155 may store, by way of example and not by way of limitation, composite information, link information of internal data based on the composite information, and the like, in association with a data ID.

[0125] The search condition setting stamp management database 157 is a database for managing search condition setting stamps. As a non-limiting example, search condition setting stamp data, described below, that is sent to terminal 20 based on a download request from terminal 20 can be stored, and for each search condition setting stamp, various information such as stamp ID, stamp content, search conditions, stamp thumbnail, stamp category, search category, etc. are stored in association with each other. The details of this information will be explained in the section on the data configuration of the terminal 20.

[0126] As a non-limiting example, the server 10 may generate content related to the search conditions (hereinafter referred to as "search condition content"), such as content for informing the user of the search conditions or for enabling the user to recognize the search conditions, in association with the stamp ID, and store the content in the search condition setting stamp management database 157.

[0127] By way of example and not limitation, the server 10 generates search condition content based on the search conditions of the search condition setting stamp, and stores the generated search condition content in the search condition setting stamp management database 157 in association with the stamp ID. The search condition content will be described later with a specific example.

[0128] The account management database 159 is a database of management data related to accounts stored in the account registration data 153, and by way of example and not limitation, for each account (application ID), friend registration data related to accounts with friend registrations, group registration data related to accounts with group registrations, content transmission and reception history data related to the transmission and reception of content, etc. are stored.

[0129] (2) Terminal FIG. 1-5 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit 21 of a terminal 20 in this embodiment. The control unit 21 includes, as a functional unit, an application processing unit 211 for executing messaging application processing according to an application processing program 281 stored in the storage unit 28, for example and not for limitation.

[0130] FIG. 1-6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The memory unit 28 stores, by way of example and not limitation, an application processing program 281 executed as messaging application processing, an application ID 283 of the own terminal 20 or a user of the own terminal 20, and a search condition setting stamp database 287.

[0131] It should be noted that application ID 283 may or may not be able to store multiple application IDs.

[0132] The search condition setting stamp database 287 is a database relating to search condition setting stamps, and an example of the data configuration of a search condition setting stamp database 287A is shown in FIG. 1-7.

[0133] A stamp is, by way of example and not limitation, a type of content used in messaging applications, and can convey to other users, through illustrations or the like, feelings of a user that are difficult to express in words.

[0134] Hereinafter, stamps as content used for display and transmission / reception in messaging applications will be referred to as "stamp content". In the technique of the present disclosure, unlike normal stamps (stamp contents), search conditions are preset in the stamp contents or can be set based on user input.

[0135] In this embodiment, the search conditions may be, for example and without limitation, conditions for the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 or the control unit 11 of the server 10 to perform a search.

[0136] "Search criteria is set on stamp content" may refer to at least one of the following, by way of example and not by way of limitation: (A1) Only search words, keywords, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as "search words") are set in the stamp content. (A2) A search category (hereinafter referred to as a "search category") is set in the stamp content, and a corresponding search word is also set in the stamp content.

[0137] The search category may be, for example and without limitation, a conceptual division for performing a search, such as genre, place, time, number of people, situation, etc. By way of example and not limitation, the search category "location" may be a comprehensive category including prefectures, cities, towns, villages, countries, and the like.

[0138] (A2) may be, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a search category and a search word corresponding to the search category may be preset. By way of example and not by way of limitation, this may include a case where the search category is "location" and "Tokyo", one of the prefectures, is preset as a search word corresponding to the search category "location".

[0139] That is, the search criteria can be, for example and not by way of limitation, criteria defined based on search words, search categories, and the like. The elements for determining the search conditions may include the stamp categories listed below. In addition, the search words input by the user to set search conditions may be called a "search query."

[0140] In this embodiment, the search condition setting stamp database 287A stores search condition setting stamp data as data for each search condition setting stamp. In each search condition setting stamp data, for example and not by way of limitation, a stamp category and one or more stamp-specific data relating to stamps to which this stamp category is commonly applied are stored.

[0141] The stamp category is the category of the stamp, and by way of example and not limitation, conceptual classifications of stamps are stored according to the purpose for which the user uses the stamp or the use of the stamp, such as "meals (stores)," "recipes," "videos," "shopping," and "games."

[0142] The stamp-specific data includes, by way of example and not limitation, a stamp ID, stamp content, a stamp thumbnail, and search conditions.

[0143] The stamp ID is an ID for identifying this search condition setting stamp, and as a non-limiting example, a unique ID set by the server 10 is stored.

[0144] The stamp content is the data of the stamp content described above, and includes data such as illustrations of stamps composed of characters and images (including images in which characters are part of the image). In the following description, the term "search condition setting stamp" may be used as a synonym for "stamp content."

[0145] The stamp thumbnail is data of a thumbnail of the stamp content (hereinafter referred to as a "stamp thumbnail"). The stamp thumbnail is an example of a reduced image of image information, and is used, by way of example and not by way of limitation, to display a list of stamp thumbnails so that the user can select the stamp content to be sent.

[0146] The search conditions are the search conditions set for this stamp content. In this embodiment, the search conditions are preset with the above-mentioned search words as examples and not as limitations.

[0147] As an example and not as a limitation, the search condition setting stamp data at the forefront of Figure 1-7 is data relating to a search condition setting stamp with stamp ID "ST001", and the search condition is set to "Western food", a word indicating the food genre within the stamp category "Food".

[0148] In the following, the stamp category "meals" is taken as an example, not a limitation, as a stamp category used for the purpose of searching for restaurants where to eat, and an example is shown in which restaurants where to eat are searched for by the server 10. In this data example, the stamp category may be stored as "store" or "dining & store." In addition, in this data example, the search criteria may be stored as "Western food & store."

[0149] In addition, in the search condition setting stamp data in this example, for the convenience of the user, a "stamp category" is stored in each search condition setting stamp data, so that the user can select stamps for each stamp category, but storing the stamp category is not essential, and it may be omitted. The same applies below.

[0150] The search condition setting stamp data may be, for example and not by way of limitation, downloaded from the server 10 and stored in the search condition setting stamp database 287A of the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20.

[0151] In this embodiment, the terminal 20 acquires search condition setting stamp data including data of stamp content in which search conditions are set from the server 10 by, for example, downloading the data. That is, the search conditions are set for the image information before the stamp content (which is an example of image information, but is not limited to it) is received by the terminal.

[0152] Note that "search conditions are set for image information before the image information is received by the terminal" can be understood to include, by way of example and not limitation, the following concepts. (a) The search criteria are not based on user input. (b) Subject to (a), the underlying conditions are not set based on user input, but the specific conditions are configurable based on user input. (c) Apart from (b), the search criteria are set in a predictable manner and are not based on user input.

[0153] (b) can include, for example and not limitation, that basic conditions such as the search category "location" and the search category "genre" are not set based on user input (for example and not limitation, they are set by the server 10, etc.), but that specific conditions corresponding to the search category "location" (for example and not limitation, Tokyo) and specific conditions corresponding to the search category "genre" (for example and not limitation, Western food) can be set based on user input. Details of this will be described later in the second embodiment.

[0154] (c) may include the fact that the search conditions are set in advance by the server 10 or the like, including the above-mentioned basic conditions and specific conditions, etc.

[0155] In this embodiment, the terminal 20 may acquire search condition setting stamp data including the search condition content from the server 10 and store it in the search condition setting stamp database 287A of the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20.

[0156] In addition, without the terminal 20 acquiring the search condition content from the server 10, for example and without limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not perform processing to generate the search condition content based on the search conditions contained in the search condition setting stamp data acquired from the server 10 and template data for the search condition content.

[0157] In addition, without the terminal 20 acquiring the stamp thumbnail from the server 10, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not perform a process of generating a stamp thumbnail based on the stamp content included in the search condition setting stamp data acquired from the server 10, as an example and not a limitation.

[0158] Here, in the messaging application, there may be cases where a normal stamp with no search conditions set is downloaded from the server 10. Although not shown in the figure, the data regarding the normal stamp may be stored in a normal stamp database that stores normal stamps in the memory unit 28 of the terminal 20, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0159] Alternatively, the search condition setting stamps and normal stamps may be stored in the same database. In this case, as a non-limiting example, a stamp type can be stored for each stamp data. As a non-limiting example, a search condition setting stamp can be associated with the stamp type "search condition setting" and stored, and a normal stamp can be associated with the stamp type "normal." In addition, the search condition setting stamps and normal stamps may be distinguished by the stamp ID. In this case, the range of numbers or the like assigned as the stamp ID may be different between the search condition setting stamps and the normal stamps.

[0160] In the following description, the user who is the sender of the stamp content is referred to as the "sender user", and the user who is the destination of the stamp content is referred to as the "destination user".

[0161] <Display screen> In the following, the display screen of the terminal 20 will be illustrated as a smartphone having a vertically long display as an example and not as a limitation.

[0162] For example, but not limited to, a touch panel that functions as an input unit is disposed opposite the display of a smartphone, thereby forming a touch screen. When an element such as an icon, button, item, or input area is displayed on the display, and a part of the touch panel that faces the area where the element is displayed is operated by a user, a program associated with the element or a subroutine of the program can be executed.

[0163] In the following, a tap (tap operation) is, by way of example and not by way of limitation, an action in which a user lightly taps a display unit 24 (touch screen) that is integrally configured with a touch panel with a finger or the tip of a pen, and then releases the touch.

[0164] Note that the transitions of the display screens described below are merely examples of transitions of the display screens for implementing the technique of the present disclosure, and are not limited to these. In the transition of the display screens exemplified below, some of the display screens may be omitted, or other display screens may be added.

[0165] 1-8 and 1-9 are diagrams showing an example of transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24A of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. Here, a case where stamp content for which a search condition has been set is displayed and transmitted will be described.

[0166] On the screen displaying the chat room, the name of the messaging application, “Messaging App,” is displayed in the top center of the screen, and an icon image and a user name (user AA in this example) of the messaging application of the user of the terminal 20A are displayed in the top right of the screen.

[0167] On the left screen of Figure 1-8, below the area at the top of the screen where the name of the messaging application and the like are displayed, there is provided, by way of example and not limitation, a talk room name display area CLR including the name of the talk room (hereinafter referred to as the "talk room name") as a type of area indicating which page (in this example, the talk room) in the messaging application is currently displayed. The talk room name display area CLR can also be said to be an area indicating the page (in this example, the talk room) in the messaging application where the user is currently located.

[0168] In this example, the talk room name display area CLR displays, by way of example and not limitation, characters (in this example, "BB") indicating that this is a talk room for user AA to talk with user BB.

[0169] Below that is a talk area TR where users AA and BB can talk in an interactive format, with the content (message) of the other user, user BB, displayed on the left side of the screen and the content (message) of user AA itself displayed on the right side of the screen.

[0170] In this example, text content containing the text "Would you like to go for dinner tomorrow?" is displayed in a speech bubble on the right side of the screen as content sent from user AA.

[0171] Below the talk area TR is an area where the user can select or input content to send, and below that is an area where information about the search condition setting stamp is displayed.

[0172] Specifically, a stamp category display area SCR is provided in which one or more stamp categories are displayed so that the user can select a stamp category. In this example, icon images indicating the stamp categories are displayed. Below this is provided a stamp thumbnail display area STR in which one or more stamp thumbnails are displayed, allowing the user to select a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content included in a stamp category selected by the user from the stamp categories in the stamp category display area SCR.

[0173] As a non-limiting example, stamp thumbnails that can be used by the user of the terminal 20A (user AA) are displayed in the stamp thumbnail display area STR. In this example, by way of example and not limitation, the stamp category "Meals," represented by a spoon and fork icon image, is selected by the user, and multiple stamp thumbnails corresponding to the stamp content included in this stamp category are displayed, including, by way of example and not limitation, a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content with an illustration of sushi, a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content with an illustration of hamburger steak, and a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content with an illustration of gyoza.

[0174] In this example, these stamp thumbnails are, by way of example and not limitation, stamp thumbnails that correspond to stamp content for which search criteria have been pre-defined. As a non-limiting example, stamp content with an illustration of sushi has the search criterion set as "Japanese food," stamp content with an illustration of a hamburger has the search criterion set as "Western food," and stamp content with an illustration of gyoza has the search criterion set as "Chinese food."

[0175] The screen on the left of Figure 1-8 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which a stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content of an illustration of a hamburger is tapped among multiple stamp thumbnails. As a result, the screen shown on the right of Figure 1-8 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0176] On the right screen of FIG. 1-8, by way of example and not limitation, a preview display area PVR including a preview image of the stamp content corresponding to the tapped stamp thumbnail is provided so as to be superimposed on the talk area TR. In this example, by way of example and not limitation, a preview image of the stamp content of an illustration of a hamburger is displayed in the preview display area PVR based on user AA tapping on a stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content of an illustration of a hamburger.

[0177] By way of example, but not limitation, when the preview is tapped on the screen on the right of FIG. 1-8, the screen shown on the left of FIG. 1-9 is displayed. Specifically, the preview display area PVR, the stamp category display area SCR, and the stamp thumbnail display area STR are erased, and the talk area TR is displayed broadly. Then, in the talk area TR, on the right side of the screen, stamp content SCT10 of an illustration of a hamburger is displayed as a message sent from user AA.

[0178] Furthermore, based on a request from the terminal 20 to the server 10 to transmit the stamp content SCT10, the server 10 performs a search process and transmits the search results to the terminal 20A. As a result, by way of example and not limitation, the screen shown on the right of FIG. 1-9 is displayed. On this screen, in the talk area TR, below the stamp content SCT10 of an illustration of a hamburger, which is the latest content, information indicating that the server 10 conducted a search based on the search criteria (by way of example and not limitation, the words "Here are some recommended restaurants") is displayed, and below that, a list of search results is displayed.

[0179] In this example, the list of search results is displayed in a carousel format on the left and right sides of the chat room, and is configured to be scrolled horizontally based on a swipe operation by the user or automatically, by way of example and not limitation.

[0180] In this example, a search is performed based on the search criterion "Western food," and search results for Western restaurants are displayed in the chat room as an example, not a limitation. Specifically, search results for multiple Western restaurants with no location limitation, such as Western restaurant A located in Tokyo and Western restaurant B located in Kanagawa, are displayed in a list.

[0181] In this example, each search result is a complex one that includes a banner image related to the linked store, the store's location, genre, budget, a reservation button for making a reservation at the store, etc.

[0182] As a non-limiting example, when a banner image relating to a store is tapped, the home page of the store is displayed on the display unit 24 based on the corresponding link information. Furthermore, when the reservation button is tapped, the reservation page for this store is displayed on the display unit 24 based on the corresponding link information.

[0183] FIG. 1-10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24B of the terminal 20B in the above example. An icon image and a user name (user BB in this example) in the messaging application of the user of this terminal 20B are displayed at the top right of the screen.

[0184] In the talk room name display region CLR, for example and not for limitation, characters (in this example, "AA") are displayed indicating that the talk room is a place where user BB can talk with user AA.

