Program, information processing method, terminal

Abstract

To improve convenience in chatting.SOLUTION: A program, which is executed by a terminal communicating with a first terminal, makes the terminal execute: controlling, by a control unit of the terminal, to display on a display unit of the terminal a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and a user of the terminal; controlling, by the control unit, to display in the chat room a content transmitted / received between the first terminal and the terminal; and controlling based on an input by the user to the terminal, by the control unit, to transmit first moving image information to the first terminal and reproduce in the chat room the first moving image based on the first moving image information. The first moving image is reproduced at least in the chat room for the terminal and the first terminal, based on a first input by the user about moving image reproduction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1-1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Opportunities for users to use chat services such as messaging services using terminals such as smartphones and personal computers are increasing. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to messaging services. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-160467 Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a program executed by a terminal communicating with a first terminal is executed by the terminal to control, by a control unit of the terminal, to display a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and the user of the terminal on a display unit of the terminal; to control, by the control unit, to display content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room; and to control, by the control unit, to send first video information to the first terminal based on input by the user to the terminal and to play a first video based on the first video information in the chat room, and the first video is played in at least a chat room between the terminal and the first terminal based on a first input by the user regarding video playback. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an information processing method for a terminal communicating with a first terminal includes controlling a control unit of the terminal to display a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and a user of the terminal on a display unit of the terminal; controlling the control unit to display content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room; and controlling the transmission of first video information to the first terminal based on input by the user to the terminal and the playback of a first video based on the first video information in the chat room, wherein the first video is played at least in the chat room between the terminal and the first terminal based on first input by the user regarding the playback of the video. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a terminal communicating with a first terminal includes a processor that reads a program stored in a memory and executes processing based on the program, and the processor controls the display of a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and a user of the terminal on a display unit of the terminal, controls the display of content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room, and controls the transmission of first video information to the first terminal based on input by the user to the terminal and the playback of a first video based on the first video information in the chat room, and the first video is played in at least a chat room between the terminal and the first terminal based on a first input by the user regarding the playback of the video. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1-1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Figure 1-2] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit of a server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of account registration data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an advertisement management database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by a control unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-8] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-9] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-10] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-11] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-12] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-13] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-14] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-16] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modification; [Figure 1-19] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-20] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of advertisement detail data according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-22] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 1-24]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a first modified example. [Figure 2-1] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a live chat archive database according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a second embodiment. [Figure 2-4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-5] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of content display control according to the second embodiment. [Figure 3-1] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a third embodiment. [Figure 3-2] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the third embodiment. [Figure 4-1] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-3] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 4-6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fourth modified example. [Figure 4-7] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processes executed by each device in the fourth modified example. [Figure 5-1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-2]13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a fifth modified example. [Figure 6-1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-3] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 7-1] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 8-1] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the eighth embodiment. [Figure 8-2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of a terminal according to the eighth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] <Compliance with legal matters> It should be noted that the disclosures set forth herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the country of implementation, such as communications privacy, as required for the implementation of the disclosures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0013] Specifically, the server is configured to have at least one processor (for example, but not limited to, CPU: Central Processing Unit, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, APU: Accelerated Processing Unit, DSP: Digital Signal Processor (for example, but not limited to, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.), computer device (processor + memory), control device, arithmetic device, processing device, etc., and may be configured to have multiple of the same type of any one device (for example, but not limited to, CPU + CPU, homogeneous multi-core processor, etc.), or multiple of different types of any one device (for example, but not limited to, CPU + DSP, heterogeneous multi-core processor, etc.), or may be a combination of multiple devices (for example, but not limited to, processor + computer device, processor + arithmetic device, multiple devices made heterogeneous, etc.). The processor may be a virtual processor.

[0014] Furthermore, when a server performs some processing, if the server is configured with a single device, the processing described in the embodiments is performed by the single device. Furthermore, if the server is configured with multiple devices, some processing may be performed by one device, and other processing may be performed by another device. For example, and not by way of limitation, if the server is configured with a processor and an arithmetic device, the processor may perform a first processing, and the arithmetic device may perform a second processing. Furthermore, when a plurality of devices are used, the devices may be located at positions physically separated from one another.

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

[0016] The control unit of the system can be at least one of the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server, i.e., by way of example and not limitation, the control unit of the system can be either (1A) only the control unit of the terminal, (1B) only the control unit of the server, or (1C) both the control unit of the terminal and the control unit of the server.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0023] In the following embodiment, a system including a terminal and a server (a client-server system) is illustrated as an example and not as a limitation. It is also possible to apply the server system described in (2) above as the server.

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

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

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

[0027] Furthermore, in this specification, when the terms "related to" or "related to" are used, "B related to A" or "B related to A" may mean, by way of example and not limitation, that "B" has some relationship with "A." Specific examples of this will be described later.

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

[0029] Note that even though "A" and "B" are performed at different times, this only needs to be done with "A" and "B" as the processing targets, and the purposes do not necessarily have to be the same. By way of example and not limitation, when the first information and the second information are transmitted as described above, it is sufficient to transmit the first information and the second information, and this may include cases where the first information and the second information are transmitted for the same purpose, as well as cases where the first information and the second information are transmitted for different purposes.

[0030] In the following embodiments, a messaging service is exemplified as an example of a service that allows users to chat (hereinafter referred to as a "chat service"). Furthermore, an application that realizes the chat service is referred to as a "chat application," and an application that realizes the messaging service is referred to as a "messaging application." By way of example and not limitation, a chat application may allow users to chat in chat rooms. Also, by way of example and not limitation, a chat application may or may not allow users to make calls (such as voice calls or video calls) to each other.

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

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

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

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

[0035] In terms of data management, a one-to-one chat room may be managed as a one-to-one user or one-to-one account chat room, or as a group chat room consisting of two users or two accounts.

[0036] An official account is an account of a business operator (an account of a business operator's user), not of a general user, and users of this official account can, for example and without limitation, use a terminal similar to that of a general user to send and receive content (messages) with other devices via the server.

[0037] In this specification, content may be information transmitted from a source to a destination, and may be one or more pieces of content.

[0038] The content may include, by way of example and not limitation, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of still images and moving images), and sound content in sound format (including voice). In addition, it may also include operational content such as buttons and icons for user operation, and link content such as link information (including, but not limited to, URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers)).

[0039] The text may include, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of national characters, extended characters, platform-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, graphics, and symbols, as represented by character codes. The text does not have to include at least one of the above characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and signs, and may include other text.

[0040] The image may include at least one of various types of image information, such as, for example and without limitation, an icon, a button, a stamp, an emoji, and a banner image.

[0041] In the following embodiments, a live chat service is exemplified as an example of a service that allows users to broadcast or view live chats. An application for realizing the live chat service is referred to as a "live chat application."

[0042] As a form for realizing the live chat service, any of the following forms can be applied, by way of example and not limitation. (A) A form in which a live chat service function is provided as one of the functions of a messaging application (B) A form constituting an application (integrated application) having the functions of a live chat service and a messaging service. (C) A form in which a messaging application is configured as a separate application from a live chat application

[0043] In forms (A) and (B), by way of example and not limitation, the live chat service provider may be the same provider as the messaging service provider. In this case, one method is to use a common account for the user's account in the messaging application and the user's account in the live chat application. Alternatively, in this case, the user's account in the messaging application and the user's account in the live chat application may be automatically associated (linked).

[0044] In form (C), by way of example and not limitation, the live chat service provider may be a different provider from the messaging service provider. In the case of (C), a process for associating a user's account in the messaging application with a user's account in the live chat application (a linking process) can be performed.

[0045] Alternatively, it is possible to provide a messaging service function as one of the functions of the live chat application.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, expressions such as "content is transmitted and received between users" and "content is transmitted and received between terminals" are sometimes used, but these may be considered to be essentially synonymous. In addition, when a client-server system is applied, it is possible to configure the content to be transmitted and received between terminals via a server, but this may also be expressed as transmission and reception of content between users or terminals. Also, as mentioned above, it is also possible to transmit and receive content between terminals without applying a client-server system. The same applies to various types of information other than content.

[0047] <First Example> The first embodiment is, by way of example and not limitation, an embodiment in which advertising information is displayed in a chat room (by way of example and not limitation, a talk room) during a live chat in the chat room broadcast by a live chat broadcaster.

[0048] Hereinafter, a business that provides a messaging service using a messaging application will be referred to as a "messaging service business." The messaging service provider can also be expressed as a provider that provides a messaging application or a provider of the server 10.

[0049] In the following description, the name of the messaging application will be referred to as "Messaging App" where appropriate. In addition, the following description will be given by way of example and not limitation, with reference to a case where a live chat service is provided in a messaging application.

[0050] In this embodiment, the live chat delivered by a live broadcaster is, by way of example and not limitation, delivered in a chat room that includes a broadcaster who opens a chat room for the live chat (hereinafter referred to as the "main broadcaster") and a broadcaster who is invited by the main broadcaster to join the live chat and have a live chat with the main broadcaster in the chat room (hereinafter referred to as the "sub-broadcaster"), and this is described as being delivered in a chat room that viewers can watch and comment on. Note that the main broadcaster may also be referred to as a host broadcaster (host broadcaster) or a master broadcaster (master broadcaster), etc. Also, there can be one or more sub-broadcasters. Furthermore, multiple broadcasters may jointly open a live chat room without distinguishing between main broadcasters and sub-broadcasters.

[0051] Furthermore, as a form of live chat in the present disclosure, any of the following may be applied, by way of example and not limitation. (1) Live chat that mainly consists of content in the form of messages etc. delivered by the broadcaster (2) A live chat where the voice transmitted by the broadcaster is the main stream and the content such as messages transmitted by the broadcaster is the main stream. (3) Live chat that mainly consists of videos distributed by the broadcaster and the content such as messages distributed by the broadcaster.

[0052] (1) By way of example and not limitation, the live broadcast may focus on content posted by a broadcaster to be displayed in a chat room. In this case, viewers may view the broadcaster's content displayed in the chat room. (2) is, for example and not by way of limitation, a broadcaster may broadcast audio in real time while also transmitting content to be displayed in a chat room. In this case, a viewer may listen to the audio broadcast by the broadcaster while keeping the chat room open and view the broadcaster's content displayed in the chat room. In this case, for example and not by way of limitation, the server 10 may, in addition to processing the live chat described below, broadcast audio data broadcast by the broadcaster to the viewer's terminal 20 via streaming distribution. (3) is, for example and not by way of limitation, a broadcaster may broadcast video in real time while also transmitting content to be displayed in a chat room. In this case, for example and not by way of limitation, a viewer may view the broadcaster's content displayed in the chat room while watching the broadcaster's real-time video displayed in a small window or the like at a set position within the chat room. In this case, for example and not by way of limitation, the server 10 may, in addition to processing the live chat described below, distribute video data broadcast by the broadcaster to the viewer's terminal 20 via streaming distribution.

[0053] The contents described in the first embodiment can be applied to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0054] <System configuration> FIG. 1-1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the communication system 1, for example and not by way of limitation, a server 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, . . . ) are connected via a network 30.

[0055] The server 10 has a function of providing predetermined services (for example, but not limited to, a messaging service, a live chat service, etc.) to the terminal 20 owned by the user via the network 30. For example, but not limited to, the server 10 can also be expressed as a messaging server, a live chat server, etc. In this embodiment, the users of the server 10 are messaging service providers (operators) and live chat service providers (operators).

[0056] The number of servers 10 and the number of terminals 20 connected to the network 30 are not limited.

[0057] The terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C, etc.) may be any information processing terminal capable of implementing the functions described in each embodiment. Examples of the terminal 20 include, but are not limited to, smartphones, mobile phones (feature phones), computers (such as, but not limited to, desktops, laptops, and tablets), media computer platforms (such as, but not limited to, cable and satellite set-top boxes and digital video recorders), handheld computer devices (such as, but not limited to, personal digital assistants (PDAs), email clients, etc.), wearable devices (such as glasses and watch devices), virtual reality (VR) terminals, smart speakers (voice recognition devices), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The terminal 20 may also be referred to as an information processing terminal.

[0058] The configurations of terminal 20A, terminal 20B, and terminal 20C can be the same, for example and not by way of limitation. Furthermore, as necessary, the terminal used by user X may be expressed as terminal 20X, and user information in a predetermined service associated with user X or terminal 20X may or may not be expressed as user information X. The user information is information of a user associated with an account used by the user in a predetermined service. The user information includes, but is not limited to, information associated with a user, such as the user's name, an icon image of the user, the user's age, the user's gender, the user's address, the user's hobbies and interests, and a user identifier, which is input by the user or assigned by the predetermined service, and may be any one of these, or a combination thereof, or may not be the same.

[0059] The network 30 serves to connect one or more terminals 20 and one or more servers 10. In other words, the network 30 refers to a communication network that provides a connection path so that the above-mentioned various devices can connect and then send and receive data.

[0060] One or more portions of network 30 may or may not be a wired or wireless network. Network 30 may include, by way of example and not limitation, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular network, integrated service digital networks (ISDN), wireless LAN, long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA), Bluetooth, satellite communications, etc., or a combination of two or more thereof. Network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

[0061] The server 10 (which is an example of a server, information processing device, or information management device, but is not limited thereto) has a function of providing a predetermined service to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be any device that is an information processing device that can realize the functions described in each embodiment. The server 10 includes, but is not limited to, a server device, a computer (such as a desktop, laptop, or tablet), a media computer platform (such as a cable or satellite set-top box or digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (such as a PDA or email client), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The server 10 may also be referred to as an information processing device. When there is no need to distinguish between the server 10 and the terminal 20, the server 10 and the terminal 20 may or may not each be referred to as an information processing device.

[0062] [Hardware (HW) configuration of each device] The hardware configuration of each device included in the communication system 1 will be described.

[0063] (1) Device hardware configuration FIG. 1-1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal 20. The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a storage unit 28, a communication I / F 22 (interface), an input / output unit 23, a clock unit 29A, and a position calculation information detection unit 29B. The HW components of the terminal 20 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not as a limitation. It is not essential that the HW configuration of the terminal 20 includes all of the components. For example and not as a limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components are detachable.

[0064] The communication I / F 22 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication is possible. The communication I / F 22 has a function of communicating with various devices such as the server 10 via the network 30. The communication I / F 22 transmits various data to various devices such as the server 10 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 also receives various data transmitted from various devices such as the server 10 and transmits it to the control unit 21. The communication I / F 22 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 22 is configured as a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0065] The input / output unit 23 includes a device for inputting various operations to the terminal 20, a device for outputting processing results processed by the terminal 20, etc. The input / output unit 23 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate input unit and output unit, or may not be so.

[0066] The input unit is realized by any one of or a combination of all types of devices that can accept input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 21. Examples of the input unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, hardware keys such as a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera (operation input via moving images), and a microphone (operation input by voice).

[0067] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices that can output the processing results processed by the control unit 21. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (audio output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output or hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0068] By way of example only, the input / output unit 23 includes, but is not limited to, a display unit 24, a sound input unit 25, a sound output unit 26, and an imaging unit 27.

[0069] The display unit 24 is realized by any one of all types of devices or a combination thereof that can display according to the display data written to the frame buffer. Examples of the display unit 24 include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)), a head mounted display (HDM), projection mapping, a hologram, and a device that can display images, text information, etc. in air (which may or may not be a vacuum). Note that these display units 24 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D.

[0070] The sound input unit 25 is used to input sound data (including voice data; the same applies below.) The sound input unit 25 includes a microphone and the like. The sound output unit 26 is used to output sound data and includes a speaker and the like. The imaging unit 27 is used to acquire image data (including still image data and moving image data; the same applies below.) The imaging unit 27 includes a camera and the like.

[0071] When the input / output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input / output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be disposed opposite each other and have approximately the same size and shape.

[0072] The clock unit 29A is a built-in clock of the terminal 20, and outputs time information (timekeeping information). The clock unit 29A is configured to include, for example and not by way of limitation, a clock that uses a crystal oscillator. The clock unit 29A can also be expressed as a timekeeping unit or a time information detection unit, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0073] The clock unit 29A may or may not have a clock that conforms to the NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone) standard or the like.

[0074] The position calculation information detection unit 29B is a functional unit that detects (measures) information (hereinafter referred to as "position calculation information") necessary for the control unit 21 to calculate (measure) the position of its own terminal 20. The position calculation information detection unit 29B can also be expressed as a position calculation sensor unit, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0075] The position calculation information detection unit 29B includes, by way of example and not limitation, a satellite positioning sensor (satellite positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), an inertial measurement sensor (inertial measurement unit (IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit))) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using an inertial navigation system, a UWB positioning sensor (UWB positioning unit) which is a sensor or unit for calculating the position of the terminal 20 using UWB (Ultra Wide Band), and the like.

[0076] The satellite positioning unit includes, by way of example and not limitation, an RF receiving circuit that converts RF (Radio Frequency) signals, including positioning satellite signals transmitted from positioning satellites and received by an antenna (not shown), into digital signals, and a baseband processing circuit that performs correlation calculation processing on the digital signals output from the RF receiving circuit to capture the positioning satellite signals, and outputs information such as satellite orbit data and time data extracted from the positioning satellite signals as information for position calculation.

[0077] The inertial measurement unit has an inertial sensor that is a sensor that detects information necessary for calculating the position of the terminal 20 by inertial navigation calculation. The inertial sensor includes, but is not limited to, a three-axis acceleration sensor and a three-axis gyro sensor, and outputs the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor as information for position calculation.

[0078] The UWB positioning unit includes, for example and without limitation, an ultra-wideband RF (Radio Frequency) receiving circuit that converts an ultra-wideband RF signal, including an ultra-wideband pulse signal for positioning transmitted from a positioning beacon and received by an antenna (not shown), into a digital signal, and a relative position calculation processing circuit that calculates the relative position between the terminal 20 and the positioning beacon based on the digital signal output from the ultra-wideband RF receiving circuit. By way of example and not limitation, the UWB positioning unit may or may not cause terminal 20 to function as a positioning beacon by transmitting an ultra-wideband RF signal including an ultra-wideband pulse signal for positioning from an antenna not shown.

[0079] For example, and not by way of limitation, control unit 21 calculates the position of its own terminal 20 at regular intervals or specific intervals based on the position calculation information detected by position calculation information detection unit 29B. The terminal position is referred to as the "terminal position," and the calculated terminal position is referred to as the "calculated terminal position." Control unit 21 may, but need not, associate the calculated terminal position with the date and time when the calculated terminal position was calculated and store the calculated terminal position in storage unit 28 as calculated terminal position history data.

