Information Processing Apparatus and Information Processing Program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of reducing operations in the case of using two chat rooms and posting a talk as a response to a talk posted to a first chat room after generating the talk in a second chat room.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises a processor. The processor performs first submitting processing for posting a first talk posted to a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, and performs second submitting processing for submitting a second talk which was posted to the second chat room by a user in the second chat room to the first chat room as a responce talk to the first talk.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 aims to provide a system, method, and program for reducing the burden on respondents while maintaining the quality of the content of answers to questions using text chat. The server provides a predetermined service to a user who operates a user terminal and has a function for assisting an answer by a respondent to a question from a user (questioner) of the predetermined service. The server discloses that a candidate for an answer generated based on the content of the question and the content of the answer performance information database (information for answer generation) or a message manually input as an answer from the respondent is provided to the questioner as an answer to the question.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When using two chat rooms and posting a talk that is a response to a talk posted in the first chat room in the first chat room after generating it in the second chat room, the user needs to perform operations in separate chat rooms, which is cumbersome. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing program that reduce the operations when using two chat rooms and posting a talk that is a response to a talk posted in the first chat room in the first chat room after generating it in the second chat room.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The gist of the present invention for achieving such an object resides in the inventions of the following respective items. Note that the "claims" mentioned below refer to the claims at the initial filing. The invention according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus including a processor, wherein the processor performs a first posting process of posting a first talk posted in a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, and performs a second posting process of posting, to the first chat room, a second talk posted to the second chat room by a user in the second chat room as a talk in response to the first talk with respect to the first talk.

[0006] The invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the second posting process, the processor posts the second talk to the first chat room as a talk with respect to the first talk in accordance with a response from a user in the second chat room with respect to the second talk.

[0007] The invention according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor uses a selection of a response icon provided in the chat room.

[0008] The invention according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the response is a negative response, the processor prompts a user who gave the negative response to post an alternative.

[0009] The invention according to claim 5 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor prompts a user who has not made a response to make a response.

[0010] The invention according to claim 6 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first chat room is a public chat room and the second chat room is a private chat room.

[0011] The invention according to claim 7 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor does not post to the first chat room unless the post in the second chat room is subject to the second posting process.

[0012] The invention according to claim 8 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor prompts a user designated as the user who posts the second talk to give a response indicating consent.

[0013] The invention according to claim 9 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when there is a response indicating rejection from the designated user, the processor designates, to other users, the user who posts the second talk, by using the selection of a response icon provided in the chat room.

[0014] The invention according to claim 10 is an information processing program for causing a processor of a computer including the processor to execute a process of performing a first posting process of posting a first talk posted in a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, and a second posting process of posting, to the first chat room, a second talk posted to the second chat room by a user in the second chat room as a talk in response to the first talk.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 1, when generating a talk that is a response to a talk posted in a first chat room in a second chat room and then posting it to the first chat room by using two chat rooms, the operation can be reduced.

[0016] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 2, the second talk can be posted to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk in accordance with a response from a user in the second chat room to the second talk.

[0017] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 3, the selection of the response icon provided in the chat room can be used as a response from the user in the second chat room.

[0018] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 4, it is possible to prompt a user who has given a negative response to post an alternative.

[0019] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 5, it is possible to prompt a user who has not responded to respond.

[0020] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 6, the first chat room can be a public chat room, and the second chat room can be a private chat room.

[0021] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 7, posts in the second chat room can be prevented from being posted to the first chat room except when the second posting process is performed.

[0022] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 8, it is possible to prompt a user designated as the user who posts the second talk to give a response indicating consent.

[0023] According to the information processing apparatus of claim 9, the selection of the response icon provided in the chat room can be used as a response indicating a specified rejection from the user, and another user can be specified.

[0024] According to the information processing program of claim 10, when using two chat rooms, for a talk that is a response to a talk posted in the first chat room, after generating the talk in the second chat room and then posting it to the first chat room, the operation can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment for realizing the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a conceptual module configuration diagram of the configuration example of the present embodiment. Note that a module generally refers to components such as software that can be logically separated (where "software" includes computer programs) and hardware. Therefore, the modules in this embodiment refer not only to the modules in a computer program but also to the modules in a hardware configuration. Hence, this embodiment also includes an explanation of a computer program (for example, a program for causing a computer to execute respective procedures, a program for causing a computer to function as respective means, a program for causing a computer to realize respective functions), a system, and a method. However, for convenience of explanation, the terms "store" and "cause to store" and their equivalent expressions are used, and in the case where the embodiment is a computer program, these expressions mean to store in a storage device or to control so as to store in a storage device. Also, a module may correspond one-to-one to a function, but in implementation, one module may be constituted by one program, or a plurality of modules may be constituted by one program, and conversely, one module may be constituted by a plurality of programs. Also, a plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Also, hereinafter, the term "connection" is used not only for a physical connection but also for a logical connection (for example, data transfer, instruction, reference relationship between data, login, etc.). The term "predetermined" means determined before the target process, and includes the meaning that it is determined according to the situation / state at that time or the situation / state until then even after the process according to this embodiment has started, as long as it is before the target process. When there are a plurality of "predetermined values", they may be different from each other, or two or more values (including, of course, all values) may be the same. Also, the description "when A is true, do B" is used to mean "judge whether A is true or not, and if it is judged that A is true, do B".However, this does not include the case where it is not necessary to determine whether it is A. Also, when listing things such as "A, B, C", it is an illustrative enumeration unless otherwise specified, and includes the case where only one of them is selected (for example, only A). In addition, a system or device is composed of a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, etc. connected by communication means such as a network (the "network" includes a one-to-one communication connection), and also includes the case where it is realized by one computer, hardware, device, etc. "Device" and "system" are used as synonymous terms. Of course, the "system" does not include something that is only an artificial agreement, that is, a social "mechanism" (that is, a social system). Also, for each process by each module or when performing a plurality of processes within a module, for each such process, the target information is read from the storage device, and after performing the process, the processing result is written to the storage device. Therefore, the description of reading from the storage device before the process and writing to the storage device after the process may be omitted in some cases.