[0185] Below that is a talk area TR for user BB and user AA to talk in an interactive format, with the content (message) of the other user, user AA, displayed on the left side of the screen and the content (message) of user BB displayed on the right side of the screen.

[0186] The screen of FIG. 1-10 shows, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a state after the stamp content SCT10 of an illustration of a hamburger described above has been transmitted from the terminal 20A to the terminal 20B. In the talk room of terminal 20B, information similar to the information displayed in the talk room of terminal 20A described in the right screen of FIG. 1-9 is displayed.

[0187] <Processing> FIG. 1-11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. In this figure, from the left, there are shown an example of a process executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A of the user AA, a process executed by the control unit 11 of the server 10, and a process executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A of the user BB.

[0188] It is assumed that user AA has registered user BB as a friend beforehand prior to this process, and user AA will talk with user BB. In addition, this process will be exemplified by a case where user AA is the source user and user BB is the destination user.

[0189] It should be noted that a messaging application does not necessarily have to be running on the destination user's terminal 20 when the stamp content is received, but for simplicity's sake, in the process described below, it is assumed that a messaging application is running on the destination user's terminal 20.

[0190] Furthermore, the processes described below are merely examples of processes for implementing the technique of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to these. Another step may be added to the process described below, or some steps may be omitted (deleted) from the process described below.

[0191] First, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the display unit 24 to display the talk room with user BB (A110), based on an input (user operation, by way of example and not limitation; the same applies below) selecting a talk room to the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20A (A110).

[0192] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, based on the input to the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20A, refers to the search condition setting stamp database 287A stored in the memory unit 28, causes the stamp thumbnails to be displayed in a list on the display unit 24, and then determines whether or not a stamp thumbnail has been selected by the user AA (A115).

[0193] If it is determined that the stamp thumbnail has been selected (A115: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs a preview process (A120). Specifically, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 24 to display a preview image of the stamp content corresponding to the selected stamp thumbnail.

[0194] The preview image may represent an image of the stamp content displayed in the preview display area, or may represent the entire preview display area as an image.

[0195] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not to transmit the selected stamp content to the destination user (A125). Specifically, as an example and not a limitation, it determines whether or not an operation on the preview image is detected.

[0196] If it is determined that the stamp content should be transmitted (A125: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the corresponding stamp content in the talk room on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A (A130).

[0197] Next, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits stamp transmission request information including the stamp ID associated with the stamp content to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A135).

[0198] The control unit 11 determines whether or not stamp transmission request information has been received (S110), and if it determines that it has been received (S110: YES), it transmits the stamp content associated with the stamp ID included in the received stamp transmission request information to the destination user's terminal 20 (terminal 20B in this example) via the communication I / F 14 (S120).

[0199] Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs a search process (S130). Specifically, the control unit 11 refers to the search condition setting stamp management database 157 of the storage unit 15 to acquire search conditions associated with the stamp ID included in the received stamp transmission request information. Then, the control unit 11 refers to the search engine database 155 of the storage unit 15 to perform a search based on the acquired search conditions. Note that in this case, the control unit 11 may perform a search by including the stamp category in the search conditions.

[0200] The order of steps S120 and S130 may be reversed.

[0201] Next, the control unit 11 transmits search result list information including the search results found in the search process to each of the terminals 20A and 20B via the communication I / F 14 (S140). In this case, the control unit 11 may, for example and not for limitation, transmit a data ID, link information, and searched information in association with each other for each search result.

[0202] When the search result list information is received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the received search result list information in the above-mentioned talk room (A140).

[0203] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not a search result has been selected from the displayed search result list information (A145), and if it determines that a search result has been selected (A145: YES), then, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 accesses an external server or server 10 based on link information associated with the selected search result, and causes the display unit 24 to display a page (external page or internal page) containing information corresponding to the selected search result.

[0204] Next, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not to close the displayed talk room (A190). If it is determined that the talk room should not be closed (A190: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A returns the process to A115. On the other hand, if it is determined that the talk room is to be closed (A190: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs control to hide the currently displayed talk room, and then ends the process.

[0205] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20B determines whether or not stamp content has been received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (B120), and if it is determined that stamp content has been received (B120: YES), it displays the received stamp content in a talk room with user AA as the talk partner on the display unit 24 (B130).

[0206] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B causes the search result list information received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 to be displayed in the above-mentioned talk room (B140).

[0207] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B determines whether or not a search result has been selected from the displayed search result list information (B145), and if it determines that a search result has been selected (B145: YES), similarly to A150, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 accesses the external server or server 10 based on the link information associated with the selected search result, and causes the display unit 24 to display a page (external page or internal page) containing information corresponding to the selected search result (B150).

[0208] Next, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B determines whether or not to end the process (B190). If it is determined that the process should be continued (B190: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B returns the process to B120. On the other hand, if it is determined that the process is to be ended (B190: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B ends the process.

[0209] In the above process, conceptually, the search results are displayed on the destination user's terminal 20 based on the stamp content transmitted from the source user's terminal 20 to the destination user's terminal 20, so the transmitted stamp content may be considered as information for displaying the search results. Also, the stamp transmission request information transmitted from the source user's terminal 20 to the server 10 may be considered as information for displaying the search results. In addition, since a search is performed based on the search conditions set in the stamp content and the search results are displayed on the destination user's terminal 20, it can be considered that the search results are sent from the source user's terminal 20 to the destination user's terminal 20.

[0210] Also, in A130, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may or may not display the corresponding search condition content in the talk room together with the stamp content. In this case, as described above, the search condition content may be acquired in advance from the server 10 and stored in the storage unit 28, or the search condition content may be generated in the terminal 20 and stored in the storage unit 28, and then read out and displayed in the talk room.

[0211] Also, in S120, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not transmit the corresponding search condition content together with the stamp content to the terminal 20B. In this case, in B130, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B may or may not display the corresponding search condition content together with the stamp content in the talk room.

[0212] <Effects of the First Embodiment> In this embodiment, the terminal 20 of the source user that displays a talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a chat room) including a destination user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user) displays the talk room on the display unit 24. The terminal 20 of the source user also displays stamp content (not limited to this, but an example of image information with search conditions set) in the talk room based on an input to the talk room by the user of the terminal 20 itself. The terminal 20 of the source user then has the control unit 21 perform control to transmit search results searched based on the search conditions set in the stamp content to the terminal 20 of the destination user (first user) included in the talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a first terminal), via the communication I / F 22, and control to display the search results searched based on the search conditions set in the stamp content in the talk room. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, based on image information for which search conditions are set, the search results searched based on the search conditions can be confirmed by the first user, and can also be confirmed by the user of the terminal.

[0213] In this case, the search conditions are set in advance, that is, the search conditions can be set for the stamp content before the stamp content is received by the terminal 20 by downloading or the like. As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, image information for which search conditions have already been set can be received by the terminal.

[0214] In addition, in this embodiment, the terminal 20 displays a stamp thumbnail (not limited to this, but an example of a reduced image of image information) on the display unit 24. Then, based on an input to the stamp thumbnail, the terminal 20 has the control unit 21 perform control to transmit the corresponding stamp content to the terminal 20 of a destination user included in the talk room via the communication I / F 22, and control to display the corresponding stamp content in the talk room. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, a reduced image of the image information can be viewed by a user of a terminal, and then, based on input by the user of the terminal regarding the reduced image, the image information can be sent to a first terminal for review by the first user, and can also be reviewed by the user of the terminal.

[0215] In addition, this embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the sending user's terminal 20 displays a preview image of the corresponding stamp content (not limited to, but an example of a preview image related to a reduced image) on the display unit 24 based on an input to the stamp thumbnail. As an example of the effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, a preview image related to a reduced image can be displayed on the display unit based on input by a user of the terminal regarding the reduced image, allowing the user of the terminal to check the reduced image that was input or image information corresponding to that reduced image.

[0216] <First Modification Example (1)> In the above embodiment, the search results searched by the server 10 are displayed in the talk room, but this is not limiting. As a non-limiting example, the search results may be displayed on a search result display screen that is displayed by any of the following methods. (A) Displaying the search results page using an external browser (B) Displaying the search results page using an in-app browser

[0217] In the method (A), by way of example and not limitation, the search result display screen may be displayed by an external browser (web application browser) that operates using the messaging application as a platform. Specifically, based on receiving the search results, the terminal 20 can launch an external browser capable of referring to various information including the account information of the messaging application, and display a search result display screen. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the search result display screen can be displayed so as to be superimposed on at least a portion of the chat room (overlay).

[0218] The size (or height) of the search result display screen can be set arbitrarily. If the search result display screen is to be full size, it is possible to display the search result display screen so that it completely overlays the talk rooms. In this case, the talk rooms are completely covered by the search result display screen, making them invisible. On the other hand, if the search result display screen is smaller than full size, the search result display screen can be displayed so as to be superimposed on part of the chat room. In this case, part of the chat room will be obscured, but the unobscured area will be visible.

[0219] In the method (B), by way of example and not limitation, the terminal 20 may launch an in-app browser of the messaging application based on receiving the search results to display a search result display screen. In this case, by way of example and not by way of limitation, (B-1) How to move (transition) from the chat room screen to the search results display screen (B-2) How to display the search results screen in parallel with the chat room screen Any of the methods mentioned above can be applied.

[0220] In addition, in the method (B-2), the following is an example, but not a limitation: (B-2a) A method of displaying the search results display screen so as to overlay it on at least a part of the chat room (overlay), similar to the method (A). (B-2b) Split the screen into two and assign one for chat room and the other for search (split) Any of the methods mentioned above can be applied.

[0221] In addition, the same method as in (B-2b) split may or may not be applied to the method (A).

[0222] <First Modification (2)> In the above embodiment, one search condition is set for one stamp content, but this is not limiting. For example, multiple search conditions may be set for one stamp content. In this case, a plurality of search conditions may be stored in the search condition setting stamp data in the search condition setting stamp database 287A in FIG. 1-7.

[0223] The number of search conditions to be set can be set arbitrarily, and data of stamp content with different numbers of search conditions set, such as stamp content with one search condition set, stamp content with two search conditions set, stamp content with three search conditions set, etc., may be stored in the search condition setting stamp database 287.

[0224] Furthermore, for one search condition, multiple search condition setting stamps may be configured with that search condition as a common search condition.

[0225] FIG. 1-12 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of a search condition setting stamp database 287B which is an example of the search condition setting stamp database 287 in this modified example. In each search condition setting stamp data, by way of example and not limitation, a stamp category, a search category, and a plurality of stamp-specific data are stored.

[0226] In this example, the search category under the stamp category can be a search condition that is commonly applied to the stamps of each stamp-specific data (hereinafter referred to as a "common search condition"). In this example, the search category "genre" and the corresponding search word "Western food" are stored as the common search condition.

[0227] The stamp-specific data is data related to search condition setting stamps to which common search conditions are applied, and each data stores, by way of example and not limitation, a stamp ID, stamp content, a stamp thumbnail, and a search category.

[0228] In this example, in each stamp-specific data, a search category of "location" is stored as an individual search condition, and a different prefecture is stored as a corresponding search word. As a non-limiting example, the stamp-specific data at the front of FIG. 1-12 is a stamp with stamp ID "ST011," and the search category "location" and the corresponding search word "Hokkaido" are stored as individual search conditions. Since common search conditions are applied, the search condition setting stamp with stamp ID "ST011" can be configured to perform a search using the words "Western food Hokkaido."

[0229] <Second Example> The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the terminal 20 sets search conditions in the stamp content based on an input by the user. Then, the transmission of the stamp content in which the search conditions are set in this way is used as a trigger to present the search results to the user. In other words, this embodiment allows the user of the terminal 20 to set the search conditions himself.

[0230] The contents described in the second embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0231] In this embodiment, the setting of search conditions can include a pattern in which a search word is set based on user input for stamp content that does not have a search category set, and a pattern in which a corresponding search word is set based on user input for stamp content that has a search category set.

[0232] In this embodiment, the input method for the user to set search conditions is as follows: (1) Direct input method (2) Selective input method Two types are given as examples.

[0233] (1) Direct input method In this method, by way of example and not limitation, at least some of the search conditions stored in each search condition-set stamp data in the search condition-set stamp database 287A in Fig. 1-7 are set to "not set" (unset) by default. In other words, the terminal 20 can download data related to stamps for which at least some of the search conditions are set to "not set" from the server 10. Then, information directly input by the sender user to the terminal 20 using a keyboard or the like can be stored in the storage unit 28 as set search conditions.

[0234] <Display screen> 2-1 and 2-2 are diagrams showing an example of transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24A of the terminal 20A when the (1) direct input method is applied.

[0235] The left screen of Figure 2-1 shows a state in which, after a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" is tapped, a preview of the stamp content corresponding to the stamp thumbnail is displayed in the preview display area PVR, out of multiple stamp thumbnails corresponding to stamp content for which the user can set any search criteria.

[0236] Unlike the first embodiment, in this example, the search condition setting stamp is a general-purpose illustration stamp so that the user can set any search condition.

[0237] In the stamp thumbnail display area STR, by way of example and not limitation, a list of stamp thumbnails available to the user of the terminal 20A (user AA) is displayed. In this example, by way of example and not limitation, multiple stamp thumbnails are displayed, including a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the text "Let's eat!", a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the text "Please let me have some food", and a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the text "I'm hungry...".

[0238] In this example, these stamp thumbnails correspond to stamp content for which a user can set arbitrary search criteria, for example and not by way of limitation, by entering a search term.

[0239] As a non-limiting example, based on user AA tapping on a stamp thumbnail corresponding to stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's go eat!", a preview of the stamp content corresponding to the stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's go eat!" is displayed in the preview display area PVR.

[0240] In this example, by way of example and not limitation, a search condition setting icon IC20 represented by a magnifying glass icon is displayed in the upper left corner of the preview display area PVR as an example of search condition setting information for setting search conditions.

[0241] The screen on the left of FIG. 2-1 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which the search condition setting icon IC20 is tapped. As a result, the search condition setting screen shown on the right of FIG. 2-1 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0242] In this search condition setting screen, by way of example and not limitation, a preview similar to the preview of the stamp content displayed in the preview display area PVR is displayed in the center of the screen.

[0243] Also, below that, by way of example and not limitation, there is a search word input field SWR for inputting a search word as a search criterion for the stamp content corresponding to this preview, and in this example, the characters "Western food" are displayed based on the input of "Western food."

[0244] Also displayed below is a save button BT20 for saving the search word entered in the search word entry field SWR.

[0245] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 displays the search condition setting screen, the control unit 21 performs processing to reduce the visibility of information that is not related to the search condition setting screen among screens related to the messaging application, so that information that is not related to the search condition setting screen (such as, for example and not limited to, the contents of the chat) is displayed in a manner that makes it difficult for the user to recognize it. As a non-limiting example, information on a screen related to a messaging application that is not related to the search condition setting screen may be pixelated or hatched to reduce visibility.