[0080] The control unit 21 has a circuit physically structured to execute the functions realized by the code or instructions contained in the program, and is realized by, for example and not by a data processing device built into hardware. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0081] The control unit 21 includes, by way of example and not limitation, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0082] The storage unit 28 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the terminal 20. The storage unit 28 includes, but is not limited to, various storage media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). Furthermore, the storage unit 28 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0083] Terminal 20 stores program P in storage unit 28, and by executing this program P, control unit 21 executes the processing of each unit included in control unit 21. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 28 causes terminal 20 to realize each function executed by control unit 21. Furthermore, this program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

[0084] (2) Server hardware configuration FIG. 1-1 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the server 10. In FIG. The server 10 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication I / F 14 (interface), an input / output unit 12, and a clock unit 19. The components of the HW of the server 10 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not as a limitation. Note that the HW of the server 10 does not necessarily have to include all components as a configuration of the HW of the server 10. For example and not as a limitation, the HW of the server 10 may or may not be configured such that individual components or multiple components are removable.

[0085] The control unit 11 has circuits physically structured to execute the functions realized by the codes or instructions contained in the program, and is realized by, for example and not by way of limitation, a data processing device built into hardware.

[0086] The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), but may also be a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, or an FPGA. In the present disclosure, the control unit 11 is not limited to these.

[0087] The storage unit 15 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the server 10. The storage unit 15 is realized by various storage media such as an HDD, an SSD, and a flash memory. However, in the present disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Furthermore, the storage unit 15 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

[0088] The communication I / F 14 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication is possible. The communication I / F 14 has a function of communicating with various devices such as the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communication I / F 14 transmits various data to various devices such as the terminal 20 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 also receives various data transmitted from various devices such as the terminal 20 and transmits it to the control unit 11. The communication I / F 14 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I / F 14 is configured as a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

[0089] The input / output unit 12 includes a device for inputting various operations to the server 10, a device for outputting processing results processed by the server 10, etc. The input / output unit 12 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate input unit and output unit, or may not be the same.

[0090] The input unit is realized by any one of or a combination of all types of devices that can accept input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 11. The input unit is typically realized by hardware keys such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse. Note that the input unit may or may not include, for example and without limitation, a touch panel, a camera (for operation input via moving images), or a microphone (for operation input by voice).

[0091] The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices that can output the processing results processed by the control unit 11. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker (sound output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output or hologram output), a printer, etc.

[0092] By way of example only, the input / output unit 12 includes a display unit 13, by way of example and not limitation.

[0093] The display unit 13 is realized by a display or the like. The display is typically realized by a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)). The display may or may not be a head-mounted display (HDM) or the like. These displays may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D. In the present disclosure, the display is not limited to these.

[0094] The clock unit 19 is a built-in clock of the server 10, and outputs time information (timekeeping information). The clock unit 19 is configured to include, for example and without limitation, an RTC (Real Time Clock) as a hardware clock, a system clock, etc. The clock unit 19 can also be expressed as, for example and without limitation, a timekeeping unit or a time information detection unit. (3) Other Server 10 stores program P in storage unit 15, and by executing this program P, control unit 11 executes the processes of each unit included in control unit 11. In other words, program P stored in storage unit 15 causes server 10 to realize each function executed by control unit 11. This program P may or may not be expressed as a program module. The same applies to other devices.

[0095] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the description will be given assuming that the CPU of the terminal 20 and / or the server 10 executes the program P to realize the present invention.

[0096] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 and / or the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not realize each process not only by a CPU having a control circuit but also by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)), or a dedicated circuit. These circuits may be realized by one or more integrated circuits, and multiple processes shown in each embodiment may or may not be realized by a single integrated circuit. LSIs may also be called VLSIs, super LSIs, ultra LSIs, etc. depending on the degree of integration. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

[0097] Furthermore, the program P (for example, but not limited to, a software program, a computer program, or a program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may or may not be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium can store the program P in a "non-transitory tangible medium." The program P may or may not be intended to realize part of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the program P may or may not be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure in combination with a program P already recorded on a storage medium.

[0098] Furthermore, when referring to a system program (a program executed by a system), the system is as described above. The aforementioned system program is a program that can be executed by the entire system, and this program may be composed of individual programs for the devices that make up the system, for example and without limitation, and the programs stored in the individual devices that make up the system may be different from one another. In other words, it is not necessary for the individual devices that make up the system to share a common program. As a non-limiting example, if a system is composed of a terminal and a server, and the system program is P1, then the system program P1 may be composed of a program P2 stored on the terminal and a program P3 stored on the server, and P2 and P3 are for executing the system program and may be different programs. As a non-limiting example, the program P2 stored on the terminal may be a program that performs a first process and sends the results of the first process to the server, and the program P3 stored on the server may be a program that performs a second process on the received results of the first process and sends the results of the second process to the terminal.

[0099] The storage medium may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (such as, by way of example and not limitation, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard disk drives (HDDs), hybrid hard drives (HHDs), optical disks, optical disk drives (ODDs), magneto-optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppy disk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, solid-state drives (SSDs), RAM drives, secure digital cards, or drives, any other suitable storage media, or any suitable combination of two or more of these. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, where appropriate. The storage medium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or medium capable of storing the program P. Furthermore, the storage medium may or may not be referred to as memory.

[0100] The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 can implement the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by reading out the program P stored in the storage medium and executing the read out program P.

[0101] Furthermore, the program P of the present disclosure may or may not be provided to the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 via any transmission medium capable of transmitting a program (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). The server 10 and / or the terminal 20, by way of example and not limitation, executes the program P downloaded via the Internet or the like to realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment.

[0102] In addition, each embodiment of the present disclosure may also be realized in the form of a data signal in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission. At least a part of the processing in the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 may or may not be realized by cloud computing configured by one or more computers. At least a part or all of the processing in the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. In this case, at least a part or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. At least a part or all of the processing in the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20. In this case, at least a part or all of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20.

[0103] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the judgment configuration in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not essential, and a predetermined process may or may not be performed when the judgment condition is met, or when the judgment condition is not met.

[0104] The programs of the present disclosure are implemented using, for example and without limitation, scripting languages ​​such as ActionScript and JavaScript (registered trademark), compiler languages ​​such as Objective-C and Java (registered trademark), and markup languages ​​such as HTML Living Standard.

[0105] <Functional configuration> (1) Server functional configuration FIG. 1-2 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by the control unit 11 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The control unit 11 includes, as a functional unit, an application management processing unit 111 for executing application management processing in accordance with an application management processing program 151 stored in the storage unit 15, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0106] FIG. 1-3 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The memory unit 15 stores, by way of example and not limitation, an application management processing program 151 executed as application management processing, account registration data 153, an account management database 155, an advertisement management database 157, and an advertisement content database 159.

[0107] The account registration data 153 is registration data relating to the account of an application (messaging application in this embodiment), and an example of the data configuration is shown in FIG. 1-4. In the account registration data 153, for example and without limitation, a user name, an application ID, and other registration information are stored in association with each other.

[0108] The user name is the name of the account of the terminal 20 that uses this application, and as a non-limiting example, the name that the user of the terminal 20 registers when using the application is stored.

[0109] The application ID is information used to identify an application account, or the account itself. This application ID is preferably a value that is unique for each account, and as a non-limiting example, a unique value (proper value) is set and stored by the server 10 for each account. The application ID is information associated with the terminal 20 or the user of the terminal 20, and is an example of information about the terminal or information about the user of the terminal.

[0110] Other registration information may include, but is not limited to, various types of information such as identification information for identifying terminal 20, the telephone number of terminal 20 (terminal telephone number), email address (terminal email address), and authentication information such as passwords (login password, authentication password, etc.) used for various authentications in applications.

[0111] The identification information for identifying the terminal 20 may be, for example and not by way of limitation, a terminal ID (for example and not by way of limitation, an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)). Furthermore, the identification information for identifying the user of the terminal 20 can be, for example and without limitation, an application ID for a general user or an application ID for an official user.

[0112] Note that the application ID may or may not be replaced by a "user ID." Furthermore, for an application in which only one account can be registered per terminal 20, as an example and not a limitation, the following can be used: "identification information for identifying terminal 20 = identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = application ID."

[0113] Also, by way of example and not limitation, it may or may not be possible to assign multiple terminal IDs to one application ID. In this case, it may or may not be possible to run applications in parallel (in parallel) on multiple terminals 20 using one application ID as an identification (login) target.

[0114] Furthermore, instead of various IDs such as application IDs, it is also possible to apply a method of managing accounts using information such as terminal phone numbers. In this case, instead of storing information on IDs such as application IDs in account registration data 153, information on terminal telephone numbers and the like can be stored in account registration data 153. It is also possible to have one-to-one correspondence between information on IDs such as application IDs and information on terminal telephone numbers and the like, without replacing information on IDs such as application IDs with information on terminal telephone numbers and the like, but this is not required.

[0115] In the following various embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that one account is registered for one terminal 20. Furthermore, in this case, since, as described above, "identification information for identifying terminal 20 = identification information for identifying the user of terminal 20 = application ID," the term "user of the account" may be considered to be essentially synonymous with "terminal of the account."

[0116] The account management database 155 is a database for managing data related to accounts stored in the account registration data 153. The account management database 155 stores data related to each account (by way of example and not limitation, application ID), such as data about accounts registered as friends in a messaging application and data about the history of sending and receiving content in a chat room. Additionally, if the user of this account broadcasts a live chat, which will be described in detail later, a series of data relating to that live chat will be stored.

[0117] The advertisement management database 157 is a database for managing information regarding advertisements to be output in the talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the set terminal 20 during a live chat, and an example of its data structure is shown in Figure 1-5.

[0118] The advertisement management database 157 stores advertisement management data, for example and not by way of limitation, as data for each advertiser.

[0119] Each piece of advertisement management data stores an advertiser ID, which is a type of identification information of the advertiser, and one or more pieces of advertisement detailed data relating to the advertisement of the advertiser identified by the advertiser ID. The information about the advertiser is stored in the storage unit 15 as advertiser data (not shown), and is configured so that the advertiser can be identified from the advertiser ID.

[0120] Each advertisement detail data stores, by way of example and not limitation, an advertisement ID, an advertisement title, and advertisement content data. As an example, but not by way of limitation, an ID that serves as identification information for identifying the advertisement of the advertiser is stored in the advertisement ID. The advertisement title stores, by way of example and not limitation, the name and title of the advertiser placing the advertisement corresponding to the advertisement ID.

[0121] The advertisement content is content for outputting advertisements to the terminal 20 in various forms (content configured to be able to output advertisements), and may be configured as, for example and without limitation, machine-readable advertisement media file / media data (hereinafter referred to as "advertisement content file (advertisement content media data)").

[0122] In the advertisement content data, for example, but not limited to, an advertisement content ID, an advertisement content format, an advertisement content output time, and an advertisement content URI are stored in association with each other.

[0123] The advertisement content ID is an ID that functions as identification information for uniquely identifying advertisement content.

[0124] The advertising content format is the appearance or type of advertising information to be distributed, and as a non-limiting example, a "still image" is stored for a still image advertisement (hereinafter referred to as a "still image advertisement"), and a "moving image" is stored for a moving image advertisement (hereinafter referred to as a "video advertisement"). Note that sound (including voice) advertisements may be distributed, in which case the "sound" can be stored.

[0125] The advertisement content output time is the length of time during which an advertisement based on the advertisement content is output (displayed or output as sound). In this example, the advertisement content output time for the still image advertisement is set to "-", so that the live chat continues as is after the still image advertisement is displayed. However, the still image advertisement may be displayed for a few seconds.

[0126] The advertisement content URI is information indicating the storage location of the advertisement content. The advertisement content may be stored in advertisement content database 159 as an advertisement content file, by way of example and not limitation, in association with an advertisement content URI.

[0127] In this embodiment, the advertisement content URI is stored in the advertisement content data in the advertisement management database 157, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the advertisement content file itself may be stored in the advertisement content URI field of the advertisement content data, in which case advertisement content database 159 is not necessary.

[0128] In addition, in this embodiment, the advertisement content database 159 is configured in the storage unit 15 of the server 10, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0129] FIG. 1-6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a server related to management of advertising content. Figure 1-6(1) shows a configuration in which, as in this embodiment, the messaging service provider's server 10 has the functions of a messaging server and an advertising server, and the advertising content database 159 is stored in the server 10.

[0130] Figure 1-6(2) shows, by way of example and not limitation, an example of configuring a server system (by way of example and not limitation, server system 100) that includes a messaging server 110 and an advertising server 120 that stores an advertising content database 159. In this case, both the messaging server 110 and the advertisement server 120 may be servers managed by the messaging service provider. In addition, the messaging server 110 may be a server managed by a messaging service provider, and the advertising server 120 may be a server managed by a business entity other than the messaging service provider (such as a business entity that manages media files and media data of advertising content, or an advertiser).

[0131] (2) Functional configuration of the terminal FIG. 1-7 is a diagram showing an example of functions realized by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The control unit 21 includes, as a functional unit, an application processing unit 211 for executing application processing in accordance with an application processing program 281 stored in the storage unit 28, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0132] FIG. 1-8 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. In the storage unit 28, for example and without limitation, an application processing program 281 to be executed as application processing and an application ID 283 corresponding to the terminal 20 or the account of the user of the terminal 20 are stored.

[0133] <Display screen> In the following, as an example and not a limitation, a case will be illustrated in which the terminal 20 is a smartphone equipped with a display unit 24 having a portrait display.

[0134] For example, but not by way of limitation, a smartphone has a touch panel that functions as an input unit and is disposed opposite the display, thereby constituting a touch screen. When an element such as an icon, button, item, or input area is displayed on the display, and a part of the touch panel that faces the area where the element is displayed is operated by a user, a program associated with the element or a subroutine of the program is executed.

[0135] In the following, a tap operation (sometimes simply referred to as "tap") can be, by way of example and not limitation, an action in which a user lightly taps the display unit 24 (touch screen) that is integrally configured with a touch panel with a finger or the tip of a pen, and then releases the touch. Furthermore, the scrolling operation may be, for example and without limitation, an operation (motion) for scrolling displayed information. For example and without limitation, the scrolling operation may be a "swipe operation" when input is made with a finger, a touch pen, or the like, and a "wheel operation" when input is made with a mouse, or the like.

[0136] The transition of the display screens described below is merely an example of the transition of the display screens for realizing the technique of the present disclosure. In the transition of the display screens exemplified below, some of the display screens may be omitted, or other display screens may be added.

[0137] In this specification, a messaging application is assumed to be configured to allow users to talk to each other in a talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20. In the talk room, content sent by a user (user's terminal) can be displayed in an area displayed as a speech bubble. This area is referred to as a "talk area" by way of example and not limitation. The talk area can be an area excluding, by way of example and not limitation, the area at the top of the screen where the name of the application, etc. is displayed, the area below that displaying the in-app location, and the content input area INR at the bottom of the screen for inputting content. Note that the speech bubble is merely an example, and the content may be displayed in a manner other than a speech bubble.

[0138] In this embodiment, as an example of a live chat, but not a limitation, a live chat with a "viewer comment function" in which not only the distributor but also the viewers can input and send / receive content will be exemplified. In the live chat in this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, the content posted by the broadcaster is displayed in the talk area (the area where the content is displayed in a speech bubble), while the content posted by the viewer is displayed in a separate area. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, an area obtained by reducing the vertical width of the talk area in a normal talk room can be allocated to an area where the content posted by the broadcaster is displayed (hereinafter referred to as the "broadcaster area"), and the remaining vertical width can be allocated to an area where the content posted by the viewer is displayed (hereinafter referred to as the "viewer area").

[0139] 1-9 and 1-10 are diagrams showing an example of transition of screens displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The left side of Figure 1-9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a talk room (not limited to, but an example of a chat room) of a messaging application (not limited to, but an example of a chat application), and is an example of a live chat talk room displayed on terminal 20A of user AA, a viewer of the live chat.

[0140] The name of the messaging application, "Messaging App," is displayed in the center of the top of the screen. Also, an icon image and a user name (user AA in this example) of the messaging application of the user of terminal 20A are displayed in the top right of the screen.

[0141] Below that is an area showing the current position, page, etc. within the messaging application (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "in-app position display area"). In this example, based on the fact that this is the screen for a live chat chat room, the title shows the text indicating "Live Chat with Cooking Expert X," as well as icon images of each broadcaster (in this example, User XX and User YY), and a "<" button to return to the previous screen.

[0142] At the bottom of the screen, there is a content input area INR where the user (in this example, the viewer user AA) can input content. The content is input into the content input area INR, and the content is sent by tapping a send button (not shown) that is displayed based on the content being input.

[0143] In this live chat talk room, text content and image content sent by the talker are displayed in the talk room's talker area DR. The viewer area AR of the chat room displays text content sent by the viewer. Note that the viewer area AR may or may not display image content. In this example, the distributor area DR is displayed at the top and the viewer area AR is displayed at the bottom, and the distributor area DR is larger than the viewer area AR. Also, the content displayed in the distributor area DR is larger than the content displayed in the viewer area AR.

[0144] Note that the positional relationship and size relationship of the display areas between the distributor area DR and the viewer area AR on the viewer terminal 20 are not limited to the above. As a non-limiting example, the distributor area DR may be displayed at the bottom and the viewer area AR at the top, or the distributor area DR may be smaller than the viewer area AR. Also, the content displayed in the distributor area DR may be smaller than the content displayed in the viewer area AR. The viewer may or may not be able to change the position and size of the distributor area DR and the viewer area AR by operation. Also, the viewer may or may not be able to change the size of the content displayed in the distributor area DR and the viewer area AR by operation.

[0145] Streamers can use chat rooms to send content they specify to other streamers and viewers. They can also use chat rooms to receive content specified by other streamers and viewers. Viewers can use chat rooms to send content they specify to other viewers and also to broadcasters. They can also use chat rooms to receive content specified by broadcasters and other viewers.

[0146] In this example, the broadcasters are user XX, a cooking researcher who serves as the main broadcaster, and user YY, an assistant who serves as the sub-broadcaster, and users AA and the like serve as viewers. In some cases, the main broadcaster is referred to as user XX, and the sub-broadcaster is referred to as user YY. In this example, multiple pieces of text content sent and received between broadcasters are displayed in the broadcaster area DR, and multiple pieces of text content entered by viewers are displayed in the viewer area AR.