[0027] The information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function of performing, in particular, cooperation processing between two chat rooms in the chat processing of the chat system. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 100 has at least a processor 105 and a memory 110, and is configured by a bus 198 for exchanging data by connecting them. In addition, the information processing apparatus 100 may have an output device 185, a reception device 190, and a communication device 195. Then, data is exchanged between the processor 105, the memory 110, the output device 185, the reception device 190, and the communication device 195 via the bus 198.

[0028] Note that the block diagram shown in the example of FIG. 1 also shows an example of the hardware configuration of a computer that implements this embodiment. The hardware configuration of a computer on which the program as this embodiment is executed is a computer such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, specifically, a personal computer, a computer that can be a server, etc. As a specific example, the processor 105 is used as a processing unit, and the memory 110 is used as a storage device. The processor 105 may be one or plural. Examples of the processor 105 include a CPU (abbreviation for Central Processing Unit), a microprocessor, etc. When plural processors 105 are used, it may be in any form of a tightly coupled multiprocessor or a loosely coupled multiprocessor. For example, plural processor cores may be mounted within one processor 105. Further, it may be a system that connects plural computers via a communication path and causes them to behave virtually like one computer. As a specific example, it may be a loosely coupled multiprocessor and may be configured as a cluster system or a computer cluster. The processor 105 executes the program in the program memory 140.

[0029] As the memory 110, for example, it may include a semiconductor memory inside the processor 105 such as a register or a cache memory, or it may be a main memory which is a main storage device constituted by a RAM (abbreviation for Random Access Memory), a ROM (abbreviation for Read Only Memory), etc., or it may be an internal storage device of an HDD (abbreviation for Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (abbreviation for Solid State Drive) having a function as a persistent storage device, an external storage device or an auxiliary storage device such as a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc, a USB memory, a memory card, etc., or it may also include a storage device such as a server connected via a communication line. Memory 110 mainly has a data memory 120 for storing data and a program memory 140 for storing programs. Note that in addition to the information shown in the figure and the programs of the modules, the data memory 120 and the program memory 140 may store programs such as an OS for starting up this computer and data such as parameters that change as appropriate during the execution of the modules.

[0030] The output device 185 has, for example, a display device 187, a printing device 189, etc. The display device 187 such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a 3D display, a projector, etc. displays the processing results by the processor 105, the data in the data memory 120, etc. as text, image information, etc. The printing device 189 such as a printer, a multifunction device, etc. prints the processing results by the processor 105, the data in the data memory 120, etc. Further, as the output device 185, a speaker, an actuator for vibrating the device, etc. may be included. The reception device 190 has, for example, an instruction reception device 192, a document reading device 194, etc. The instruction reception device 192 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a camera (including a line-of-sight detection camera, etc.) receives data based on the user's operations (including actions, voices, line of sight, etc.) on these. Also, there may be something that has both functions of the display device 187 and the instruction reception device 192, such as a touch screen. In that case, regarding the realization of the function of the keyboard, even if there is no physical key, a software keyboard (also called a so-called software keyboard, a screen keyboard, etc.) may be drawn on the touch screen to realize the function of the keyboard. Note that mainly the display device 187 and the instruction reception device 192 are used as the user interface. The document reading device 194 such as a scanner, a camera, etc. reads or photographs a document and receives the generated image data. The communication device 195 is a communication line interface such as a network card for connecting to other devices via a communication line.