[0246] The screen on the right of FIG. 2-1 shows, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a state in which the Save button BT20 has been tapped, which results in the screen shown on the left of FIG. 2-2 being displayed, by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[0247] On this screen, a preview image of the stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" similar to the screen shown on the left of FIG. 2-1 is displayed in the preview display region PVR.

[0248] On the search condition setting screen, when the user taps the save button BT20 with a search word input in the search word input field SWR, the search condition is associated with the stamp content corresponding to the preview.

[0249] The screen on the left of Figure 2-2 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which a preview image of stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" is tapped. As a result, the screen shown on the right of Figure 2-2 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0250] On this screen, by way of example and not limitation, stamp content SCT20 including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" as a message from user AA is displayed on the right side of the talk area TR as viewed from the screen.

[0251] Below that, by way of example and not limitation, search condition content CCT20 indicating the search conditions set in this stamp content SCT20 is displayed. In this example, the search condition content CCT20 includes, by way of example and not limitation, the characters "Search for a restaurant!" and the characters "Search word: Western food."

[0252] Below that, search results are displayed in a list together with the text content "Recommended shops here" sent from the server 10. The search results displayed in this example are the same as those shown in the screen on the right of Figure 1-9.

[0253] <Processing> 2-3 and 2-4 are flow charts showing an example of the flow of the processes executed by each device in this embodiment. The drawings should be read as described above.

[0254] After A120, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not the user AA has selected to input search conditions and input the search conditions (A210). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, it determines whether or not the search conditions have been input by operating an icon or the like for inputting search conditions and by direct input using a keyboard or the like.

[0255] If it is determined that a search condition has been input (A210: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs a search condition setting process (A220). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the input search condition is stored as a set search condition in the search condition setting stamp data in which the stamp ID is stored. It is also possible to set the search condition to "not set."

[0256] On the other hand, if it is determined that no search conditions have been input (A210: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A advances the process to A125.

[0257] In A135, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits, by way of example and not limitation, stamp transmission request information including the stamp ID and the set search conditions for the selected search condition setting stamp to the server 12 via the communication I / F 22.

[0258] In the search process of S130, the control unit 11 of the server 10 refers to the search condition setting stamp management database 157 of the storage unit 15 to determine the set search conditions included in the received stamp transmission request information. Then, using the search engine database 155 of the storage unit 15, a search is performed based on the determined set search conditions.

[0259] If the set search condition is "not set", the control unit 11 can skip steps S130 and S140. In this case, the stamp content sent to the destination user's terminal 20 in step S120 is the stamp content for which no search condition is set, that is, the normal stamp content. In this case, steps A140 to A150 are skipped in the terminal 20 of the source user, and steps B140 to B150 are skipped in the terminal 20 of the destination user.

[0260] Furthermore, after A130, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may or may not display the corresponding search condition content in the talk room. In this case, search condition content based on the set search conditions can be obtained from the server 10, or search condition content can be generated on the terminal 20 side based on the set search conditions and template data for the search condition content, and displayed in the talk room.

[0261] Also, in S120, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not transmit the corresponding search condition content together with the stamp content to the terminal 20B. In this case, in B130, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B may or may not display the corresponding search condition content together with the stamp content in the talk room.

[0262] (2) Selective input method FIG. 2-5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the search condition setting stamp database 287C, which is an example of the search condition setting stamp database 287 stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. In the search condition setting stamp database 287C, for each search condition setting stamp data, a stamp category, a search category, search category selection candidates, and stamp-specific data are stored, by way of example and not of limitation.

[0263] The search category stores conceptual divisions for searching using stamps in this stamp category. In this example, the two items "Place" and "Genre" are stored as search categories. The search category is an example of a category set in the search conditions.

[0264] The search category selection candidates store one or more pieces of information that can be selected by the user for each category included in this search category.

[0265] In this example, a plurality of pieces of information that can be selected by the user are stored for each of the two items "location" and "genre" described above. In the "location" field, prefectures are stored as selection candidates by way of example and not by way of limitation. In the "genre" field, food genres such as "Japanese food", "Western food", and "Chinese food" are stored as selection candidates, but are not limited to these, by way of example only.

[0266] The stamp-specific data is data relating to a plurality of search condition setting stamps to which the above stamp categories and search categories are applied, and by way of example and not limitation, the stamp ID, stamp content, and set search conditions are stored.

[0267] The set search conditions store information selected by the user from among the search category selection candidates for each search category. In this example, "Tokyo" is selected and stored for the search category "location," and "Western food" is selected as a condition for the search category "genre."

[0268] In addition, for the convenience of the user, this data stores a "stamp category" in each search condition setting stamp data, making it possible to select stamps for each stamp category. However, storing the stamp category is not essential, and it is also possible not to store it.

[0269] <Display screen> 2-6 and 2-7 are diagrams showing an example of transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24A of the terminal 20A when the above-mentioned (2) selective input method is applied.

[0270] The left screen of FIG. 2-6 shows a state in which a search condition setting icon IC20 in the upper left corner of the preview display region PVR has been tapped on a screen similar to the screen shown on the left of FIG. 2-1. In the center of the screen, a preview similar to the preview of the stamp content displayed in the preview display area PVR is displayed. Below this, by way of example and not limitation, a search criteria selection area is configured for selecting search criteria for the stamp content corresponding to this preview.

[0271] Specifically, as selection fields for setting search conditions, a "genre" selection field SJR is displayed, which allows the user to select any genre from within the search category (Japanese, Western, Chinese, etc.) using a drum roll method, and a "location" selection field SPR is displayed, which allows the user to select any location from within the search category (such as the prefecture where the store is located) using a drum roll method.

[0272] The screen on the left of Figure 2-6 shows, as an example, the state in which the selection field SJR for the search category "genre" is tapped. As a result, as an example, not a limitation, the screen shown on the right of Figure 2-6 is displayed. On this screen, genre candidates are displayed in a drum roll format, and the state in which "Western food" has been tapped by the user is shown.

[0273] Furthermore, when the selection field SPR of the search category "Location" is tapped, the screen shown on the right of Figure 2-6 is displayed. On this screen, location candidates are displayed in a drum roll format, and "Tokyo" is shown as having been tapped by the user.

[0274] After that, the screen shown on the left of Figure 2-7 is displayed. On this screen, "Western food" is entered in the search category "genre" and "Tokyo" is entered in the search category "location", and when the save button BT20 is tapped in this state, the screen shown in the center of Figure 2-7 is displayed as an example and not a limitation.

[0275] The screen in the center of FIG. 2-7 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which a preview image of stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" in the preview display area PVR is tapped. As a result, by way of example and not limitation, the screen shown on the right of FIG. 2-7 is displayed.

[0276] On this screen, by way of example and not limitation, stamp content SCT20 including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" as a message from user AA is displayed on the right side of the talk area TR as viewed from the screen.

[0277] Below that, by way of example and not limitation, search condition content CCT22 indicating the search conditions set in this stamp content SCT20 is displayed. In this example, the search condition content includes, by way of example and not limitation, the characters "Search for a restaurant!", the characters "Genre: Western food", and the characters "Location: Tokyo".

[0278] Below that, search results are displayed in a list together with the text content "Recommended shops here" sent from the server 10. In this example, the search is performed with the search category "genre" set to "Western food" and the search category "location" set to "Tokyo", so the search results for multiple Western restaurants located in Tokyo, such as Western Restaurant A and Western Restaurant X, are displayed in a list.

[0279] FIG. 2-8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24B of the terminal 20B in the above example. This screen shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state after the stamp content SCT20 including the above-mentioned cat illustration and the text "Let's eat!" has been transmitted from the terminal 20A to the terminal 20B. In the talk room of terminal 20B, information similar to the information displayed in the talk room of terminal 20A described in the right screen of FIG. 2-7 is displayed.

[0280] <Processing> The process will be described with reference again to the above-mentioned FIGS. 2-3 and 2-4. After A120, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not the user has selected to input search conditions and the search conditions have been input (A210). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, it determines whether or not an icon or the like for inputting search conditions has been operated and information has been selected from among search category selection candidates for a search category associated with the search condition setting stamp.

[0281] If it is determined that a search condition has been input (A210: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs a search condition setting process (A220). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the search category selection candidate selected as described above is stored in the corresponding search category field of the set search condition in the stamp-specific data of the stamp ID. As described above, it is possible to set some of the search categories to "not set." In this case, the search category corresponding to the set search criteria can be set to "not set."

[0282] On the other hand, if it is determined that no search conditions have been input (A210: NO), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A advances the process to A125.

[0283] In A135, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits stamp transmission request information including, by way of example and not limitation, the stamp ID of the selected search condition setting stamp and the set search conditions to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0284] In the search process of S130, the control unit 11 of the server 10 refers to the search condition setting stamp management database 157 of the storage unit 15, and judges whether or not the search category associated with the stamp of the stamp ID included in the received stamp transmission request information corresponds to the search category of the set search condition included in the received stamp transmission request information. If it is judged that they correspond, the control unit 11 refers to the search engine database 155 of the storage unit 15 and performs a search based on the set search condition. Then, the control unit 11 advances the process to S140.

[0285] When the set search conditions for some search categories are "not set," the control unit 11 can perform a search using the set search conditions corresponding to the other search categories as search conditions.

[0286] Furthermore, if the set search conditions for all search categories are "not set", the control unit 11 can skip steps S130 and S140. In this case, the stamp content sent to the destination user's terminal 20 in step S120 is the stamp content for which no search condition is set, that is, the normal stamp content. In this case, steps A140 to A150 are skipped in the terminal 20 of the source user, and steps B140 to B150 are skipped in the terminal 20 of the destination user.

[0287] Furthermore, after A130, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may or may not display the corresponding search condition content in the talk room. In this case, search condition content based on the set search conditions can be obtained from the server 10, or search condition content can be generated on the terminal 20 side based on the set search conditions and template data for the search condition content, and displayed in the talk room.

[0288] Also, in S120, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not transmit the corresponding search condition content together with the stamp content to the terminal 20B. In this case, in B130, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B may or may not display the corresponding search condition content together with the stamp content in the talk room.

[0289] <Effects of the second embodiment> In this embodiment, a search condition set in stamp content (not limited to this, but an example of image information) is input by the user of the terminal 20. As an example of the effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, since it is possible for the user of the terminal to set search conditions, convenience can be improved.

[0290] In this case, the search conditions are set in a plurality of search categories (not limited to a single category, but merely an example), and the user of the terminal 20 can input conditions for each of the plurality of search categories. As an example of the effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the user of the terminal can input search conditions according to categories, thereby improving convenience.

[0291] <Second Modification Example (1)> Unlike the examples shown in the above embodiments, some search conditions are set in advance in the stamp content, but other search conditions are not set in the stamp content, and these unset search conditions may be set based on user input.

[0292] As a non-limiting example, in the data example of FIG. 1-12, the search word "Western food" corresponding to the search category "genre" is preset, but the search word corresponding to the search category "location" in each stamp data is set to "not set" by default. Then, the search word (prefecture as an example and not a limitation) corresponding to this search category "location" can be set based on user input.

[0293] As a non-limiting example, when sending stamp content of an illustration of a hamburger steak as shown in FIG. 1-8 with “Western food” set as the search criterion, the sending user may be able to input a prefecture as the location to search for Western restaurants. The search conditions can be input using either the (1) direct input method or the (2) selective input method described above.

[0294] <Second Modification Example (2)> In the above embodiment, the terminal 20 may be able to set search conditions for the stamp content based on user input, as well as set a message such as text content to be sent together with the stamp content based on user input.

[0295] <Display screen> Here, the case of transmitting stamp content of an illustration of a hamburger, as described in the second modified example (1), will be described with reference to an example of a display screen.

[0296] 2-9 and 2-10 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this modified example. On the left side of FIG. 2-9, a preview image of stamp content with an illustration of a hamburger steak for which the search criteria (search category) "Western food" is set is displayed in a preview display area PVR, similar to the screen on the right side of FIG. 1-8. Then, by way of example and not limitation, to the right of the search criteria setting icon IC20 in the upper left corner of the preview display area PVR, a text setting icon IC30 for inputting and setting text to be sent as text content together with this stamp content is displayed. When the text setting icon IC30 is tapped, by way of example and not limitation, a text setting screen shown on the right side of FIG. 2-9 is displayed.

[0297] In this text setting screen, as an example and not a limitation, a preview image similar to the preview image of the stamp content displayed in the preview display area PVR is displayed in the center of the screen. Below this, as an example and not a limitation, a text input area TXR is configured for inputting text to be sent together with the stamp content corresponding to this preview image, and in this example, the text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow" is displayed based on the user's input of "Let's go for dinner tomorrow." Below this, a save button BT20 is displayed for saving and setting the text entered in the text input area TXR.

[0298] When the Save button BT20 is tapped, the entered text is saved and set, and the screen returns to the left of FIG. 2-9. Then, based on the fact that the preview image of the stamp content has been tapped, the screen shown in FIG. 2-10 is displayed, by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[0299] Figure 2-10 shows examples of displaying two patterns (Pattern 1 and Pattern 2). In the display example of pattern 1 on the left of Fig. 2-10, based on the set text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow", text content indicating "Let's go for dinner tomorrow" and stamp content SCT10 with an illustration of a hamburger are displayed separately as content sent from user AA. In other words, the display example of pattern 1 is an example in which content corresponding to the set text and stamp content are displayed separately in the chat room.

[0300] On the other hand, in the display example of pattern 2 on the right of Fig. 2-10, stamp content SCT22 is displayed as content sent from user AA based on the set text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow", in which a stamp content of an illustration of a hamburger is combined with an illustrated image of the text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow". In other words, the display example of pattern 2 is an example in which the set text is displayed in the chat room as part of the stamp content.

[0301] When realizing the display example of Pattern 2, by way of example and not limitation, based on the set text, the terminal 20 or the server 10 can generate stamp content that includes the text as part of the illustration. When this is realized on the terminal 20, as a non-limiting example, illustration material data such as hiragana, katakana, kanji, alphabet, numbers, etc. can be associated with stamps, obtained from the server 10, and stored in the memory unit 28, and stamp content can be generated using the stamp content data and the illustration material data. Also, when realizing this on the server 10, as an example and not a limitation, the set text can be received from the terminal 20, and stamp content can be generated on the server 10 side in the same manner as described above, and then transmitted to the terminal 20.

[0302] Also, if no text is entered or set as described above, the text will not be displayed or sent, and only the stamp content will be displayed or sent.

[0303] In addition, stamp content may be generated by omitting some characters from the set text. Specifically, in the above example, stamp content may be generated including the text "Let's go for dinner" by omitting the character "tomorrow" from the set text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow." In addition, stamp content may be generated by changing the character type of at least a part of the set text. Specifically, in the above example, the character type of "rice" in the set text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow" may be changed to generate stamp content including the text "Let's go for dinner tomorrow".