[0147] Through the chat room, viewers can keep track of content updates in the broadcaster area DR and the viewer area AR in real time and check the updated information, allowing them to watch the content as if it were live. In addition, a mark (icon) containing the word "Live" will be displayed next to the title at the top of the chat room, allowing viewers to recognize that content is currently being distributed in that chat room.

[0148] Figure 1-10 shows an example in which a still image advertising SAD based on advertising content is displayed in a chat room between a broadcaster and a viewer. The advertising SAD is displayed in the broadcaster area DR when the conditions set after the broadcaster starts distributing the content (for example, but not limited to, the advertising distribution conditions described below) are met. In this example, the advertising SAD is displayed five minutes after the broadcaster starts distributing the content.

[0149] For example, but not limited to, content sent between distributors can be displayed in association with the identification information (such as an icon or name) of the distributor who sent the content. However, for convenience, in this example display screen, the display of user XX's identification information is omitted for content sent by user XX. In contrast, advertising content is displayed without being associated with the user's identification information.

[0150] In this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, the terminal 20 of the distributor may also be configured to output advertising content (advertisements based on advertising content) in the same way as the terminal 20 of the viewer. As described above, the advertisement SAD may be a video advertisement or an audio (including voice) advertisement. An example of a display screen when a video advertisement is displayed will be described later.

[0151] 1-11 and 1-12 are diagrams showing the flow up to the start of the distribution of the above-mentioned live chat, and show examples of screens displayed on the terminal 20X of the user XX who is the main distributor. In this example, the in-app location display area displays the words "NOW ON AIR," indicating that a live chat is currently being broadcast.

[0152] In addition, the area below that displays a list of chat rooms for live chats currently being broadcast, and for each chat room, information such as, but not limited to, the icon, title, and summary of that live chat (chat room), the current number of viewers of that live chat, the icon and username of the broadcaster of that live chat, and the latest broadcaster content displayed in the broadcaster area for that live chat is displayed.

[0153] More specifically, in this example, multiple chat room information is displayed, including chat room information TL1 with the title "Trendy Sweets," chat room information TL2 with the title "Take-Act Meals," and chat room information TL3 with the title "Restaurants in Kyoto."

[0154] In such a display example, for example and not limitation, a list of talk rooms including talk rooms that are currently broadcasting and talk rooms that are not currently broadcasting may be displayed on the display unit 24, with the former and latter being displayed in different ways. For example and not limitation, the former may have the text "Broadcasting" displayed next to the title, and the latter may have the text "Broadcasting suspended" displayed next to the title. The determination of whether content is being distributed may be made based on whether either the distributor area DR or the viewer area AR has been updated for a set period of time (for example, a period of 10 minutes, but not limited to this), or may be made based on the distributor's operations to start and end distribution.

[0155] An icon containing a speech bubble mark is displayed at the bottom right of the screen for configuring settings for live chat distribution. When this icon is tapped, a screen will appear where you can select users to participate in the live chat as sub-broadcasters.

[0156] In this example, the words "Participant Search" are displayed in the in-app location display area, and the area below that contains a box for searching by name (username), as well as a list of users who user XX has registered as friends, displayed by icon and username, with an area next to each user for checking. Checked users can be invited as sub-broadcasters, and in this example, user YY is shown checked. In this state, tapping the "Next" button displayed in the in-app location display area will take you to a screen where you can set the title of the new live chat.

[0157] In this example, the words "Register for New Live Chat" are displayed in the in-app location display area, and below that is an input field for entering the title of the live chat. In this example, the title "Live Chat with Cooking Expert X" is shown as entered. Also, below that, an icon containing a "+" sign is displayed along with the icon of User YY, who was selected as a sub-broadcaster on the previous screen, and tapping this icon allows you to add a sub-broadcaster.

[0158] In this state, when the "Invite" button BT1 at the bottom of the screen is tapped, the live chat waiting room screen will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-12. In this example, the title of the live chat is displayed along with text stating that the live chat can begin broadcasting once two or more participants are present. Below that are the icon and username of user XX, the main broadcaster, and the icon and username of user YY, who has been invited as a sub-broadcaster. Below user YY's icon and username is the word "OFF," indicating that user YY has not yet agreed to participate in the live chat.

[0159] Also, below that is the Start Streaming button BT2, which contains the words "Start Live" to start the live chat broadcast. However, since user YY has not yet agreed to participate in the live chat and there are not yet two or more people present, the Start Streaming button BT2 is grayed out, and tapping it will not start the live chat broadcast.

[0160] When user YY agrees to participate in the live chat, the "OFF" text above changes to "ON." As a result, the Start Streaming button BT2 becomes ungrayed, and when user XX taps the Start Streaming button BT2, the live chat broadcast begins.

[0161] The conditions for starting live chat distribution are not limited to those described above, and will be described later.

[0162] <Processing> FIG. 1-13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment.

[0163] In this process, one of the multiple viewers is referred to as "user AA," and user AA's terminal 20 is referred to as terminal 20A. The main broadcaster is referred to as "user XX," and user XX's terminal 20 is referred to as terminal 20X. This diagram shows, from the left, an example of a process executed by control unit 21 of terminal 20A, a process executed by control unit 11 of server 10, and a process executed by control unit 21 of terminal 20X. The processes executed by terminals 20 of viewers other than user AA are the same as those executed by terminal 20A, and therefore are not shown in the figures. The processes executed by terminal 20 of the sub-distributor are almost the same as those executed by terminal 20X, and therefore are not shown in the figures.

[0164] Note that the processes described below are merely examples of processes for realizing the method of the present disclosure, and are not limited to these. Other steps may be added to the processing described below, or some steps may be omitted (deleted) from the processing described below. The same applies to the various processes described in this specification.

[0165] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20X determines whether or not the distribution of a live chat has been requested by the user XX (X110), and if it determines that a request has been made (X110: YES), it performs a live chat distribution setting process with the server 10 (X120, S120). In the live chat distribution setting process, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X performs processes such as setting the title and theme of the live chat to be distributed via the server 10, and selecting, setting, and inviting users to be sub-distributors from among users registered as friends in the messaging application.

[0166] In addition, if there is one sub-broadcaster, by way of example and not limitation, a live chat can be initiated based on an invitation from the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster's acceptance of the invitation to participate in the live chat. Additionally, if there are two or more secondary streamers, by way of example and not limitation, the live chat may be initiated upon at least one secondary streamer accepting an invitation from the primary streamer, although alternatively, the live chat may not be initiated until all secondary streamers have accepted the invitation.

[0167] Also, unlike the above, the main broadcaster may start the live chat first without the sub-broadcaster present, and the sub-broadcaster may join the live chat later, or this may not be the case. Also, unlike the above, the sub-broadcaster may start the live chat first without the main broadcaster being present, and the main broadcaster may join the live chat later, or this may not be the case.

[0168] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs processing such as searching for upcoming live chats and live chats that have already been held based on input to the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20A (for example, but not limited to, user operation input, sound input, etc.; the same applies to other terminals 20; and the same applies hereinafter), and displays the search results on the display unit 24. Then, based on the search results, it is determined whether or not user AA has requested to watch a live chat (A110).

[0169] If it is determined that viewing of a live chat has been requested (A110: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A sends live chat viewing request information including, by way of example and not limitation, the application ID 283 of the terminal 20A or the user of the terminal 20A, and selection information of the live chat that has been selected to be viewed, to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A120).

[0170] When the conditions for starting live chat distribution are met, the control unit 11 of the server 10 starts live chat processing (S130, X130, A130) based on information transmitted from each terminal 20. When a live chat is started in the live chat processing, the control unit 11 of the server 10 starts storing data of a series of contents of this live chat.

[0171] After starting the live chat process, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not the advertisement distribution condition is met (S150). The advertisement distribution condition may be, for example, one of the following, but is not limited to: (A1) The timing was set at set intervals (not limited to 5 minutes or 10 minutes, for example) after the live chat started. (A2) The clock time of the clock unit 19 becomes the set time (for example, but not limited to, the time on the hour or a division such as "15 minutes," "30 minutes," or "45 minutes"). (A3) The timing was set in advance by the distributor. (A4) The broadcaster made a request to broadcast advertisements during the live chat. (A5) A combination of two or more of the above

[0172] In addition, the broadcaster (for example, but not limited to, the main broadcaster) may set the advertising distribution conditions during the live chat distribution setting process, or at any time before that, for example, but not limited to, the broadcaster.

[0173] Furthermore, the distributor may be able to set the advertising content to be distributed, the number of advertising contents to be distributed (number of times to distribute), the order of the contents to be distributed, and the like. In this case, for example and not limitation, the distributor's terminal 20 may display items such as "distribute more" and "distribute less" as information for setting the number (number of times) of advertisements to be distributed, and the server 10 may determine the number (number of times) of advertising content to be distributed based on the selected item. For example and not limitation, if "distribute more" is selected, the number may be determined from the range of "10 times" to "15 times," and if "distribute less" is selected, the number may be determined from the range of "3 times" to "5 times."

[0174] If it is determined that the advertisement distribution conditions are met (S150: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 selects advertisement content to be distributed (S160). Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the advertisement management database 157 is referenced to select the advertiser (advertiser ID) and advertisement content ID of the advertisement content corresponding to the advertisement ID set by the distributor. Note that the above various settings may or may not be made on the terminal 20 of a sub-distributor instead of the main distributor.

[0175] Furthermore, in step S160, the server 10 may or may not randomly select the advertising content.

[0176] Additionally, live chats may be conducted in open chat rooms, although viewing may be restricted, for example and not by way of limitation. In this case, confidentiality of communications may not apply, but permission may be sought from the live chat broadcaster or viewers for server 10 to view the content of the live chat.

[0177] In this case, in step S160, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may select advertising content that is estimated to be appropriate from the advertising content database 159 using, for example but not limited to, techniques such as maximum likelihood estimation or the Viterbi algorithm based on the content and context of the live chat that is based on the content sent and received between the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster.

[0178] Thereafter, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits advertisement output information corresponding to the advertisement content selected in step S160 to each of the terminals 20A and 20X via the communication I / F 14 (S170). Although not shown in the figure, the advertisement output information is also transmitted to the terminals 20 of other viewers and the terminal 20 of the sub-distributor.

[0179] Furthermore, the timing of transmitting the advertisement output information is not limited to S170. At an earlier timing (for example, but not limited to, the timing when the live chat process of S130 is started), advertisement output information including information on the timing of advertisement output is transmitted to the terminal 20. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may output the designated advertisement content when the timing of advertisement output arrives.

[0180] Here, the advertisement output information may include, in addition to the advertisement content ID and advertisement content output time, any of the following, by way of example and not limitation: (B1) Advertising content file (B2) Advertising content URI

[0181] When (B1) is used as advertisement output information, control unit 11 of server 10 identifies the advertisement content URI associated with the selected advertisement content ID from the above advertisement content data. Then, based on the identified advertisement content URI, control unit 11 accesses advertisement content database 159, acquires the advertisement content file, and transmits it to terminal 20A.

[0182] When (B2) is used as advertisement output information, the control unit 11 of the server 10 identifies the advertisement content URI associated with the selected advertisement content ID from the above advertisement content data, and transmits the URI to the terminal 20A. When this method is applied, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can transmit the advertisement content URI to the terminal 20A, thereby causing the terminal 20A to acquire the advertisement content file. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the terminal 20A can be configured to acquire the advertisement content file from the advertisement server 120 by applying the server system 100 shown in FIG. 1-6(2) described above.

[0183] When the advertisement output information is received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A140: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs advertisement output processing (A150). Similarly, when the terminal 20X receives advertisement output information from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (X140: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X performs advertisement output processing (X150).

[0184] When applying (B1) above, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can output the advertising content based on the received advertising content file in the broadcaster area (first area) of the live chat talk room, for example by displaying the advertising content in a manner that is distinguishable from the broadcaster content. When applying the above (B2), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can acquire an advertisement content file based on the received advertisement content URI, and output the advertisement content based on the acquired advertisement content file in the broadcaster area of ​​the live chat talk room by displaying it in a manner that is distinguishable from the broadcaster content. As a non-limiting example, the broadcaster content can be displayed in a speech bubble, while the advertisement content can be displayed in a rectangular frame instead of a speech bubble.

[0185] In the advertisement output process, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 causes advertisement content to be output. If the advertisement content format is "still image," a still image advertisement is pasted in the distributor area based on a still image advertisement content file. If the advertising content format is "video", the video advertising content file is deployed in the distributor area and then the video is played. If the advertising content format is "audio," as a non-limiting example, the audio advertising content file is expanded and output as sound from the sound output unit 26, and a still image including a mark or icon indicating this (such as, but not limited to, a musical note mark or icon) is displayed in the distributor area.

[0186] Note that the advertisement content may be displayed in full screen when the image of the displayed advertisement content is tapped by the user.

[0187] When the output of the advertising content is completed, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 displays the subsequent distributor content below the advertising content. When the advertisement content output time has elapsed, the display of the advertisement content may be erased.

[0188] In this embodiment, advertising content is output to both the viewer's terminal 20 and the distributor's terminal 20 . By doing so, for example and not by way of limitation, the broadcaster and viewers can discuss the details of the advertising content during live chat.

[0189] After A150, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not to end the live chat viewing (A190), and if it determines not to end (A190: NO), returns the process to A140. On the other hand, if it determines to end the live chat viewing (A190: YES), ends the process.

[0190] After S170, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether to end the live chat (S190), and if it is determined not to end the live chat (S190: NO), the process returns to S150. On the other hand, if it is determined to end the live chat (S190: YES), the process ends.

[0191] After X150, control unit 21 of terminal 20X determines whether to end the live chat (X190), and if it determines not to end it (X190: NO), returns the process to X140. On the other hand, if it determines to end the live chat (X190: YES), the process ends.

[0192] In this process, the live chat process and the process related to the output of advertising content are separated, but the process related to the output of advertising content may also be included as part of the live chat process.

[0193] Figure 1-14 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow related to the transmission, reception, and display of content in live chat processing. The diagram should be read in the same way as Figure 1-13.

[0194] Control unit 21 of terminal 20X determines whether distributor content has been input via input / output unit 23 and whether transmission has been requested (X1110), and if it determines that a request has been made (X1110: YES), causes the input distributor content to be displayed in a speech bubble in the distributor area of ​​the talk room displayed on display unit 24 of terminal 20X as content originating from user XX (X1120). Then, control unit 21 of terminal 20X transmits the input distributor content to server 10 via communication I / F 22 (X1130). Note that the order of steps X1120 and X1130 may be reversed.

[0195] The control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not the distributor content has been received from the terminal 20X (S1110), and if it determines that the distributor content has been received (S1110: YES), it transmits the received distributor content, together with the identification information of the distributor content (such as the distributor content ID) and time information, to the terminal 20A (and the sub-distributor's terminal 20, not shown) via the communication I / F 14. The control unit 11 of the server 10 also transmits the identification information of the distributor content and the time information to the terminal 20X via the communication I / F 14 (S1120). The same applies when distributor content is input on the terminal 20 of a sub-distributor.

[0196] The time information may be information about the time when the terminal 20 transmitted the content (information about the time when the user of the terminal 20 transmitted the content), or information about the time when the server 10 transmitted the content to the terminal 20. The same applies below.

[0197] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not the distributor content has been received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A1110), and if it determines that the content has been received (A1110: YES), it displays the received distributor content in a speech bubble in the distributor area of ​​the talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A as content originating from user XX (A1120). The same applies to the terminal 20 of the sub-distributor.

[0198] After A1120, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether viewer content has been input via the input / output unit 23 and whether a request to transmit it has been made (A1130), and if it determines that a request has been made (A1130: YES), it transmits the input viewer content to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A1140).

[0199] After S1120, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not viewer content has been received from terminal 20A (S1140), and if it determines that viewer content has been received (S1140: YES), it transmits the received viewer content, together with the viewer content identification information (viewer content ID, etc.) and time information, to terminal 20A (and terminals 20 of other viewers, not shown) and terminal 20X (and terminal 20 of the sub-distributor, not shown) via the communication I / F 14 (S1150). Then, the control unit 11 of the server 10 returns the process to S1110.

[0200] When the viewer content is received via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the received viewer content as content originating from the user AA in the viewer area of ​​the talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A (A1150). Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A returns the process to A1110. The order of steps A1140 and A1150 may be reversed.

[0201] The same is true for terminal 20X (X1140: YES → X1150), and also for terminal 20 of the sub-distributor.

[0202] Here, as an example and not a limitation, the viewer content can be displayed in a viewer area configured below the distributor area on the viewer terminal 20. As an example and not a limitation, the viewer area can be configured as an area capable of displaying a set number of lines (for example and not a limitation, 3 to 5 lines) of viewer content. The viewer area may be considered to be a talk room (chat room) area, or the broadcaster area may be considered to be a talk room area but the viewer area may not be a talk room area.

[0203] For example, but not by way of limitation, each time the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 receives a distributor content from the server 10, the control unit 21 displays the distributor content in a speech bubble below the most recent distributor content already displayed in the distributor area. The control unit 21 also performs upward scrolling control of the distributor area according to the vertical length of the distributor area, and hides the distributor content in order of time from the oldest to the newest.

[0204] Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, each time the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 receives viewer content from the server 10, the control unit 21 displays the viewer content below the most recent distributor content already displayed in the viewer area. Furthermore, based on the number of rows constituting the viewer area, the control unit 21 sequentially hides viewer content starting with the oldest viewer content.

[0205] Although not limited to this display method, by having older content flow upwards in the broadcaster area and viewer area, broadcasters and viewers can be prevented from experiencing motion sickness while viewing the content.

[0206] In addition, based on a user's scrolling operation on the distributor area, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may perform scrolling control on the distributor area to display past distributor content. The same may be true for the viewer area.

[0207] The viewer area may be displayed in a form that is superimposed on the broadcaster area (overlay), or it may be displayed in a form that divides the talk area into two and allocates them to the broadcaster area and the viewer area (split).

[0208] When the viewer content is received via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X displays the received viewer content in the viewer area of ​​the talk room as content originating from the user AA (X1150). The control unit 21 of the terminal 20X then returns the process to X1110. The same applies to the terminal 20 of the sub-distributor.