[0031] Among the embodiments of the present invention, for those implemented by a computer program, a computer program which is software is loaded into the program memory 140 of the present hardware configuration, and the software and the hardware resources cooperate to implement the present embodiment. That is, the information processing by the software uses the hardware resources (including at least the processor 105, the memory 110, and in some cases, the output device 185, the reception device 190, and the communication device 195) to specifically implement the present embodiment, and overall, it utilizes the laws of nature. Note that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example of one configuration, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and any configuration capable of executing the modules described in the present embodiment may be used. For example, as the processor 105, a GPU (abbreviation for Graphics Processing Unit, including GPGPU (abbreviation for General-Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units)) may be used, or the execution of some modules may be configured by dedicated hardware (for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (specific examples include ASIC (abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc.) or a reconfigurable integrated circuit (specific examples include FPGA (abbreviation for Field-Programmable Gate Array), etc.)). Some modules may be in an external system and connected by a communication line. Further, the systems shown in FIG. 1 may be connected to each other by a communication line and cooperate with each other. In particular, in addition to servers and personal computers, it may be incorporated into portable information communication devices (including mobile phones, smartphones, mobile devices, wearable computers, etc.), information home appliances, robots, copiers, fax machines, scanners, printers, multifunction devices (image processing devices having any two or more functions of scanners, printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.).

[0032] Processor 105 is connected to memory 110, output device 185, reception device 190, and communication device 195 via bus 198. Processor 105 executes processing according to a computer program that describes the execution sequence of each module, which is a program in program memory 140. For example, upon receiving a user operation by instruction reception device 192, it executes processing by the module corresponding to that operation in program memory 140, stores the processing result in data memory 120, outputs it to display device 187, or controls communication device 195 to transmit it to other devices.

[0033] Memory 110 has data memory 120 and program memory 140, and is connected to processor 105, output device 185, reception device 190, and communication device 195 via bus 198. Data memory 120 has a chat management information storage module 122. Chat management information storage module 122 stores information related to chats. Information related to chats includes chat rooms, chat users who constitute the chat rooms, the date and time when talk etc. (specifically, talk, reply talk, reaction) occurred, and users who conducted talk etc. Information stored by chat management information storage module 122 includes, for example, chat room management table 500, chat room association table 600, talk management table 700, question talk management table 900, user response permission management table 1000, answer candidate talk management table 1400, etc., which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 14.

[0034] Program memory 140 stores a chat processing module 142. Chat processing module 142 has a first chat processing module 144 and a second chat processing module 146. The chat processing module 142 manages two chat rooms (the first chat room and the second chat room) and coordinates them. Here, the first chat room is a public chat room, and the second chat room is a private chat room. A public chat room is an environment where unspecified users can post talks to that chat room. Generally, chats are conducted between two users. Specifically, an unspecified user, the questioner, posts a talk containing a question, and a user who is the responder (this responder is also a user in the second chat room) posts a talk containing an answer to that question, and a conversation of talks takes place. Note that the combination of question and answer is an example, and in the case of a chat between users, it may be a combination of consultation and advice, a combination of request and approval, or the like.

[0035] A private chat room is an environment where only pre-specified users can post to that chat room, and unspecified users cannot post. As described above, in the second chat room, the members include those who can become responders in the first chat room, and at least the members include those who have become responders.

[0036] The first chat processing module 144 manages the chat processing in the first chat room. That is, it receives and executes requests such as posting talks and reactions to the first chat room. Specifically, it performs processes such as generation of the first chat room, management of chat users, notification and display of talks, reactions, etc. to the first chat room, and control of chatbots. A talk is also called a message, and the content of the talk is generally text-based, but it may also be voice, graphics, images, videos, etc. The second chat processing module 146 manages chat processing in the second chat room. That is, it receives and executes requests such as posting talks and reactions to the second chat room. Specifically, it performs processes such as generation of the second chat room, management of chat users, notification and display of talks, reactions, etc. to the second chat room, and control of chatbots. The content of the talk is generally text-based, but it may also be voice, graphics, images, videos, etc.

[0037] The chat processing module 142 performs a first posting process of posting the first talk posted in the first chat room to the second chat room associated with the first chat room. Note that the "first talk" is a post by a user in the first chat room, and its content is a question, consultation, request, etc. Therefore, the second talk is a response to the first talk. When the first talk is a question, it is an answer; when the first talk is a consultation, it is advice; when the first talk is a request, it is approval or rejection, etc. Next, the chat processing module 142 performs a second posting process of posting the second talk posted by a user in the second chat room to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk for the first talk. Note that the chat management information storage module 122 stores information indicating that the first chat room and the second chat room are associated with each other. Using the information in the chat management information storage module 122, the channels of the first chat room and the second chat room are linked. That is, the first talk posted to the first chat room is posted to the second chat room. And the second talk posted in the second chat room that meets a predetermined condition is posted to the first chat room as a response to the first talk. Specifically regarding the posting of the second talk, in the second chat room, the second talk that is a response to the first talk is generated by the person in charge. In that case, it is discussed by a plurality of members in the second chat room. The second talk that meets the conditions as described later will be posted to the first chat room as a response to the first talk.