[0304] In addition, in the display example of FIG. 2-9, the text setting icon IC30 is displayed separately from the search condition setting icon IC20, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, when the search condition setting icon IC20 is tapped, a search condition setting screen may be displayed, and the text setting icon IC30 may be displayed on the search condition setting screen. In addition, information for inputting and setting search conditions and information for inputting and setting text may be displayed on a search condition setting screen, and the search conditions and text may be inputted and set on this search condition setting screen.

[0305] <Second Modification (3)> In the above embodiment, it is also possible not to distinguish between search condition setting stamps and normal stamps. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, one stamp database can be configured in the server 10 or the terminal 20. As described above, when at least some of the search conditions are set to "set" based on the user's input, the terminal 20 or the server 10 processes the stamp as a "search condition setting stamp." On the other hand, when all of the search conditions are set to "not set" based on the user's input, the terminal 20 or the server 10 can process the stamp as a "normal stamp."

[0306] <Third Example> The third embodiment is an embodiment in which the information to be searched for in the search process (which can also be called the search result) in the above-mentioned embodiment is determined based on the search conditions set in the stamp content (not limited to, but an example of image information) and the information input by the destination user's terminal 20 (not limited to, but an example of the first information).

[0307] The contents described in the third embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0308] <Data Structure> The search condition setting stamp database 287 stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 may be similar to the search condition setting stamp database 287C shown in FIG. 2-5, for example and without limitation.

[0309] FIG. 3-1 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the search condition setting stamp management database 157 stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. In the search condition setting stamp management database 157, by way of example and not limitation, a plurality of search condition setting stamp management data are stored.

[0310] In each search condition setting stamp management data, by way of example and not limitation, a stamp category, a search category, question data, and management data by stamp are stored. The stamp category and the search category may be the same as those in the search condition setting stamp database 287C stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20.

[0311] The question data is sent to the terminal 20 (first terminal) of the user (first user) to whom the search condition setting stamp is sent, and is data regarding a question to which the user is requested to answer.As a non-limiting example, the question ID and the question content are stored in association with each other.

[0312] The question ID is an ID for uniquely identifying a question. The question content is the content of the question associated with this question ID. The question content may be, by way of example and not limitation, at least one question created based on a stamp category, and more specifically, a question having a relationship with a stamp category.

[0313] In the data at the front of Figure 3-1, the stamp category is "meals." Therefore, the question data has multiple questions related to "meals." By way of example and not limitation, the following types of questions may be included: (a) Questions about restaurants (b) Questions about food genre (c) Questions about the cost of meals

[0314] In consideration of the effort required to answer, the questions may be, for example and not for limitation, multiple choice questions, such as "YES / NO", "Good / Bad", "Good! / Bad", etc. Also, for ease of understanding, the questions may be, by way of example and not limitation, questions whose selection of an affirmative option reflects the user's preference.

[0315] More specifically, as non-limiting examples of type (a) of questions, questions such as "Is it a restaurant with a night view?", "Is it a stylish restaurant?", "A restaurant for the masses?", "A family restaurant?", "A stylish cafe?", and "Is it a lively izakaya?" can be prepared. In addition, as examples of type (b) questions, but not limited to, questions such as "Are you in the mood for Japanese food?", "Are you in the mood for Western food?", "Are you in the mood for Chinese food?", "Are you in the mood for junk food?", and "Are you in the mood for something sweet?" can be prepared. In addition, as questions of type (c), questions such as "Do you feel rich?", "Do you want to stay at a moderate price?", and "Do you want to stay on a budget?" can be prepared as examples, but are not limited to these.

[0316] Having the user answer (response) to such a question can be thought of as asking the user to express their intention when conducting a search, in other words, as having the user cast a vote.

[0317] In the stamp management data, by way of example and not limitation, a stamp ID, stamp content, a stamp thumbnail, and search category selection candidates are stored. These may be the same as those in the search condition setting stamp database 287C stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20.

[0318] <Display screen> 3-2 to 3-4 are diagrams showing an example of a transition of screens displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B in this embodiment. Following on from the previous embodiment, a case is illustrated in which the source user is user AA and the destination user is user BB.

[0319] The left screen in Figure 3-2 is a diagram showing an example of a talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B, showing stamp content SCT20 sent by user AA and search condition content CCT30.

[0320] The search condition content CCT30 indicates that the search category "genre" is set to "not set" and the search category "location" is set to "Tokyo." In other words, this example shows a state in which the stamp content SCT20 is sent to the user BB after the search category "genre" is set to "not set" and the search category "location" is set to "Tokyo" based on the input by the user AA.

[0321] In addition to the search conditions, the search condition content CCT30 is provided with a participation button BT30 containing the characters "participate" for participating in the search for restaurants to dine at by answering questions. When this participation button BT30 is tapped, the question and answer page shown on the right of FIG. 3-2 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0322] This question and answer page displays the words "Restaurant Matching Search" and text beginning with "You will now be asked five questions," as well as a Good button BT31 and a Bad button BT32 for answering the questions with a choice between "Good! / Bad....". Also, at the bottom of the page, a start answer button BT33 containing the word "START" for starting answering the question is displayed. When the start answer button BT33 is tapped, the question and answer page shown on the left in Figure 3-3 is displayed, as an example and not a limitation.

[0323] The question and answer page on the left of Figure 3-3 displays, as an example and not a limitation, the question "Q1 A restaurant with a night view?" along with a Good button BT31 and a Bad button BT32. This question is intended to ask the user whether they would like to dine at a restaurant with a nice atmosphere, as an example and not a limitation. In this example, the Good button BT31 is shown to have been tapped, which causes the screen to move to the next question and display the question and answer page shown in the center of FIG. 3-3.

[0324] The question and answer page in the center of Figure 3-3 displays, by way of example and not by way of limitation, the question "Q2 Are you in the mood for Western food?" along with a GoodBT31 button and a Bad button BT32. This question is intended to ask the user whether they would like to go eat Western food, by way of example and not by way of limitation. In this example, the Good button BT31 is shown to have been tapped, which causes the screen to move to the next question and display the question and answer page shown on the right of FIG. 3-3.

[0325] The question and answer page on the right side of Figure 3-3 displays, by way of example and not by way of limitation, the question "Q3 Do you feel like trying something spicy?" along with a Good button BT31 and a Bad button BT32. This question is intended to ask the user, by way of example and not by way of limitation, whether or not they would like to go eat Chinese food. In this example, the Bad button BT32 is shown to have been tapped, which moves to the next question.

[0326] In addition, on each of the above question pages, a back button BT34 containing the words "return to previous question" is displayed for returning to the page of the previous question if the user wishes to change their answer.

[0327] When the five questions have been answered in this manner, the page shown on the left in Figure 3-4 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation. This page displays text beginning with "This is the end of the questions" and an illustration indicating a store search (a combination of an illustration of a store and an illustration of a magnifying glass). Also, at the bottom of the page, a close button BT35 containing the word "close" is displayed for closing the page and returning to the chat room.

[0328] When the close button BT35 is tapped, the chat room screen shown on the right in Figure 3-4 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation. Below the search condition content CCT30, the search results sent from the server 10 are displayed in a list. In this example, the search results of multiple Western restaurants located in Tokyo, such as Western restaurant Y and Western restaurant X, are displayed. Unlike the previous embodiment, the search results displayed reflect the answers of user BB to the questions in addition to the search conditions.

[0329] FIG. 3-5 is a diagram showing an example of the talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A of the user AA, who is the sender user in the above example, and shows the state after the search results have been received from the server 10. On this talk room screen, search condition content CCT32 that does not include a join button BT30 is displayed below stamp content SCT20. In this embodiment, user AA, who is the sender user, is set not to answer questions, and the join button BT30 is not provided in the search condition content CCT32.

[0330] Below the search condition content CCT32, a bar containing the text "BB has answered" is displayed, indicating that the user BB has answered the question. Also, below that, a list of the search results received from the server 10 is displayed. The search results are the same as those displayed on the talk room screen of the terminal 20B on the right in FIG. 3-4.

[0331] <Processing> Figure 3-6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment, and illustrates the part corresponding to Figure 2-3. The way to read the figure is as described above.

[0332] In A135, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits stamp transmission request information including, by way of example and not limitation, the stamp ID of the selected search condition setting stamp and the set search conditions to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0333] If it is determined in S110 that the stamp transmission request information has been received (S110: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs a question determination process (S315). Specifically, as a non-limiting example, the search condition setting stamp management database 157A of the storage unit 15 is referenced to determine whether or not the search category associated with the stamp of the stamp ID included in the received stamp transmission request information corresponds to the set search conditions included in the received stamp transmission request information. If it is determined that they correspond, the search condition setting stamp management database 157A is referenced to select a first set number ("5" as an example, not a limitation) of questions based on the stamp category of the search condition setting stamp of the stamp ID and the set search conditions included in the received stamp transmission request information.

[0334] More specifically, the question content related to the set search conditions is identified from the question data stored in the search condition setting stamp management data corresponding to the stamp category in the search condition setting stamp management database 157A. In this case, the question content may be identified based on the set search conditions corresponding to all search categories, or based on the set search conditions corresponding to some of the search categories.

[0335] For example, but not limited to, if the search category includes "location" and "genre," and "Tokyo" is specified as the "location," questions related to Tokyo may be identified. Since Tokyo has a relatively large number of stylish restaurants and delicious restaurants, for example, but not limited to, questions such as "A restaurant with a night view?" and "A stylish restaurant?" may be identified. Also, as a non-limiting example, when "Western food" is specified as the "genre," question content related to Western food may be identified. In this case, questions related to Tokyo may not be specified, and only questions related to Western food may be specified. For example, but not limited to, questions such as "Are you in the mood for hamburger steak?", "Are you in the mood for pasta?", etc. may be specified.

[0336] As mentioned above, it is also possible to set the search criteria to "not set." In this case, the number of questions related to the search category set to "not set" can be set to be greater than the number of questions related to the other search categories. As a non-limiting example, when "genre" is set to "not set," a larger number of questions related to genre may be selected. As a non-limiting example, when the first set number is "5," "3" to "4" questions related to genre may be selected. As a non-limiting example, questions such as the above-mentioned "Are you in the mood for Japanese food?", "Are you in the mood for Western food?", "Are you in the mood for Chinese food?", and "Are you in the mood for junk food?" may be selected in larger numbers compared to the number of questions related to other search categories.

[0337] Thereafter, the control unit 11 generates search condition content for the sending user's terminal 20 based on the set search conditions and template data of the search condition content, for example but not limited to, and transmits the generated search condition content to the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S320). In this embodiment, as an example and not a limitation, the user AA who is the source user can be made not to answer the question. In this case, the control unit 11 can generate a search condition content including the search condition and transmit it together with the content ID to the terminal 20A.

[0338] Furthermore, the control unit 11, by way of example and not limitation, generates search condition content for the destination user's terminal 20 based on the set search conditions and template data for the search condition content, and transmits the generated search condition content and stamp content to the terminal 20B via the communication I / F 14 (S330). In this embodiment, the destination user, user BB, is made to answer the question. For this reason, the control unit 11 can generate search condition content including the search condition and information for answering the question (as an example, not a limitation, the above-mentioned object such as the participation button BT30) and transmit the content ID to the terminal 20B.

[0339] After step A135, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the search condition content received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 in the talk room on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A (A330). In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can display the search condition content in the talk room as content sent from user AA, for example and not limitation.

[0340] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20B determines whether or not the stamp content and the search condition content have been received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (B320), and if it is determined that the stamp content and the search condition content have been received (B320: YES), causes the received stamp content and the search condition content to be displayed in the talk room on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B (B330). In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B can display the stamp content and the search condition content in the talk room as content sent from user AA, by way of example and not limitation.

[0341] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B determines whether or not to answer the question (B340). Specifically, as a non-limiting example, it determines whether or not an operation on information for answering the question included in the search condition content displayed in B130 (as a non-limiting example, an object such as the participation button BT30 described above) has been detected.

[0342] If it is determined that the question is to be answered (B340: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B performs question answering processing (B350). Specifically, question answer request information including the content ID received together with the search condition content is transmitted to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. In response to this, the control unit 11 transmits page information regarding a page for answering the question determined in S315 (hereinafter referred to as the "question answering page") to the terminal 20B via the communication I / F 14. In response to this, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B displays the question answering page on the display unit 24. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B answers the question based on the user's input to the input / output unit 23.

[0343] In this case, the control unit 11 performs a question and answer compilation process (S350). In this process, since only the user BB answers the question, the answer to the question is stored in the storage unit 15 in association with the application ID of the user BB.

[0344] Thereafter, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a search execution condition is met (S360). The search execution condition in this process is, for example and not limited to, a condition that an answer to a question has been received from the terminal 20B, and the like can be set in advance.

[0345] It should be noted that an option to skip the question without answering it may be provided. In this case, the control unit 11 may determine that the search execution conditions are met when answers to a set number of questions or more are received, even if answers to all questions are not received, but rather, the control unit 11 may or may not determine that the search execution conditions are met.

[0346] The control unit 11 waits until the search execution condition is met (S360: NO). If it is determined that the search execution conditions are met (S360: YES), the control unit 11 performs a search process (S130). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, a search can be performed using a search word included in the set search conditions and a search word related to the content of a question to which an affirmative answer has been given among the answers stored in the storage unit 15. Then, the control unit 11 advances the process to S140.

[0347] In the above process, the server 10 generates the search condition content that the source user's terminal 20 (terminal 20A in the above example) displays in the talk room in step A330, but the present invention is not limited to this. The control unit 21 of the source user's terminal 20 may generate search condition content based on the set search conditions and template data of the search condition content, for example and not by way of limitation. In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may display the generated search condition content in the talk room at or after step A130.

[0348] <Effects of the third embodiment> This embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the search results are determined based on search conditions associated with the stamp content (not limited to, but an example of image information) and the first information input into the terminal 20 (not limited to, but an example of a first terminal) of the destination user (not limited to, but an example of a first user). As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to present a search result that reflects the first user's intention to the user.

[0349] In this case, the first information may include information on an answer to a question displayed on the terminal 20 of the destination user based on the search conditions. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, appropriate search results that reflect the first user's intentions can be presented to the user based on the first user's answer to a question for the first user.

[0350] <Third Modification (1)> In the above embodiment, the sending user ("user AA" in the above example) does not reply to the question, but this is not limited to the above. The source user may also answer the question. In other words, the search result may or may not be determined based on the search conditions set in the stamp content, the information input to the terminal 20 of the source user (not limited to this, but an example of a user of the terminal), and the first information input to the terminal 20 (not limited to this, but an example of a first terminal) of the destination user ("user BB" in the above example).

[0351] In this case, in step S320 of the processing in Figure 3-6, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can transmit to terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 search condition content similar to the search condition content transmitted to terminal 20B in step S330.