[0209] Here, the viewer content can be displayed in a viewer area configured above the distributor area on the distributor's terminal 20. In other words, the viewer's terminal 20 and the distributor's terminal 20 can be displayed with their viewer areas reversed, for example and not by way of limitation.

[0210] In the above process, advertising content is output to each of the broadcaster and viewer terminals 20 of the live chat. In this case, since it is necessary for the viewer and broadcaster to properly view the advertising content, the control unit 21 of these terminals 20 can prevent transmission and reception of at least either the broadcaster content or the viewer content until the advertising content output time has elapsed.

[0211] 1-14, if the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines in step A1130 that content has been input and a request to transmit it has been made while the output of the advertising content has not been completed (A1130: YES), the control unit 21 temporarily stores the content requested to be transmitted in a buffer, etc. After the output of the advertising content has been completed, the temporarily stored content can be transmitted to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A1140).

[0212] Similarly, in the processing of FIG. 1-14, if control unit 21 of terminal 20X determines in step X1110 that content has been input and a request to transmit has been made while output of the advertising content has not been completed (X1110: YES), it temporarily stores the content requested to be transmitted in a buffer, etc. Then, after output of the advertising content is completed, the temporarily stored content can be transmitted to server 10 via communication I / F 22 (X1130).

[0213] Additionally, as a non-limiting example, the user may be prevented from inputting content while advertising content is being output.

[0214] When the live chat ends, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 may, for example and without limitation, do the following. Perform a process to delete live chat data from the storage unit 28 The live chat data is not deleted from the storage unit 28, but processing is performed to prevent viewing based on that data. However, as will be explained in a later embodiment, it may be possible to make it possible to view an archive of a live chat based on data of the live chat archived and saved in the server 10 or the like.

[0215] <Effects of the First Embodiment> In this embodiment, the control unit 21 controls the display of a talk room (not limited to a chat room, but an example of a chat room) on the display unit 24 of a viewer's terminal 20, which displays content sent and received between a main distributor (not limited to a main distributor, but an example of a first user) and a sub-distributor (not limited to a sub-distributor, but an example of a second user). In addition, the terminal 20 receives content sent and received between the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster from the server 10, and controls the display of that content in the broadcaster area (not limited to this, but an example of the first area) of the talk room using the control unit 21. In addition, terminal 20 receives viewer content from server 10 that is input by a viewer (not limited to, but an example of a third user) who is different from the main distributor and sub-distributor and different from the user (viewer) of terminal 20, and controls, via control unit 21, to display the received viewer content in a viewer area (not limited to, but an example of a second area). The terminal 20 also has a configuration in which it receives advertising output information (not limited to this, but an example of advertising information) from the server 10, and the control unit 21 controls the display of advertising content (not limited to this, but an example of advertising information) based on the received advertising output information in the distributor area. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, in a chat room displaying content exchanged between a first user and a second user, the content exchanged between these users can be displayed in a first area, and a first content entered by a third user different from the first and second users can be displayed in a second area so that the user of the terminal can view it. In addition, after acquiring advertising information related to an advertisement, the advertising information can be displayed in the first area so that the user of the terminal can view it.

[0216] In this case, the advertisement content may include the content of a video advertisement. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, a video advertisement can be displayed in a first area of ​​a chat room where content sent and received between a first user and a second user is displayed, and can be viewed by the user of the terminal.

[0217] In this case, when content is input by the viewer's terminal 20, the content is controlled to be transmitted to the server 10 and the content is controlled to be displayed in the viewer area as viewer content. However, the viewer content can be prevented from being transmitted from the viewer's terminal 20 to the server 10 while the advertising content is being played back. As an example of the effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the second content entered by the user of the terminal can be prevented from being displayed in the chat room while the advertising information is being played, allowing the user of the terminal to properly view the advertising information.

[0218] In addition, this embodiment shows a configuration in which advertisement output information (advertising content, etc.) is transmitted from the server 10 at a set time. As an example of the effect of this embodiment obtained by such a configuration, advertising information can be transmitted from the server at an easily understandable timing.

[0219] Furthermore, this embodiment shows a configuration in which, on the viewer's terminal 20, the viewer area (not limited to, but an example of the second area) is located in a lower area relative to the distributor area (not limited to, but an example of the first area). As an example of the effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, on a user's terminal, the second area of ​​the chat room in which the first content entered by a third user different from the first user and the second user is displayed can be displayed in a separate area below the first area of ​​the chat room in which the content sent and received between the first user and the second user is displayed, thereby improving visibility.

[0220] In addition, this embodiment shows a configuration in which, on the distributor's terminal 20, the distributor area (not limited to, but an example of the first area) is located in a lower area relative to the viewer area (not limited to, but an example of the second area). As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, on the terminals of the first and second users, the first area of ​​the chat room in which content sent and received between the first and second users is displayed can be displayed in a separate area below the second area of ​​the chat room in which the first content entered by a third user different from the first and second users is displayed, thereby improving visibility.

[0221] In addition, this embodiment shows a configuration in which the main broadcaster (not limited to, an example of a first user) and the sub-broadcaster (not limited to, an example of a second user) are broadcasters who broadcast broadcaster content displayed in the broadcaster area of ​​the talk room (not limited to, an example of the first area), and the user of terminal 20 (not limited to, an example of a terminal user) is a viewer who watches the broadcaster content displayed in the broadcaster area of ​​the talk room. As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the user of the terminal can view the content that is distributed by the first user and the second user and displayed in the first area of ​​the chat room.

[0222] <First Modification Example (1)> In the above embodiment, as described above, it is also possible to allow the user to view past distributor content based on the user's scrolling operation on the distributor area. However, in this case, the advertisement output timing may arrive when the user is viewing past distributor content.

[0223] Therefore, for example and not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may display an image of a reduced advertisement content in a position adjacent to one of the distributor contents currently displayed in the distributor area (for example and not by way of limitation, the topmost displayed distributor content or the bottommost displayed distributor content). When the image of this reduced advertisement content is tapped, the advertisement content may be displayed full screen.

[0224] Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, advertising content (advertisements based on advertising content) may be displayed in a so-called picture-in-picture format at any position on the currently displayed screen (for example, but not limited to, the upper right corner of the screen).

[0225] Furthermore, after the advertisement content is output, the user may scroll to view past distributor content. In this case, since it is necessary for the user to properly view the advertisement content, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may, for example and not by way of limitation, not perform scroll control until the advertisement content output time has elapsed, or may perform scroll control to the extent that the advertisement content does not deviate from the range of the distributor area where the advertisement content is displayed, so that the advertisement content fits within the range of the distributor area.

[0226] <First Modification Example (2)> In the above embodiment, the advertising content is output not only to the viewer's terminal 20 but also to the distributor's terminal 20, but this is not limiting. The advertising content may not be output to the distributor's terminal 20.

[0227] FIG. 1-15 shows an example of a talk room displayed on the terminal 20X of user XX, who is the main broadcaster. Compared to the example of the viewer terminal 20A shown in FIG. 1-9, this example differs in that the positional and sizing relationships between the broadcaster area DR and the viewer area AR are reversed. Also, in this example, as with the viewer terminal 20A, the content displayed in the broadcaster area DR is larger than the content displayed in the viewer area AR.

[0228] Note that the positional relationship and size relationship of the display areas between the distributor area DR and the viewer area AR on the distributor's terminal 20 are not limited to the above. As a non-limiting example, the distributor area DR may be displayed at the top and the viewer area AR at the bottom, or the distributor area DR may be larger than the viewer area AR. Furthermore, the content displayed in the viewer area AR may be larger than the content displayed in the distributor area DR. The distributor may or may not be able to change the position and size of the distributor area DR and the viewer area AR by operation. Also, the distributor may or may not be able to change the size of the content displayed in the distributor area DR and the viewer area AR by operation.

[0229] In this example, it is assumed that advertising content is output every "5 minutes" in a live chat that started at "11:00". However, in the chat room displayed on user XX's terminal 20X, no advertisement is displayed at "11:25" as shown in FIG. 1-15. Meanwhile, in the talk room displayed on the viewer's terminal 20, an advertisement (a video advertisement VAD in the examples of FIGS. 1-17 and 1-18) is displayed at "11:25" as shown in FIGS. 1-17 and 1-18, which will be described later.

[0230] Figure 1-16 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. The diagram should be read in the same way as Figure 1-13. In this modification, in step S170, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can transmit advertisement output information to the terminal 20A and the terminals 20 of other viewers (not shown).

[0231] This modified example shows a configuration in which advertising information is not sent to the terminal 20 of the main distributor (not limited to, but an example of a first user) or the terminal 20 of the sub-distributor (not limited to, but an example of a second user), but is sent to the terminal 20 of the viewer (not limited to, but an example of a third user, an example of a user of the terminal). As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the first user and the second user from viewing the advertisement, while allowing the third user and the user of the terminal to view the advertisement.

[0232] In addition to the above, as a non-limiting example, advertising content may be prevented from being output on the main broadcaster's terminal 20, but advertising content may be output on the sub-broadcaster's terminal 20. In this case, in step S170 of FIG. 1-13, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can send advertising output information to terminal 20A, terminals 20 of other viewers (not shown), and terminals 20 of the sub-broadcaster (not shown).

[0233] <First Modification (3)> As explained in the first modified example (2), it is possible to prevent advertising content from being output on the broadcaster's terminal 20. However, in this case, content may be sent and received between the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster, and a live chat may continue. However, advertising content is output on the viewer's terminal 20, and the viewer must view it until the advertising content output time has elapsed.

[0234] 1-17 and 1-18 show examples of a talk room displayed on the terminal 20A of user AA, who is a viewer. As shown in Figure 1-15, chat between broadcasters is ongoing at "11:25" without any advertisements being displayed in the chat room displayed on the broadcaster's terminal 20, while as shown in Figure 1-17, a video advertisement VAD is displayed at "11:25" in the chat room displayed on terminal 20A.

[0235] In this example, the video ad VAD is a video ad for a new spice product, and a seek bar is displayed along with the text "Ad 1:00" indicating that it is a "1 minute" ad. As the video ad VAD plays, the "circle" on the seek bar moves to the right, and the remaining time of the video ad is displayed along with it, and when playback ends, "Ad 0:00" is displayed.

[0236] Also, in this example, by way of example and not limitation, the viewer is prevented from commenting while the video advertisement VAD is playing. The content input area INR is configured to display a box containing the words "Comment function is restricted" and to prevent the viewer from entering content.

[0237] FIG. 1-18 shows the state where the playback of the video advertisement VAD has finished. As playback of the video advertisement VAD ends, the distributor content transmitted and received between the distributor's terminals 20 while the video advertisement VAD was being played on terminal 20A, specifically, the distributor content from "11:25" onwards shown in Figure 1-15, is displayed sequentially below the video advertisement VAD in the distributor area DR. In addition, as playback of the video advertisement VAD ends on the terminal 20 of another viewer, the viewer content transmitted from the viewer's terminal 20, specifically, the viewer content from "11:26" onwards shown in Figure 1-15, is displayed sequentially in the viewer area AR.

[0238] 1-19 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this case. In this figure, the left side shows an example of processing executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, and the right side shows an example of processing executed by the control unit 11 of the server 10.

[0239] First, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether or not the reproduction of the advertising content has been completed (A1210). If it is determined that the reproduction has not been completed yet (A1210: NO), the control unit 21 waits as is. On the other hand, if it is determined that the playback of the advertising content has been completed (A1210: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits advertising content playback completion information indicating that the playback of the advertising content has been completed to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A1220).

[0240] The control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not advertising content playback completion information has been received from terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S1210), and if it determines that it has been received (S1210: YES), it reads from the content transmission / reception history data the distributor content transmitted and received between the main distributor and the sub-distributor, for example, but not limited to, the distributor content transmitted and received between the main distributor and the sub-distributor during the period from when advertising output information was sent to terminal 20A in step S170 of Figure 1-16 to when advertising content playback completion information was received from terminal 20, and transmits this to terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 as undelivered distribution subscriber content.

[0241] When the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A receives the undelivered distribution member content from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, it performs an undelivered distribution member content display process (A1240).

[0242] In the undelivered distribution member content display process, as an example, but not limited to, of the received undelivered distribution member contents, the undelivered distribution member content with the oldest time (date and time) is displayed in the distributor area. If the display of the advertisement content is not erased after the reproduction of the advertisement content has ended, the undelivered distribution member content can be displayed below the advertisement content. On the other hand, if the display of the advertising content is erased after the reproduction of the advertising content is completed, the undelivered distribution member content can be displayed at the position of the erased advertising content.

[0243] Thereafter, based on an upward scrolling operation performed by user AA via input / output unit 23, control unit 21 of terminal 20A causes undelivered distribution follower contents to be displayed in the distributor area in chronological order. In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, as an example and not a limitation, can be configured to display the undelivered distribution follower content from the oldest undelivered distribution follower content in order, rather than jumping to the most recent undelivered distribution follower content and displaying it. This is because, when the live chat progresses quickly and there are many undelivered distribution follower contents, the viewer needs to scroll back to the oldest undelivered distribution follower content in order to follow the flow of the conversation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display may jump to the most recent content. Furthermore, without relying on a scroll operation, the undelivered distribution member contents may be displayed at a slow speed in order from the oldest one.

[0244] In addition, the server 10 stores information on the advertisement content output time in association with the advertisement content ID in the advertisement content data. Therefore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may transmit the undelivered distribution member content to the viewer terminal 20 when it determines that the advertisement output time has elapsed since the advertisement output information was transmitted to the viewer terminal 20.

[0245] <First Modification (4)> In the above embodiment, it is possible to display a video advertisement as advertising content. However, some users may not want to watch a video advertisement from start to finish.

[0246] Furthermore, as explained in the first modified example (2), it is also possible to prevent video advertisements from being displayed on the distributor's terminal 20. In this case, there is a possibility that a live chat is taking place between distributors while the viewer is watching the video advertisement on the viewer's terminal 20.

[0247] Therefore, as a non-limiting example, it may be possible to make it possible to skip a video advertisement if a set time (hereinafter referred to as the "set time") has elapsed after playback of the video advertisement has started.

[0248] Here, skipping may include, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of the following: - Jumping video ads to the point on the timeline where users want to view them - Ending the playback of video advertisements

[0249] In this case, in the advertisement output process of step A150 in FIG. 1-13, when the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines that a set time (for example, but not limited to, "5 seconds" or "10 seconds") has elapsed after starting playback of the video advertisement content, the control unit 21 displays information for skipping the video advertisement (hereinafter referred to as "skip information") in association with the video advertisement. Then, based on the user's input to the skip information via the input / output unit 23, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A controls to skip the video to a location on the time axis specified by the user or controls to end playback of the video advertisement, as described above. The same applies to the other terminals 20.

[0250] This modification shows a configuration in which advertisement information (for example, but not limited to, a video advertisement) can be skipped if a set time has elapsed. As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, a user who does not wish to view the advertising information from start to finish can skip the advertising information. Also, by making it possible to skip advertising information, for example and not by way of limitation, when a live chat is in progress between a first user and a second user, the user of the terminal can check the content of the chat early.

[0251] <First Modification (5)> When a viewer views the advertising content described in the above embodiment, a reward (compensation) for viewing the advertising content can be paid by the advertiser to a specific user. The user to whom this compensation is paid is called a "reward recipient." The reward recipient may be, by way of example and not limitation, the primary broadcaster. However, this is not a limitation, and sub-broadcasters may also be eligible for rewards. Also, both main and sub-broadcasters may be eligible for rewards.

[0252] The messaging service provider may collect an agreed-upon percentage of the commission fee or an advertising fee within the remuneration amount or separately from the remuneration amount.

[0253] FIG. 1-20 is a diagram showing an example of detailed advertisement data in this modification. In this advertisement detail data, the configuration of the advertisement content data is partially different from that in FIG. 1-5. Specifically, the advertisement content data stores an advertisement content ID, an advertisement content format, an advertisement content output time, an advertisement content URI, and an advertisement unit price in association with each other.

[0254] The advertising unit price may be, for example and without limitation, the price paid by the advertiser to the reward recipient based on the fact that the advertising content with the advertising content ID is output on the device to which it is distributed. The advertising unit price is an example of the value of advertising information.

[0255] In this data example, the advertising unit price is stored in association with the advertising content ID, and the advertising unit price is determined for each advertising content, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the advertising unit price may be stored in association with the advertising ID, and a fixed advertising unit price may be set for each advertisement. In this case, as a non-limiting example, if the advertisements have different formats (advertising content formats) but convey the same message, the advertising unit price may be a uniform amount even if the advertising content is different.

[0256] In the above embodiment, based on the fact that advertising content is output on the viewer's terminal 20 during a live chat by the broadcaster, for example and not by way of limitation, a reward amount calculated for each piece of advertising content by multiplying the total number of views of that advertising content by the advertising unit price of that advertising content can be paid by the advertiser to the main broadcaster.

[0257] In this case, for example and not by way of limitation, the viewer's terminal 20 outputs advertising content, and when the advertising content output time for the advertising content has elapsed, the viewer's terminal 20 transmits advertising content viewing information indicating that the advertising content has been viewed to the server 10 via the communication I / F 14. Then, the server 10 calculates the above-mentioned remuneration amount based on the advertising content viewing information received from each viewer's terminal 20, and transmits, for example and not by way of limitation, compensation information including information indicating that a remuneration will be paid and information on the remuneration amount to the reward recipient's terminal 20 via the communication I / F 14. Note that the advertisement content viewing information may be transmitted when the advertisement content is output for a set time or longer, or may not be transmitted when the advertisement content is skipped.

[0258] In this modification, the viewer's terminal 20 uses the control unit 21 to control the transmission of advertising content viewing information (not limited to this, but an example of information indicating that the user of the terminal has viewed the advertising information) to the server 10 via the communication I / F 14. In this case, the server 10 is configured to transmit compensation information (not limited to this, but an example of information on compensation based on viewing the advertising information) to a reward recipient (not limited to this, but an example of a first user or a second user). As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to make it possible for a first user or a second user to be paid compensation based on the viewing of advertising information by the user of the terminal.

[0259] <First Modification (6)> In the above embodiment, it may be possible to purchase a product or service related to the advertising content based on an input made by the user of the terminal 20 to which the advertising content is output.