[0038] Also, in the second posting process, the chat processing module 142 may post the second talk to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk according to the response from the user in the second chat room to the second talk. When the response from the user in the second chat room meets the conditions as shown in the following example, the second talk is posted to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk. (Condition 1) When the number of users who gave an affirmative response is more than or equal to a predetermined number. (Condition 2) When the number of users who gave an affirmative response is more than or equal to a predetermined ratio with respect to the total number of users in the second chat room. Note that if there is even one user who gave a negative response, it may not be posted. This example is included in the type of examples of Condition 1 or Condition 2. That is, in Condition 1, the predetermined number is the total number of users in the second chat room, and in Condition 2, it corresponds to the case where the predetermined ratio is 100%.

[0039] The chat processing module 142 may use the selection of response icons provided in the chat room as the "response from the user in the second chat room". The "response icons provided in the chat room" are the response icons in the chat room in the state before introducing this embodiment. For example, there may be cases where response icons such as "like", "wonderful", "laugh", "surprise", "sad", "angry", etc. are pre-set (when provided as functions of the chat system itself). Among these, response icons indicating agreement to answer (that the second talk is appropriate as an answer) and response icons indicating disagreement to answer may be assigned. Note that multiple response icons may be assigned, or one response icon may be assigned for each. As an example of the former, "like", "wonderful", "laugh" may be assigned as response icons indicating agreement to answer, and "surprise", "sad", "angry" may be assigned as response icons indicating disagreement to answer. Also, as an example of the latter, "like" may be assigned as a response icon indicating agreement to answer, and "angry" may be assigned as a response icon indicating disagreement to answer.

[0040] In addition, when the response is a negative response, the first chat processing module 144 may prompt the user who gave the negative response to post an alternative. Specific examples will be described later with reference to the examples in FIGS. 13 and 15.

[0041] In addition, the first chat processing module 144 may prompt the user who has not responded to respond. Encourage a response when the following conditions are met: (Condition A) When a predetermined period has elapsed since the second talk was posted in the second chat room, (Condition B) When the number of users who have not made a response is equal to or less than a predetermined number, or (Condition C) When the number of users who have not made a response is less than or equal to a predetermined ratio of the total number of users in the second chat room. Specific examples will be described later using the examples in FIGS. 13 and 17.

[0042] In addition, the first chat processing module 144 may be configured such that posts in the second chat room are not posted to the first chat room, except when the second posting process is performed. Posts in the second chat room can generally be viewed only by the members in that second chat room. However, a talk recognized as a response to the first talk posted in the first chat room will be posted to the first talk.

[0043] In addition, the first chat processing module 144 may encourage a response indicating consent to the user designated as the user who posts the second talk. That is, perform the processing related to the process of selecting the respondent in the second chat room. Specific examples will be described later using the examples in FIGS. 8 and 12.

[0044] Then, when there is a response indicating rejection from the designated user, the first chat processing module 144 may use the selection of the response icon provided in the chat room to designate another user as the user who posts the second talk. Here, the "response icons provided in the chat room" are also used. Then, among the "response icons provided in the chat room", response icons indicating consent to become the person in charge and response icons indicating rejection of becoming the person in charge may be assigned. Note that multiple response icons may be assigned, or one response icon may be assigned for each. As an example of the former, as response icons indicating consent to become the person in charge, "Like", "Great", and "Laugh" may be assigned, and as response icons indicating rejection of becoming the person in charge, "Surprise", "Sad", and "Anger" may be assigned. Also, as an example of the latter, as a response icon indicating consent to become the person in charge, "Like" may be assigned, and as a response icon indicating rejection of becoming the person in charge, "Anger" may be assigned. Specific examples will be described later using the examples in FIGS. 8, 12, and 13.

[0045] Note that the "response icons provided in the chat room" will have multiple meanings. That is, there are whether to consent to answer and whether to consent to become the person in charge. However, regarding "whether to consent to answer", since it is a post by the person in charge, it is obvious that the response to that post means whether to consent to answer. Note that in that post, for example, a comment such as "Please select the 'Like' icon if you consent, and the 'Sad' icon if you do not consent." may be automatically added by the chat processing module 142. And regarding "whether to consent to become the person in charge", since it is a post by the chat processing module 142, it is obvious that the response to that post means whether to consent to become the person in charge. Note that in the post by the chat processing module 142, for example, a comment such as "Please select the 'Like' icon if you become the person in charge, and the 'Sad' icon if you cannot be in charge." may be automatically added by the chat processing module 142.

[0046] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a system configuration using the present embodiment. User 220 (User 220A1, User 220B1, etc.) has a terminal 210 (Terminal 210A1, Terminal 210B1, etc.). Terminals 210A1, 210A2, and 210A3 are respectively connected via a communication line 285. For example, User 220A1, User 220A2, and User 220A3 are a team with expertise and are members of the second chat room. The information processing apparatus 100, terminals 210A1, 210A2, 210A3, 210B1, and 210B2 are respectively connected via communication lines 285 and 290. For example, User 220B1 and User 220B2 are users of the first chat room and can be questioners who ask questions to the team with expertise. The communication lines 285 and 290 may be wireless, wired, or a combination thereof, and for example, may be the Internet, an intranet, etc. as a communication infrastructure. Also, the functions performed by the information processing apparatus 100 may be realized as a cloud service.

