Server device, message transmission / reception system, message transmission / reception method, and program

Abstract

To make it possible to send a message avoiding a time period that is not convenient for a recipient even if a sender does not know exactly the time when the recipient can check the message.SOLUTION: A server device receives confirmation request level data that is transmitted by a sending-side terminal device and indicates a required level of confirmation of message data sent by the sending-side terminal device, obtains confirmable time data indicating a time during which a recipient can confirm the message data from a receiving-side terminal device, selects a scheduled transmission time to send message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving-side terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmable time data, receives the message data that is sent by the sending-side terminal device and corresponds to the confirmation request level data, and transmits the received message data to the receiving-side terminal device if a time obtained from timing means is a time at or after the selected scheduled transmission time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a server device, a sending terminal device, a receiving terminal device, a message sending and receiving system, a message sending and receiving method, a message sending method, a message receiving method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] An instant messenger is application software (hereinafter also referred to as an application program, or simply as an application) for sending and receiving short messages. Its advantage is that it allows for quick communication because the time between when a message is sent from the sender's terminal device and when it arrives at the recipient's terminal device is short. Despite this advantage, typical instant messengers do not control message transmission based on factors such as the urgency of the message. Therefore, the terminal devices of users who exchange messages with many people receive messages more frequently. As a result, the time required to check and respond to each received message increases, potentially leading to what's known as "chat fatigue."

[0003] In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that prevents a notification sound caused by receiving a message, such as an e-mail, from sounding at a time that is inconvenient for the recipient when the recipient's terminal device receives the message. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-024589 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 involves, for example, a message sender predicting a time when the recipient will be unable to check the message, setting a transmission time for the message, and having the sender's terminal device transmit the message at the set transmission time. More specifically, if the sender creates the message late at night, the sender predicts that the recipient will likely be asleep during that time, and that the recipient will be able to check the message at 8:00 AM the next day. Based on this prediction, the sender sets 8:00 AM the next day as the transmission time for the message in the sender's terminal device, and the sender's terminal device transmits the message to the recipient's terminal device at 8:00 AM the next day. Therefore, when using the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, unless the sender accurately knows the time when the recipient will be able to check the message, there is a problem in that it is not possible to send a message that avoids a time when the recipient will be unable to check the message.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a server device, a sending terminal device, a receiving terminal device, a message sending and receiving system, a message sending and receiving method, a message sending method, a message receiving method, and a program that solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a server device comprises: a confirmation request level receiving means for receiving confirmation request level data transmitted by a transmitting terminal device, the confirmation request level data indicating the confirmation request level of message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device; a confirmation available time acquiring means for acquiring confirmation available time data from a receiving terminal device, the confirmation available time data indicating the time during which the recipient is able to confirm the message data; a scheduled transmission time selecting means for selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data; a message receiving means for receiving message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device, the message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data; and a message transmitting means for transmitting the message data received by the message receiving means to the receiving terminal device if the time acquired from a timing means is after the scheduled transmission time selected by the scheduled transmission time selecting means.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a message sending and receiving system comprises a sending terminal device, a receiving terminal device, and a server device, wherein the sending terminal device comprises confirmation request level designation means for transmitting confirmation request level data indicating a confirmation request level for message data to be sent designated by a sender, and message sending means for transmitting the message data, the receiving terminal device comprises confirmation available time designation means for designating confirmation available time data indicating a time during which a recipient is allowed to check the message data, and message receiving means for receiving the message data, and the server device comprises confirmation request level receiving means for receiving the confirmation request level data transmitted by the sending terminal device, The system comprises a confirmation available time acquisition means for acquiring the confirmation available time data from the receiving terminal device, a scheduled transmission time selection means for selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, a message receiving means for receiving message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device and corresponding to the confirmation request level data, and a message sending means for sending the message data received by the message receiving means to the receiving terminal device if the time acquired from the clocking means is a time after the scheduled transmission time selected by the scheduled transmission time selection means.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a message sending and receiving method includes a confirmation request level receiving step of receiving confirmation request level data sent by a sending terminal device, the confirmation request level data indicating the confirmation request level of message data sent by the sending terminal device; a confirmation available time acquiring step of acquiring confirmation available time data from a receiving terminal device, the confirmation available time data indicating the time during which the recipient is able to confirm the message data; a scheduled transmission time selecting step of selecting a scheduled transmission time for sending message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data; a message receiving step of receiving message data sent by the sending terminal device, the message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data; and a message sending step of sending the message data received in the message receiving step to the receiving terminal device if the time acquired from a timing means is a time after the scheduled transmission time selected in the scheduled transmission time selecting step.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program causes a computer to function as: a confirmation request level receiving means for receiving confirmation request level data transmitted by a transmitting terminal device, the confirmation request level data indicating the confirmation request level of message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device; a confirmation available time acquiring means for acquiring confirmation available time data from a receiving terminal device, the confirmation available time data indicating the time during which the recipient is able to confirm the message data; a scheduled transmission time selecting means for selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data; a message receiving means for receiving message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device, the message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data; and a message transmitting means for transmitting the message data received by the message receiving means to the receiving terminal device if the time acquired from a timing means is after the scheduled transmission time selected by the scheduled transmission time selecting means.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the program causes a computer to function as: a confirmation request level designation means for designating a confirmation request level for message data to be sent in response to a selection operation by a sender, and transmitting confirmation request level data indicating the designated confirmation request level to a server device; a scheduled sending time receiving means for receiving, from a receiving terminal device, confirmation available time data indicating a time during which the recipient can check the message data, the confirmation request level data and data indicating a scheduled sending time selected based on the confirmation available time data from the server device, and presenting the data to the sender; and a message sending means for sending a message corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the server device in response to an operation performed by the sender. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, even if a sender does not know exactly when a recipient can check a message, the sender can send a message avoiding a time period that is inconvenient for the recipient. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a message sending and receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a transmitting terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a transmitting terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a receiving-side terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a receiving-end terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a transmitting-side terminal device and a receiving-side terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the data format of a table stored in a transmission-side data storage unit included in a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and changes in the data stored in the table. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram showing an example of a data format of a table stored in a confirmation-allowed time storage unit included in the server device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a diagram (part 1) showing the flow of processing performed by a message sending and receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) showing the flow of processing performed by the message sending and receiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a scheduled transmission time selection process performed in the process performed by the message sending and receiving system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing changes in the content of a message creation area displayed on the display unit of a transmitting terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A message sending and receiving system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the message sending and receiving system 100. The message sending and receiving system 100 includes a server device 1, a sending terminal device 2, a receiving terminal device 3, and a communication network 4. The communication network 4 interconnects the server device 1, the sending terminal device 2, and the receiving terminal device 3. The server device 1, the sending terminal device 2, and the receiving terminal device 3 may be connected to the communication network 4 via a wired line or via a wireless line. The communication network 4 is, for example, a communication network in which the Internet is interconnected with a plurality of access networks connected to each of the server device 1, the sending terminal device 2, and the receiving terminal device 3. For example, if the server device 1 connects to the communication network 4 via a wireless line, the access network to which the server device 1 connects is a wireless communication network. For example, if the server device 1 connects to the communication network 4 via a wired line, the access network to which the server device 1 connects is a wired communication network.

[0015] 1 shows a terminal device on the side that transmits message data, called a transmitting terminal device 2, and a terminal device on the side that receives message data, called a receiving terminal device 3. The reason for clearly separating the transmitting and receiving sides in this way is to clearly show the difference between the configuration of the terminal device that transmits message data and the configuration of the terminal device that receives message data. In actual operation, the transmitting terminal device 2 may have the same configuration as the receiving terminal device 3 and become a terminal device that transmits and receives message data, or the receiving terminal device 3 may have the same configuration as the transmitting terminal device 2 and become a terminal device that transmits and receives message data. Furthermore, three or more terminal devices that transmit and receive message data in this way may exist in the message transmitting and receiving system 100. In FIG. 1, the name of the user who uses the transmitting terminal device 2 is called "User A," and the name of the user who uses the receiving terminal device 3 is called "User B."

[0016] (Configuration of transmitting terminal device) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the transmitting terminal device 2. The transmitting terminal device 2 may be, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, or a terminal device such as a personal computer. The transmitting terminal device 2 includes a transmission message processing unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, a reception processing unit 24, and a transmission processing unit 25. The display unit 22 has a screen such as a liquid crystal display, and displays data on the screen. The operation unit 23 is, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, or a mouse, and receives operations from a user A and outputs data corresponding to the received operations. The reception processing unit 24 is connected to the communication network 4, and outputs various signals received from the server device 1 via the communication network 4 to the transmission message processing unit 21.

[0017] The transmission processing unit 25 is connected to the communication network 4 and transmits various signals output by the transmission message processing unit 21 to the server device 1 via the communication network 4. If the communication network 4 is, for example, a communication network that transmits and receives data based on IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, the transmission processing unit 25 stores in advance in an internal storage area an IP address corresponding to destination information included in data transmitted by the transmission message processing unit 21. The transmission processing unit 25 stores in an internal storage area the IP address assigned to the transmitting terminal device 2 as its own IP address. When the transmission processing unit 25 receives data output by the transmission message processing unit 21, it detects from its internal storage area the IP address corresponding to the destination information included in the received data. The transmission processing unit 25 generates an IP packet using the detected IP address as the destination address and its own IP address stored in its internal storage area as the source address, and sends the generated IP packet together with the received data to the communication network 4.