[0260] FIG. 1-21 shows, without limitation, an example of information displayed on the display unit 24 when an operation to select advertising content for a talk room is performed in the display example of FIG. 1-10. When a viewer taps on the advertising content, a browser is launched based on the URL embedded in the advertising content, and a website is displayed in the browser where the viewer can purchase the product or service related to the advertisement.

[0261] In this example, when user A taps on the advertisement SAD, a website where the user can purchase the recipe book of the advertisement SAD is displayed on the display unit 24. The user can purchase the recipe book by selecting a product and completing the purchase procedure on the website.

[0262] In this case, by way of example and not limitation, advertising content such as a still image advertisement or a video advertisement may be associated with the URL of a website (such as an external e-commerce site or an in-app site provided by a messaging service provider) for purchasing products or services related to the advertising content. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may store the website URL in association with the advertising content ID in the advertising management data.

[0263] It should be noted that in the advertisement management data, instead of storing the URL of the website in association with the advertisement content ID, the URL of the website may be associated with the advertisement ID.

[0264] Then, in step S170 of Figure 1-13, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can include the URL of the website associated with the advertising content selected in step S160 in the advertising output information and send it to the terminal 20.

[0265] In the advertisement output process of step A150, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 determines whether or not a user input (for example, but not limited to, an operational input such as a tap) has been made to the advertisement content via the input / output unit 23. If it is determined that an input has been made, the control unit 21 accesses a website based on the URL of the website associated with the advertisement content received from the server 10, and can purchase a product or service based on the input by the user of the terminal 20.

[0266] In this case, terminal 20 may not immediately access the website based on user input for the advertising content, but may instead display information such as access confirmation information to confirm with the user whether or not to access the website, or purchase confirmation information to confirm with the user whether or not to purchase a product or service, and may access the website if the user agrees.

[0267] Furthermore, when a product or service is purchased as described above, by way of example and not limitation, the advertiser may pay the aforementioned reward recipient a compensation based on the purchase of the product or service.

[0268] In this modified example, the terminal 20 is configured to display on the display unit 24, based on input by the user of the terminal 20 regarding advertising content (an example of advertising information, not limited to this), confirmation information or information such as a website for purchasing a product or service related to the advertising content (an example of information for purchasing a product or service related to the advertising information, not limited to this). As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to enable the user of the terminal to purchase products or services related to the advertising information based on the input made by the user of the terminal in response to the advertising information.

[0269] <First Modification (7)> The viewer's terminal 20 may input content for which a charge will be made to the distributor based on user input to the input / output unit 23, and money may be paid to the distributor based on the transmission of the input content to the server 10. In this specification, "charging" means paying money to the other party. However, paying money to the other party can also be called "payment," and imposing an obligation on the other party to pay money can also be called "charging."

[0270] In this case, as an example and not as a limitation, the messaging service provider may receive a commission equal to a percentage (not limited to 30%) of the amount charged (amount paid) by the viewer (hereinafter referred to as the "charge amount") as specified in the terms and conditions, and pay the remaining amount to the main broadcaster.

[0271] FIG. 1-22 shows a display example in which the aspect of the content displayed in the viewer area AR changes in this modified example. By paying an amount determined by the viewer to the main broadcaster, the viewer can increase the display priority of the content that the viewer transmits in the viewer area AR. In this example, User II, one of the viewers, enters the text "I'm looking forward to the recipe!" followed by information for making the payment (for example, but not limited to, the text "@500 yen" or a specified icon) into the text input field, and the amount (in this example, "500 yen") is paid to the main broadcaster, and the text content based on the entered text changes to a form that is more visible than other text content.

[0272] After User II's content is displayed in the viewer area AR at "11:36," it changes to a special mode that makes it more visible than other content. Then, in response to new content being displayed in the viewer area AR, User II's content moves to the top of the viewer area. Even if new content is then displayed in the viewer area AR, User II's content does not move from the top and remains fixed in this position for a set period of time (for example, a period of 5 minutes, but not limited to this).

[0273] In this example, even after the content of other users that was displayed at a later time than the content of user II is no longer displayed in the viewer area AR, the content of user II continues to be fixed at the top.

[0274] In this case, in steps A1130 and A1140 of FIG. 1-14, when information for making a payment (for example, but not limited to, the text "@500 yen" or a predetermined icon as described above) is input and a request to send is made (A1130: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays confirmation information for making the payment using the payment method previously registered by user AA (for example, but not limited to, electronic money payment using a payment application, credit card payment, debit card payment, prepaid card payment, etc.). If user AA agrees to this, the input content and charge amount information is sent to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A1140).

[0275] In steps S1140 and S1150 of FIG. 1-14, when the server 10 receives information about the content and the charge amount from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14, the server 10 performs a payment approval process using the registered payment method with a payment server (not shown) (S1140). Then, when the payment is approved, the server 10 transmits viewer content based on the received content to each terminal 20 via the communication I / F 14 (S1150). At this time, the control unit 11 of the server 10, by way of example and not limitation, associates a charge flag with the viewer content and transmits it to each terminal 20 (S1150).

[0276] The terminal 20 that receives the viewer content, based on the associated billing flag, displays the viewer content fixed at the top of the viewer area for a set period of time, for example but not by way of limitation (A1150). The same applies to the terminal 20 of the distributor.

[0277] In addition, when there are multiple viewer contents associated with a billing flag, for example and not by way of limitation, viewer contents with a larger billing amount may be displayed higher. In other words, the display order of viewer contents may be changed depending on the billing amount. Alternatively, viewer content with a newer time may be displayed higher.

[0278] In this case, in order to make it easier to see the difference between this and normal viewer content that is not associated with a billing flag, as an example and not a limitation, viewer content that is associated with a billing flag may be displayed with a crosshatched area in a set color. In this case, the color of the shading may be changed depending on the amount charged. As a non-limiting example, a plurality of amount ranges may be set, and the color of the shading may be changed depending on the amount range that includes the amount charged. Instead of using shading, the text color of the viewer content may be made different from that of normal viewer content, or a mark indicating that a charge has been made may be displayed in association with the viewer content.

[0279] Furthermore, the display mode is not limited to being different for each viewer content, but may be different for each viewer who has set up a fee schedule.

[0280] In this modified example, the content input by the viewer's terminal 20 (not limited to, but an example of second content) includes content related to charging (not limited to, but an example of information related to charging), and this content is displayed in a display manner different from the normal viewer content displayed in the viewer area. As an example of the effect of this modified configuration, the second content including information regarding billing is displayed in a different display manner from the content displayed in the second area, thereby giving a sense of exclusivity to the user who inputs the second content.

[0281] <First Modification (8)> In the above embodiment, the content exchanged between distributors may include content related to a questionnaire that viewers can answer.

[0282] FIG. 1-23 shows an example of a talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A when a distributor conducts a survey targeting viewers. When a distributor conducts a survey, the distributor inputs the contents of the survey as well as information for generating the survey into the terminal 20, whereby a survey object corresponding to the input contents is generated and displayed in the distributor area DR.

[0283] In this example, user YY, the broadcaster, enters the text "Do you want to make your own sauce?" followed by information for generating a survey (for example, but not limited to, the text "@Survey" or a specific icon) into the text input field, and an object ENQ containing the text "Do you want to make your own sauce?" is displayed in the broadcaster area DR. The object ENQ contains an icon corresponding to "Yes" (in this example, "Make it!") and an icon corresponding to "No" (in this example, "Don't make it...") as answers to the survey. Viewers can answer the survey by selecting an icon.

[0284] In this case, the viewer's terminal 20 transmits the responses to the questionnaire entered via the input / output unit 23 to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. The control unit 11 of the server 10 then tallys up the responses to the questionnaire transmitted from each viewer's terminal 20. The tallying results can then be transmitted to at least one of the terminal 20 of the main broadcaster and the terminal 20 of the sub-broadcaster.

[0285] In this modified example, the content sent and received between the main distributor (not limited to, but an example of a first user) and the sub-distributor (not limited to, but an example of a second user) includes content related to a questionnaire that can be answered by viewers (not limited to, but an example of a user of the terminal). As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, but not limited to, it becomes possible to give questions to the user of the terminal in the form of a questionnaire, thereby increasing interest.

[0286] <First Modification (9)> For example, and not by way of limitation, there may be a case where a viewer user attempts to join a live chat broadcast after the broadcast has started. In this case, it would be easier for the viewer user to understand if they could see the progress of the live chat by displaying a list of chat rooms in which the live chat is taking place.

[0287] FIG. 1-24 is a diagram showing an example of information about the talk room displayed on the viewer's terminal 20A. In this example, the in-app location display area displays the words "NOW ON AIR," indicating that a live chat is currently being broadcast.

[0288] In addition, the area below that displays a list of chat rooms for live chats currently being broadcast, and for each chat room, information such as, but not limited to, the icon, title, and summary of that live chat (chat room), the current number of viewers of that live chat, the icon and username of the broadcaster of that live chat, and the latest broadcaster content displayed in the broadcaster area for that live chat is displayed.

[0289] More specifically, in this example, multiple chat room information is displayed, including chat room information TL1 with the title "Trendy Sweets," chat room information TL2 with the title "Take-Act Meals," and chat room information TL3 with the title "Restaurants in Kyoto."

[0290] In such a display example, for example and not limitation, a list of talk rooms including talk rooms that are currently broadcasting and talk rooms that are not currently broadcasting may be displayed on the display unit 24, with the former and latter being displayed in different ways. For example and not limitation, the former may have the text "Broadcasting" displayed next to the title, and the latter may have the text "Broadcasting suspended" displayed next to the title. The determination of whether content is being distributed may be made based on whether either the distributor area DR or the viewer area AR has been updated for a set period of time (for example, a period of 10 minutes, but not limited to this), or may be made based on the distributor's operations to start and end distribution.

[0291] Furthermore, the information displayed in the list is not limited to the latest content displayed in the broadcaster area, but may be the latest content displayed in the viewer area, or may be both.

[0292] In this modification, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 displays a list of multiple talk rooms in which live chats are taking place on the display unit 24. In this case, for each talk room included in the list, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 displays, by way of example and not limitation, information about the latest content sent to that talk room as information about the progress of the live chat taking place in that talk room.

[0293] In performing this process, the terminal 20 requests a list of multiple talk rooms from the server 10, and the server 10 identifies the latest content for each talk room included in the list based on management data of the live chat taking place in that talk room and transmits the content to the terminal 20 along with the list.

[0294] In this modification, the terminal 20 uses the control unit 21 to control the display of a list of multiple talk rooms, including the first talk room (not limited to the first chat room, but an example of the first chat room), on the display unit 24. In this case, the information about the first talk room included in the list includes information about the latest content sent to the first talk room. As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, the user of the terminal can grasp the progress of a chat taking place in the first chat room based on information regarding the latest content sent to the first chat room and a list of multiple chat rooms including the first chat room, which can help the user of the terminal choose which chat to participate in.

[0295] <First Modification (10)> In the above embodiment, while the live chat is being broadcast, stamps (stamp content) provided for messaging services by the advertiser of the advertising content being output may be made available to at least one of the broadcaster and the viewer. The data of the stamps (stamp content) may be stored by the server 10 as a database in the memory unit 15, so that the terminal 20 can download the data of the stamps (stamp content) from the server 10 while the live chat is being distributed.

[0296] <Second Example> The second embodiment is an embodiment in which the user of the terminal 20 can view live chats that were previously distributed based on the archive function.

[0297] The contents described in the second embodiment can be applied to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0298] <Data structure> FIG. 2-1 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the live chat archive database 158 stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The live chat archive database 158 stores live chat archive data as management data for each live broadcast that has been distributed.

[0299] Each account management data may store, by way of example and not limitation, a chat room ID for identifying the chat room where the live chat took place, a chat room name (which may also be the title of the live chat) that is the name of the chat room, the application ID of the main broadcaster, the live chat start date and time that is the date and time when the live chat started, the live chat end date and time that is the date and time when the live chat ended, and sub-broadcaster data that is data related to sub-broadcasters associated with the live chat. These data may also be considered, by way of example and not limitation, as metadata for the live chat. The sub-distributor data may, for example and without limitation, store the sub-distributor's application ID and its username in association with each other.

[0300] In addition to the above, each account management data also stores live chat data relating to the live chat that has been distributed. The live chat data may include, but is not limited to, distributor content history data, which is data on the history of distributor content, viewer content history data, which is data on the history of viewer content, and advertising content history data, which is data on the history of advertising content.

[0301] The distributor content history data may store, by way of example and not limitation, time information associated with the distributor content, the application ID of the distributor that sent the distributor content, the type of distributor content (text, image, etc.), the content of the distributor content, etc. The same applies to viewer content history data.

[0302] In addition, the advertising content history data may be stored in association with, for example and without limitation, time information associated with the advertising output information corresponding to the advertising content, the advertising content ID of the advertising content, etc.

[0303] For example, and not by way of limitation, after the live chat ends, based on an operation to store (save) the live chat data in an archive performed on the main broadcaster's terminal 20, the main broadcaster's terminal 20 requests this from the server 10. In response to this, the server 10 creates live chat archive data based on the data stored in real time during the broadcast of the live chat, and stores the data in the live chat archive database 158.

[0304] In addition to storing the live chat archive data on the server 10, for example and without limitation, the live chat archive data may also be stored in the memory unit 28 of the main broadcaster's terminal 20 in association with information related to the chat room of the live chat, in a format similar to the live chat archive data stored on the server 10, or it may not be necessary to do so.

[0305] <Display screen> FIG. 2-2 shows an example of a chat room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A based on the live chat data stored in the archive. Here, an example is shown in which the archived live chat data of "Live Chat with Cooking Expert X" described in the first embodiment is viewed. However, for ease of understanding, some content has been modified from the example display screen described above.

[0306] In this example, a chat room read from the archive is displayed on user AA's terminal 20A, and content distributed using that chat room is also displayed. However, unlike the example shown in FIG. 1-9, etc., which is not limiting, input by the user into the input field is restricted (prohibited), and a box containing the words "Archive displaying" is displayed in the content input area INR. In addition, a mark (icon) containing the word "Archive" is displayed next to the title at the top of the chat room, allowing users to recognize that no content is currently being distributed in this chat room and that they can only view content that has been distributed in the past.

[0307] In this example, the user viewing the archive is a viewer, and the chat room that can be viewed by the viewer is designed for viewers, with a broadcaster area DR at the top and a viewer area AR at the bottom. When the archive is viewed by the broadcaster, the chat room may be displayed in a manner intended for viewers, or in a manner intended for the broadcaster.

[0308] The live chat shown here began broadcasting at 11:00, but no content was sent by the broadcaster at 11:00. Therefore, when the chat room is first displayed, nothing is displayed in the broadcaster area DR. However, in this example, when user AA comments "We've been waiting for this!" at 11:00, viewer content indicating this is displayed in the viewer area AR.

[0309] After that, when user AA scrolls up in the distributor area DR, the distributor content posted by user YY at time "11:01" is displayed in the distributor area DR. However, since no viewers other than user AA have commented at time "11:01," the viewer content displayed in the viewer area AR has not changed.

[0310] After that, when user AA performs another upward scroll operation on the distributor area DR, the distributor content posted by user XX at time "11:02" is displayed below the distributor content of user YY. At this timing, viewers user BB and user CC posted comments, so viewer content posted by these users is displayed below the viewer content of user AA in the viewer area AR.

[0311] In this way, in this example, based on the user's scrolling operation, the contents for the corresponding time are displayed in the distributor area and the viewer area, respectively.

[0312] Continuing from FIG. 2-2, FIG. 2-3 shows an example in which an advertisement (advertising content) is displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A. In FIG. 2-2, based on the fact that user AA continues to perform an upward scroll operation, in this example, the same advertisement SAD as in FIG. 1-10 is displayed in association with the time "11:05."

[0313] <Processing> 2-4 and 2-5 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. In this processing example, FIG. 2-4 corresponds to the processing portion of FIG. 1-13, and the processing portion of FIG. 2-5 is subsequently described as being executed.

[0314] 2-5, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X determines whether or not an input requesting that the distributed live chat be archived has been made by the user XX via the input / output unit 23 (X210). If it is determined that an input has been made (X210: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X transmits archive live chat save request information indicating this to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (X220).

[0315] The control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not archive live chat save request information has been received from the terminal 20X via the communication I / F 14 (S210), and if it is determined that the information has been received (S210: YES), performs archive live chat save processing (S220). Specifically, the control unit 11 creates the above-mentioned live chat archive data and stores it in the live chat archive database 158 of the storage unit 15.

[0316] For example, but not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A requests the server 10 for a list of live chats whose data is stored in the archive via the input / output unit 23, and displays the list on the display unit 24. Then, for example, but not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines whether a request to view a live chat stored in the archive has been made, based on whether an input to select a live chat to be viewed has been made via the input / output unit 23 (A210). If it is determined that a request has been made (A210: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A transmits archived live chat viewing request information including selection information of the live chat to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A220).

[0317] After S220, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not archived live chat viewing request information has been received from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S230), and if it determines that it has been received (S230: YES), it refers to the live chat archive database 158 in the memory unit 15 and, based on the data stored in the archive, transmits archived live chat viewing information to the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 to enable viewing of the live chat using the archive function (S240).

[0318] When the communication I / F 14 receives the archived live chat viewing information from the server 10, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs an archived live chat display process (A230).

[0319] In the archived live chat display process, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A causes the display unit 24 to display the talk room of the live chat requested for viewing by the user AA, based on the received archived live chat viewing information. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the server 10 may transmit to the terminal 20A, as information for viewing the archived live chat, not only metadata but also live chat data (information on the entire history of the live chat), by way of example and not limitation. This can also be considered as the terminal 20A downloading live chat data from the server 10 based on a user's operation to select a live chat or an operation to request viewing a live chat (this is not a limitation, but is an example of a first input). Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can store the received live chat data in the memory unit 28, and then display a talk room including content on the display unit 24 based on the live chat data stored in the memory unit 28.

[0320] In the above, the terminal 20A may display the above talk room on the display unit 24 and receive information on the entire history of the live chat from the server 10 at the same time or at different times.

[0321] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can refer to the live chat data stored in the storage unit 28 in this manner, and sequentially read and display the distributor content and the viewer content in chronological order based on the user's input (for example, but not limited to, a scroll operation) to the input / output unit 23. Also, the control unit 21 can output advertising content based on the advertising content history data.