[0047] The present embodiment performs, for example, the following processing. In particular, this description (the description within this paragraph number) is for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present embodiment and is not intended to be used for limiting interpretation. And it is natural that a determination as to whether the invention for which a patent is sought is what is described in the detailed description of the invention (Article 36, Paragraph 6, Item 1 of the Patent Law) should not be made using only this description part. User 220B1 uses terminal 210B1 to access the chat service A of information processing device 100 and posts a question talk. Here, the chat room A in which user 220B1 participates is an example of the first chat room, and the question talk is an example of the first talk. The question talk is also posted to chat room B in which terminals 210A1, 210A2, and 210A3 participate. Here, chat room B in which users 220A1, etc. participate is an example of the second chat room. And, for example, user 220A1 is in charge as the answerer to the question. User 220A1 uses terminal 210A1 to create a talk that is a candidate for the answer and posts it to chat room B. Users 220A2 and 220A3 examine the talk and, if they determine that it is suitable as an answer, use terminals 210A2 and 210A3 to select the "like" icon. If the selection of this "like" icon is more than a predetermined number, the talk that is a candidate for the answer is posted to chat room A as a talk that is a formal answer (this talk is an example of the second talk). As a result, user 220B1 will obtain an answer to his / her question.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration example when the present embodiment is realized as a client-server model. Chat processing server 300 is a specific example of information processing device 100, and client 350 is a specific example of terminal 210. Data registration module 310 and process determination module 320 are specific examples of chat processing module 142. DB (DataBase) 330 is a specific example of chat management information storage module 122. Chat processing server 300 has a data registration module 310, a process determination module 320, and a DB 330. Data registration module 310 is connected to DB 330 and client 350. Process determination module 320 is connected to DB 330 and client 350. DB330 is connected to a data registration module 310 and a processing determination module 320. The client 350 is connected to the data registration module 310 and the processing determination module 320 of the chat processing server 300 via a communication line.

[0049] The data registration module 310 associates a public chat room and a private chat room. Note that, as a general technical term, it means linking two channels. Then, it registers a question talk (thread) into a private chat room and a formal answer talk into a public chat room. The processing determination module 320 assigns a person in charge of answering and determines whether to recognize it as a formal answer talk.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example by the present embodiment (the information processing apparatus 100, the chat processing server 300). In step S402, the data registration module 310 registers linking data between chat rooms. Specifically, it generates a chat room correspondence table 600 described later using the example of FIG. 6. For example, a chat room correspondence table 600 that associates a first chat room and a second chat room in advance may be generated, or the chat room correspondence table 600 may be generated when it is detected that there has been a post to the first chat room.

[0051] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the chat room management table 500. The chat room management table 500 is created when a chat room is generated and is used to manage that chat room. The chat room management table 500 has a chat room ID column 505, a chat room name column 510, a creator column 515, a user count column 520, a user ID column 525, a creation date and time column 530, and a public / private column 535. The chat room ID column 505 stores information for uniquely identifying a chat room in this embodiment (specifically, chat room ID: abbreviated from Identification). The chat room name column 510 stores the name of the chat room. The creator column 515 stores the creator of the chat room. The user count column 520 stores the number of users participating in the chat room. The user ID column 525 stores information for uniquely identifying a user in this embodiment (specifically, user ID). The creation date and time column 530 stores the date and time when the chat room was created (which may be in the form of year, month, day, hour, minute, second, sub-second, or combinations thereof). The public / private column 535 stores information indicating whether the chat room is a public chat room or a private chat room.

[0052] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the chat room association table 600. The chat room association table 600 is an example of data for managing the association between public chat rooms and private chat rooms. The chat room association table 600 has a public chat room ID column 605 and a private chat room ID column 610. The public chat room ID column 605 stores the public chat room ID. The private chat room ID column 610 stores the private chat room ID corresponding to the public chat room ID.

[0053] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the talk management table 700. The talk management table 700 is an example of data for managing the talk in each chat room. The talk management table 700 has a talk ID column 705, a posting date and time column 710, a posting user ID column 715, a destination chat room ID column 720, and a talk content column 725. In this embodiment, the talk ID column 705 stores information (specifically, a talk ID) for uniquely identifying a talk. The posting date and time column 710 stores the date and time when the talk was posted. The posting user ID column 715 stores the user ID of the user who posted the talk. The destination chat room ID column 720 stores the chat room ID of the chat room where the talk was posted. The talk content column 725 stores the content of the talk. For example, the content of the talk may include a question content and an answer content.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing example by this embodiment (the information processing apparatus 100 and the chat processing server 300). Hereinafter, creation of an answer to a question will be performed using the chat function of a non-public chat room. In step S802, the data registration module 310 registers a question thread. Specifically, it detects a talk posted in a public chat room, selects a non-public chat room corresponding to the public chat room using the chat room association table 600, and posts the talk posted in the public chat room to the non-public chat room.