[0018] The outgoing message processing unit 21 is a functional unit that corresponds to, for example, the sending function of an instant messenger application. The outgoing message processing unit 21 includes a message screen display processing unit 201, a confirmation request level specifying unit 202, a scheduled sending time receiving unit 203, a message sending unit 204, and a storage unit 205. The storage unit 205 stores user identification information that is given in advance to user A, the user of the sending terminal device 2, as its own user identification information. The storage unit 205 stores user identification information corresponding to users with whom messages will be exchanged. Here, it is assumed that the user identification information of user A, the user of the sending terminal device 2, is user A's name, "user A," and the user identification information of user B, the user of the receiving terminal device 3, is user B's name, "user B."

[0019] When the message screen display processing unit 201 receives a start-up instruction signal from the operation unit 23 that has received an operation from user A, it displays an initial screen 50A shown in FIG. 3(a) on the display unit 22. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the initial screen 50A includes a plurality of user selection buttons 51A-1, 51A-2, 51A-3, ..., on which are displayed a plurality of pieces of user identification information corresponding to users with whom messages are to be exchanged and stored in the storage unit 205. For example, when user A performs an operation to press the user selection button 51A-1 for "user B" via the operation unit 23, the operation unit 23 outputs an instruction signal indicating that the user selection button 51A-1 has been pressed to the message screen display processing unit 201. When the message screen display processing unit 201 receives an instruction signal indicating that the user selection button 51A-1 has been pressed from the operation unit 23, it displays a message exchange screen 60 shown in FIG. 3(b) on the display unit 22.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3(b), the message exchange screen 60 includes a message exchange partner display area 61, a message exchange history display area 62, and a message creation area 63. The message exchange partner display area 61 displays the user identification information of the partner with whom messages are exchanged. The message exchange screen 60 shown in FIG. 3(b) is a screen that is displayed when the user selection button 51A-1 is pressed. Therefore, the message screen display processing unit 201 displays "User B" in the message exchange partner display area 61 of FIG. 3(b).

[0021] The message exchange history display area 62 displays message data that the transmitting terminal device 2 has transmitted to the receiving terminal device 3 via the server device 1, in other words, message data that user A has transmitted to user B. For example, the message data enclosed in a solid-line speech bubble frame indicated by reference numeral 62-2 is message data that user A transmitted to user B. The message data is stored in the storage unit 205, and when the message screen display processing unit 201 displays the message exchange screen 60 on the display unit 22, the message data is read from the storage unit 205 and displayed in the message exchange history display area 62.

[0022] As described above, in an actual operation, the transmitting terminal device 2 will have the same functions as the receiving terminal device 3, and the transmitting terminal device 2 will receive message data transmitted by the receiving terminal device 3 via the server device 1. In this case, for example, as shown in Fig. 3(b), the message exchange history display area 62 will display message data transmitted by user B to user A as message data enclosed in dashed balloon frames indicated by the reference numerals 62-1 and 62-3.

[0023] The message creation area 63 includes a message input area 64, a confirmation request level selection button 65, a scheduled sending time display area 66, and a send button 67. When user A performs an operation to write characters, symbols, etc. in the message input area 64 via the operation unit 23, the message screen display processing unit 201 displays the written characters, symbols, etc. in the message input area 64. When characters, symbols, etc. are written in the message input area 64, the message screen display processing unit 201 treats the written characters, symbols, etc. data as new message data from user A to user B. When characters, symbols, etc. are written in the message input area 64, the message screen display processing unit 201 generates new message identification information.

[0024] The message screen display processing unit 201 associates the generated message identification information with new message data. Note that the message screen display processing unit 201 generates and associates different message identification information, which is capable of identifying the order in which the messages were generated, with each piece of message data having the same combination of sender's user identification information and receiver's user identification information. Here, the message identification information capable of identifying the order in which the messages were generated is information indicated by consecutive numbers, such as "0001," "0002," "0003," .... By associating such user identification information with message data, it becomes possible to identify one piece of message data by identifying the sender's user identification information, the receiver's user identification information, and the message identification information.

[0025] When user A operates confirmation request level selection button 65 via operation unit 23 to select one of the confirmation request levels, confirmation request level designation unit 202 detects the selected confirmation request level. Here, the confirmation request level is information such as "immediately," "morning," "by the end of today," "by the end of this week," or "no reply required," and indicates the degree of urgency when requesting the recipient to confirm the message data to be sent. When scheduled transmission time receiving unit 203 receives data indicating the scheduled transmission time from server device 1 via reception processing unit 24, it displays the received data indicating the scheduled transmission time in scheduled transmission time display area 66.

[0026] When the message sending unit 204 receives an instruction signal indicating that the send button 67 has been pressed from the operation unit 23 that has received the operation from user A, the message sending unit 204 performs the following process. At the time of receiving the instruction signal, the message sending unit 204 sends the message data displayed in the message input area 64 (hereinafter referred to as input message data) to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 25. The message sending unit 204 displays the input message data in the message exchange history display area 62. The message sending unit 204 writes and stores the input message data in the storage unit 205 in association with the user identification information of the recipient displayed in the message exchange partner display area 61 and the message identification information corresponding to the input message data.

[0027] (Configuration of receiving terminal device) 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the receiving terminal device 3. The receiving terminal device 3 may be, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, or a terminal device such as a personal computer. Note that both the transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3 may be mobile terminal devices such as smartphones, or terminal devices such as personal computers. Also, one of the transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3 may be a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone, and the other may be a terminal device such as a personal computer.

[0028] The receiving terminal device 3 includes a received message processing unit 31, a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, a receiving processing unit 34, and a transmitting processing unit 35. The display unit 32 has a screen such as a liquid crystal display, and displays data on the screen. The operation unit 33 is, for example, a touch panel, keyboard, or mouse, and receives operations from user B, who is the user, and outputs data corresponding to the received operations.

[0029] The receiving processing unit 34 has the same configuration as the receiving processing unit 24 of the transmitting terminal device 2. The transmitting processing unit 35 has the same configuration as the transmitting processing unit 25 of the transmitting terminal device 2, but the IP address assigned to the receiving terminal device 3 is stored in the internal storage area of ​​the transmitting processing unit 35 as its own IP address.

[0030] The received message processing unit 31 is a functional unit that corresponds to, for example, the receiving function of an instant messenger application. The received message processing unit 31 includes a message screen display processing unit 301, a confirmation time designation unit 302, a confirmation time storage unit 303, a confirmation time acquisition request acceptance unit 304, a message receiving unit 305, and a storage unit 306. The storage unit 306 stores "user B", which is user identification information previously assigned to user B, the user of the receiving terminal device 3, as its own user identification information. The storage unit 306 stores user identification information corresponding to users with whom messages will be exchanged.

[0031] When message screen display processing unit 301 receives a start-up instruction signal from operation unit 33 that has received an operation from user B, message screen display processing unit 301 displays initial screen 50B shown in FIG. 5(a) on display unit 32. As shown in FIG. 5(a), initial screen 50B includes a plurality of user selection buttons 51B-1, 51B-2, 51B-3, ..., on which are displayed a plurality of pieces of user identification information corresponding to users with whom messages will be exchanged that are stored in storage unit 306, and a confirmation time setting button 52B. For example, when user B performs an operation to press user selection button 51B-1 for "user A" via operation unit 33, operation unit 33 outputs an instruction signal indicating that user selection button 51B-1 has been pressed to message screen display processing unit 301. When the message screen display processing unit 301 receives an instruction signal from the operation unit 33 indicating that the user selection button 51B-1 has been pressed, it displays a screen on the display unit 32 that includes at least an area similar to the message exchange partner display area 61 and the message exchange history display area 62 of the message exchange screen 60 shown in FIG. 3(b). The message screen display processing unit 301 displays the message data from user A in an area equivalent to the message exchange history display area 62 on the displayed screen. This allows user B to check the content of the message received from user A.

[0032] When the confirmation-allowed time designation unit 302 receives an instruction signal indicating that confirmation-allowed time setting button 52B on the initial screen 50B has been pressed from the operation unit 33 that has received an operation from user B, the confirmation-allowed time designation unit 302 displays a confirmation-allowed time setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 5(b) on the display unit 32. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the confirmation-allowed time setting screen 70 includes a confirmation-allowed time input area 71 and a setting button 72. When user B performs an operation in the confirmation-allowed time input area 71 via the operation unit 33 to write a start time and an end time indicating the time during which the message can be confirmed, such as "10:00-11:00," the confirmation-allowed time designation unit 302 displays the written time in the confirmation-allowed time input area 71. 5(b), user B can operate the operation unit 33 to enter multiple times as the available confirmation times in the available confirmation time input area 71. Furthermore, the start time and end time are not limited to times specified by hours and minutes, but may be times in which the year, month, day, or day is added to the hours and minutes.