[0352] It should be noted that the destination user may not be asked any questions, and only the source user may answer the questions, but this is not essential.

[0353] This modified example shows a configuration in which the search results are determined based on the search conditions set in the stamp content and information (not limited to, an example of third information) entered by the sending user (not limited to, an example of a user of the terminal) into his / her own terminal 20 (not limited to, an example of a terminal), and are displayed in the chat room. As an example of the effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to determine and present search results that reflect not only the intention of the user of the first terminal, but also the intention of the user of the terminal.

[0354] <Third Modification (2)> In the above embodiment, the place where the question is displayed is not limited to the question and answer page. As a non-limiting example, a question transmitted from the server 10 may be displayed in the talk room. Also, the question may be displayed in the talk room, but the answer may be given outside the talk room. In this case, as a non-limiting example, the terminal 20 displays the question transmitted from the server 10 in the talk room, and also displays information for accessing an answer page transmitted from the server 10 (as a non-limiting example, link information, etc.) in the talk room. Then, the terminal 20 can access the answer page based on the fact that this information is tapped.

[0355] In addition, the terminal 20 may be configured as described in the first modified example. (A) Displaying the search results page using an external browser (B) Displaying the search results page using an in-app browser In a similar manner, a question screen, an answer screen, etc. may be displayed on the display unit 24.

[0356] <Fourth Example> The fourth embodiment is an embodiment in which search results and the like are displayed in a group chat room of a group in a messaging application including a plurality of users.

[0357] The contents described in the fourth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0358] In the following, it will be explained that based on a search condition setting stamp or the like being sent from a terminal 20 of one group user, the search condition setting stamp or the like and search results are displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 of the destination group user (as an example and not a limitation, a talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 of the destination group user).

[0359] Note that, as an example and not a limitation, it is assumed that a group includes two or more users, and for convenience, the number of people in a group (the total number of users included in the group) is "N". For convenience, a group user who is the sender of a search condition setting stamp or the like is referred to as a "sender group user", and a group user who is the destination of the stamp is referred to as a "destination group user". Also, one group user will be the source group user at each time, and the other group users will be the destination group users, and the number of destination group users will be "N-1".

[0360] <Display screen> The display screen in this embodiment is not limited to the above, but is an example of the display screens described in the first to third embodiments. By configuring the display screen of terminal 20A of user AA as the display screen of a source group user, terminal 20B of user BB as the destination group user, and configuring the display screens of terminals 20 of other destination group users in the same manner as the display screen of terminal 20B, it is possible to expand to a group. For this reason, the basic screen diagrams are omitted, and are illustrated and explained in modified examples.

[0361] <Processing> The processing in this embodiment is, by way of example and not limitation, the processing described in Figures 1-11, 2-3 to 2-4, 3-6, etc., with user AA of terminal 20A as the source group user and other group users including user BB of terminal 20B as the destination group users, so that the contents of the first to third embodiments can be similarly applied to groups. Here, by way of example and not limitation, a process in which the contents of the third embodiment are applied to a group will be illustrated.

[0362] FIG. 4-1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in this embodiment. This figure shows, from the left, an example of processing performed by the control unit 21 of user AA's terminal 20A, processing performed by the control unit 11 of the server 10, and processing performed by the control unit 21 of user BB's terminal 20A, and illustrates the parts corresponding to Figure 3-6.

[0363] In this process, the source group user is assumed to be user AA of terminal 20A, and the destination group user is assumed to be a user included in the same group as user AA. Here, user BB of terminal 20B is one of the destination group users, and only the processing of terminal 20B is illustrated, but the processing executed by terminals 20 of other destination group users can be similar to that of terminal 20B.

[0364] First, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays a group talk room on the display unit 24 (A410). Hereinafter, the talk room in this process refers to the group talk room.

[0365] In S330, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits, by way of example and not limitation, the stamp content and the above-mentioned search condition content to the terminals 20 of the respective destination group users via the communication I / F 14.

[0366] In the question and answer counting process of S350, the control unit 11 stores the answers to the questions of all destination group users in association with the application ID of each user. Also, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 11 identifies questions that received a large number of positive answers (by way of example and not limitation, questions that received a set number of positive answers or more) and stores them in the storage unit 15.

[0367] In S360, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a search execution condition is satisfied. The search execution condition in this process is not limited to, but may be, for example, that answers to a question have been received from all destination group users.

[0368] In the search process of S140, the control unit 11 performs a search based on the set search conditions and the answers to the questions, for example and not for limitation. Specifically, for example and not for limitation, the search can be performed using search words included in the set search conditions and search words related to the content of the questions identified in S350 that had many positive answers. This increases the possibility of obtaining search results that reflect not only the set search conditions but also the intentions (voting results) of multiple users.

[0369] Similar to terminal 20A, control unit 21 of terminal 20 of the destination group user displays the group talk room on display unit 24. As an example and not a limitation, control unit 21 of terminal 20B displays the group talk room on display unit 24. Then, as an example and not a limitation, control unit 21 of terminal 20 of the destination group user advances processing to B320.

[0370] <Effects of the Fourth Embodiment> In this embodiment, a talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a chat room) includes a source group user (not limited to this, but an example of a user of a terminal), a first destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user of a first terminal), and a second destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a second user of a second terminal) as group users. The search results are determined based on the search conditions set in the stamp content, the first information input to the terminal 20 of the first destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first terminal), and the second information input to the terminal 20 of the second destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a second terminal). As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, search results that reflect the intentions of multiple users (first user, second user) other than the users of the terminals included in the chat room can be determined and presented.

[0371] <Fourth modified example (1)> As the search execution conditions determined in step S360 of FIG. 4-1, the following condition (a) may or may not be applied as an example rather than a limitation. However, in this example, it is assumed that there is an option to skip without answering the question. (a) That all the destination group users have answered more than or equal to the second set number of questions Note that the number of questions is set as the "first set number", and as an example rather than a limitation, it can be set as "the second set number < the first set number".

[0372] Also, the condition (a) above may or may not include any of the following. (a-1) That all the destination group users have answered all the questions (a-2) Even if there are destination group users who have not answered all the questions, they have answered more than or equal to the second set number of questions

[0373] <Fourth Modification Example (2)> Also, as the search execution conditions determined in step S360 of FIG. 4-1, the following condition (b) may or may not be applied as an example rather than a limitation. However, in this example, it is assumed that there is an option to skip without answering the question. (b) That the number of destination group users who have answered more than or equal to the second set number of questions among the destination group users has reached the third set number Note that as an example rather than a limitation, it can be set as "the third set number < N - 1". In this case, even if at least one of the "N - 1" destination group users does not answer the question, the search execution conditions may be satisfied.

[0374] In this modified example, a talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a chat room) includes as group users a source group user (not limited to this, but an example of a user of a terminal), a first destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user of a first terminal), and a second destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a second user of a second terminal). Then, based on an input by the source group user, the search results are determined based on the search conditions set in the stamp content and the first information input to the terminal 20 (not limited to this, but an example of a first terminal) of the first destination group user, without the second information being input by the terminal 20 (not limited to this, but an example of a second terminal) of the second destination group user, and are displayed in the talk room. As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to determine and present search results that reflect the intentions of some users among a plurality of users (first user, second user) other than the users of the terminals included in the chat room. In addition, since it is possible to determine search results without requiring information to be input by the terminals of all users other than the users of the terminals included in the chat room, it is possible to promptly present the search results.

[0375] <Fourth modified example (3)> Also, in the above embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, a source group user may or may not be able to select / designate a destination group user who will answer the question from among the destination group users.

[0376] For example and not by way of limitation, in the case of a group event as described above, there may be group users who do not or cannot participate in the event, and it may be possible to not request answers to questions from such group users.

[0377] <Display screen> 4-2 and 4-3 are diagrams showing an example of transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24A of the terminal 20A in this modified example.

[0378] In the left screen of FIG. 4-2, an icon image and a user name (user AA in this example) in the messaging application of the user of this terminal 20A are displayed in the top right of the screen displaying the group talk room.

[0379] The talk room name display area CLR displays, by way of example and not limitation, text (in this example, the group name "Seminar Friends (4)") indicating that this is a group talk room where user AA can talk with other group users (in this example, users BB, CC, and DD). The number in parentheses to the right of the group name indicates the number of users, "N," that make up this group.

[0380] In this example, text content is sent from user AA to the other group users suggesting that they all go out for dinner tomorrow, but text content is sent from user CC to the other group users stating that they cannot participate.

[0381] Under this premise, a stamp thumbnail is selected by user AA, and a preview image of the stamp content corresponding to the selected stamp thumbnail is displayed in the preview display area. Furthermore, in the upper left corner of the preview display region PVR, to the right of the above-mentioned search condition setting icon IC20, a user selection icon IC40 is displayed.

[0382] The screen on the left of Fig. 4-2 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which the search condition setting icon IC20 is tapped. As a result, the search condition setting screen shown on the right of Fig. 4-2 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0383] In this screen, "No Setting" is selected and entered in the selection field SJR for the search category "Genre," and "Tokyo" is selected and entered in the selection field SPR for the search category "Location." When the Save button BT20 is tapped in this state, the screen shown on the left of Figure 4-3 is displayed, as an example and not a limitation.

[0384] In this screen, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a state in which the user selection icon IC40 is tapped is shown, which results in the member selection screen shown on the right of FIG. 4-3 being displayed, by way of example and not by way of limitation.

[0385] In this screen, by way of example and not limitation, a destination user selection area SUR for selecting a destination user of the search results corresponding to the stamp content for which the search conditions have been set is configured.

[0386] Specifically, as a selection field for selecting a destination user, a selection field is displayed in which the user can select any member from the group users (user BB, user CC, user DD) by checking a check box.

[0387] In this example, by way of example and not limitation, the state is shown in which the checkboxes for user BB and user DD are checked and the save button BT20 is tapped. As a result, by way of example and not limitation, user BB and user DD are set as destination users of the search results corresponding to this stamp content. This is because user CC has sent a message to the group stating that he or she cannot attend the meal, and user AA therefore intends to exclude user CC from having his or her questions answered.

[0388] FIG. 4-4 is a diagram showing an example of a group talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B, the terminal 20C, and the terminal 20D in this modified example. The screen shown on the left in FIG. 4-4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24B of the terminal 20B in the above example. An icon image and a user name (user BB in this example) in the messaging application of the user of this terminal 20B are displayed at the top right of the screen.

[0389] The talk room name display area CLR displays, by way of example and not limitation, text (in this example, the group name “Seminar Friends (4)”) indicating that this is a group talk room where user BB can talk with group users (user AA, user CC, user DD).

[0390] Below that is a talk area TR for user BB and group users to talk in an interactive format, with messages from the other group user being displayed on the left side of the screen and messages from user BB being displayed on the right side of the screen.

[0391] This screen shows the stamp content for which search conditions have been set and which has been sent by user AA.

[0392] As a non-limiting example, stamp content SCT20 including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" is displayed as a message from user AA on the left side of the talk area TR as viewed from the screen.

[0393] Below that, by way of example and not limitation, search condition content CCT40 indicating the search conditions set in this stamp content is displayed. In this example, by way of example and not limitation, the words "Search for a store!", the words "Genre: Not set", and the words "Location: Tokyo" are displayed as search condition content.

[0394] The screen shown in the center of FIG. 4-4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24C of the terminal 20C in the above example. An icon image and a user name (user CC in this example) in the messaging application of the user of this terminal 20C are displayed at the top right of the screen.

[0395] The talk room name display area CLR displays, by way of example and not limitation, text (in this example, the group name “Seminar Friends (4)”) indicating that this is a group talk room where user CC can talk with group users (user AA, user BB, user DD).

[0396] Below that is a talk area TR for user CC and group users to talk interactively, with messages from the other group user displayed on the left side of the screen and messages from user CC displayed on the right side of the screen.

[0397] This screen shows the stamp content for which search conditions have been set and which has been sent by user AA. As a non-limiting example, stamp content SCT20 including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" is displayed as a message from user AA on the left side of the talk area TR as viewed from the screen.

[0398] However, unlike terminal 20B and terminal 20D, the search condition content CCT40 is not displayed in the group talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20C. This is because the search condition content CCT40 was not sent from the server 10 to terminal 20C, based on the fact that user CC was excluded from responding to the question.

[0399] The screen shown on the right side of FIG. 4-4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on display unit 24D of terminal 20D in the above example. At the top right of the screen, an icon image and a user name (user DD in this example) in the messaging application of the user of this terminal 20D are displayed.

[0400] The talk room name display area CLR displays, by way of example and not limitation, text (in this example, the group name "Seminar Friends (4)") indicating that this is a group talk room where user DD can talk with group users (user AA, user BB, user CC).

[0401] Below that is a talk area TR for user DD and group users to talk in an interactive format, with messages from the other group user displayed on the left side of the screen and messages from user DD on the right side of the screen.

[0402] This screen shows the stamp content for which search conditions have been set and which has been sent by user AA.

[0403] As a non-limiting example, stamp content SCT20 including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" is displayed as a message from user AA on the left side of the talk area TR as viewed from the screen.

[0404] Below that, by way of example and not limitation, search condition content CCT40 indicating the search conditions set in this stamp content is displayed. In this example, by way of example and not limitation, the words "Search for a store!", "Genre: Not set," and "Location: Tokyo" are displayed as search condition content.

[0405] <Processing> In the process of this modification, by way of example and not limitation, in the process of FIG. 4-1, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs a question answering user selection setting process after A220. Specifically, the selection (designation) of a destination group user to be answered to the question is accepted based on an input to the input / output unit 23. Then, the application ID of the selected destination group user (hereinafter referred to as a "question answer selection group user") is temporarily stored in the storage unit 28.

[0406] Note that not all of the question and answer selection group users will necessarily answer the question, and there may be cases where the search execution conditions are met even if all of the question and answer selection group users do not answer the question. For this reason, the group users who actually answer the question are referred to as "question answerers."

[0407] In step A135, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, by way of example and not limitation, includes the application ID of the question and answer selection group user temporarily stored in the memory unit 28 in the stamp transmission request information and transmits it to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0408] In S330, the control unit 11 of the server 10 identifies the users in the question and answer selection group based on the application ID included in the stamp transmission request information received from the terminal 20A, for example and not for limitation. Then, as an example and not a limitation, the control unit 11 transmits the stamp content and the search condition content including information for enabling access to the question and answer page to the terminals 20 of the users in the question and answer selection group via the communication I / F 14. On the other hand, the control unit 11 transmits only the stamp content via the communication I / F 14 to the terminals 20 of the destination group users other than the question / answer selection group users, for example and not for limitation. In this way, it is possible to prevent users in the destination group that have not been selected from answering the question.