[0055] In step S804, the processing determination module 320 requests an assignment. Specifically, members in a non-public chat room may be assigned in order (assigned), or may be assigned randomly. Also, at that time, it may be conditioned that the presence of the members is communicable. For example, referring to the schedule data of the members, if they are on a business trip or in a meeting, they are not assigned. Also, if a member is not using the terminal 210 (including when the power is off, etc.), that member may not be assigned. For example, the user response availability management table 1000 described later using the example of FIG. 10 is used. Then, mention (notify) that it has been assigned to the person in charge.

[0056] In step S806, the person in charge determines whether they can handle it. If the response to the mention is the selection of the "Sad" icon, the process returns to step S804. If the response is the selection of the "Good" icon, the process proceeds to step S808. The chat processing server 300 notifies the person in charge whether they can respond to the question to determine whether assignment is possible. Specifically, the "Good" icon and the "Sad" icon are response icons provided in the chat room. That is, whether the question can be responded to or not is determined by reusing the response icons originally provided in the chat room. When the "Good" icon is pressed, the process proceeds to step S808 to complete the assignment. When the "Sad" icon is pressed, the next person in charge will be mentioned. Note that the selection of the "Good" icon is an example of an affirmative response, and the selection of the "Sad" icon is an example of a negative response.

[0057] In step S808, the process determination module 320 assigns the person in charge. Specifically, the user ID of the person in charge is registered in the person-in-charge ID column 925 of the question talk management table 900 described later.

[0058] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the question talk management table 900. The question talk management table 900 is data for associating question talks and answer talks and managing the person in charge. The question talk management table 900 has a talk ID column 905, a public chat room ID column 910, a private chat room ID column 915, a second posting date and time column 920, a person in charge ID column 925, and an answer talk ID column 930. The talk ID column 905 stores the talk ID that is a question. The public chat room ID column 910 stores the public chat room ID where the talk was posted. The private chat room ID column 915 stores the private chat room ID where there is a member who answers the talk. The second posting date and time column 920 stores the date and time when the question talk was posted in the private chat room. The person in charge ID column 925 stores information (specifically, user ID) for uniquely identifying the person in charge in this embodiment. The answer talk ID column 930 stores the talk ID that is the answer to the question.

[0059] Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the user response availability management table 1000. It is data for managing the presence of members in a private chat room. The user response availability management table 1000 has a user ID column 1005 and a response availability column 1010. The user ID column 1005 stores the user IDs of the users participating in the private chat room. The response availability column 1010 stores information indicating whether the user with the user ID in the user ID column 1005 can currently respond to the question talk. For example, from the user's schedule management application, the user's schedule at that time can be extracted, and if there is no schedule, information indicating "response possible" can be stored. Also, the user may be able to set the response availability column 1010 by themselves. Further, it may be detected whether the terminal 210 used by the user is in an available state (for example, powered on state, etc.), and the response availability column 1010 may be set.

[0060] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the processing according to this embodiment. The examples shown from Figure 11 to Figure 12 show examples of the user interface in the flowchart shown in the example of Figure 8. First, a question talk is posted on the public chat screen 1190. Upon detecting this, the talk is posted on the private chat screen 1100. However, before that, a process of assigning a person in charge is performed. The data registration module 310 registers the question talk in the private chat room. Then, the process determination module 320 posts a question talk to Mr. Watanabe in the private chat room and displays the talk column 1105 on the private chat screen 1100. The talk column 1105 is divided into a system notification column 1110 and a question talk column 1115. In the system notification column 1110, it is displayed as "System Notification @Mr. Watanabe The following question has been posted, please answer whether you can handle it." And in the question talk column 1115, it is displayed as the content of the question talk posted on the private chat screen 1190, which is ""Can I perform a load test on AWS for Fujitaro? Is there any problem?" And suppose Mr. Watanabe selects the icon 1107. That is, it is a negative response, indicating that he cannot handle the question. The icon 1107 can be replaced with other icons as long as they represent negative emotions. Of course, if there is an icon representing positive emotions, it is a positive response, indicating that he can handle the question. As icons representing positive emotions, in addition to "Like", for example, "Great", "Laugh" etc. can also be used. As icons representing negative emotions, in addition to "Sad", for example, "Surprise", "Anger" etc. can also be used.

[0061] Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example according to this embodiment. After the display shown in the example of Figure 11, since there is a response from Mr. Watanabe indicating that he cannot handle it, which is the selection of the "Sad icon" (icon 1107), next, the process determination module 320 posts a talk to Mr. Tamura and displays the system notification column 1215 on the private chat screen 1100. In the system notification column 1215, it is displayed as "System Notification @Mr. Tamura Please answer whether you can handle it." After that, Mr. Tamura selects the "Like icon" (Icon 1217) indicating that he can handle it. Furthermore, there is a post from Mr. Tamura saying "I will start the investigation." The talk bar 1220 is displayed on the non - public chat screen 1100, and "Tamura Ichiro I will start the investigation." is displayed in the talk bar 1220.