[0033] More specifically, in this embodiment, the term "time" refers to a time expressed in terms of year, month, day, hour, and minute, such as "December 31, 2022, 11:59 PM," or a time expressed in terms of month, day, hour, and minute, such as "December 31, 11:59 PM," or a time expressed in terms of day, hour, and minute, such as "31st, 11:59 PM," or a time expressed in terms of hour and minute, such as "11:59 PM." Note that if "year" is not specified, it is interpreted as a time without year restrictions; if "month" is not specified, it is interpreted as a time without month restrictions; and if "day" is not specified, it is interpreted as a time without day restrictions. Furthermore, the term "time" refers to the length of time between two times.

[0034] When the confirmation allowed time designation unit 302 receives an instruction signal indicating that the setting button 72 on the confirmation allowed time setting screen 70 has been pressed from the operation unit 33 that has received the operation from user B, the confirmation allowed time designation unit 302 retrieves the time written on the confirmation allowed time setting screen 70 at the time of receiving the instruction signal as data indicating the confirmation allowed time (hereinafter referred to as confirmation allowed time data). The confirmation allowed time storage unit 303 stores the confirmation allowed time data retrieved by the confirmation allowed time designation unit 302. When the confirmation allowed time acquisition request acceptance unit 304 receives a confirmation allowed time acquisition request signal from the server device 1 via the reception processing unit 34, it reads out the confirmation allowed time data stored in the confirmation allowed time storage unit 303. The confirmation allowed time acquisition request acceptance unit 304 transmits the read confirmation allowed time data to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 35. When the message reception unit 305 receives message data from the server device 1 via the reception processing unit 34, it writes the received message data in the storage unit 306.

[0035] (Hardware configuration of transmitting terminal device and receiving terminal device) 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3. The transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3 are computers including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 411, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 412, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 413, an auxiliary storage device 414, a communication module 415, an output module 416, and an input module 417. The components of the transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3, namely the CPU 411, RAM 412, ROM 413, auxiliary storage device 414, communication module 415, output module 416, and input module 417, are indicated by the same reference numerals, but the transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3 may include the same types of components or different types of components. The CPU 411, RAM 412, ROM 413, auxiliary storage device 414, communication module 415, output module 416, and input module 417 are connected to each other by a bus. Here, the auxiliary storage device 414 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SDD (Solid State Drive). The communication module 415 corresponds to the receiving processing units 24 and 34 and the transmitting processing units 25 and 35. The output module 416 corresponds to the display units 22 and 32, and the input module 417 corresponds to the operation units 23 and 33. If the transmitting terminal device 2 and the receiving terminal device 3 are, for example, personal computers, an output interface may be provided instead of the output module 416, and an external display device such as a liquid crystal display may be connected to the output interface. Furthermore, an input interface may be provided instead of the input module 417, and an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse may be connected to the input interface.

[0036] In the case of the transmitting terminal device 2, an application program pre-stored in the ROM 413 or auxiliary storage device 414 is executed by the CPU 411 to configure the functional units of the message screen display processing unit 201, confirmation request level designation unit 202, scheduled transmission time receiving unit 203, and message sending unit 204 of the transmission message processing unit 21, and a memory area corresponding to the memory unit 205 is allocated in the RAM 412 or auxiliary storage device 414.

[0037] In the case of the receiving terminal device 3, an application program pre-stored in the ROM 413 or auxiliary storage device 414 is executed by the CPU 411 to form the functional parts of the received message processing unit 31, namely the message screen display processing unit 301, the confirmation time designation unit 302, the confirmation time acquisition request acceptance unit 304, and the message receiving unit 305, and in the RAM 412 or auxiliary storage device 414, memory areas corresponding to the confirmation time memory unit 303 and the memory unit 306 are allocated.

[0038] (Server device configuration) 7 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the server device 1. The server device 1 includes a sending-side data storage unit 11, a confirmation request level receiving unit 12, a scheduled sending time selecting unit 13, a confirmation available time storage unit 14, a confirmation available time acquiring unit 15, a message receiving unit 16, a message sending unit 17, a timing unit 18, a message open notification forwarding processing unit 19, a receiving processing unit 41, and a sending processing unit 42.

[0039] The timekeeping unit 18 is, for example, a clock adjusted to show the correct time, and upon receiving a time acquisition request signal, outputs time data indicating the year, month, date, day of the week, hour, and minute at the time of receiving the time acquisition request signal to the functional unit that output the time acquisition request signal. The reception processing unit 41 has the same configuration as the reception processing unit 24 of the transmitting terminal device 2 and the reception processing unit 34 of the receiving terminal device 3. The transmission processing unit 42 has the same configuration as the transmission processing unit 25 of the transmitting terminal device 2 and the transmission processing unit 35 of the receiving terminal device 3, but the IP address assigned to the server device 1 is stored in the internal storage area of ​​the transmission processing unit 42 as its own IP address.

[0040] The sending-side data storage unit 11 stores, for example, a table in the data format shown in FIG. 8(a). As shown in FIG. 8(a), the table stored in the sending-side data storage unit 11 has the following fields: "sender identification information," "recipient identification information," "message identification information," "confirmation request level," "message," and "scheduled sending time." In the "sender identification information" field, user identification information of the sender of the message data is written. In the "recipient identification information" field, user identification information of the recipient of the message data is written. In the "message identification information" field, message identification information generated for the message data is written. In the "confirmation request level" field, confirmation request level data received by the confirmation request level receiving unit 12 is written. In the "message" field, message data received by the message receiving unit 16 is written. In the "scheduled sending time" field, data indicating the scheduled sending time selected by the scheduled sending time selecting unit 13 is written.

[0041] The confirmation request level receiving unit 12 receives a scheduled transmission time request signal from the transmitting side terminal device 2 via the receiving processing unit 41. Upon receiving the scheduled transmission time request signal, the confirmation request level receiving unit 12 generates a new record in the table of the transmitting side data storage unit 11. The confirmation request level receiving unit 12 writes the sender identification information, receiver identification information, message identification information, and confirmation request level data contained in the scheduled transmission time request signal into the generated record. The confirmation request level receiving unit 12 outputs a selection disclosure instruction signal including the sender identification information, receiver identification information, and message identification information contained in the scheduled transmission time request signal to the scheduled transmission time selecting unit 13.

[0042] The message receiving unit 16 receives a message transmission request signal from the transmitting-side terminal device 2 via the reception processing unit 41. The message receiving unit 16 detects one record stored in the table of the transmitting-side data storage unit 11 based on the sender identification information, recipient identification information, and message identification information included in the received message transmission request signal. The message receiving unit 16 writes the message data included in the received message transmission request signal in the "Message" field of the detected record.

[0043] The confirmation time storage unit 14 stores, for example, a table in the data format shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 9, the table stored in the confirmation time storage unit 14 has the fields "user identification information" and "confirmation time". User identification information is written in the "user identification information" field. Confirmation time data is written in the "confirmation time" field.

[0044] The confirmation time acquisition unit 15 transmits a confirmation time acquisition request signal to the receiving terminal device 3 via the transmission processing unit 42, and receives a confirmation time acquisition response signal from the receiving terminal device 3 via the reception processing unit 41. The confirmation time acquisition unit 15 writes the user identification information and confirmation time data included in the received confirmation time acquisition response signal into a table in the confirmation time storage unit 14.

[0045] When the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 receives a selective disclosure instruction signal from the confirmation request level receiving unit 12, it detects a record corresponding to the sender identification information, recipient identification information, and message identification information included in the received selective disclosure instruction signal from the table in the sending data storage unit 11. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 reads the confirmation request level data written in the "confirmation request level" field of the detected record. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 detects the confirmation available time data corresponding to the user identification information included as recipient identification information in the selective disclosure instruction signal from the table in the confirmation available time storage unit 14. Based on the read confirmation request level data and the detected confirmation available time data, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 selects a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving terminal device 3 corresponding to the recipient identification information. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 writes data indicating the selected scheduled transmission time in the "scheduled transmission time" field of the record detected from the table in the sending data storage unit 11.

[0046] The message sending unit 17 acquires time data from the clock unit 18 at regular intervals. Every time the message sending unit 17 acquires time data from the clock unit 18, it refers to the scheduled transmission time written in the "scheduled transmission time" field of each record in the table of the sending-side data storage unit 11. The message sending unit 17 detects from the table of the sending-side data storage unit 11 a record in which the referenced scheduled transmission time is after the time indicated by the time data acquired from the clock unit 18. The message sending unit 17 generates a message transmission signal based on the detected record and outputs the generated message transmission signal to the transmission processing unit 42.

[0047] Message open notification forwarding processor 19 receives a message open notification signal via receiving processor 41. Message open notification forwarding processor 19 forwards the received message open notification signal via transmitting processor 42, with the user identification information indicated as the recipient identification information in the received message open notification signal as the destination.

[0048] (Server hardware configuration) 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the server device 1. The server device 1 is a computer including, for example, a CPU 421, a RAM 422, a ROM 423, an auxiliary storage device 424, a communication module 425, and a clock module 426. The CPU 421, RAM 422, ROM 423, auxiliary storage device 424, communication module 425, and clock module 426 are connected to each other via a bus. Here, the auxiliary storage device 424 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SDD (Solid State Drive). The communication module 425 corresponds to the reception processing unit 41 and the transmission processing unit 42. The clock module 426 corresponds to the timekeeping unit 18. When an application program pre-stored in ROM 423 or auxiliary storage device 424 is executed by CPU 421, functional units including a confirmation request level receiving unit 12, a scheduled sending time selecting unit 13, a confirmation available time acquiring unit 15, a message receiving unit 16, a message sending unit 17, and a message open notification forwarding processing unit 19 are configured, and memory areas corresponding to the sending side data memory unit 11 and the confirmation available time memory unit 14 are allocated in RAM 422 or auxiliary storage device 424.