[0322] In other words, as an example and not a limitation, terminal 20 displays a talk room (chat room) displaying distributor content on the display unit 24 of its own terminal 20 based on an input by the user of its own terminal 20 to display the talk room (as an example and not a limitation, an example of the first input). Furthermore, the terminal 20 receives the distributor content and the viewer content from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 based on the first input. In addition, based on input (not limited to, but an example of a second input) such as a scrolling operation on the talk room displayed on the display unit 24 by the user of the terminal 20, the terminal 20 controls the display of the distributor content in the distributor area of ​​the talk room (not limited to, but an example of a first area) and the display of the viewer content in the viewer area of ​​the talk room (not limited to, but an example of a second area) through the control unit 21. The terminal 20 can then receive advertising content (not limited to, but an example of advertising information) from the server 10, and the control unit 21 can perform control to display the received advertising content in the distributor area.

[0323] In addition, in step S240, the server 10 may transmit to the terminal 20, as information for viewing the archived live chat, the minimum information required to display the live chat talk room, for example and not by way of limitation. Specifically, as a non-limiting example, the server 10 transmits to the terminal 20A, in addition to the metadata, a portion of the information on the entire history of the live chat contained in the live chat data (a set period of time from the start of the live chat (approximately 1 to 5 minutes of history information) as a non-limiting example).The control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can then store the information received from the server 10 in the memory unit 28 and display the talk room based on this information.

[0324] In this case, as an example and not a limitation, after the server 10 transmits the above information, it may transmit the remaining information to the terminal 20A in chronological order at set time intervals, and the terminal 20A may store this information in the memory unit 28 in sequence.

[0325] Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may be configured to sequentially request unreceived live chat history information from the server 10 in response to a scrolling operation by the user, based on time information associated with content included in received live chat data. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may be configured to sequentially display content based on the history information sequentially transmitted from the server 10. In other words, the terminal 20 is not limited to initially acquiring information on all live chat history, but may first acquire a certain amount of necessary information and store it in the memory unit 28, and then, based on input by the user such as scrolling operations, sequentially acquire and display information necessary to display the content from the server 10.

[0326] In other words, as an example and not a limitation, terminal 20 displays a talk room (chat room) displaying distributor content on the display unit 24 of its own terminal 20 based on an input by the user of its own terminal 20 to display the talk room (as an example and not a limitation, an example of the first input). In addition, the terminal 20 receives the distributor content and the viewer content from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 based on input such as a scroll operation by the user of the terminal 20 (not limited to this, an example of a second input). In addition, based on the above-mentioned second input, the terminal 20 controls the display of the distributor content in the distributor area of ​​the talk room (not limited, an example of the first area) and the display of the viewer content in the viewer area of ​​the talk room (not limited, an example of the second area) through the control unit 21. The terminal 20 may receive advertising content (not limited to this, but an example of advertising information) from the server 10, and the control unit 21 may perform control to display the received advertising content in the distributor area.

[0327] Hereinafter, as a non-limiting example, a method will be described in which the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A refers to live chat data stored in the storage unit 28 and displays the content in chronological order based on a scrolling operation by the user.

[0328] By way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can display distributor content based on the amount of finger movement during scrolling on the screen and the number of pixels that make up the display screen. As a non-limiting example, the broadcaster area can be scrolled by 100 pixels for every 1 cm of finger movement.

[0329] In this case, when scroll control is used to newly display in the distributor area distributor content that is newer than the most recent distributor content among the distributor contents already displayed in the distributor area, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A controls the display of the viewer content to be displayed in the viewer area based on the time information associated with that distributor content.

[0330] Since the relationship between the amount of finger movement during a scroll operation and the resulting scroll amount (number of pixels) is fixed, it is thought that the extent to which the broadcaster area is scrolled when the finger is moved over the broadcaster area will basically not change from person to person. However, the distributor contents displayed in the distributor area are discrete on the time axis, and the same number of distributor contents are not necessarily displayed in the distributor area for the same amount of scrolling. Furthermore, since the viewer content displayed in the viewer area is also discrete on the time axis and independent of the distributor content, it is not necessarily the case that the same number of viewer content as distributor content is displayed for the same amount of scrolling. Therefore, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A controls the display of the distributor content and the viewer content based on the scrolling operation performed via the input / output unit 23 as follows.

[0331] FIG. 2-6 is an explanatory diagram of content display control in this embodiment. In this figure, the horizontal axis represents time (date and time), the vertical axis on the left represents the cumulative number (total number) of live chats for the distributor content since the start of the live chat, and the vertical axis on the right represents the cumulative number (total number) of live chats for the viewer content since the start of the live chat. The solid black line represents the cumulative number of live chats for the distributor content, and the dashed black line represents the cumulative number of live chats for the viewer content.

[0332] In this example, the cumulative number of distributor contents hardly changes during the period from time "t1" to time "t3", and the distributor's talk is almost at a standstill. As a non-limiting example, suppose a broadcaster makes a dish during a live chat about cooking and sends an image of the dish at time "t1" (or later), causing the image to appear in the broadcaster's area. As a result, many viewers send viewer content including their thoughts and questions about the dish, resulting in a significant increase in the cumulative number of viewer content entries starting from time "t2," which is later than time "t1."

[0333] In such a case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A refers to the time information of the viewer content history data stored in the live chat data, and controls the display of viewer content whose time falls within the period from time "t1" to time "t3" by updating it sequentially so that the newer time updates the older time, just like real-time live chat.

[0334] Specifically, the scroll amount is calculated from the amount of finger movement due to a scroll operation, etc., and based on the calculated scroll amount, a distributor content to be newly displayed in the distributor area (or a distributor content to be hidden from the distributor area) is identified. Then, based on the time information associated with the distributor content and the time information associated with the viewer content, viewer content whose associated time falls within the period from the time associated with one distributor content already displayed in the distributor area to the time associated with another distributor content to be newly displayed in the distributor area is identified, and these viewer contents are sequentially updated and displayed in the viewer area.

[0335] The same applies when a scroll operation is performed on the viewer area. In this case, the above can be considered in reverse.

[0336] Also, as an example and not a limitation, in the archive live chat display process, a time bar may be configured to scroll the entire screen, and based on the user's operation on the time bar, the corresponding broadcaster content may be displayed in the broadcaster area and the corresponding viewer content may be displayed in the viewer area in a similar manner to that described above.

[0337] In addition, instead of the time information associated with the content, the corresponding distributor content may be displayed in the distributor area and the corresponding viewer content may be displayed in the viewer area using a method similar to that described above based on the content identification information (content ID, etc.).

[0338] Returning to FIG. 2-5, in the archived live chat display process, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A refers to the advertisement content history data, and as a result of the scroll control, when the timing for outputting the advertisement content arrives, causes the advertisement content to be output.

[0339] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, like a live chat, fixes the display at the position even if a scroll operation is performed until the advertisement content output time has elapsed, or controls the advertisement content so that it fits within the screen, thereby allowing the advertisement content to be viewed. Furthermore, it is possible to control so that distributor content other than the distributor content already displayed in the distributor area and viewer content other than the viewer content already displayed in the viewer area are not displayed.

[0340] In this case, as a simple example, the advertising content history data described above can store the advertising content URI or the advertising content file in addition to the time information and the advertising content ID associated with the advertising content, and this can be transmitted from the server 10 to the terminal 20. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can output the advertising content at the corresponding time based on the advertising content URI or the advertising content file.

[0341] Here, when viewing a live chat in an archive, for example and not by way of limitation, it is conceivable that the user of terminal 20 views the live chat a considerable amount of time after it was distributed. However, if the advertising content is advertising content related to a product or service, the product or service may no longer exist as time passes. In other words, the product or service may have become obsolete and lost its usefulness as an advertisement. Also, the period during which advertisements are permitted to be displayed (the period during which advertisements can be displayed) may have passed.

[0342] Therefore, as a non-limiting example, the server 10 may transmit to the terminal 20 advertising content that is different from the advertising content output to the terminal 20 during live chat distribution, and cause the terminal 20 to output the advertising content. In this case, the following patterns are possible. (P1) The timing of advertisements (advertising content) is the same as that of live chat, but the advertisements are different. (P2) Not only is the advertisement (advertising content) different, but the timing of advertisement output is also different from that during live chat.

[0343] In this case, one method would be to allow the broadcaster of the live chat (for example, but not limited to, the main broadcaster) to set the advertising content to be output to terminal 20 in the archived live chat and the timing of that output after the live chat. As a non-limiting example, if a real-time live chat is set to display advertisements "once every 10 minutes," in an archived live chat, there is a possibility that users may skip over the content while viewing it, so the time interval for displaying advertisement content can be set shorter than this, so that advertisements are displayed "once every 3 minutes," for example. Alternatively, advertisements may be output at longer intervals than when live chat is being distributed.

[0344] Furthermore, the server 10, rather than the distributor, may automatically perform the settings relating to the output of the advertisement. In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can, for example and not by way of limitation, periodically (such as once a month) associate the live chat archive data of each live chat contained in the live chat archive database 158 with the distribution live ID, and determine and update the advertisement to be output to the terminal 20 when the archived live chat is viewed on the terminal 20, from the latest advertising content.

[0345] In this case, the server 10 may randomly select advertising content from the latest advertising content, similar to real-time live chat. Furthermore, the server 10 may select advertising content from the latest advertising content based on the context of the live chat, similar to a real-time live chat. The same applies to the timing of advertisement output.

[0346] In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can transmit, as a non-limiting example, archive advertisement output data including information on the set timing of outputting the advertisement content, the advertisement content ID of the advertisement content to be output, and the advertisement content URI or the advertisement content file of the advertisement content from the server 10 to the terminal 20A. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A can output the advertisement content in the archive live chat display process based on the received archive advertisement output data.

[0347] The timing at which the terminal 20A acquires the archive advertisement output data can be any of the following, by way of example and not limitation. (G1) The timing at which archived live chat viewing request information is sent to the server 10, or the timing immediately thereafter (G2) Timing when the archive live chat display process starts

[0348] In addition, terminal 20A may or may not acquire data on the timing of outputting an advertisement from server 10 in advance, and based on that data, acquire data on the advertising content to be output from server 10 at the time when the advertisement is to be output in the archive live chat display process, or just before that.

[0349] In addition, in the archived live chat display process, the terminal 20 requesting viewing may acquire the live chat recording data based on the live chat recording data recorded by the server 10 of the distributed live chat, and play the acquired data to view the archived live chat. In this case, the recorded content is displayed sequentially. In addition, in this case, since it is recorded data, when the advertising content is output, the advertising content being played is displayed, and the user inevitably views the advertising content.

[0350] In this case, for example and not by way of limitation, a fast-forward or rewind function may be used to allow the user to skip to or return to a desired viewing time. Also, a double-speed or triple-speed function may be used to allow the user to skip to a desired viewing time.

[0351] Also, instead of playing back the recorded data to allow the user of the terminal 20 to view the archived live chat, captured images of the distributed live chat may be saved in the server 10 or the like, and these captured images may be sent as archived live chat data to the terminal 20. Then, the terminal 20 may display the captured images in chronological order.

[0352] <Effects of the second embodiment> In this embodiment, the viewer's terminal 20 uses the control unit 21 to control the display of a talk room on the display unit 24 that displays the broadcaster content sent and received between the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster, based on user input (not limited to, an example of a first input) for viewing an archived live chat by the user of the terminal 20. In addition, based on the selection input of the talk room, the viewer's terminal 20 receives content sent and received between the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster, and viewer content input by a viewer other than the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster (not limited to the main broadcaster and the sub-broadcaster, but an example of a third user) from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. In addition, the viewer's terminal 20 controls, via the control unit 21, to display the distributor content in the distributor area and the viewer content in the viewer area based on user input by the user to the talk room displayed on the display unit 24. The viewer's terminal 20 receives advertisement output information from the server 10, and the control unit 21 controls the display of advertisement content based on the received advertisement output information in the distributor area. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, but not limited to, it is possible for a user of a terminal to later view a live chat that took place in the past, and at that time, advertising information can be displayed in a chat room including a first user and a second user, allowing the user of the terminal to view the advertisement.

[0353] In this case, the user input (not limited to, but an example of a second input) that triggers the display of the above-mentioned distributor content in the distributor area or the control of the display of the above-mentioned viewer content in the viewer area can include a scrolling operation. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, based on a scrolling operation by a user of a terminal, content sent and received between a first user and a second user can be appropriately displayed in a first area of ​​a chat room, and first content entered by a third user can be appropriately displayed in a second area of ​​the chat room.

[0354] In this case, the advertising content to be output to terminal 20 can be received by communication I / F 22 from server 10 based on user input (not limited to, an example of first input) for viewing archived live chat by the user of terminal 20. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, advertising information can be received from the server at the same time as the content sent and received between the first user and the second user and the first content input by the third user are received from the server.

[0355] In this case, the advertisement is a video advertisement, and the terminal 20 can be configured to use the control unit 21 to control updating of the display of the distributor content or not updating of the display of the viewer content based on user input to the talk room displayed on the display unit 24 while the advertisement information is being played. As an example of the effect of this embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the video advertisement can be reliably viewed by the user of the terminal while the video advertisement is being played back.

[0356] <Third Example> The third embodiment relates to outputting an advertisement in a chat room different from the chat room in which the live chat described above is held.

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

[0358] <Display screen> FIG. 3-1 is a diagram showing an example of content displayed in the talk room of the terminal 20A. This chat room is an example, not a limitation, of an open chat room (open chat room) for conducting open chat rather than live chat, and compared to the example in Figure 1-9, no viewer area is provided. In the in-app location display area, the words "Cooking Expert X's Open Chat" are displayed along with a mark (icon) containing the word "Open" to indicate that it is an open chat. In other words, this example display screen is an example display screen related to an open chat in an open chat room that User XX has set up as an administrator.

[0359] Users who participate in an open chat can have the content they enter displayed in the area corresponding to the aforementioned broadcaster area of ​​the chat room, i.e., the chat area CR (an area similar to the talk area TR) where content is displayed in speech bubbles. In addition, users who participate in an open chat can use the talk room of the open chat to send content they have entered to other users and have it displayed in the chat area CR, as well as receive content entered by other users and have it displayed in the chat area CR.

[0360] In this example, the advertisement SAD shown in Figure 1-10 is displayed below the text content "I make it sometimes!" posted by user AA. In other words, in this example display screen, advertisement content (advertisement based on advertisement content) is displayed in the open chat room.

[0361] <Processing> FIG. 3-2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. In this process, the user who will be the administrator of the open chat will be referred to as "User XX," and one of the users participating in the open chat will be referred to as "User AA." In this diagram, from the left, an example of a process executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, a process executed by the control unit 11 of the server 10, and a process executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X is shown. The processes executed by the terminals 20 of users other than user AA and user XX who participate in the open chat are the same as those executed by terminal 20A, and therefore are not shown in the drawings.

[0362] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20X determines whether or not a request to hold an open chat has been made by the user XX (X310), and if it determines that a request has been made (X310: YES), it performs an open chat setting process with the server 10 (S320, X320).

[0363] In the open chat setting process, the title and theme of the open chat are set, and the type of the open chat (public, partial public) is set. Public access can be, for example and not by way of limitation, an open chat that any user can join if they know the link to the open chat or code information (for example and not by way of limitation, a QR code (registered trademark) or the like). Partial disclosure can be, for example and without limitation, an open chat that only users who know a password or keyword set by the administrator can participate in, or an open chat that only users who answer questions set by the administrator and are approved by the administrator based on those answers can participate in.

[0364] For example, but not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A searches for open chats based on input to the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20A, and displays the search results on the display unit 24. Then, it determines whether or not participation in one open chat has been requested via the input / output unit 23 (A310).

[0365] If it is determined that participation in the open chat has been requested (A310: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A, for example and not limitation, sends open chat participation request information requesting participation in the selected open chat to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A320).

[0366] When the communication I / F 14 receives a request to join the open chat from the terminal 20A, the communication I / F 14 allows the user AA to join the open chat by sending information for displaying the talk room of the open chat to the terminal 20A, etc. This starts the open chat process on each terminal 20 (A330, S330, X330).

[0367] The subsequent processing is almost the same as in the previous embodiment. That is, if it is determined in S150 that the advertisement distribution conditions are met (S150: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs the processes of steps S160 and S170. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A performs the processes of steps A140 and A150, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X performs the processes of steps X140 and X150.

[0368] In step S160, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not select advertising content based on the settings made by the administrator (user XX).

[0369] Furthermore, since the open chat is an open chat, as mentioned above, the secrecy of communications may not be applied. Therefore, in step S160, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, but is not limited to, select advertising content to be delivered from the advertising content database 159 based on the context of the chat in the open chat, for example, or may not do so.

[0370] Although an open chat has been used as an example, advertising content may be output in a chat room in a non-open chat environment. This includes, but is not limited to, the one-on-one chat room, group chat room, and open chat room mentioned above. However, since these chat rooms are not open chat rooms, the confidentiality of communications applies. Therefore, in step S160, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example and without limitation, randomly select advertising content from the advertising content database 159.

[0371] In addition, in relation to the live chat described in the first embodiment, it is also possible to apply the present invention to a live chat without a viewer comment function. A live chat without a viewer comment function can be a live chat configured so that viewers of the live chat can only watch the chat between broadcasters and cannot make comments.

[0372] <Effects of the third embodiment> In this embodiment, the terminal 20 displays on the display unit 24 a talk room or an open chat room (not limiting, but an example of a chat room) that includes a user other than the user of the terminal 20 (not limiting, but an example of a first user) and the user of the terminal 20 (not limiting, but an example of a terminal user). Furthermore, the terminal 20 receives the advertisement output information transmitted from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. Terminal 20 has a configuration in which control unit 21 controls the display of advertising content based on the advertisement output information in the chat room. As an example of the effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, advertising information sent from a sender different from the user of the terminal can be displayed in a chat room including a first user different from the user of the terminal and the user of the terminal, and can be viewed by the user of the terminal, etc.

[0373] <Fourth Example> The fourth embodiment is an embodiment that allows a video to be viewed in a chat room that includes a plurality of users.

[0374] The contents described in the fourth embodiment can be applied to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0375] In this embodiment, by way of example and not limitation, a case where two or more users chat in a chat room is illustrated. Here, as a simple example, we will explain the case where two users are watching a video while chatting in a one-on-one chat room.