[0409] Alternatively, the control unit 11 may transmit stamp content and search condition content that does not include information for answering the question (for example, but not limited to, objects such as the participation button BT30) to the terminals 20 of destination group users other than the question and answer selection group users via the communication I / F 14. Even in this way, it is possible to prevent users in the destination group that have not been selected from answering the question.

[0410] In this modified example, a talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a chat room) includes as group users a source group user (not limited to this, but an example of a user of a terminal), a first destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user of a first terminal), and a second destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a second user of a second terminal). Then, the search results are determined based on the first information input by the destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user selected by a user of a terminal) selected by the source group user and the search conditions set in the stamp content, and are displayed in the talk room. As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to determine and present search results that reflect the intention of a first user selected by a user of a terminal among a plurality of users (first user, second user) different from the user of the terminal included in the chat room. In addition, since it is possible to determine search results without requiring information to be input by the terminals of all users different from the user of the terminal included in the chat room, it is possible to promptly present the search results.

[0411] <Fourth Variation (4)> In the above embodiment, the sender group user (in the above example, "User AA") is not required to answer the question, but as in the third variant example (1), the sender group user may also be required to answer the question. In this case, in the question and answer group user selection process, the terminal 20 of the source group user can set the user of its own terminal 20 to be included in the question and answer group users based on an input by the user of its own terminal 20.

[0412] Also, similarly to the third modified example (1), questions may not be posed to users in the destination group, and only users in the source group may answer questions.

[0413] In this modified example, a talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a chat room) includes as group users a source group user (not limited to this, but an example of a user of a terminal), a first destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user of a first terminal), and a second destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a second user of a second terminal). Then, the search results are determined based on the information input by the source group user, the first information input by a destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user selected by a user of a terminal) selected by the source group user, and the search conditions set in the stamp content, and are displayed in the talk room. As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to determine and present search results that reflect not only the first user selected by the user of the terminal among multiple users (first user, second user) who are different from the user of the terminal included in the chat room, but also the intentions of the user of the terminal.

[0414] <Fifth Example> The fifth embodiment is an embodiment regarding a method for dealing with a case where there is a user who has not yet answered a question. As mentioned above, when requesting answers to a question from all destination users, there is a possibility that some destination users will not respond or will take a long time to respond, and it may take a long time for the search execution conditions to be established. The same applies when specifying a destination user to have an answer to a question. As mentioned above, the search process is not executed until the search execution conditions are met, so in the above case, it may not be possible to display the search results until the answers of the unanswered users are provided.

[0415] The contents described in the fifth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0416] In this embodiment, a time limit is set for inputting information for determining search results, such as inputting a destination user's answer to a question from a source user. In this embodiment, the group explained in the fourth embodiment will be taken as an example for explanation.

[0417] <Display screen> 5-1 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. This example is an example in which the user AA proposes going for a meal with group users, similar to the fourth embodiment.

[0418] In the left screen of Fig. 5-1, by way of example and not limitation, a time limit setting icon IC50 for setting a time limit is displayed in the upper left corner of the preview display area PVR to the right of the search condition setting icon IC20. When this time limit setting icon IC50 is tapped, the screen in the center of Fig. 5-1 is displayed by way of example and not limitation.

[0419] Specifically, the text "Please set a time limit for answering the question" is displayed in the center of the screen, and below that is a time limit input area TSR for displaying the time limit entered via a keyboard or the like. In this example, a state is shown in which "6 hours (6:00:00)" has been input as the time limit by user AA. When the save button is tapped in this state, the time limit is set.

[0420] Thereafter, based on an operation by user AA to send the stamp content, the group talk room screen shown on the right in FIG. 5-1 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation. On this group chat room screen, the set time limit is displayed in countdown form at the bottom of the search condition content CCT50 displayed in the chat area TR.

[0421] FIG. 5-2 is a diagram showing an example of the group talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B of user BB, who is one of the destination group users, in the above example. In the group talk room screen on the left of Fig. 5-2, stamp content SCT20 and search condition content CCT52 are displayed in the talk area TR as content sent from user AA. In this example, the time limit set based on the input by user AA is displayed in countdown format below the join button BT30 in the search condition content CCT52.

[0422] After that, the time limit has elapsed and the countdown has reached "0:00:00," as shown in the center of Figure 5-2. In this state, when the participation button included in the search condition content is tapped by user BB, the screen on the right of FIG. 5-2 is displayed, as a non-limiting example. This screen shows an error screen including a message indicating that the question cannot be answered because the time limit has expired.

[0423] <Processing> In this embodiment, the control unit 21 of the source group user's terminal 20 performs, by way of example and not limitation, a time limit setting process for setting a time limit for answering a question, based on an input by the source group user to his / her own terminal 20, at or before or after step A220 in Fig. 3-6 or Fig. 4-1. Specifically, the time limit input via the input / output unit 23 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 28 as time limit setting information. In this case, the time limit may be set as one of the search condition settings in the search condition setting process in step A220, or the time limit may be set separately from the search condition settings in the search condition setting process in step A220.

[0424] In addition, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 of the source group user, by way of example and not limitation, in step A330 of Figures 3-6 and 4-1, displays a time limit based on the time limit setting information temporarily stored in the memory unit 28, by way of example and not limitation, in association with the stamp content or the search condition content. The time limit can be displayed in a countdown format based on the time information of the clock unit 29A of the terminal 20A, for example and not for limitation. In this case, the time limit can be displayed in any one of the following positions, for example and not for limitation: inside the search condition content, next to the search condition content, or next to the stamp content.

[0425] In addition, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 of the source group user, by way of example and not limitation, in step A135 of Figures 3-6 and 4-1, includes the time limit setting information temporarily stored in the memory unit 28 in the stamp transmission request information and transmits it to the server 10.

[0426] As a non-limiting example, in step S330 of Figures 3-6 and 4-1, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the stamp content, the search condition content, and the time limit setting information to the terminal 20 of the destination group user via the communication I / F 14. In this case, search condition content configured to display the time limit may be transmitted to the terminal 20 of the destination group user.

[0427] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 of the destination group user, by way of example and not limitation, in step B330 of Figures 3-6 and 4-1, displays the time limit based on the received time limit setting information in association with the received stamp content or the received search condition content. The time limit can be displayed in countdown form, for example and not by way of limitation, based on timekeeping information from the clock unit 29A of the terminal 20 of each destination group user.

[0428] In addition, the terminal 20 of the destination group user transmits question and answer request information including the content ID of the search condition content to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 in the question and answer process of B350.

[0429] In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 judges whether the time limit has passed or not. If it is judged that the time limit has not passed, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits information of the question and answer page to the terminal 20 of the destination group user. On the other hand, if it is judged that the time limit has passed, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits error information to the terminal 20 of the destination group user indicating that the question cannot be answered because the time limit has passed. In this way, it is possible to prevent the question from being answered once the time limit has elapsed.

[0430] Moreover, if the time limit has elapsed, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can proceed to step S360 and determine that the search execution condition has been met.

[0431] In the above example, the terminal 20 sets a time limit when transmitting the stamp content, but it is also possible not to set a time limit when transmitting the stamp content, but to set the time limit after transmitting the stamp content. In this case, as an example and not a limitation, a conductor for setting a time limit may be provided in the search condition content generated by the source user's terminal 20, or in the search condition content generated by the server 10 and transmitted to the source user's terminal 20, and the time limit may be set from this conductor.

[0432] In this embodiment, the terminal 20 of the source group user is configured to display time limit information in the talk room regarding the time limit for inputting an answer to a question (not a limitation, but an example of information for determining search results). As an example of the effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the time limit for inputting information for determining the search results can be confirmed by the terminal user by displaying it in the chat room.

[0433] Furthermore, this embodiment shows a configuration in which the terminal 20 of the source group user uses the control unit 21 to set a time limit for answering a question (not a limitation, but an example of information for determining search results) based on input to its own terminal 20. As an example of the effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the time limit for inputting information for determining the search results can be appropriately set based on the input to the terminal.

[0434] <Fifth Modification (1)> In the above embodiment, the time limit set in the source user's terminal 20 may be made changeable later.

[0435] Specifically, as a non-limiting example, between steps A330 and A140 in FIG. 3-6 and FIG. 4-1, the terminal 20 of the source group user determines whether an input to change the set time limit has been made to its own terminal 20. If it is determined that an input has been made, the terminal 20 performs a time limit change process. Specifically, the time limit input via the input / output unit 23 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 28 as time limit change information.

[0436] The time limit can be changed by the user who set the time limit (i.e., the sending user) tapping on the time limit display displayed in the search condition content as shown on the right of FIG. 5-1, or the time limit display displayed next to the search condition content or the stamp content, for example and not by way of limitation. Specifically, the sending user's terminal 20 displays a display for changing the time limit when the time limit display is tapped. Then, when the user performs an operation to change the time limit and performs an operation to save it, the time limit is changed.

[0437] As with the setting of the time limit, the time limit may be changed from a line for setting the time limit provided in the search condition content generated by the terminal 20 of the sending user, or in the search condition content generated by the server 10 and transmitted to the terminal 20 of the sending user.

[0438] Thereafter, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 of the source group user transmits, by way of example and not limitation, the time limit change information temporarily stored in the storage unit 28 to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. In response to this, the control unit 11 of the server 10 stores the time limit change information in the storage unit 15. The control unit 11 of the server 10 also transmits the time limit change information to the terminal 20 of the destination group user via the communication I / F 14.

[0439] The control unit 21 of the destination group user terminal 20 updates the time limit display based on the time limit change information received from the server 10.

[0440] In this modified example, a terminal 20 of a source group user has a control unit 21 that changes the above-mentioned time limit based on an input by the user of the terminal 20 itself. As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, the time limit for inputting information for determining search results can be easily and appropriately changed based on an input by a user of the terminal.

[0441] <Fifth Modification (2)> In the above embodiment, a time limit for answering a question is set in consideration of the possibility that search results may not be displayed until an answer is provided from a user who has not yet answered the question, but this is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, a source group user makes an input to his / her own terminal 20 via the input / output unit 23 to perform at least one of changing, adding, and deleting a destination group user who answers the question. Then, based on the input, the terminal 20 may use the control unit 21 to perform control regarding at least one of changing, adding, and deleting a destination group user who answers the question.

[0442] More specifically, after stamp content, etc. is transmitted to the terminal 20 of the destination group user, the source group user may make an input to his / her own terminal 20 via the input / output unit 23 to perform at least one of changing, adding, or deleting the destination group user who will answer the question.

[0443] In this case, as a non-limiting example, between steps A330 and A140 in Fig. 3-6 and Fig. 4-1, the terminal 20 of the source group user determines whether or not an input related to at least one of changing, adding, and deleting a destination group user who answers the question has been made to its own terminal 20. Then, if it is determined that such an input has been made, the control unit 21 performs control corresponding to the made input.

[0444] As an example and not by way of limitation, if there is a destination group user who has not responded after a certain amount of time has passed, the source group user can make an input to delete the destination group user from the question answer selection group users. In this case, the terminal 20 of the source group user transmits answerer deletion request information including the application ID of the destination group user specified to be deleted to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. In response to this, the server 10 can delete the destination group user of the application ID included in the received answerer deletion request information from the question and answer selection group users, and then determine whether the search execution condition is successful in step S360.

[0445] In this modified example, a talk room (not limited to this, but an example of a chat room) includes as group users a source group user (not limited to this, but an example of a user of a terminal), a first destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a first user of a first terminal), and a second destination group user (not limited to this, but an example of a second user of a second terminal).The source group user's terminal 20 is configured to use the control unit 21 to control at least one of changing, adding, and deleting the destination group user who inputs an answer (not limited to this, but an example of information for determining search results) to a question from the source group user, based on an input by the source group user. As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to target multiple users (first user, second user) other than the user of the terminal included in the chat room, and based on input by the user of the terminal, at least one of changing, adding, and deleting the user who inputs information to determine the search results can be performed, thereby improving user convenience.

[0446] <Fifth Modification (3)> In addition, without setting a time limit, a source group user who has requested an answer to a question may be able to input information into his / her terminal 20 and view the answers of destination group users who have answered, even if there are group users who have not answered yet.

[0447] In this case, by way of example and not limitation, between steps A330 and A140 in Fig. 3-6 and Fig. 4-1, the terminal 20 of the source group user determines whether or not an input for viewing the answer has been made to its own terminal 20. Then, if it is determined that an input has been made, the terminal 20 of the source group user transmits answer viewing request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0448] In response to this, the server 10 determines, by way of example and not limitation, the sender group users whose answers have already been tallied in the question and answer tabulation process in step S350 in FIG. 3-6 and FIG. 4-1, and transmits the answer results of those sender group users to the sender group user's terminal 20 via the communication I / F 14. The sender group user's terminal 20 then displays the received answer results on the display unit 24.

[0449] In this way, the source group user can understand what other members want based on the response results of the destination group users who have already responded, before receiving the search results.

[0450] <Sixth Example> The sixth embodiment is an embodiment that makes it possible to notify the user that a search condition has been set for stamp content for which the search condition has been set.

[0451] The contents described in the sixth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0452] <Display screen> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24A of the terminal 20A when notifying the user that a search condition has been set for stamp content for which a search condition has been set.

[0453] The left screen of FIG. 6 shows a state in which a plurality of stamp thumbnails corresponding to stamp contents are displayed in the stamp thumbnail display area STR. In this example, even if a search category is associated with a stamp, if all search categories are "not set," it is assumed that no search conditions are set.

[0454] In this example, for example and not limitation, a search condition set mark MK60 represented by a magnifying glass image is displayed in the upper left corner of the stamp thumbnail display area STR for stamp content for which search conditions have been set based on user input. That is, the stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content for which search conditions have been set is displayed with information indicating that the search conditions have been set. In contrast, the search condition set mark MK60 is not displayed for the stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content for which search conditions have not been set.

[0455] The search condition setting completion mark MK60 may be regarded as a part of the stamp thumbnail, or may be regarded as a separate entity from the stamp thumbnail.

[0456] The left screen of Fig. 6 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which the top left stamp thumbnail with the search condition set mark MK60 added thereto in the stamp thumbnail display area STR is tapped. As a result, by way of example and not limitation, the screen shown in the center of Fig. 6 is displayed.

[0457] On this screen, by way of example and not limitation, a preview image of stamp content including an illustration of a cat and the words "Let's eat!" and a search condition setting icon IC20 are displayed in the preview display area PVR. The search condition setting icon IC20 may be regarded as a part of the preview image of the stamp content, or may be regarded as a separate entity from the preview image of the stamp content.

[0458] The screen in the center of Fig. 6 shows, by way of example and not limitation, a state in which the search condition setting icon IC20 is tapped, which results in the screen shown on the right side of Fig. 6 being displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0459] This screen informs the user of the search conditions that have already been set for this stamp content; in this example, it is shown that "Western food" has been set in the selection field SJR for the search category "genre," and "Tokyo" has been set in the selection field SPR for the search category "location."