[0049] (Processing performed by the message sending and receiving system) 11 to 13, the processing performed by the message transmitting / receiving system 100 will be described. User B, who is the user of the receiving terminal device 3, performs an operation to output a start-up instruction signal to the message screen display processing unit 301 via the operation unit 33 of the receiving terminal device 3. Upon receiving the start-up instruction signal from the operation unit 33, the message screen display processing unit 301 displays the initial screen 50B shown in FIG. 5(a) on the display unit 32. User B performs an operation to press the confirmation allowed time setting button 52B on the initial screen 50B via the operation unit 33. Upon receiving an instruction signal from the operation unit 33 indicating that the confirmation allowed time setting button 52B has been pressed, the confirmation allowed time designation unit 302 displays the confirmation allowed time setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 5(b) on the display unit 32. User B performs an operation to write the confirmation allowed time in the confirmation allowed time input area 71 via the operation unit 33. Here, as shown in FIG. 5(b), it is assumed that user B has performed an operation to write "10:00-11:00", "13:00-13:30", and "16:00-17:00" in the available time input area 71.

[0050] User B performs an operation to press the setting button 72 on the confirmation time setting screen 70 via the operation unit 33. When the confirmation time designation unit 302 receives an instruction signal from the operation unit 33 indicating that the setting button 72 on the confirmation time setting screen 70 has been pressed, it imports the time written on the confirmation time setting screen 70 as confirmation time data at the time of receiving the instruction signal. After importing the confirmation time data, the confirmation time designation unit 302 erases the confirmation time setting screen 70 from the display unit 32. The confirmation time designation unit 302 writes and stores the imported confirmation time data in the confirmation time storage unit 303. If previous confirmation time data has been written in the confirmation time storage unit 303, the confirmation time designation unit 302 overwrites the previous confirmation time data with the imported confirmation time data (step S1).

[0051] The confirmation allowed time acquisition unit 15 of the server device 1 generates a confirmation allowed time acquisition request signal with the user identification information of the destination being "User B" and transmits the generated confirmation allowed time acquisition request signal to the receiving terminal device 3 via the transmission processing unit 42 (step S2). When the confirmation allowed time acquisition request acceptance unit 304 of the receiving terminal device 3 receives the confirmation allowed time acquisition request signal from the server device 1 via the reception processing unit 34, it reads out the confirmation allowed time data from the confirmation allowed time storage unit 303. The confirmation allowed time acquisition request acceptance unit 304 generates a confirmation allowed time acquisition response signal with the server device 1 as the destination, which includes the read out confirmation allowed time data and the user identification information of "User B" stored in the storage unit 306 as its own user identification information. The confirmation allowed time acquisition request acceptance unit 304 transmits the generated confirmation allowed time acquisition response signal to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 35 (step S3).

[0052] The confirmation time acquisition unit 15 of the server device 1 receives a confirmation time acquisition response signal from the receiving terminal device 3 via the reception processing unit 41. The confirmation time acquisition unit 15 determines whether or not a record corresponding to “User B,” the user identification information included in the received confirmation time acquisition response signal, exists in the table of the confirmation time storage unit 14. If the confirmation time acquisition unit 15 determines that a record corresponding to “User B” does not exist, it creates a new record. The confirmation time acquisition unit 15 writes the user identification information and confirmation time data included in the received confirmation time acquisition response signal into the corresponding fields of the created record. On the other hand, if the confirmation time acquisition unit 15 determines that a record corresponding to “User B” exists, it rewrites the previous confirmation time data written in the “Confirmation Time” field of the record with the confirmation time data included in the received confirmation time acquisition response signal (step S4). The confirmation time acquisition unit 15 performs the process of step S2 at predetermined intervals. As a result, the confirmation time data in the table of the confirmation time storage unit 14 is periodically updated.

[0053] User A, who is the user of the transmitting terminal device 2, performs an operation to output a start-up instruction signal to the message screen display processing unit 201 via the operation unit 23 of the transmitting terminal device 2. When the message screen display processing unit 201 receives the start-up instruction signal from the operation unit 23, it displays the initial screen 50A shown in FIG. 3(a) on the display unit 22. When user A performs an operation to press the user selection button 51A-1 for "User B" via the operation unit 23, the operation unit 23 outputs an instruction signal indicating that the user selection button 51A-1 has been pressed to the message screen display processing unit 201. When the message screen display processing unit 201 receives an instruction signal indicating that the user selection button 51A-1 has been pressed from the operation unit 23, it displays the message exchange screen 60 shown in FIG. 3(b) on the display unit 22 (step S10).

[0054] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a portion of the message creation area 63 of the message exchange screen 60. When user A writes characters, symbols, etc. in the message input area 64 via the operation unit 23, the message screen display processing unit 201 displays the written characters, symbols, etc. in the message input area 64, as shown in FIG. 14(a). FIG. 14(a) shows an example in which a character string saying "Today's meeting will start at 14:00. Please let us know whether you will attend." When characters, symbols, etc. are written in the message input area 64, the message screen display processing unit 201 generates new message identification information and associates it with the message data written in the message input area 64. Here, it is assumed that the message screen display processing unit 201 generates "0010" as the message identification information (step S11).

[0055] When user A performs an operation to press the confirmation request level selection button 65 in the message creation area 63 via the operation unit 23, the message screen display processing unit 201 displays a pull-down menu 65a displaying each of a plurality of confirmation request levels, instead of the confirmation request level selection button 65, as shown in FIG. 14(b). User A performs an operation to select one of the confirmation request levels displayed in the pull-down menu 65a via the operation unit 23. Here, it is assumed that user A selects "morning" as the confirmation request level. When the message screen display processing unit 201 receives an instruction signal from the operation unit 23 indicating that "morning" has been selected as the confirmation request level, it erases the pull-down menu 65a. As shown in FIG. 14(c), the message screen display processing unit 201 displays a character string indicating the selected confirmation request level, i.e., "morning," at the position of the confirmation request level selection button 65.

[0056] When one of the confirmation request levels shown in the pull-down menu 65a is selected, the confirmation request level designation unit 202 detects and acquires the selected confirmation request level, i.e., the confirmation request level displayed at the position of the confirmation request level selection button 65. In the example shown in Fig. 14(c), the confirmation request level designation unit 202 detects and acquires the confirmation request level data for "morning."

[0057] The confirmation request level designation unit 202 acquires, as the recipient identification information, the user identification information of "User B" displayed in the message exchange partner display area 61 of the message exchange screen 60. The confirmation request level designation unit 202 acquires, as the sender identification information, "User A" stored in the storage unit 205 as its own user identification information. The confirmation request level designation unit 202 acquires, from the message screen display processing unit 201, the message identification information of "0010" associated with the message data displayed in the message input area 64. The confirmation request level designation unit 202 generates a scheduled transmission time request signal that includes the acquired confirmation request level data of "morning," the sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010," and that has the server device 1 as its destination. The confirmation request level designation unit 202 transmits the generated scheduled transmission time request signal to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 25 (step S12).

[0058] The confirmation request level receiving unit 12 of the server device 1 receives a scheduled transmission time request signal from the transmitting terminal device 2 via the receiving processing unit 41. When the confirmation request level receiving unit 12 receives the scheduled transmission time request signal, it generates a new record in the table of the transmitting data storage unit 11. The confirmation request level receiving unit 12 writes the sender identification information of "User A," the receiver identification information of "User B," the message identification information of "0010," and the confirmation request level data of "morning," which are included in the scheduled transmission time request signal, into the corresponding items of the generated record, as shown in FIG. 8(a) (step S13).

[0059] The confirmation request level receiving unit 12 outputs a selection disclosure instruction signal including the sender identification information, recipient identification information, and message identification information included in the scheduled transmission time request signal to the scheduled transmission time selecting unit 13. The scheduled transmission time selecting unit 13 takes in the selection disclosure instruction signal output by the confirmation request level receiving unit 12. The scheduled transmission time selecting unit 13 outputs a confirmation available time acquisition instruction signal including the recipient identification information of "user B" included in the taken selection disclosure instruction signal to the confirmation available time acquiring unit 15. Upon receiving the confirmation available time acquisition instruction signal from the scheduled transmission time selecting unit 13, the confirmation available time acquiring unit 15 reads out the recipient identification information of "user B" included in the received confirmation available time acquisition instruction signal. The confirmation available time acquiring unit 15 generates a confirmation available time acquisition request signal whose destination is the read out user identification information of "user B," and transmits the generated confirmation available time acquisition request signal via the transmission processing unit 42 to the receiving terminal device 3 (step S14).