[0376] <Display screen> Examples of display screens are described below. The video to be played can be displayed in any of the following positions, by way of example and not limitation: (M1) Any position within the talk area (M2) Any position within the entire display area

[0377] In (M1), by way of example and not limitation, any location within the talk area may be set as the default location for displaying the video (by way of example and not limitation, the top of the talk area or the bottom of the talk area).

[0378] In (M2), as an example and not a limitation, the video can be displayed at any position within the entire area of ​​the display unit, including the area at the top of the screen where the name of the application, etc. is displayed, the area below that where the in-app location is displayed, and the content input area INR at the bottom of the screen, as the default position. The video may be displayed at a position that is positioned so that it does not overlap the talk area at all, or may be displayed at a position that is positioned so that it partially overlaps the talk area.

[0379] Also, by way of example and not limitation, when applying (M1), the video can be displayed in one of the following ways: (N1) Embedded method (N2) Floating method

[0380] (N1) The embedded method can conceptually be a method of placing content and video on the same layer. In this method, scrolling control can be performed on the talk area based on the user's scrolling operation on the talk area. As a result, the content and video are scrolled together, and the positions of both the content and the video can be changed.

[0381] (N2) The floating method can conceptually be a method in which the layer on which the content is placed and the layer on which the video is placed are different. In this method, scrolling control can be performed on the layer on which the content is placed based on the user's scrolling operation on the talk area. As a result, the position of the content can change, but the position of the video can remain unchanged.

[0382] Hereinafter, the area where the moving image is displayed will be referred to as the "moving image display area."

[0383] 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. Here, an example will be described in which user PP and user QQ watch a video together while chatting in a one-on-one chat room. In addition, in this example, the video to be viewed is, by way of example and not limitation, a video (a video about how to make hamburgers) created by user XX (the main broadcaster of the live chat featured in the previous example) and stored in memory unit 15 by server 10.

[0384] In this example, the position of the video display area MR is above the talk area TR, but it is not limited thereto and may be in the center or below. Also, the video display area MR may not overlap with the talk area TR. Furthermore, when the video display area MR does not overlap with the talk area TR, the position of the video display area MR may be above or below the talk area TR.

[0385] In Figure 4-1, when user PP taps the file icon displayed in the bottom right of the chat area TR, the video selection area MSR containing a video list rises from the bottom of the screen. An example is shown in which a video selected from the video list (Super Easy! Authentic! How to Make Hamburgers) is played in the chat room. The user PP is configured to be able to select a video to be displayed in the talk room using his / her own terminal 20P, so that the video is displayed in the video display area MR and start preparations for playing the video.

[0386] In this example, the user PP may be able to start playing a video in the video display area MR by selecting a video to be displayed in the talk room using his / her own terminal 20P.

[0387] In this example, as shown in FIG. 4-2, the user PP can start playing a video by tapping the video display area MR using his / her own terminal 20P. The video also starts playing in the video display area MR of the talk room displayed on the terminal 20Q of the talk partner user QQ at the same timing as the terminal 20P. Since the video played on terminal 20P and the video played on terminal 20Q progress simultaneously, user PP and user QQ will see the same scene when the video is played.

[0388] In the example of Figure 4-2, when playback of the video selected by user PP begins, the content of user PP is displayed in a common speech bubble, including the text content "Video has been sent," an icon indicating the video, identification information of the video being played (in this example, information such as the title of the video), and an icon containing the text "Now playing." In this way, the content other than the video displayed in the talk area TR indicates that the video designated by the user PP is being played in the video display area MR.

[0389] In this example, both user PP and user QQ may be allowed to select videos, or only one of the users may be allowed to select videos.

[0390] In this example, the video may be started to be played by tapping the video display area MR on the terminal 20Q of the user QQ.

[0391] FIG. 4-3 shows an example in which the position and size of a displayed video are changed based on a user operation. In this example, a shrink / enlarge button for shrinking / enlarging the video display area MR is displayed in the lower right corner of the video display area MR. When this button is tapped, the video display area MR above the talk area TR on the left side of Figure 4-3 is reduced, as shown in the center of Figure 4-3.

[0392] Furthermore, in this example, the reduced video display area MR is shown as being dragged by the user toward the lower left, resulting in the video display area MR being moved and displayed at the lower left of the talk area TR, as shown on the right side of FIG. This improves the visibility of the content sent and received by the user that is displayed in the talk area.

[0393] Unlike this example, the moving image display area MR may be reduced / enlarged based on a pinch operation (pinch-in operation / pinch-out operation) performed by the user on the moving image display area MR.

[0394] <Processing> FIG. 4-4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. This processing will be illustrated and explained as processing among the terminal 20P of user PP, the terminal 20Q of user QQ, and the server 10, as in the above example of the display screen.

[0395] If the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P determines that an input to talk with user QQ has been made via the input / output unit 23, the control unit 21 transmits talk room request information for requesting the content of the talk room to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (P410). Upon receiving the talk room request information from the terminal 20P via the communication I / F 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits talk room information including the content of the talk room to the terminal 20P via the communication I / F 14 (S410). Upon receiving the talk room information from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P causes the display unit 24 to display the talk room based on the received talk room information (P420). The same applies to the terminal 20Q (Q410, Q420).

[0396] Thereafter, a talk process is performed between terminal 20P and terminal 20Q via server 10. In the talk process, content such as text content and image content is transmitted and received between terminal 20P and terminal 20Q via server 10, and the content is displayed in the talk area of ​​the talk room on each terminal 20P.

[0397] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20P determines whether or not an input to share the video has been made via the input / output unit 23 (P440). Here, the video to be shared can be, by way of example and not limitation, at least one of the following: Videos stored in the storage unit 28 of the user's terminal 20 Videos stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 (for example, but not limited to, videos stored independently by the server 10, videos uploaded by video creators or contributors, videos provided by video distribution services, etc.)

[0398] If it is determined that an input to share the video has been made (P440: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P, for example and not limitation, sends video sharing request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 to request that the selected video be shared (P450).

[0399] Here, when sharing a video stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20P, the video data can be transmitted to the server 10, for example and not by way of limitation. When sharing videos stored in the memory unit 15 of the server 10, for example and without limitation, a video list can be requested based on the tapping of the file icon mentioned above, the video list received from the server 10 can be displayed, and then the identification information of a video selected from the list can be transmitted.

[0400] The control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether video sharing request information has been received from the terminal 20P via the communication I / F 14 (S450), and if it is determined that it has been received (S450: YES), performs video sharing control processing (video playback control processing) (S460).

[0401] In the video sharing control process, the control unit 11 of the server 10 acquires video data based on the URI of the selected video, for example and not limitation, and then transmits the data of the first frame of the video to the terminal 20P and the terminal 20Q, respectively.

[0402] In response to this, terminal 20P and terminal 20Q display the first frame in the moving image display area, and display information relating to the playback of the moving image (for example, but not limited to, a play button) so as to be superimposed on the first frame. When a video display area including a play button or the like is tapped on terminal 20P via input / output unit 23, information to that effect is transmitted from terminal 20P to server 10. Then, based on the video data, server 10 streams the video to each terminal 20, and playback of the video begins. The same applies to pausing (interrupting) the playback of the video, resuming the playback of the video, and terminating the playback of the video.

[0403] When the streaming distribution of the moving image is received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (Q450: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20Q executes a process of playing back the moving image (Q460).

[0404] As a result of the video sharing control process, the video is displayed in a substantially synchronized state on each of the terminals 20 (terminal 20P, terminal 20Q) (P460, Q460). In this case, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 can execute the video display process and the talk process in parallel, for example and not by way of limitation. As a result, even while a video is being played, the terminal 20 can transmit, receive, or display content other than the video being played.

[0405] It is also possible to prevent the video display process and the talk process from being executed in parallel. In this case, as a non-limiting example, while a video is being played, it may be possible to prevent transmission, reception, or display of content other than the video being played.

[0406] Here, the visibility of the content displayed in the talk area may be reduced by displaying the video. For this reason, as described above, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 may move the position of the video display area or enlarge or reduce it based on the user's input. In this case, the above-mentioned (N2) floating method can be applied as a display method for the moving images, but is not limited thereto.

[0407] Also, as an example and not a limitation, based on a downward scrolling operation by the user, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 can use scrolling control to display old content on the timeline that was hidden from the talk area due to a content update in the talk area. Also, by way of example and not limitation, based on an upward scrolling operation by the user, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 can display new content on the timeline in the talk area by scrolling control.

[0408] In this example, the user playing the video is described as user PP, but this is not limiting. The user playing the video may be user QQ. Also, both users may be allowed to play the video.

[0409] In addition, it may be possible to search for videos distributed by video distribution services based on a search engine provided by the messaging service provider (a search engine provided by server 10), and play a video selected by the user from the search results. In this case, as an example and not a limitation, the server 10 may function as a relay server (proxy server) that relays between the server of the video distribution service and the terminal 20 to play the video.

[0410] <Effects of the Fourth Embodiment> In this embodiment, a terminal 20 (not limited to, but an example of a terminal) of a user (not limited to, but an example of a user of a terminal) is controlled by a control unit 21 to display on a display unit 24 a talk room (not limited to, but an example of a chat room) including the user and another user (not limited to, but an example of a first user of a first terminal). Furthermore, the terminal 20 of one user uses the control unit 21 to control the display of content transmitted and received between the terminal 20 of the other user and the terminal 20 of the user in the talk room. Furthermore, based on an input from one user regarding sharing and viewing a video (not limited to this, but an example of an input to the terminal), the terminal 20 of one user transmits information about the video to be viewed together (not limited to this, but an example of first video information) to the terminal 20 of another user (not limited to this, but an example of the first terminal), and the control unit 21 controls playback of the video based on this information (not limited to this, but an example of the first video) within the talk room. In this case, the video is configured to be played in a talk room between at least one user's terminal 20 and another user's terminal 20 based on input from one user regarding the playback of the video (not limited to this, an example of a first input). As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, a video based on the first video information can be played in a chat room including the first user of the first terminal and the user of the terminal, thereby enabling the video to be viewed together.

[0411] In this embodiment, video information is transmitted from the terminal 20 of one user (not limited to, but an example of a terminal user) to the terminal 20 (not limited to, but an example of a first terminal) of another user (not limited to, but an example of a first user) via the server 10, but as mentioned above, this may be considered as video information being transmitted from the terminal to the first terminal. The same applies below.

[0412] In this case, the terminal 20 of one user can be configured to control the position of the video in the talk room using the control unit 21 based on input by the one user, such as a drag operation on the video display area (not limited to this, but an example of input by the terminal user to the first video). As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, by controlling the position of the first video in the chat room, it is possible to prevent, by way of example and not limitation, a decrease in the visibility of information displayed in the chat room.

[0413] In this case, the terminal 20 of one user can control the size of the video in the talk room by the control unit 21 based on an input such as a pinch operation by the one user on the video display area. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, by controlling the size of the first video in the chat room, it is possible to prevent, by way of example and not limitation, a decrease in the visibility of information displayed in the chat room.

[0414] In this embodiment, the video can be displayed in the talk area of ​​the talk room (an example of the first area, not a limitation). In this case, the device 20 of one user applies the (N2) floating method described above, and the control unit 21 controls the position of the content in the talk room based on an input such as a scrolling operation (an example of the second input, not a limitation) by one user to the talk room, and the control unit 21 controls the position of the video displayed in the talk area not to move. As an example of an effect obtained by this configuration, the first video displayed in the first area can be reliably viewed by the user. Also, by moving the position of the content transmitted between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room, it becomes possible to make the content obscured by the first area visible to the user.

[0415] <Fourth Modification (1)> In the above embodiment, a case where a video is played in a one-to-one chat room is illustrated, but this is not limiting. For example, it is also possible to display the above-mentioned group chat room, open chat room, or open chat room and play a video while chatting (talking).

[0416] Furthermore, by way of example and not limitation, it is also possible to play back video while conducting the aforementioned live chat. As for live chat, Live chat with viewer comments Live chat without viewer comments It is possible to apply either of the above.

[0417] FIG. 4-5 is a diagram showing an example of a talk room displayed on the terminal 20X of the user XX who is the main broadcaster of the live chat described above. Here, we will give an example of a case where user XX, the main broadcaster, shares a video in a live chat without a viewer comment function, and the broadcaster and viewers all watch the shared video together.

[0418] This talk room has the aforementioned distributor area DR but no viewer area AR. Also, this talk room has a video display area MR superimposed on the distributor area DR.

[0419] In this example, the position of the moving image display area MR is above the distributor area DR, but it is not limited thereto and may be in the center or below. Also, the moving image display area MR may not overlap with the distributor area DR. Furthermore, when the moving image display area MR does not overlap with the distributor area DR, the position of the moving image display area MR may be above or below the distributor area DR.

[0420] Here, an example is shown in which a user XX, who is a main broadcaster, selects a video from a video list and plays it in a chat room. By selecting a video to display in the chat room using his / her own device 20X, the video is displayed in the video display area MR and playback of the video begins. As an example, and not by way of limitation, similar to FIG. 4-1, the user can select the video to be played by tapping the file icon displayed in the lower right corner of the distributor area DR.

[0421] In this case, the same video also starts to be played in the video display area MR of the talk room displayed on the terminal 20Y of user YY, who is the sub-distributor. Since the video played on terminal 20X and the video played on terminal 20Y progress simultaneously, the main distributor and the sub-distributor will see the same scene when the video is played.

[0422] In this example, the same video also starts to be played on the viewer's terminal 20. That is, the video selected by the distributor is played in the video display area MR of the talk room being viewed by the viewer. Therefore, the broadcaster (user XX, user YY) and the viewer (user AA, etc.) viewing the same chat room will see the same scene when the video is played.

[0423] In this way, videos are shared between distributors and between distributors and viewers. At the top of the chat room, the title of the live chat (live chat chat room) "X's Cooking Commentary" is displayed, and to the right of it, the text "LIVE" is displayed, indicating that the video being played is being shared between the broadcaster and the viewers. These displays are also displayed on the viewer's terminal 20, giving the viewer the impression that the distributor's text content and videos specified by the distributor are being shared in real time in a chat room opened by the distributor.

[0424] In the example of Figure 4-5, when playback of a video selected by a distributor begins, the content of that distributor is displayed in a common speech bubble, including the text content "Video has been sent," an icon indicating the video, identification information for the video being played, and an icon containing the text "Now playing." In this way, the content other than the video displayed in the distributor area DR of the talk room indicates that the video specified by the distributor is being played in the video display area MR.

[0425] Note that only the main broadcaster may be allowed to select videos, or both the main broadcaster and sub-broadcasters may be allowed to select videos. Also, among sub-broadcasters, only sub-broadcasters who have been set by the main broadcaster to be allowed to select videos may be allowed to select videos.

[0426] Figure 4-6 shows an example of information that is displayed in a chat room when a broadcaster sends content to a video that is currently being streamed. As shown in the figure, on the distributor's terminal 20, while a video is being played, the text content sent by the main distributor is displayed on the right side of the distributor area DR, and the text content sent by the sub-distributor is displayed on the left side of the distributor area DR. In this way, the exchange of text content between the main streamer and the sub-streamer is displayed in real time while the video is playing, making this format suitable for explaining the video to viewers.

[0427] FIG. 4-7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this modified example. In this process, the main broadcaster is user XX and the sub-broadcaster is user YY. From the left, the diagram shows an example of a process executed by the control unit 21 of terminal 20X, a process executed by the control unit 11 of server 10, and a process executed by the control unit 21 of terminal 20Y.

[0428] The process executed by the viewer's terminal 20 is not shown here. When applied to a live chat with a viewer comment function, the process of FIG. 1-14 can be executed in the live chat process of S430. Furthermore, when applied to live chat without the viewer comment function, in the live chat processing of S430, the steps of the processing of Figure 1-14 can be executed excluding steps A1130 to A1150, steps S1140 and S1150, and steps X1140 and X1150.

[0429] If the terminal 20X requests the distribution of live chat (X410: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs a live chat distribution setting process to set up the distribution of live chat between the terminal 20X and the server 10 (S420, X420). In the live chat distribution setting process, as an example and not a limitation, the terminal 20X performs processes such as setting the title and theme of the live chat with the server 10, and selecting, setting, and inviting users to be sub-distributors from among users registered as friends in the messaging application. The conditions for starting a live chat may be the same as those for the live chat described above, but are not limited thereto.

[0430] When the control unit 21 of the terminal 20Y receives the invitation information for a live chat from the server 10, the control unit 21 determines, for example and not by way of limitation, whether an input to accept the invitation based on the invitation information has been made via the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20A. If it determines that the invitation has been accepted, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20Y transmits live chat participation acceptance information, including, for example and not by way of limitation, the application ID 283 of the terminal 20Y or the user of the terminal 20Y, to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (Y420).

[0431] The control unit 11 of the server 10 starts live chat processing based on the information transmitted from each terminal 20 (S430, X430, Y430). In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 can execute video display processing and live chat processing in parallel. As a result, even while a video is being played, the terminal 20 can transmit, receive, and display content other than the video being played.

[0432] It is also possible to prevent the video display process and the live chat process from being executed in parallel. In this case, as a non-limiting example, while a video is being played, it may be possible to prevent transmission, reception, or display of content other than the video being played.

[0433] In the live chat process, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits distributor content sent from a distributor's terminal 20 to the terminals 20 of other distributors and to the viewer's terminals 20. Then, the terminal 20 that receives the distributor content displays the received distributor content in a speech bubble or the like in association with the sender user in the distributor area of ​​the live chat talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of its own terminal 20.

[0434] Next, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X performs the processes of steps X440 to X460, which are similar to steps P440 to P460 in FIG. 4-4, by way of example and not limitation. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X advances the process to X490.

[0435] Similarly, the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs the processes of steps S450 and S460. In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, by way of example and not limitation, stream the video data of the video selected as the video to be shared to the viewer's terminal 20 as well. Then, the control unit 11 of the server 10 advances the process to S490.

[0436] Similarly, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20Y performs the processes of steps Y450 and Y460, which are similar to steps Q450 and Q460 in FIG. 4-4, by way of example and not limitation. Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20Y advances the process to Y490.

[0437] As a result of the video sharing control process, in this example, the video requested to be shared by user XX is displayed in a substantially synchronized state on each terminal 20 (X460, Y460, etc.). In this case, each terminal 20 displays the video in the video display area as described above. That is, on the terminal 20 to which the video is distributed, as described above, users will see the same scene when the video is played back.