[0062] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing a processing example by the present embodiment (information processing apparatus 100, chat processing server 300). In step S1302, the processing determination module 320 receives a request. Specifically, the person in charge creates an answer and posts it as a talk in the non - public chat room. The processing determination module 320 mentions (notifies all members) that there is an answer candidate in the non - public chat room.

[0063] In step S1304, the processing determination module 320 determines whether to register an answer. Specifically, the members of the non - public chat room select the "Like icon" if there is no problem with the talk that is a candidate for the answer, and select the "Sad" icon if there is a problem. The member who selects the "Sad" icon is mentioned, and the posting of an answer candidate as an alternative is prompted. If a talk as an alternative is posted, the person in charge posts a talk as a new answer candidate with reference to that posting.

[0064] In step S1306, the data registration module 310 registers the official answer in the corresponding thread of the public chat room. Specifically, after a talk that is a candidate for the answer (it may be the talk that is the first candidate for the answer, or if there is a posting of an alternative, it is the talk that is the new candidate for the answer) is posted, when a predetermined period has elapsed, it is determined whether the number of selections of the "Like icon" satisfies a predetermined condition. A specific example of the predetermined condition here is that the aforementioned (Condition 1) or (Condition 2) applies. Also, when predetermined conditions are met, mention is made to unevaluated members to prompt an answer. Specific examples of the predetermined conditions here are those corresponding to the aforementioned (Condition A), (Condition B), or (Condition C).

[0065] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the answer candidate talk management table 1400. When the person in charge of an answer posts a talk that is a candidate for the answer, an answer candidate talk management table 1400 is created and that talk is managed. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the answer candidate talk management table 1400. The answer candidate talk management table 1400 has an answer candidate talk ID column 1405, a like count column 1410, a member ID column 1415, a sad like count column 1420, a member ID column 1425, a deadline column 1430, and an approval column 1435. The answer candidate talk ID column 1405 stores the talk ID that is a candidate for the answer. The like count column 1410 stores the number of times the "like" icon has been selected for that talk. The member ID column 1415 stores information (specifically, the user ID) for uniquely identifying the member who selected the "like" icon in the present embodiment. The sad like count column 1420 stores the number of times the "sad like" icon has been selected for that talk. The member ID column 1425 stores the member ID of the member who selected the "sad like" icon. The deadline column 1430 stores the predetermined period in Condition A. For example, it stores the deadline until it is determined whether to adopt that answer candidate talk. Or, it may be configured to store the deadline until a formal answer is posted for the target question talk.

[0066] FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the processing according to the present embodiment. The examples shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 show examples of the user interface in the flowchart shown in the example of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 shows a specific example in which, when the response to the answer candidate is a negative response, the user who gave the negative response is prompted to post an alternative. Mr. Tamura posts a talk "This is the official answer from the SRE team. There are no particular problems." as an answer candidate in a private chat room, and the data registration module 310 displays a talk bar 1505 on the private chat screen 1100. The talk bar 1505 displays "Ichiro Tamura @SRE team This is the official answer from the SRE team. There are no particular problems." Then, in response to Mr. Tamura's talk, Mr. Watanabe selects a "Sad" icon (icon 1507, an example of a negative response) indicating that it is not suitable as an answer. Next, the process determination module 320 posts a talk "@Mr. Watanabe Please post any problems." (an example of "prompting to post an alternative") to Mr. Watanabe in the private chat room and displays a system notification bar 1510 on the private chat screen 1100. The system notification bar 1510 displays "System notification @Mr. Watanabe Please post any problems."

[0067] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example according to the present embodiment. After the display shown in the example of FIG. 15, Mr. Watanabe posts a talk "An application to AWS is required. Please fill in the prescribed form." which is an amendment in the private chat room, and the process determination module 320 displays a talk bar 1615 on the private chat screen 1100. The talk bar 1615 displays "Akira Watanabe An application to AWS is required. Please fill in the prescribed form." Then, referring to Mr. Watanabe's talk, Mr. Tamura posts a talk "This is the official answer from the SRE team. An application to AWS is required. Please fill in the prescribed form." as a revised answer candidate, and the private chat screen 1100 displays a talk bar 1620. The talk bar 1620 displays "Ichiro Tamura @SRE team This is the official answer from the SRE team. An application to AWS is required. Please fill in the prescribed form." The "2" on the right side of the icon 1622 in the talk column 1620 indicates that for this Mr. Tamura's talk (talk column 1620), other members (two people) have selected the icon 1622.