[0060] Thereafter, the receiving terminal device 3 executes the same process as step S3 as the process of step S15. After the process of step S15, the confirmation-allowed time acquisition unit 15 of the server device 1 executes the same process as step S4. After writing to the table of the confirmation-allowed time storage unit 14 is completed, the confirmation-allowed time acquisition unit 15 outputs a confirmation-allowed time acquisition end signal to the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 (step S16). Note that if the receiving terminal device 3 is offline, for example, the process of step S15 is not executed, and the confirmation-allowed time acquisition unit 15 of the server device 1 cannot receive the confirmation-allowed time acquisition response signal from the receiving terminal device 3. Therefore, if the confirmation-allowed time acquisition unit 15 does not receive the confirmation-allowed time acquisition response signal even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since transmitting the confirmation-allowed time acquisition request signal, the confirmation-allowed time acquisition unit 15 outputs a confirmation-allowed time acquisition end signal to the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13. In this case, the confirmation-allowed time data of "User B" stored in the table of the confirmation-allowed time storage unit 14 is not updated.

[0061] When the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 receives a confirmation-allowed time acquisition completion signal from the confirmation-allowed time acquisition unit 15, it starts processing the subroutine of the scheduled transmission time selection process shown in FIG. 13 (step S17). The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 detects a record corresponding to the combination of the sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010" contained in the selection disclosure instruction signal acquired in the process of step S14 from the table in the sending-side data storage unit 11. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 reads the confirmation request level data written in the "confirmation request level" field of the detected record (step Sa1). The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 detects a record corresponding to the recipient identification information of "User B" contained in the acquired selection disclosure instruction signal from the table in the confirmation-allowed time storage unit 14. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 reads the confirmation-allowed time data written in the "confirmation-allowed time" field of the detected record (step Sa2).

[0062] The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines whether the confirmation request level indicated by the confirmation request level data read in the processing of step Sa1 is "immediately," "morning," "today," "this week," or "no reply required" (step Sa3). The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the confirmation request level is "immediately" (step Sa3, "immediately"). "Immediately" means immediate confirmation, or in other words, a request to confirm the message as soon as possible. Therefore, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 outputs a time acquisition request signal to the clock unit 18 to acquire time data from the clock unit 18. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 sets the time indicated by the time data acquired from the clock unit 18, i.e., the time specified by the year, month, day, hour, and minute, as the scheduled transmission time (step Sa4), and ends the processing of the subroutine.

[0063] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the confirmation request level is "morning" (step Sa3, morning), it determines whether the confirmation available time data read in step Sa2 includes any morning time, i.e., 0:00 to 12:00 (step Sa5).

[0064] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the available confirmation times include a time in the morning (step Sa5, Yes), it sets the earliest time among the available confirmation times as the scheduled transmission time (step Sa6) and ends the processing of the subroutine. On the other hand, if the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the available confirmation times do not include a time in the morning (step Sa5, No), it proceeds to step Sa4.

[0065] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the confirmation request level is "within today" (step Sa3, within today), it determines whether the confirmation available time data read in step Sa2 includes any time within today, i.e., between 0:00 and 24:00 (step Sa7).

[0066] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the available confirmation times include a time within today (step Sa7, Yes), it sets the earliest time within the available confirmation times as the scheduled transmission time (step Sa8) and ends the processing of the subroutine. On the other hand, if the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the available confirmation times do not include a time within today (step Sa7, No), it proceeds to step Sa4.

[0067] In the determination process of steps Sa5 and Sa7, if the confirmation available time indicated by the confirmation available time data is specified as a year, month, and day, or month and day, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 outputs a time acquisition request signal to the clock unit 18 and acquires time data from the clock unit 18. In the determination process of step Sa5, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines whether the confirmation available time includes a time period from 0:00 to 12:00 on the same day as the year, month, and day indicated by the acquired time data. In the determination process of step Sa7, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines whether the confirmation available time includes a time period from 0:00 to 24:00 on the same day as the year, month, and day indicated by the acquired time data. In the determination process of steps Sa5 and Sa7, if the confirmation available time does not include a year but does include a month and day, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 will consider the date to be the same if the month and day indicated in the acquired time data match. In the judgment process of steps Sa5 and Sa7, if the confirmation time does not indicate the year and month but indicates the day, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 will consider it to be the same day if the day indicated in the acquired time data matches.

[0068] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the confirmation request level is "within this week" (step Sa3, within this week), the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 outputs a time acquisition request signal to the clock unit 18 to acquire time data from the clock unit 18. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 reads information about the day of the week indicated in the acquired time data and identifies the remaining dates of this week, including the current day. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines whether the confirmation available times indicated by the confirmation available time data read in step Sa2 include a time within this week, i.e., a time between 0:00 and 24:00 on each day of the same week (step Sa9). In the determination process of step Sa9, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 performs the following process depending on the state of the year, month, and day designation in the confirmation available time. That is, if the year is not designated for the confirmation available time but the month and day are designated, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 makes a determination by assuming that the year of the confirmation available time is the same as the year indicated by the acquired time data. If the year and month are not specified for the confirmation time but the day is specified, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 makes a judgment assuming that the year and month of the confirmation time are the same as the year and month indicated by the acquired time data.If the year, month, and day are not specified for the confirmation time, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 makes a judgment assuming that the year, month, and day of the confirmation time are the same as the year, month, and day indicated by the acquired time data.

[0069] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the available confirmation times include a time within this week (step Sa9, Yes), it sets the information indicating the earliest time within the available confirmation times as the scheduled transmission time (step Sa10) and ends the processing of the subroutine.On the other hand, if the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the available confirmation times do not include a time within this week (step Sa9, No), it proceeds to step Sa4.

[0070] If the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the confirmation request level is "reply not required" (step Sa3, reply not required), it determines whether or not a confirmation-enabled time exists (step Sa11). That is, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines whether or not confirmation-enabled time data has been read in the processing of step Sa2. Assume that the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that confirmation-enabled time data has been read in the processing of step Sa2 (step Sa11, Yes). In this case, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 sets the earliest time among the confirmation-enabled times indicated by the read confirmation-enabled time data as the scheduled transmission time (step Sa12), and ends the processing of the subroutine. On the other hand, if the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that confirmation-enabled time data has not been read within the confirmation-enabled time in the processing of step Sa2 (step Sa9, No), it proceeds to step Sa4.

[0071] Here, the confirmation request level indicated by the confirmation request level data read by the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 in the process of step Sa1 is "morning," and the confirmation available times indicated by the confirmation available time data read by the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 in the process of step Sa2 are "10:00-11:00," "13:00-13:30," and "16:00-17:00" without specifying a year, month, or date. Therefore, in the process of step Sa3, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 determines that the confirmation request level is "morning," and in the process of step Sa5, determines that the confirmation available times include morning. In the subsequent process of step Sa6, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 sets the earliest time, "10:00," as the scheduled transmission time.

[0072] When the subroutine for the scheduled transmission time selection process in Fig. 13 is completed, the process returns to the process in Fig. 11. In the processes of steps Sa6, Sa8, Sa10, and Sa12 other than step Sa4, the data indicating the scheduled transmission time may not include information indicating the year, month, and day. In this case, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 outputs a time acquisition request signal to the clock unit 18 to acquire time data from the clock unit 18, and adds the missing part of the year, month, and day indicated in the acquired time data to the data indicating the scheduled transmission time. In the processes of steps Sa5, Sa7, and Sa9, if the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 has acquired time data from the clock unit 18, it may use the already acquired time data instead of acquiring new time data.

[0073] For example, if the data indicating the scheduled transmission time is "10:00" and the acquired time data is "January 15, 2022, Saturday, 6:10," the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 adds the portion "January 15, 2022" to set the data indicating the scheduled transmission time to "January 15, 2022, 10:00." For example, if the data indicating the scheduled transmission time is "15th, 10:00," the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 adds the portion "January 2022" to set the data indicating the scheduled transmission time to "January 15, 2022, 10:00." For example, if the data indicating the scheduled transmission time is "January 15, 10:00," the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 adds the portion "2022" to set the data indicating the scheduled transmission time to "January 15, 2022, 10:00." Here, the following explanation will be given assuming that the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 adds "January 15, 2022" to "10:00" to obtain "January 15, 2022, 10:00" as data indicating the scheduled transmission time.

[0074] Based on the data indicating the scheduled transmission time, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 writes "2022, 1 / 15, 10:00" in the "Scheduled Transmission Time" field of the record found from the table of the transmission-side data storage unit 11 in the processing of step Sa1, as shown in FIG. 8(b). Based on the written "2022, 1 / 15, 10:00", the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 generates a character string saying "This message will be sent at 10:00 on 1 / 15." The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 generates a scheduled transmission time response signal including the character string saying "This message will be sent at 10:00 on 1 / 15" with the user identification information of "User A" written in the "Sender Identification Information" field of the record found from the table of the transmission-side data storage unit 11 as the destination in the processing of step Sa1. The scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 transmits the generated scheduled transmission time response signal to the transmission-side terminal device 2 via the transmission processing unit 42 (step S18).

[0075] The scheduled transmission time receiving unit 203 of the transmitting terminal device 2 receives the scheduled transmission time response signal from the server device 1 via the reception processing unit 24. The scheduled transmission time receiving unit 203 reads out the character string "This message will be sent at 10:00 on January 15th" contained in the received scheduled transmission time response signal. As shown in FIG. 14(c), the scheduled transmission time receiving unit 203 displays the read-out character string "This message will be sent at 10:00 on January 15th" in the scheduled transmission time display area 66 of the message creation area 63 of the message exchange screen 60 displayed on the display unit 22 (step S19).