[0460] Also, on the right screen of FIG. 6, an icon similar to the search condition setting icon IC20 on the center screen of FIG. 6 is displayed to the left of the stamp content. This icon can function as a search condition change icon (or a search condition reset icon). That is, when this icon is tapped, the user can, for example and without limitation, reselect an arbitrary genre from the selection field SJR of the search category "genre" in a drum roll manner, and can also reselect an arbitrary place from the selection field SPR of the search category "place" in a drum roll manner. Also, the above-mentioned save button BT20 is displayed, and when this save button BT20 is tapped, the search conditions can be changed to the reselected search conditions.

[0461] <Processing> In the processing in this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, in the various processes in the aforementioned Figures 1-11, 2-3 to 2-4, 3-6, 4-1, etc., when making a determination in step A115, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays a list of stamp thumbnails in the stamp thumbnail list area.

[0462] At this time, the control unit 21 displays the stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content for which search conditions have been set by adding, as a non-limiting example, information indicating that search conditions have been set (hereinafter referred to as "search condition setting notification information") to the stamp thumbnail.

[0463] The search condition setting notification information may be, by way of example and not limitation, text indicating that a search condition has been set or an image such as the magnifying glass icon described above. In response to this, the control unit 21 displays the stamp thumbnails corresponding to the stamp contents for which no search conditions are set as they are.

[0464] Furthermore, based on the detection of an input for selecting a stamp thumbnail, in step A120, the control unit 21 causes a preview image including an image of the stamp content corresponding to the selected stamp thumbnail to be displayed in the preview display area.

[0465] As described above, the preview image may refer to the image of the stamp content displayed in the preview display area, or the entire preview display area may be regarded as an image and used to refer to the preview display area.

[0466] When a stamp content for which a search condition is set is displayed as a preview, the control unit 21 displays the search condition setting notification information together with the image of the stamp content in the preview display area. On the other hand, when previewing stamp content for which no search condition is set, the control unit 21 does not display the search condition setting notification information.

[0467] Furthermore, when the control unit 21 detects an operation on the search condition setting notification information displayed in the preview display area, it displays the set search condition on the display unit 24.

[0468] Furthermore, after the control unit 21 displays the set search conditions on the display unit 24, if the control unit 21 detects an operation on the search condition setting notification information, for example and not by way of limitation, it displays a display for changing the search conditions. If the above-mentioned (1) direct input method is applied, a search condition input field can be displayed so that the user can directly input using a keyboard or the like. If the above-mentioned (2) selection input method is applied, search category selection candidates can be displayed and the user can select one from among them.

[0469] Then, the control unit 21 performs a search condition change process based on the tapping of the save button, for example and not limitation. Specifically, the control unit 21 updates the set search conditions with the search conditions input by the user.

[0470] It should be noted that it is not essential to display the search condition setting notification information as long as the display mode of the stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content for which the search condition is set is different from the display mode of the stamp thumbnail corresponding to the stamp content for which the search condition is not set. As a non-limiting example, the brightness of the stamp thumbnail to be displayed may be changed.

[0471] Note that the change in search conditions is not limited to changing information within the same search category, and may or may not include changing the search category to a different search category. For example, if the search category is "location" and the set information is "Tokyo," the former may include changing "Tokyo" to another prefecture (Chiba, etc.). Also, if the search category is "genre" and the set information is "Western food," the former may include changing "Western food" to another genre (Japanese food, etc.).

[0472] In contrast, the latter may include, when a search category includes "location" and "genre," changing some or all of these to a different search category, such as, but not limited to, changing the search category "location" to the search category "movies," "games," or "recipes."

[0473] <Effects of the Sixth Embodiment> In this embodiment, the terminal 20 displays a stamp thumbnail (not limited to this, but an example of a reduced image of image information) on the display unit 24. Then, based on an input to the stamp thumbnail, the terminal 20 performs control to transmit the corresponding stamp content to the terminal 20 of a destination user included in the talk room via the communication I / F 22, and control to display the corresponding stamp content in the talk room, through the control unit 21. In this case, a stamp thumbnail of stamp content for which a search condition is set (not limited to this, but an example of a first reduced image) and a stamp thumbnail of stamp content for which a search condition is not set (not limited to this, but an example of a second reduced image) are displayed in different ways. As an example of the effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, after a reduced image of the image information is viewed by a user of the terminal, the image information can be transmitted to a first terminal based on an input by the user of the terminal for the reduced image, so that the first user can confirm the image information, and the user of the terminal can also confirm the image information. Also, the user of the terminal can recognize whether the search information is a reduced image of the set image information.

[0474] Furthermore, this embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the sending user's terminal 20 displays a preview image of the corresponding stamp (not limited, but an example of a first preview image related to the first reduced image) on the display unit 24 based on an input for a stamp thumbnail (not limited, but an example of a first reduced image) of stamp content for which search conditions are set, and displays a preview image of the corresponding stamp (not limited, but an example of a second preview image related to the second reduced image) on the display unit 24 based on an input for a stamp thumbnail (not limited, but an example of a second preview image related to the second reduced image) of stamp content for which search conditions are not set. As an example of the effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to enable a user of a terminal to recognize a first reduced-size image that was input, or image information for which search conditions corresponding to that first reduced-size image are set, and it is also possible to enable a user of a terminal to recognize a second reduced-size image that was input, or image information for which search conditions corresponding to that second reduced-size image are not set.

[0475] In this case, the preview image (not limiting, an example of a first preview image) related to the stamp thumbnail (not limiting, an example of a first reduced image) of the stamp content for which the search condition is set includes a display (not limiting, an example of a first display) of the search condition setting notification information. Then, based on the user's input to this display, the source user's terminal 20 can display on the display unit 24 the search condition (not limiting, an example of a first search condition) set for the stamp content related to the preview screen. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to enable a user of the terminal to confirm the first search criteria set in the image information based on an input to the first display included in the first preview image.

[0476] In this case, after the user of the sending user's terminal 20 inputs information on the display of the search condition setting notification information, the control unit 21 can control the sending user's terminal 20 to change the search condition (not a limitation, but an example of a first search condition) set in the stamp content related to the above-mentioned preview screen to another search condition (not a limitation, but an example of a second search condition) based on the change input by the user of the sending user's terminal 20. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, after input to a first display included in a first preview image, the first search condition set in the image information can be easily and appropriately changed to a second search condition based on input by a user of the terminal.

[0477] <Seventh Example> The seventh embodiment is an embodiment relating to a use case different from the above-described embodiments. The contents described in the seventh embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. In addition, components that are the same as those already described are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0478] In addition to searching for restaurants and stores as described above, other use cases for the techniques disclosed herein include, by way of example and not limitation, the following: (1) Recipe search (2) Video search (including movie search, program search, voice calls, etc.) (3) Game search (4) Shopping search (including store search) (5) News search

[0479] Below, as examples and not limitations, cases where (1) recipe search and (2) video search are applied will be illustrated.

[0480] (1) In recipe searches, the search categories among the search conditions set in the stamp content can include, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of the following: "cuisine genre" (Japanese, Western, Chinese, etc.), "budget," "number of people," "situation" (party, Christmas, New Year, celebration, ordinary household, etc.), "ingredients" (meat, fish, vegetables, etc.), "cooking method" (hot pot, stir-fry, stew, etc.), etc.

[0481] (2) In video searches, the search categories among the search conditions set in the stamp content may include, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of the following: "service" (such as the name of the video distribution service or the name of the video distribution service provider), "genre" (such as the genre of video), "video length / time", etc.

[0482] (1) Recipe search FIG. 7-1 is a diagram showing an example of search condition setting stamp data stored in the search condition setting stamp database 287 of the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. This search condition setting stamp data is similar to the search condition setting stamp data in the search condition setting stamp database 287C shown in FIG. 2-5, but the contents are partially different.

[0483] Specifically, a "recipe" is stored in the stamp category. As search categories, a number of categories such as "cuisine genre", "number of people", and "budget per person" are stored as examples and not by way of limitation. In the search category selection candidates, selection candidates corresponding to each of the above search categories are stored.

[0484] The stamp in the frontmost stamp-specific data in Figure 7-1 shows that, based on user input, the search category "Cuisine genre" has been set to "Western food," the search category "Number of people" has been set to "4 people," and the search category "Budget" has been set to "2,000 yen to 4,999 yen."

[0485] <Display screen> 7-2 to 7-4 are diagrams showing an example of transition of screens displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. In the left screen of Fig. 7-2, the stamp category "Recipe" is selected from the stamp category display area SCR, and as a result, stamp thumbnails corresponding to the stamp content included in the stamp category "Recipe" are displayed in a list in the stamp thumbnail display area STR. Also, in this example, the stamp thumbnail represented by the illustration of "scales and measuring cup" at the top left of the stamp thumbnail display area STR is tapped by the user AA, and a preview image of the stamp content corresponding to this stamp thumbnail is displayed in the preview display area PVR.

[0486] In this state, when the user AA taps on a search condition setting icon IC20 in the upper left corner of the preview display area PVR, the screen in the center of FIG. 7-2 is displayed, by way of example and not limitation. This screen allows the user to set search conditions using the selection input method described above, and displays the text "Select search conditions" along with selection fields SJR, SNR, and SBR for selecting conditions corresponding to each of the search categories "Cuisine genre," "Number of people," and "Budget per person" in a drum roll format.

[0487] The screen on the right of Figure 7-2 shows the search criteria selected by user AA by operating the selection fields described above. In this example, "Western food" has been entered into the search category "Cuisine genre," "4 people" into the search category "Number of people," and "2,000 to 4,999 yen" into the search category "Budget per person."

[0488] When the Save button BT20 at the bottom of the screen is tapped in this state, the screen on the left in Figure 7-3 is displayed. This screen is the same as the screen including the preview image shown on the left in Figure 7-2, and when the preview image is tapped, the screen on the right in Figure 7-3 is displayed.

[0489] On this screen, stamp content SCT70 selected by user AA is displayed in the talk area TR, and below that, search criterion content CCT70 corresponding to the set search criterion is displayed. Below that, a list of search results searched by the server 10 based on the set search conditions is displayed. In this example, multiple search results related to Western food recipes, such as recipes for "hamburger steak" and "butter chicken curry", are displayed.

[0490] Each search result has a recipe view button BT71 containing the words "View Recipe" along with an image of the dish, and when the recipe view button BT71 is tapped, an internal page containing details of the recipe is displayed, by way of example and not limitation. In this example, the view recipe button BT71 corresponding to the search result for "hamburger steak" recipes has been tapped, which results in the left internal page of FIG. 7-4 being displayed, by way of example and not limitation.

[0491] The inner page on the left of Figure 7-4 shows an image of a "hamburger steak" along with the ingredients and corresponding quantities of the "hamburger steak." In this example, based on the fact that "4 people" is set as the search category "Number of people" in the screen on the right of Figure 7-2, the server 10 calculates the amount of ingredients for 4 people and displays a recipe for ingredients (for 4 people).

[0492] As a non-limiting example, when the image of "Hamburger" is tapped, the external page shown on the right of Figure 7-4 is displayed as an external page that publishes the recipe for this hamburger based on the link information. This external page is a web page that publishes the above-mentioned recipe for "Hamburger" on a website named "XYZ Recipe." On this webpage, the recipe for the above mentioned "hamburger steak" is published with serving size for "two people."

[0493] In other words, in this example, the server 10 calculates the amount for "4 people" from the information on the amount for "2 people" published on the "XYZ Recipe" page, and then provides the information on the internal page shown on the left of Figure 7-4 to the terminal 20.

[0494] <Processing> The processing in this embodiment is not limited to the above, but can be applied to the processing in FIGS. 2-3 to 2-4, 3-6, 4-1, etc., by way of example. Below, a process different from the case where these processes are applied will be described.

[0495] FIG. 7-5 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in this embodiment, and illustrates a portion corresponding to FIG. 4-1. After S130, the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs a search result adjustment process (S535). Specifically, the information included in the search results found in the search process is adjusted based on, for example and not by way of limitation, the number of people in the group and the number of people included in the set search criteria.

[0496] More specifically, for each search result of a recipe found in the search process, the control unit 11 adjusts the quantity information by calculating the quantity when applying the number of people included in the set search conditions based on the quantity information in the source information (external information, for example and not limitation).

[0497] This kind of information adjustment can be considered a type of information organization as mentioned above. Adjusting information cannot be considered to be falsifying the original information.

[0498] Thereafter, the control unit 11, by way of example and not limitation, transmits list information of search results including the adjusted information (hereinafter referred to as "adjustment information") to the terminal 20 of the source group user and the terminal 20 of the destination group user, respectively, via the communication I / F 14. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 11 can transmit to the terminal 20 search results including a data ID, link information of an internal page including the adjustment information, and link information of an external page including the original information.

[0499] There may be cases where the number of people in a search category is set to "not set." It is also possible to omit the "number of people" category from the search categories. In these cases, the control unit 11 of the server 10, in the search result adjustment process of S535, can calculate the amount in the above example based on any one of the following numbers of people, by way of example and not limitation. Number of people in the group: "N" Number of users in the question answer selection group +1 Number of people who answered the question +1 However, this is the case when a user in the sending group does not answer the question.

[0500] In addition, if users in the sender group also answer the question, the following is an example, not a limitation: Number of people in the group: "N" Number of group users who selected the question and answer (including the sender group users) Number of people who answered the question It can be said that:

[0501] (2) Video search FIG. 7-6 is a diagram showing an example of search condition setting stamp data stored in the search condition setting stamp database 287 of the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. This search condition setting stamp data is similar to the search condition setting stamp data in the search condition setting stamp database 287C shown in FIG. 2-5, but the contents are partially different.

[0502] Specifically, a "moving image" is stored in the stamp category. As the search category, a plurality of categories such as "service" and "genre" are stored as examples and not by way of limitation. In the search category selection candidates, selection candidates corresponding to each of the above search categories are stored.

[0503] The service may be the name of a video streaming service or the name of a provider of the video streaming service. By way of example and not of limitation, a messaging service provider may be in partnership with a provider of a video streaming service. The genre may be the genre of the video.

[0504] The search category selection candidates store search category selection candidates corresponding to each of the above search categories.

[0505] The stamp at the front of the stamp-specific data in Figure 7-6 shows that, based on user input, the search category "Service" has been set to "XXX video distribution service," and the search category "Genre" has been set to "Christmas videos."

[0506] <Display screen> FIG. 7-7 is a diagram showing an example of transition of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. The left side of Figure 7-7 is the group chat room screen described in the fourth embodiment. In this example, user AA has suggested that the video be viewed by all of his seminar classmates, and stamp content has been sent. The search condition content CCT80 displayed below the stamp content displays the text "Let's decide on a movie to watch together!" along with information indicating that the search category "Service" is set to "XXX video distribution service" and the search category "Genre" is set to "Christmas."