[0068] Figure 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of processing according to this embodiment. It shows a specific example of prompting a user who has not made a response to make a response. After the display shown in the example of FIG. 16, the processing determination module 320 posts a talk "@Mr. A @Mr. B Please evaluate your answer (an example of "prompting a response")" in the private chat room to prompt members (Mr. A and Mr. B) who have not selected "like", and displays the system notification bar 1725 on the private chat screen 1100. The system notification bar 1725 displays "System notification @Mr. A @Mr. B Please evaluate your answer". After seeing the system notification bar 1725, Mr. A and Mr. B check the content of the talk column 1620, both select the icon 1622, and the number of people who "like" becomes four, satisfying the condition for posting to the public chat room. Therefore, the data registration module 310 posts the content of the talk column 1620 as a response talk to the public chat screen 1190.

[0069] In each of the above embodiments, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense, including a general-purpose processor (for example, CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and a dedicated processor (for example, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.). Also, the operation of the processor in each of the above embodiments may be achieved not only by one processor but also by a plurality of physically separated processors cooperating. Also, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate. Regarding the described program, it may be stored in a recording medium and provided, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the described program may be regarded as an invention of "a computer-readable recording medium storing the program". "A computer-readable recording medium storing the program" refers to a computer-readable recording medium storing a program, which is used for installation, execution, distribution, etc. of the program. Examples of the recording medium include a digital versatile disc (DVD), such as "DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, etc." which are standards established by the DVD Forum, "DVD+R, DVD+RW, etc." which are standards established by DVD+RW, a compact disc (CD), such as a read-only memory (CD-ROM), a CD recordable (CD-R), a CD rewritable (CD-RW), etc., a Blu-ray Disc (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), a magneto-optical disc (MO), a flexible disc (FD), a magnetic tape, a hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable and rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), an SD (Secure Digital abbreviation) memory card, etc. The whole or a part of the above program may be recorded in the recording medium for storage, distribution, etc. Also, it may be transmitted by communication using, for example, a wired network used in a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or a wireless communication network, or a combination thereof, etc. as a transmission medium, or it may be carried on a carrier wave. Furthermore, the program may be a part or all of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. It may also be recorded separately on a plurality of recording media. Moreover, it may be recorded in any form as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

Explanation of Signs

[0070] 100… Information processing apparatus 105… Processor 110… Memory 120… Data memory 122… Chat management information storage module 140… Program memory 142… Chat processing module 144… First chat processing module 146… Second chat processing module 185… Output device 187… Display device 189… Printing device 190… Reception device 192… Instruction reception device 194… Document reading device 195… Communication device 198… Bus 210… Terminal 220… User 285, 290… Communication line 300… Chat processing server 310… Data registration module 320… Processing determination module 330… DB 350… Client

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising a processor, wherein the processor performs a first posting process of posting a first talk posted in a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, performs a second posting process of posting, to the first chat room, as a talk in response to the first talk, a second talk posted to the second chat room by a first user in the second chat room with respect to the first talk, and in the second posting process, posts the second talk to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk according to a response from a second user in the second chat room with respect to the second talk. Information processing apparatus.

2. An information processing apparatus comprising a processor, wherein the processor performs a first posting process of posting a first talk posted in a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, performs a second posting process of posting, to the first chat room, as a talk in response to the first talk, a second talk posted to the second chat room by a first user in the second chat room with respect to the first talk, and prompts a user designated as the user who posts the second talk to give a response indicating consent. Information processing apparatus.

3. The processor in the second posting process, posts the second talk to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk according to a response from a second user in the second chat room with respect to the second talk. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The processor uses selection of an icon indicating a response provided in the second chat room. The information processing apparatus according to claims 1 and 3.

5. The processor when the response is a negative response, prompts the user who gave the negative response to post an alternative. The information processing apparatus according to claims 1 and 3.

6. The processor prompts a user who has not made a response to make a response. The information processing apparatus according to claims 1 and 3.

7. The first chat room is a public chat room, and the second chat room is a private chat room. The information processing apparatus according to claims 1 and 2.

8. The processor Posts in the second chat room are not made to the first chat room except when the second posting process is performed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The processor Prompts a user designated as the user who posts the second talk to give a response indicating consent. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The processor When there is a response indicating rejection from the designated user using the selection of a response icon indicating a response provided in the second chat room, designates the user who posts the second talk to other users. The information processing apparatus according to claims 2 and 9.

11. Causes the processor of a computer equipped with a processor to Perform a first posting process of posting a first talk posted in a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, Perform a second posting process of posting, to the first chat room, a second talk posted to the second chat room by a user in the second chat room as a talk in response to the first talk, In the second posting process, post the second talk to the first chat room as a talk in response to the first talk according to a response from a second user in the second chat room to the second talk. An information processing program for causing the execution of the process.

12. Causes the processor of a computer equipped with a processor to Perform a first posting process of posting a first talk posted in a first chat room to a second chat room associated with the first chat room, Perform a second posting process of posting, to the first chat room, a second talk posted to the second chat room by a user in the second chat room as a talk in response to the first talk, Prompts a user designated as the user who posts the second talk to give a response indicating consent. An information processing program for causing the execution of the process.

Images