[0076] 11, the process shown in FIG. 12 is subsequently performed. User A refers to "This message will be sent at 10:00 on January 15th" displayed in the scheduled sending time display area 66, and then presses the send button 67 via the operation unit 23. Note that when user A refers to "This message will be sent at 10:00 on January 15th" displayed in the scheduled sending time display area 66, if the condition that the message data be sent to the receiving terminal device 3 at 10:00 on January 15th is inconvenient for him, he may again press the confirmation request level selection button 65 in the message creation area 63 via the operation unit 23 to change the confirmation request level to be specified. In this case, the process from step S12 onwards is performed again.

[0077] When the message sending unit 204 of the sending-side terminal device 2 receives an instruction signal from the operation unit 23 indicating that the send button 67 has been pressed, the message sending unit 204 performs the following process. That is, the message sending unit 204 acquires the user identification information of "User B" displayed in the message exchange partner display area 61 of the message exchange screen 60 as the recipient identification information. The message sending unit 204 acquires "User A" stored in the storage unit 205 as its own user identification information as the sender identification information. The message sending unit 204 acquires the message data displayed in the message input area 64. The message sending unit 204 acquires the message identification information of "0010" associated with the message data displayed in the message input area 64 from the message screen display processing unit 201. The message sending unit 204 acquires the confirmation request level data of "morning" indicating the confirmation request level displayed at the position of the confirmation request level selection button 65. Message sending unit 204 generates a message transmission request signal that includes the acquired sender identification information of "User A," receiver identification information of "User B," message identification information of "0010," message data, and confirmation request level data of "morning," and whose destination is server device 1. Message sending unit 204 transmits the generated message transmission request signal to server device 1 via transmission processing unit 25 (step S20).

[0078] The message receiving unit 16 of the server device 1 receives a message transmission request signal from the transmitting-side terminal device 2 via the reception processing unit 41. The message receiving unit 16 detects a record from the table in the transmitting-side data storage unit 11 that corresponds to the combination of the sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010," which are included in the received message transmission request signal. As shown in FIG. 8(c), the message receiving unit 16 writes the message data included in the message transmission request signal in the "Message" field of the detected record. The message receiving unit 16 rewrites the confirmation request level data written in the "Confirmation Request Level" field of the detected record with the confirmation request level data included in the message transmission request signal.

[0079] The message receiving unit 16 generates a message transmission request acceptance signal that includes the recipient identification information of "User B" included in the message transmission request signal and the message identification information of "0010," and that has the user identification information of "User B" as the destination. The message receiving unit 16 transmits the generated message transmission request acceptance signal to the transmitting terminal device 2 via the transmission processing unit 42 (step S21). When the message transmitting unit 204 of the transmitting terminal device 2 receives the message transmission request acceptance signal from the server device 1 via the reception processing unit 24, it displays information indicating that the message has been sent, superimposed on the message exchange screen 60 displayed on the display unit 22 (step S22).

[0080] The message sending unit 17 of the server device 1 performs the following process as scheduled transmission time monitoring processing. That is, the message sending unit 17 outputs a time acquisition request signal to the clock unit 18 at regular intervals to acquire time data. Every time it acquires time data from the clock unit 18, the message sending unit 17 determines whether or not there is a record in the table of the sending-side data storage unit 11 in which the scheduled transmission time written in the "scheduled transmission time" field of each record is after the time indicated in the time data acquired from the clock unit 18. If the message sending unit 17 determines that no such record exists, it repeatedly performs processing of outputting a time acquisition request signal to the clock unit 18 at regular intervals (step S30).

[0081] When the message sending unit 17 determines that a corresponding record exists, it performs the following process. For example, assume that the time indicated by the time data acquired by the message sending unit 17 from the clock unit 18 at a certain timing is "January 15, 2022, 10:00." In this case, when the message sending unit 17 determines that a corresponding record exists, the message sending unit 17 determines that a corresponding record exists when the record to be determined has a "sender identification information" field set to "User A," a "recipient identification information" field set to "User B," a "message identification information" field set to "0010," and a "scheduled sending time" field set to "2022, 1 / 15, 10:00" as shown in FIG. 8(c). The message sending unit 17 reads the user identification information of "User A" written in the "sender identification information" field of the record to be determined, the message identification information of "0010" written in the "message identification information" field, and the message data included in the "message" field. The message sending unit 17 sets the user identification information of "User B" written in the "Recipient Identification Information" field of the record to be determined as the destination, and generates a message sending signal including the read user identification information of "User A," the message identification information of "0010," and the message data. The message sending unit 17 transmits the generated message sending signal to the receiving-side terminal device 3 via the transmission processing unit 42 (step S31).

[0082] The message receiving unit 305 of the receiving terminal device 3 receives the message transmission signal transmitted by the server device 1 via the reception processing unit 34. The message receiving unit 305 reads the user identification information of "User A," the message identification information of "0010," and the message data included in the message transmission signal. The message receiving unit 305 associates the read user identification information of "User A," the message identification information of "0010," and the message data, further associates information indicating an unread state with them, writes them into the storage unit 306, and displays information indicating that the message has arrived on the display unit 32. The message receiving unit 305 generates a message reception notification signal that includes the sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010," and that is addressed to the server device 1, based on the received message transmission signal and its own user identification information stored in the storage unit 306. The message receiving unit 305 transmits the generated message reception notification signal to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 35 (step S32).

[0083] The message sending unit 17 of the server device 1 receives a message reception notification signal transmitted by the receiving terminal device 3 via the reception processing unit 41. The message sending unit 17 reads the sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010" contained in the received message reception notification signal. The message sending unit 17 detects a record from the table of the sending data storage unit 11 based on the read sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010," and rewrites "2022, 1 / 15, 10:00" written in the "Scheduled Sending Time" field of the detected record to information indicating that the message has been sent (step S33). Note that the table of the sending data storage unit 11 may further include a "Sent Time" field, and the actual time at which the message data of the record that has been sent is written in the "Sent Time" field. In this way, by referring to the table in the sending data storage unit 11, the order in which the message data was sent can be identified.

[0084] By rewriting the content of the "Scheduled Transmission Time" field with information indicating that transmission has been completed, the processing for that record is completed, and the message sending unit 17 will not detect that record in the scheduled transmission time monitoring process that is subsequently performed in step S30. Note that if the receiving terminal device 3 is, for example, offline, the processing of step S32 is not performed, and the message sending unit 17 will not receive the message reception notification signal. In this case, in the scheduled transmission time monitoring process that is subsequently performed in step S30, the message sending unit 17 will again detect that record, and the processing from step S31 onwards will be performed.

[0085] User B, who has seen the information displayed on display unit 32 indicating that a message has arrived, performs an operation to press user selection button 51B-1 for "User A" via operation unit 33 on initial screen 50B shown in FIG. 5(a) displayed on display unit 32. When message screen display processing unit 301 receives an instruction signal from operation unit 33 indicating that user selection button 51B-1 has been pressed, it reads out message data and message identification information associated with user identification information for "User A" from storage unit 306. Message screen display processing unit 301 displays the message data on display unit 32 in order according to the message identification information. This allows user B to check the content of the message received from user A.

[0086] After displaying the information indicating the unread state and the message data associated with the user identification information of "User A" and the message identification information of "0010" on the display unit 32, the message screen display processing unit 301 performs the following process. The message screen display processing unit 301 deletes the information indicating the unread state associated with the message data in the storage unit 306. The message screen display processing unit 301 acquires the user identification information of "User A" associated with the message data in the storage unit 306 as sender identification information. The message screen display processing unit 301 acquires the message identification information of "0010" associated with the message data in the storage unit 306. The message screen display processing unit 301 acquires the user identification information of "User B" stored in the storage unit 306 as its own user identification information as recipient identification information. The message screen display processing unit 301 generates a message open notification signal including the acquired sender identification information of "User A," the recipient identification information of "User B," and the message identification information of "0010," and having the server device 1 as its destination. The message screen display processing unit 301 transmits the generated message opening notification signal to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 35 (step S34).

[0087] The message open notification forwarding processor 19 of the server device 1 receives the message open notification signal sent by the receiving terminal device 3 via the receiving processor 41. The message open notification forwarding processor 19 sets the user identification information of "User A" included as sender identification information in the received message open notification signal as the destination, and sends the received message open notification signal to the sending terminal device 2 via the sending processor 42 (step S35).

[0088] The message screen display processing unit 201 of the transmitting terminal device 2 receives the message open notification signal from the server device 1 via the receiving processing unit 24. Based on the recipient identification information of "User B" and the message identification information of "0010" contained in the received message open notification signal, the message screen display processing unit 201 displays information indicating that User B has confirmed the message data whose message identification information is "0010" on the display unit 22 (step S36). This allows User A to know that User B has confirmed the message data that User A sent.