[0507] In addition, search results of multiple videos related to Christmas, such as "Christmas Movie A" and "Christmas Movie B", are displayed as search results of videos searched by the server 10 under the above search conditions. In this state, when the simultaneous viewing button BT72, which includes the characters "Watch together" included in the search result of "Christmas Movie A", is tapped, the screen in the center of FIG. 7-7 is displayed, for example and not for limitation.

[0508] In this screen, as an example and not a limitation, a video call is started, and the images of four seminar group users, User AA, User BB, User CC, and User DD, are displayed in the four divided areas. In this state, as an example and not a limitation, when User AA taps the video playback button BT73 at the bottom of the screen, the screen on the right of FIG. 7-7 is displayed, as an example and not a limitation.

[0509] On this screen, the video of "Christmas Movie A" distributed by the "XXX video distribution service" that was requested for simultaneous viewing is displayed and played in the video area at the top of the screen. In addition, the images of the four members of the group are displayed in reduced size in the area below the video area. Also, at the top of the screen, the words "AA is playing" are displayed, indicating that user AA has performed an operation to play the video.

[0510] In this example, the case where the video viewing button BT72 is tapped by user AA is shown, but the same behavior occurs when the video viewing button BT72 is tapped by another group user. Also, this example shows a case where the video play button BT73 is tapped by user AA, but the same behavior occurs when the video play button BT73 is tapped by another group user.

[0511] Also, while this example shows a case where a group watches a video simultaneously, the same applies when two users chatting in a one-on-one chat room watch a video simultaneously.

[0512] <Processing> The processing in this embodiment is not limited to the above, but can be applied to the processing in FIGS. 2-3 to 2-4, 3-6, 4-1, etc., by way of example. Below, a process different from the case where these processes are applied will be described.

[0513] 7-8 are diagrams showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in this embodiment, and show the parts corresponding to FIG. 2-4. After A140, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not an input has been made to request simultaneous viewing of one of the search results for a video from the video search result list (A550).

[0514] If it is determined that the request has been received (A550), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits simultaneous viewing request information, including the data ID of the search result of the selected video, to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A560).

[0515] When the simultaneous viewing request information is received by the communication I / F 14 (S550: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 starts call control (S560). Specifically, as a non-limiting example, the control unit 11 controls to start a video call between the terminal 20A and the terminal 20B.

[0516] Thereafter, the control unit 11 starts the relay process (S570). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 11 accesses a server of a video distribution service (hereinafter, referred to as a "video distribution service server") that distributes videos based on the video information of the data ID included in the received simultaneous viewing request information, and requests distribution of the corresponding video. It should be noted that the video distribution service server is not shown in the figure.

[0517] In response to video distribution from the video distribution service server, the control unit 11 relays the video distribution to the terminals 20A and 20B. That is, the server 10 can function as a relay server (proxy server) that relays the video distribution.

[0518] After A560, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays a relay screen including the video on the display unit 24 (A570). Similarly, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B displays a relay screen including the video on the display unit 24 (B570).

[0519] After A570, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A controls the playback of the video based on a user input via the input / output unit 23 (A580). Specifically, based on an input to start, pause, end playback, etc. of the video, corresponding playback request information is transmitted to the server 10. In response to this, the control unit 11 accesses the distribution server and requests to start, pause, end playback, etc. of the video. Similarly, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B also controls the playback of the video based on a user input via the input / output unit 23 (B580).

[0520] After A580, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A judges whether or not to end simultaneous viewing (A590), and if it is judged not to end (A590: NO), returns the process to A580. On the other hand, if it is determined that simultaneous viewing is to end (A590: YES), the relay screen is hidden and the process returns to the talk room. Then, the process proceeds to A190. The same is true for terminal 20B (B590: NO → B580, B590: YES → B190).

[0521] In the above process, terminal 20A requests simultaneous viewing from server 10. However, as described above, terminal 20B may also be able to request simultaneous viewing from server 10. In this case, steps similar to steps A550 and A560 may be performed by control unit 21 of terminal 20B. In other words, simultaneous viewing may be requested from terminal 20 of any user to server 10.

[0522] The same applies when the above process is applied to the groups mentioned above. In this case, as an example and not a limitation, a request for simultaneous viewing may be made to the server 10 from the terminals 20 of any of the group users.

[0523] <Effects of the Seventh Embodiment> In this embodiment, the search results are information related to recipes, and the search results are adjusted based on the search conditions and displayed on the terminal 20. As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, appropriate search results in which information is adjusted based on the search conditions can be presented.

[0524] In this embodiment, the search results are information related to video information, and the source user's terminal 20 displays the video on the display unit 24 based on an input by the user of its own terminal 20 (not limited to this, but an example of an input by a user of the terminal) or an input by the destination user (not limited to this, but an input by a first user). Also, this video is displayed on the source user's terminal 20 (not limited to this, but an example of an input by a user of the terminal) or an input by the destination user (not limited to this, but an input by a first user). As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, based on input by a user of the terminal or input by the first user, moving images based on video information can be shared between the user's terminal and the first user's terminal.

[0525] <Seventh Modification (1)> In the above embodiment, the target of adjustment in the search result adjustment process is the quantity information of the search category "recipes", but this is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, various information that may vary depending on the number of people can be the target of adjustment in the search result adjustment process.

[0526] To take one example, but not to be limited thereto, when users go out to "dine" together, as described above, the external information about the restaurant stored in the search engine database 155 may include information about the average budget per person for dining at that restaurant. In such a case, the server 10 can adjust the amount information by calculating the average total amount by multiplying the average budget per person by the number of participants, based on the number of participants for the meal being specified as a search condition.

[0527] <Seventh Modification (2)> In the above embodiment, an example in which a video is simultaneously viewed while a video call is being made has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The call control performed by the control unit 11 of the server 10 in S560 of FIG. 7-8 may be voice call control, so that users can simultaneously watch videos while making a voice call. Alternatively, it may be possible to simply simultaneously watch a video without making a call.

[0528] Furthermore, when the server 10 transmits a list of search results for videos to the terminal 20, it may transmit to the terminal 20 only search results for videos related to services that allow simultaneous viewing.

[0529] In a registration-based video distribution service, only users who have registered an account can watch videos. In this case, the messaging service provider obtains information on whether an account has been registered from the video distribution service provider with which it is affiliated, or obtains information on whether an account has been registered from the user.

[0530] In a one-to-one talk room search, the server 10 transmits to each terminal 20 only search results of videos from video distribution services for which both the source user and the destination user have registered accounts. Similarly, in a search in a group talk room, the server 10 transmits to each terminal 20 only the search results of videos from video distribution services for which all group users have registered accounts.

[0531] <Other Examples> (1) Image information In the above embodiment, a stamp (stamp content) is exemplified as image information for which a search condition is set, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image information other than a stamp may be used as long as it is image information.

[0532] (2) Subject of search In the above embodiment, the search process is performed by the server 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, a distributed search engine may be configured, or a search database may be configured in terminal 20, so that terminal 20 takes the lead in performing search processing, or this is not essential. In this case, the user's terminal can be configured to control the transmission of search results, searched by the terminal's control unit based on search conditions set in the image information, to the first terminal via the terminal's communication unit, and to control the display of the search results in the chat room, using the terminal's control unit.

[0533] (3) Search based on stamp content with no search criteria set Unlike the above embodiment, it is also possible to perform a search based on stamp contents for which no search conditions are set. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, questions may be asked based on stamp content with no search criteria set.

[0534] More specifically, various questions are posed to the destination user (which may include the sending user, as described above) based on the transmission of stamp content with no search conditions set by the sending user's terminal 20. A search may then be performed based on the answers to those questions. In other words, the trigger for the search is the transmission of the stamp content, but no search conditions are set in the stamp content, and the search results may be determined based on the answers to the questions (which may be called the results of voting).

[0535] (4) Questions In the above embodiment, an example was given in which a multiple-choice question was presented, prompting a user to choose between two options, but the present invention is not limited to this. By way of example and not limitation, multiple choice questions may or may not be presented with three or more options to answer. Also, questions may or may not be posed in a written format rather than multiple choice format.

[0536] (5) Notifications and announcements In the terminal 20 of the destination user requested to answer the question by the source user, the content for answering the question (the above-mentioned search condition content, for example and not limitation) may be buried due to, for example and not limitation, a large amount of content being exchanged. In other words, the user may not know which content to use to answer the question.

[0537] Therefore, as a non-limiting example, after the server 10 transmits the search condition content to the terminal 20, during the period until the question is answered, the server 10 may periodically notify the terminal 20 that the question has not been answered (notification that the question is unanswered). In this case, the terminal 20 can inform the user of the content of the notification by push notification or the like.

[0538] Also, as a non-limiting example, the announcement function of a messaging application may be used to display search condition content for answering a question as a fixed announcement at a specified position, such as at the top of a chat room. In this case, when a user taps on a fixedly displayed announcement, the content ID of the corresponding search condition content is obtained by terminal 20 and moved to the position of that search condition content, i.e., a talk area TR containing that search condition content is displayed on the screen.

[0539] (6) Stamp category information In the above embodiment, the stamp category associated with the search condition setting stamp and the stamp category associated with the normal stamp may be displayed together in the stamp category display area SCR.

[0540] In this case, the user may not be able to recognize whether the stamp category displayed in the stamp category display area SCR corresponds to a search condition setting stamp or a normal stamp. Therefore, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 can, by way of example and not limitation, display the stamp category corresponding to the search condition setting stamps in a different manner from the display mode of the stamp category corresponding to the normal stamps.

[0541] As a non-limiting example, when icon images indicating stamp categories are displayed in the stamp category display area SCR as in the embodiment described above, the display manner of the icon image indicating the stamp category of a search condition setting stamp can be made different from the display manner of the icon image indicating the stamp category of a normal stamp. As a non-limiting example, the icon image indicating the stamp category of a search condition setting stamp may be displayed with the magnifying glass mark or the like as described above, but the icon image indicating the stamp category of a normal stamp may not be displayed with the magnifying glass mark or the like. Also, as a non-limiting example, the icon image indicating the stamp category of a search condition setting stamp may be displayed with a specific character (such as "search" as in "search" or the "S" as in "Search"), or may be displayed brighter than the icon image indicating the stamp category of a normal stamp (i.e., the brightness may be changed).

[0542] As mentioned above, even if a stamp has search conditions set, if no search conditions are set, the stamp can function as a normal stamp. Therefore, as a non-limiting example, if there is no stamp content with search conditions set in the same stamp category, the stamp category can be treated as a stamp category for normal stamps. In such a case, the same procedure can be followed as above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0543] 1. Communication Systems 10 Server 20 Terminals 30 Network

Claims

1. A program executed by a terminal that displays a chat room including a first user of the first terminal, displaying the chat room on a display unit of the terminal; displaying, in the chat room, image information for which a search condition is set based on an input to the chat room by a user of the terminal; The terminal executes control of transmitting search results, which are searched based on the search conditions set in the image information, to the first terminal via a communication unit of the terminal, and control of displaying the search results in the chat room, via a control unit of the terminal.

2. The program according to claim 1, The search criteria are input by a user of the terminal.

3. The program according to claim 2, The search conditions are set in a plurality of categories, and the user of the terminal inputs conditions for each of the plurality of categories.

4. The program according to claim 1, The search conditions are set for the image information before the image information is received by the terminal.

5. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The search results are determined based on the search conditions and the first information input to the first terminal.

6. The program according to claim 5, The first information includes information of an answer to a question displayed on the first terminal based on the search conditions.

7. The program according to claim 5 or 6, the chat room includes a user of the terminal, the first user, and a second user different from the first user; The search results are determined based on the search criteria and the first information, without second information being input to the second terminal of the second user, based on input by a user of the terminal, and are displayed in the chat room.

8. The program according to claim 5 or 6, the chat room includes a user of the terminal, the first user, and a second user different from the first user; The search results are determined based on the first information entered into the first terminal by the first user selected by a user of the terminal and the search conditions, and are displayed in the chat room.

9. The program according to claim 5 or 6, the chat room includes a user of the terminal, the first user, and a second user different from the first user; The terminal executes, based on an input by a user of the terminal, control regarding at least one of changing, adding, and deleting a user who inputs information for determining the search results, using the control unit.

10. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The search results are determined based on the search criteria and third information entered into the terminal by a user of the terminal, and are displayed in the chat room.

11. The program according to any one of claims 5 to 10, Displaying time limit information in the chat room regarding a time limit for entering information for determining the search results is performed by the terminal.

12. The program according to claim 11, The terminal executes control to change the time limit using the control unit based on an input by a user of the terminal.

13. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 12, displaying a reduced image of the image information on the display unit; a control unit that controls the communication unit to transmit the image information to the first terminal based on an input by a user of the terminal with respect to the reduced image, and a control unit that controls the display of the image information in the chat room, the control unit being executed by the terminal; The first reduced image of the image information for which the search condition is set and the second reduced image of the image information for which the search condition is not set are displayed in different manners.

14. The program according to claim 13, The terminal executes the following: based on input by a user of the terminal regarding the first reduced-size image, a first preview image related to the first reduced-size image is displayed on the display unit; and based on input by the user of the terminal regarding the second reduced-size image, a second preview image related to the second reduced-size image is displayed on the display unit.

15. The program according to claim 14, the first preview image includes a first representation; The terminal executes a process of displaying, on the display unit, a first search criterion set for the image information related to the first preview image, based on an input by a user of the terminal with respect to the first display.

16. The program according to claim 15, After a user of the terminal makes an input regarding the first display, the control unit is executed by the terminal to control changing the first search condition set in the image information related to the first preview image to a second search condition based on the input by the user of the terminal.

17. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 16, The search results are information about video information, A video based on the video information is displayed on the display unit based on an input by a user of the terminal or an input by the first user, The video is displayed on the first terminal based on input by a user of the terminal or based on input by the first user.

18. 1. An information processing method for a terminal that displays a chat room including a first user of a first terminal, comprising: displaying the chat room on a display unit of the terminal; displaying, in the chat room, image information for which a search condition is set based on an input to the chat room by a user of the terminal; This includes controlling a control unit of the terminal to transmit search results searched based on the search conditions set in the image information to the first terminal via a communication unit of the terminal, and controlling the display of the search results in the chat room.

19. A terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal, A display unit that displays the chat room; a control unit that controls displaying, in the chat room, image information for which a search condition is set, based on an input to the chat room by a user of the terminal; The control unit controls the transmission of search results searched based on the search conditions set in the image information to the first terminal via a communication unit of the terminal, and controls the display of the search results in the chat room.

20. A terminal displaying a chat room including a first user of a first terminal, A processor is provided for reading a program stored in a memory and executing a process based on the program, The processor, displaying the chat room on a display unit of the terminal; displaying, in the chat room, image information for which a search condition is set based on an input to the chat room by a user of the terminal; The device executes control to transmit search results searched based on the search conditions set in the image information to the first terminal via a communication unit of the terminal, and control to display the search results in the chat room.

Images