[0089] When the transmitting terminal device 2 transmits message data to the receiving terminal device 3 via the server device 1, the following becomes possible. That is, user A, the sender of the message data, can set a confirmation request level to the server device 1, indicating the urgency of the message data, such as a deadline by which the message data should be confirmed. User B, the recipient of the message data, can set a confirmation time by which the message data can be confirmed in advance to the server device 1. The server device 1 can select an optimal scheduled transmission time for transmitting the message data, taking into account the confirmation request level and the confirmation time. In other words, the server device 1 can vary the time for transmitting the message data to the receiving terminal device 3, taking into account the sender's convenience, such as the deadline by which the message data should be confirmed, and the receiver's convenience, such as the time when the message data can be confirmed. This allows, for example, user B, the recipient, to receive non-urgent message data all at once within the confirmation time that he or she has set. This reduces the decline in work efficiency and forgetting to reply, which can occur due to the frequent arrival of message data, and prevents user B, the recipient, from becoming so-called "chat fatigue." In contrast, the sender, User A, can send message data at a time that is convenient for him / herself. This makes it possible to send a message avoiding a time that is inconvenient for the recipient, even if the sender does not know exactly when the recipient will be able to check the message.

[0090] Furthermore, since the server device 1 notifies the transmitting terminal device 2 of the selected scheduled transmission time, the sender, user A, can know, before sending the message data, when the message data will be received by the receiving terminal device 3. Therefore, the sender, user A, can know when the receiver, user B, plans to check the message data, and can change the confirmation request level using the notified scheduled transmission time as a guide.

[0091] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, message transmission / reception application software installed on the sender's terminal device determines whether the set transmission time has passed. Therefore, if the sender's terminal device is not activated and connected to a communication network at the transmission time, the message cannot be transmitted at the transmission time. In contrast, in the above embodiment, the server device 1 temporarily stores message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device 2. Even if the transmitting terminal device 2 is not activated, the server device 1 transmits the stored message data to the receiving terminal device 3 at a time after the scheduled transmission time. Therefore, the message transmission / reception system 100 including the server device 1 solves the problem of the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, in that if the sender's terminal device is not activated and connected to a communication network at the transmission time, the message cannot be transmitted at the transmission time.

[0092] (Other configuration examples) In the above embodiment, examples of confirmation request levels designated by the sender, user A, in the sending terminal device 2 are "immediately," "in the morning," "today," "this week," and "no reply required." Among these, "in the morning," "today," and "this week" are confirmation request levels indicating a period during which the recipient is requested to check the message data, and various periods may be applied. For example, a confirmation request level such as "this month" may be included, or confirmation request levels such as "by a specified time" or "by a specified date" may be included.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the available confirmation time set by the receiver, user B, in the receiving terminal device 3 is a time represented by a start time and an end time, such as "10:00-11:00." Furthermore, the start time and end time are not limited to times specified by hours and minutes, but may be times obtained by adding the year, month, and day, month, and day, or day, to the hours and minutes. Furthermore, the day of the week may be added, or units of seconds may be included. When units of seconds are included, the timer unit 18 needs to output time data indicating the year, month, and day, the day of the week, the hour, minute, and second at the time of receiving the time acquisition request signal, so that the message transmitter 17 can compare the time with the scheduled transmission time, including units of seconds.

[0094] Furthermore, in the confirmable time, the year may be expressed in the Gregorian calendar, such as "2022," or in the Japanese calendar, such as "Reiwa 4," and the hour may be expressed in the 24-hour format, such as "11:00 PM," or in the 12-hour format, such as "11:00 PM." In this case, when performing the determination processes of steps Sa5, Sa7, and Sa9 of the scheduled transmission time selection process shown in Fig. 13, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 must convert the Japanese calendar date into the Gregorian calendar date if the confirmable time data includes the Japanese calendar date, and convert the 12-hour format into the 24-hour format if the 12-hour format is included.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the available confirmation time is set by the recipient, user B, operating the operation unit 33. Alternatively, the available confirmation time designation unit 302 of the receiving terminal device 3 may access a schedule management application that stores the recipient, user B's, calendar data, and select the available confirmation time from among user B's free time. The schedule management application may be installed in the receiving terminal device 3, or may be installed in an external device that the receiving terminal device 3 can access.

[0096] Alternatively, the confirmation-available time designation unit 302 of the receiving terminal device 3 may access a presence detection application installed in the receiving terminal device 3, acquire the location of the recipient, user B, and select the confirmation-available time based on information indicating the location of user B. Alternatively, the confirmation-available time designation unit 302 of the receiving terminal device 3 may periodically access a schedule management application or a presence detection application and overwrite the confirmation-available time selected in the confirmation-available time storage unit 303. This makes it possible to dynamically change the confirmation-available time in response to changes in user B's situation.

[0097] In the above embodiment, it is assumed that the time when the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 of the server device 1 performs the determination process in step Sa5 of the scheduled transmission time selection process shown in Figure 13 is already in the afternoon. In this case, the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 may perform the determination process by interpreting the period indicated by "morning" indicated by the confirmation request level data as the period of "morning" on the following day. Furthermore, in this case, when the scheduled transmission time selection unit 13 adds date information to the scheduled transmission time to be written in the "scheduled transmission time" field of the corresponding record in the table of the sending-side data storage unit 11 in the process of step S18, it is necessary to add the date of the following day, not the date of the day on which the process is being performed.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the message sending unit 204 of the transmitting terminal device 2 may generate a message sending request signal that does not include a confirmation request level in the processing of step S20, and transmit the generated message sending request signal to the server device 1 via the transmission processing unit 25. In this case, the message receiving unit 16 of the server device 1 will not perform processing to rewrite the confirmation request level data written in the "confirmation request level" field of the detected record.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the server device 1 is implemented as a single device, but the functional units of the server device 1 may be distributed among multiple server devices, and the server device 1 may be implemented as a server system including multiple server devices, such as the following: For example, the server system may include a first server device including a sending-side data storage unit 11, a second server device including a confirmation-available time storage unit 14, a third server device including a confirmation request level receiving unit 12, a scheduled sending time selecting unit 13, a confirmation-available time acquiring unit 15, and a timing unit 18, and a fourth server device including a message receiving unit 16, a message sending unit 17, a timing unit 18, and a message open notification forwarding processing unit 19, and each of the first to fourth server devices includes a receiving processing unit 41 and a sending processing unit 42 and is connected to a communication network 4.

[0100] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server device 500 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the server device 500. As shown in FIG. 15, the server device 500 includes a confirmation request level receiving means 501, a confirmation available time acquiring means 502 (confirmation available time receiving means), a scheduled transmission time selecting means 503, a message receiving means 504, and a message transmitting means 505. As shown in FIG. 16, in the server device 500, the confirmation request level receiving means 501 receives confirmation request level data transmitted from a transmitting terminal device, the confirmation request level data indicating a requested confirmation level of message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device (step S511). The confirmation available time acquiring means 502 acquires confirmation available time data indicating a time during which the receiver can confirm the message data from the receiving terminal device (step S512). The scheduled transmission time selecting means 503 selects a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data (step S513). The message receiving means 504 receives the message data transmitted by the transmitting terminal device and corresponding to the confirmation request level data (step S514). If the time acquired from the clocking means is a time after the scheduled transmission time selected by the scheduled transmission time selecting means 503, the message transmitting means 505 transmits the message data received by the message receiving means 504 to the receiving terminal device (step S515).

[0101] The above-mentioned server device 1, sending terminal device 2, and receiving terminal device 3 each have a computer system therein, and a program for realizing the functions of the confirmation request level receiving unit 12, scheduled sending time selecting unit 13, confirmation available time acquiring unit 15, message receiving unit 16, message sending unit 17, message open notification forwarding processing unit 19, and the message screen display processing unit 201, confirmation request level specifying unit 202, scheduled sending time receiving unit 203, message sending unit 204 of the sent message processing unit 21, and the message screen display processing unit 301, confirmation available time specifying unit 302, confirmation available time acquisition request accepting unit 304, and message receiving unit 305 of the received message processing unit 31 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into and executed by the computer system to perform the processing described with reference to Figures 11 to 13.

[0102] The program may be a program for realizing some of the functions described above, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already stored in the computer system.

[0103] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0104] Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0105] (Appendix 1) a confirmation request level receiving means for receiving confirmation request level data indicating a confirmation request level of message data transmitted by a transmitting terminal device from the transmitting terminal device; a confirmation time receiving means for receiving confirmation time data indicating a time during which the recipient can confirm the message data from the receiving terminal device; a scheduled transmission time selection means for selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data; a message receiving means for receiving message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data from the sending terminal device; a message transmitting means for transmitting the message data received by the message receiving means to the receiving-side terminal device when the time acquired from the clocking means is a time after the scheduled transmission time selected by the scheduled transmission time selecting means; A server device comprising:

[0106] (Appendix 2) 2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the scheduled transmission time selection means selects the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time when the confirmation request level data indicates immediate confirmation.

[0107] (Appendix 3) The server device described in Appendix 1 or 2, wherein the scheduled transmission time selection means, when the confirmation request level data indicates a period and the range of the period includes the time indicated by the confirmation available time data, selects the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation available time data as the scheduled transmission time.

[0108] (Appendix 4) The server device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the scheduled transmission time selection means selects the time obtained from the timing means as the scheduled transmission time when the confirmation request level data indicates a period and the range of the period does not include the time indicated by the confirmation available time data.

[0109] (Appendix 5) 5. A server device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the scheduled transmission time selection means, when the confirmation request level data indicates that a reply is not required, selects the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation available time data as the scheduled transmission time.

[0110] (Appendix 6) 6. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the scheduled transmission time selection means transmits the selected scheduled transmission time to the transmitting terminal device.

[0111] (Appendix 7) a confirmation request level designation means for transmitting confirmation request level data to the server device, the confirmation request level data indicating a confirmation request level for message data to be transmitted, designated by the sender; a message sending means for sending the message data to the server device; A transmitting terminal device comprising:

[0112] (Appendix 8) a scheduled transmission time receiving means for receiving, from a receiving-side terminal device, confirmation available time data indicating a time when the recipient can confirm message data, and receiving, from the server device, data indicating a scheduled transmission time of message data selected based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, and presenting the data to the sender; 8. The transmitting terminal device according to claim 7, further comprising:

[0113] (Appendix 9) a confirmation time designation means for transmitting confirmation time data indicating a time during which the recipient can confirm the message data to the server device; a message receiving means for receiving the message data; A receiving terminal device comprising:

[0114] (Appendix 10) A server device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6; A transmitting terminal device according to Supplementary Note 7 or 8; a receiving terminal device according to Supplementary Note 9; A message sending and receiving system comprising:

[0115] (Appendix 11) a confirmation request level receiving step of receiving confirmation request level data indicating a confirmation request level of message data to be transmitted from a transmitting terminal device; a confirmation time receiving step of receiving confirmation time data indicating a time during which the recipient can confirm the message data from the receiving terminal device; a scheduled transmission time selection step of selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data to the receiving terminal device based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data; a message receiving step of receiving message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data from the transmitting side terminal device; a message transmitting step of transmitting the message data received in the message receiving step to the receiving-side terminal device when the time acquired from the clock means is a time after the scheduled transmission time selected in the scheduled transmission time selecting step; A message transmission and reception method for a server device, comprising:

[0116] (Appendix 12) the scheduled transmission time selection step selects the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time when the confirmation request level data indicates immediate confirmation; A message sending and receiving method for a server device according to claim 11.

[0117] (Appendix 13) 13. The message sending and receiving method of a server device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the scheduled sending time selection step selects, when the confirmation request level data indicates a period and the range of the period includes the time indicated by the confirmation available time data, the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation available time data as the scheduled sending time.

[0118] (Appendix 14) the scheduled transmission time selection step, when the confirmation request level data indicates a period and the range of the period does not include the time indicated by the confirmation available time data, selects the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; A message sending and receiving method for a server device according to any one of appendices 11 to 13.

[0119] (Appendix 15) the scheduled transmission time selection step, when the confirmation request level data indicates that a reply is not required, selects the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation available time data as the scheduled transmission time; A message sending and receiving method for a server device according to any one of appendices 11 to 14.

[0120] (Appendix 16) the scheduled transmission time selection step transmits the selected scheduled transmission time to the transmitting terminal device; A message sending and receiving method for a server device according to any one of appendices 11 to 15.

[0121] (Appendix 17) a confirmation request level designation step of transmitting confirmation request level data to the server device, the confirmation request level data indicating a confirmation request level of message data to be transmitted, designated by the sender; a message sending step of sending the message data to the server device; A message transmission method for a transmitting terminal device, comprising:

[0122] (Appendix 18) a scheduled transmission time receiving step in which the server device, which has received confirmation available time data indicating a time during which the recipient can confirm the message data from the receiving-side terminal device, receives from the server device data indicating a scheduled transmission time of the message data selected based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, and presents the data to the sender; The message transmission method of the transmitting terminal device according to Supplementary Note 17, further comprising:

[0123] (Appendix 19) a confirmation time designation step of transmitting confirmation time data indicating a time during which the recipient can confirm the message data to the server device; a message receiving step of receiving the message data; A message receiving method for a receiving terminal device, comprising:

[0124] (Appendix 20) A message transmission / reception method for a server device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 11 to 16; A message transmission method for a transmitting terminal device according to Supplementary Note 17 or 18; A message receiving method for a receiving terminal device according to Supplementary Note 19; A message sending and receiving method for a message sending and receiving system comprising:

[0125] (Appendix 21) A program causing a computer to perform the method described in any one of appendices 1 to 20. [Industrial Applicability]

[0126] It can be applied to instant messengers. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 100... message sending and receiving system, 1... server device, 11... sending side data storage unit, 12... confirmation request level receiving unit, 13... scheduled transmission time selecting unit, 14... confirmation available time storage unit, 15... confirmation available time acquiring unit, 16... message receiving unit, 17... message sending unit, 18... timing unit, 19... message opening notification forwarding processing unit, 41... receiving processing unit, 42... sending processing unit, 2... sending side terminal device, 21... sending message processing unit, 22... display unit, 23... operation unit, 24... receiving processing unit, 25... sending Processing unit, 201... message screen display processing unit, 202... confirmation request level designation unit, 203... scheduled transmission time receiving unit, 204... message sending unit, 205... storage unit, 3... receiving side terminal device, 31... received message processing unit, 32... display unit, 33... operation unit, 34... reception processing unit, 35... transmission processing unit, 301... message screen display processing unit, 302... confirmation available time designation unit, 303... confirmation available time storage unit, 304... confirmation available time acquisition request receiving unit, 305... message receiving unit, 306... storage unit

Claims

1. Indicates the level of confirmation required for message data sent by the sending terminal device Receive confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device. A confirmation request level receiving means; Indicates the time when the recipient can view the message data. Receive confirmation time data from the receiving terminal device A confirmation time receiving means; Based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, Select a scheduled time for transmitting message data to the receiving terminal device scheduled transmission time selection means; receiving message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device; A message receiving means; The time obtained from the timing means is If the time is after the scheduled transmission time selected by the scheduled transmission time selection means, The message data received by the message receiving means is transmitted to the receiving terminal device. A message sending means; Equipped with The scheduled transmission time selection means If the confirmation request level data indicates immediate confirmation, selecting the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; When the confirmation request level data indicates a period, If the period range includes the time indicated by the confirmation time data, selecting the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation time data as the scheduled transmission time; Server device.

2. The scheduled transmission time selection means When the confirmation request level data indicates a period, If the time indicated by the confirmation time data is not included in the range of the period, selecting the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; The server device according to claim 1 .

3. The scheduled transmission time selection means If the confirmation request level data indicates that a reply is not required, selecting the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation time data as the scheduled transmission time; The server device according to claim 1 .

4. The scheduled transmission time selection means transmitting the selected scheduled transmission time to the transmitting terminal device; The server device according to claim 1 .

5. The server device according to any one of claims 1 to 4; a transmitting terminal device; a receiving terminal device; A message sending and receiving system comprising:

6. Indicates the level of confirmation required for message data sent by the sending terminal device Receive confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device. a confirmation request level receiving step; Indicates the time when the recipient can view the message data. Receive confirmation time data from the receiving terminal device A confirmation time receiving step; Based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data to the receiving terminal device; transmitting the selected scheduled transmission time to the transmitting terminal device; a scheduled transmission time selection step; receiving message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device; a message receiving step; The time obtained from the timing means is If the time is after the scheduled transmission time selected in the scheduled transmission time selection step, The message data received in the message receiving step Transmit to the receiving terminal device a message sending step; Including, The scheduled transmission time selection step includes: If the confirmation request level data indicates immediate confirmation, selecting the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; When the confirmation request level data indicates a period, If the period range includes the time indicated by the confirmation time data, selecting the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation time data as the scheduled transmission time; A method for transmitting and receiving messages from a server device.

7. Indicates the level of confirmation required for message data sent by the sending terminal device Receive confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device. a confirmation request level receiving step; Indicates the time when the recipient can view the message data. Receive confirmation time data from the receiving terminal device A confirmation time receiving step; Based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data to the receiving terminal device; transmitting the selected scheduled transmission time to the transmitting terminal device; a scheduled transmission time selection step; receiving message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device; a message receiving step; The time obtained from the timing means is If the time is after the scheduled transmission time selected in the scheduled transmission time selection step, The message data received in the message receiving step Transmit to the receiving terminal device a message sending step; Including, The scheduled transmission time selection step includes: If the confirmation request level data indicates immediate confirmation, selecting the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; When the confirmation request level data indicates a period, If the time indicated by the confirmation time data is not included in the range of the period, selecting the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; A method for transmitting and receiving messages from a server device.

8. Indicates the level of confirmation required for message data sent by the sending terminal device Receive confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device. a confirmation request level receiving step; Indicates the time when the recipient can view the message data. Receive confirmation time data from the receiving terminal device A confirmation time receiving step; Based on the confirmation request level data and the confirmation available time data, selecting a scheduled transmission time for transmitting message data to the receiving terminal device; transmitting the selected scheduled transmission time to the transmitting terminal device; a scheduled transmission time selection step; receiving message data corresponding to the confirmation request level data from the transmitting terminal device; a message receiving step; The time obtained from the timing means is If the time is after the scheduled transmission time selected in the scheduled transmission time selection step, The message data received in the message receiving step Transmit to the receiving terminal device a message sending step; Including, The scheduled transmission time selection step includes: If the confirmation request level data indicates immediate confirmation, selecting the time acquired from the clock means as the scheduled transmission time; If the confirmation request level data indicates that a reply is not required, selecting the earliest time among the times indicated by the confirmation time data as the scheduled transmission time; A method for transmitting and receiving messages from a server device.

9. A program that causes a computer to execute the message sending and receiving method according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

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