[0438] 4-5, the video display area obscures a part of the distributor area, making the distributor content displayed in the obscured position invisible. Therefore, as a non-limiting example, in each terminal 20, the control unit 21 may control the moving image display area within the distributor area to move or reduce the video display area based on a user's operation to move or reduce the video display area.

[0439] Also, as an example and not a limitation, based on a downward scrolling operation by the user, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 can use scrolling control to display within the distributor area older distributor content on the time axis that has been hidden from the distributor area due to an update of the distributor content. Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, based on an upward scroll operation by the user, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 can display newer distributor content on the time axis within the distributor area by scroll control. In this case, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 can, by way of example and not limitation, control the position of the distributor content to move in response to the scrolling operation, but can control the position of the video display area not to move.

[0440] In this example, the user playing the video is described as the main broadcaster (user XX), but this is not limited to this. The user playing the video may also be a sub-broadcaster (user YY). Also, both users may be able to play the video.

[0441] <Fourth Modification (2)> In the above embodiment, when a video to be shared is selected by a user, the first frame of the video (which may also be called a thumbnail of the video) is displayed in the video display area MR, and the video is played in the video display area MR based on the tapping of the video display area MR, but this is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, when a video to be shared is selected by a user, the video may be streamed to each terminal 20 via the server 10, and the video may be played on each terminal 20. In other words, the video may be played on each terminal 20 without tapping the video display area MR.

[0442] Note that only the user who selected the video may be allowed to perform playback of the video, or both the user who selected the video and the user who did not select the video may be allowed to perform playback. Also, among the users who did not select the video, only those users who have set the user who selected the video to allow playback may be allowed to perform playback.

[0443] <Fourth Modification (3)> The terminal 20 may be configured to store data of a video shared in a talk room by the user of the terminal 20 in an archive of the server 10 during or after the talk ends.

[0444] In this case, in FIG. 4-4, during execution of the talk process or when it is determined in P490 that the talk is to be ended (P490: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P determines whether an input to archive the video has been made by the user PP via the input / output unit 23. If it is determined that an input has been made, the control unit 21 requests the server 10 to archive the shared video data in association with the talk room (in the above example, the one-to-one talk room with user QQ as the talk partner). In response to this, the server 10 can associate the video data with the identification information of the talk room (for example, but not limited to, a talk room ID) and store the video data in the archive.

[0445] In this case, as an example and not a limitation, after the conversation in the chat room has finished, user PP can open the chat room again, download the saved video data from the archive, and play it, allowing him to view (review) the content of the conversation he had with user QQ and watch the video they watched together.

[0446] In addition to associating the video data with the talk room and archiving it on the server 10, the video data and the talk room may also be stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20P of the user PP in association with each other.

[0447] The same applies to the live chat process shown in Figure 4-7. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, based on input to the terminal 20X by the user XX, who is the main distributor, the video data shared by the user XX in a live chat can be associated with the live chat talk room and archived on the server 10. Furthermore, the video data and the live chat talk room can also be stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20X of the user XX in association with each other.

[0448] The above content can be applied to both live chat with and without a viewer comment function.

[0449] In this modified example, the terminal 20 is configured such that, based on input by the user to the terminal 20, the control unit 21 associates information about the video played in the live chat with the chat room in which the live chat took place and stores the information in the server 10 or stores the information in the terminal 20. As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, by storing video information in association with a chat room based on input by a user into the terminal, it becomes possible for the user of the terminal to later watch a video based on that video information while viewing the content of the chat in that chat room.

[0450] <Fifth Example> The fifth embodiment is an embodiment in which, when content is sent by a user while a video is being played in the fourth embodiment, content including information on the playback time (elapsed time) of the video at the time the content was sent is displayed.

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

[0452] <Display screen> 5-1 is a diagram showing an example of a talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20P of the user PP in this embodiment. This figure is an example of a display screen in which the talk partner is the user QQ, similar to FIGS. 4-1 to 4-3.

[0453] In this example, when users input content such as text while a video is being played on the terminals 20 of users PP and QQ, the input content is displayed along with the elapsed time from the start of video playback at the time the content is displayed in the chat room of the user's terminal 20 or at the time the content is sent to the server 10. In this example, the elapsed time is displayed underlined after the text for each of the content of users PP and QQ. Note that underlining is not essential. In this way, by adding the elapsed time from the start of playback of the video, it is possible to know at what point in the video the content was transmitted.

[0454] <Processing> FIG. 5-2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. Here, the left side shows the processing executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P, and the right side shows the processing executed by the control unit 11 of the server 10. This process may be executed in parallel with the talk process of FIG. 4-4 and the live chat process of FIG. 4-7, for example and without limitation.

[0455] The control unit 21 of the terminal 20P determines whether or not the user PP has input content and performed an operation to send it via the input / output unit 23 (P4110). If it is determined that the operation has been performed (P4110: YES), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P displays, in the talk area of ​​the terminal 20P, content originating from the user PP, including, for example and not limitation, the input content and the time elapsed since playback of the video started at that time (which may also be referred to as the current playback time of the video) (P4120). Then, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P transmits the content including the elapsed time to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (P4130).

[0456] The order of steps P4120 and P4130 may be reversed. In this case, the elapsed time to be added is the time that has elapsed since the input content was transmitted to the server 10.

[0457] When the content including the elapsed time is received from terminal 20P via communication I / F 14 (S4110: YES), control unit 11 of server 10 transmits the content to the talk partner terminal 20 (terminal 20Q in this example) (S4120). In response, control unit 21 of terminal 20Q displays the received content including the elapsed time in the talk area of ​​terminal 20Q as content originating from user PP.

[0458] As a non-limiting example, the same can be applied to the case where content is input at terminal 20Q (S4130, S4140, P4140, P4150).

[0459] In the example above, the video was shared by user PP. Therefore, the content sent by user PP includes the elapsed time, but the content sent by user QQ may not include the elapsed time.

[0460] In addition, in this processing example, the content including the elapsed time is generated at the terminal 20 that is the source of the content, and is relayed by the server 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. The server 10 may generate content including the elapsed time and transmit it to each terminal 20. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the order of steps P4120 and P4130 can be reversed, and terminal 20P can transmit only the content entered by user PP to server 10 (P4130), receive content with the elapsed time added by server 10, and display it in the talk area (P4120).

[0461] In addition, in this processing example, the elapsed time is automatically added to the content transmitted during the playback period of the video, but the present invention is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, when a user sends content, the elapsed time may be added to the content by entering a specified identifier word or object (such as, for example and not limitation, the text "@video time" or a specified icon) into the input field along with the content to be displayed in the speech bubble.

[0462] In the above, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may include information on the elapsed time in the form of a link in the content. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may play the video from the playback time corresponding to the elapsed time based on the fact that the information on the elapsed time has been tapped on the user's terminal 20. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may play the streaming video from its playback time, so that the shared video is distributed from a rewound playback time, so to speak.

[0463] Note that the video may be played back from that playback time only on the terminal 20 where the information on the elapsed time was tapped. In this case, a function button for returning from the streaming distribution from the rewound playback time to the original streaming distribution video may be configured to be displayed in addition to the video display area.

[0464] <Effects of the Fifth Embodiment> In this embodiment, when content (not limited to, but the first content) is sent from one user's terminal 20 while a shared video (not limited to, but an example of the first video) is being played, the control unit 21 controls the display of content in the talk room, including the playback time of the video when the content was sent. As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to notify the user of the terminal of the playback time of the first moving image when the first content is transmitted from the terminal.

[0465] <Fifth Modification (1)> The above embodiment, like the fourth variant example (1), is similarly applicable to talks (chat) in various talk rooms (chat rooms), such as one-on-one talk rooms, group talk rooms, open chat rooms, OA talk rooms, and live chat talk rooms.

[0466] Figure 5-3, like Figures 4-5 and 4-6, shows an example of application to a live chat without a viewer comment function, not as a limitation, and shows an example of information that is displayed in the chat room when a broadcaster sends content to a video being streamed. In this example, as mentioned above, an example is shown in which elapsed time is added to content based on a specified identifier word or object (for example, but not limited to, the text "@video time" or a specified icon) being entered into the input field.

[0467] As shown in the figure, when a distributor inputs text on the distributor's terminal 20X while a video is being played, the time elapsed since the start of video playback at the time the text content is displayed is displayed along with text content based on the input text. In this example, the text content of user XX at "14:05" is displayed when "2 minutes" have elapsed since the start of video playback, and in this example, "2:00" is displayed underlined after the text content.

[0468] As described above, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may include information on the elapsed time in the form of a link in the distributor content. Also, as described above, the video may be played from the playback time only on the terminal 20 where the information on the elapsed time is tapped.

[0469] <Sixth Example> The sixth embodiment is an example, not a limitation, that enables information relating to the presence of a talk room (chat room) to be displayed on the terminal 20 in the fourth and fifth embodiments.

[0470] The contents described in the sixth embodiment can be applied to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0471] In the above embodiment, multiple users can watch videos together in a talk room. However, in some cases, users other than the user who is trying to share the video may not necessarily be participating in the talk in the talk room on their own terminal 20. In this case, users who wish to watch the video together may want to confirm that all users are present before starting playback of the video. Therefore, the terminal 20 may display information about the presence of the talk room on the display unit 24.

[0472] In this example, "presence" may be a concept that represents, by way of example and not limitation, a user's presence or absence in a messaging application. Furthermore, "chat room (talk room) presence" can be used as a concept that represents, by way of example and not limitation, the presence status and absence information of users participating in a chat (talk) in that chat room (talk room). The presence of a chat room may be expressed as "the presence of a user included in the chat room" or "the presence of a user in the chat room."

[0473] In this embodiment, a method for displaying information about presence based on the communication status of the terminal 20 of each user, including the user, who is talking in a talk room, is exemplified. In this embodiment, for example and not by way of limitation, a state in which the terminal 20 is running (activating) a messaging application in the foreground (foreground communication) is conveniently referred to as "online." In addition, in this embodiment, as an example and not a limitation, (T1) a state in which the terminal 20 has completely stopped the messaging application (a state in which it is not even running in the background) or (T2) a state in which the terminal 20 is running the messaging application in the background (background communication) will be referred to as "offline" for convenience.

[0474] In addition, if the messaging application on the terminal 20 is set to operate in the (T2) state by default, the user may be able to forcibly stop the messaging application and set it to the (T1) state. Furthermore, the above classification is merely an example, and as an example and not a limitation, the state of (T2) may be online.

[0475] <Display screen> Here, as an example and not a limitation, it is assumed that three or more users are watching a video in a group chat room, and an example will be described in which information about presence is displayed in the group chat room.

[0476] 6-1 and 6-2 are diagrams showing an example of a group talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. Here, it is assumed that three users, user PP, user Q, user Q, and user RR, form a group in a messaging application and watch a video together.

[0477] Figure 6-1 shows an example of a group chat room displayed on user PP's terminal 20P. The in-app location display area displays the group name "Home Party," with the number of users included in the group shown in parentheses (in this example, "(3)").

[0478] In the in-app location display area, for example and not by way of limitation, the icons of the users included in this group are displayed to the right of the back button indicated by "<". In this example, the icons of three users, User PP, User QQ, and User RR, are displayed.

[0479] Each user icon is associated with an "o" object in the upper right corner, which indicates whether the corresponding user's terminal 20 is online or offline. In this example, the "o" object is lit for users whose terminal 20 is online, and the "o" object is not lit for users whose terminal 20 is offline. This object is a type of information related to presence, as it is possible to determine the user's presence.

[0480] In this example, the terminal 20R of the user RR is offline, and the "◯" object associated with the icon of the user RR is not lit. Here, the talk room is shown as being displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20P, but similar displays are also made on terminals 20Q and 20R. However, because terminal 20R is offline, the talk room is not displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20R. Furthermore, based on this display, in the talk area TR, below the text content indicating that a video of a hamburger recipe sent by user PP will be shared, text content is displayed urging user RR, sent by user QQ, to wait for the video to be shared because their terminal 20R is offline.

[0481] FIG. 6-2 shows an example of a talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20P when the terminal 20R goes online after the event in FIG. 6-1. In this example, based on the fact that terminal 20R has come online, a notification is displayed in push format at the top of the screen, by way of example and not limitation, originating from a messaging application (server 10) and including text indicating that user RR has come online (RR is now online). Furthermore, based on this display, in the talk area TR, below the text content urging user PP to wait for the video to be shared because terminal 20R, which originated from user QQ in Figure 6-1, is offline, text content is displayed informing user PP that terminal 20R, which originated from user QQ, has become online.

[0482] When terminal 20R becomes online, the above-mentioned "◯" object lights up. This allows user PP and user QQ to know that terminal 20R has become online. Therefore, the above-mentioned push notification may or may not be displayed.

[0483] Also, unlike the above example, it is possible to display only the push notification without displaying the "◯" object on the user's icon, or it is not necessary to do so.

[0484] In this way, by changing the appearance of the object depending on whether the terminal 20 is online or offline, a user viewing the screen while the talk room is displayed on the display unit 24 can grasp the presence of other users.

[0485] <Processing> FIG. 6C is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed by each device in this embodiment. Here, the left side shows the processing executed by the control unit 21 of terminal 20P as one terminal 20, and the right side shows the processing executed by the control unit 11 of the server 10. Note that the processing executed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 of the user who is the talk partner of terminal 20P is not shown in the figure. This process may be executed in parallel with the talk process of FIG. 4-4 and the live chat process of FIG. 4-7, for example and without limitation.

[0486] First, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether the communication determination condition is met (S4210). The communication determination condition can be, for example and not by way of limitation, that the destination user receives the specified content from any terminal 20 (for example and not by way of limitation, terminal 20P) that is online and has a talk room displayed on the display unit 24. The destination user can be the user you are chatting with in a one-on-one chat, or the group (all users in the group) or users in the group excluding yourself in a group chat.

[0487] If it is determined that the communication determination condition is met (S4210: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs communication determination processing (S4220). Here, a case where content designated by a destination user is received from the terminal 20P is illustrated.

[0488] The control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the content received from the terminal 20P, together with the content ID and time information of the content, to the terminal 20 of the destination user via the communication I / F 14. The control unit 11 also transmits the content ID and time information of the content to the terminal 20P via the communication I / F 14. Then, it determines whether or not a response indicating normal reception (for example, but not limited to, an acknowledgement (ACK)) has been received from each user's terminal 20. If it is determined that the response has been received, it determines that the terminal 20 is online. On the other hand, if it does not receive the response, it determines that the terminal 20 is offline. The same processing can be performed when content is received from an online terminal 20 other than the terminal 20P.

[0489] Note that when the control unit 21 of each terminal 20 changes from background to foreground, or conversely, when the control unit 21 changes from foreground to background, information indicating that (status change information) may be transmitted to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may determine that the terminal 20 is offline if the received information indicates that the terminal 20 has changed to background, and may determine that the terminal 20 is online if the received information indicates that the terminal 20 has changed to foreground.

[0490] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the communication determination result of each terminal 20 to each terminal 20 via the communication I / F 22 (S4230). The control unit 21 of terminal 20P determines whether or not a communication determination result has been received from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (P4210), and if it determines that a communication determination result has been received (P4210: YES), updates the display of the presence-related information displayed on the display unit 24 based on the determination result (P4220). By way of example and not limitation, in the above display screen example, the control unit 21 of terminal 20P controls the lighting / non-lighting of the "circle" object associated with each user's icon in the in-app position display area.

[0491] In the above process, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example and not by way of limitation, transmit talk participation request information to the terminal 20 running a messaging application in the background, the talk participation request information including information indicating that a talk has started and information prompting the user to join the talk. In this case, the terminal 20 that receives the talk participation request information may display the talk participation request information as a push notification on the display unit 24. In this way, a user who confirms the notification can bring the messaging application to the foreground, display the talk room on the display unit 24, and participate in the talk.

[0492] <Effects of the Sixth Embodiment> In this embodiment, a configuration is shown in which a control unit 21 controls a terminal 20 of one user to display information about the presence of a talk room (the presence of users included in the talk room) on a display unit 24. As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, for example and not by way of limitation, the user of the terminal may be informed of whether other users are available to talk in the talk room, thereby enabling the user of the terminal to determine whether it is OK to start playing a video.

[0493] <Sixth Modification (1)> The above embodiment, like the fourth variant example (1) and the fifth variant example (1), can be similarly applied to talks (chat) in various talk rooms (chat rooms), such as one-on-one talk rooms, group talk rooms, open chat rooms, OA talk rooms, and live chat talk rooms.

[0494] By way of example and not limitation, when applied to the live chat described above, even if the main broadcaster has started the live chat, the secondary broadcaster may not yet have accepted participation in the live chat and may be absent. Conversely, if the configuration allows a sub-broadcaster to start a live chat when the main broadcaster is absent, there may be cases where the main broadcaster is absent even if the sub-broadcaster starts a live chat. In such a case, similar to the above embodiment, information regarding the presence of the user in the talk room where the live chat is being held can be displayed.

[0495] In this case, the information about the presence can be displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 using the same method as that explained in the sixth embodiment. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, information regarding the presence of the distributor may be displayed on the distributor's terminal 20. This is because the presence of the viewer is not so important, and the presence of the distributor is rather important.

[0496] In addition, as a non-limiting example, in the live chat processing of Figure 4-7, if there is a terminal 20 of a sub-broadcaster invited to the live chat that has not yet received the live chat participation acceptance information (step Y420 in Figure 4-7), the control unit 11 of the server 10 may determine that the terminal 20 is offline.

[0497] In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, for example and not by way of limitation, send live chat participation request information to the sub-broadcaster's terminal 20 that has not yet received the live chat participation acceptance information (step Y420 in FIG. 4-7). The live chat participation request information includes information indicating that the live chat has already started and information urging the sub-broadcaster to participate in the live chat. In this case, the terminal 20 that receives the live chat participation request information can display the live chat participation request information as a push notification on the display unit 24. In this way, the sub-broadcaster who confirms the notification can participate in the live chat with their messaging application in the foreground.

[0498] The same can be done if the system is configured so that a sub-broadcaster can start a live chat when the main broadcaster is absent.

[0499] <Sixth Modification (2)> If the information about presence described in the above embodiment is not displayed on the terminal 20, it may be difficult to identify an absent user, and a video may be started to be played by one user. Furthermore, even if the information about the presence is displayed on the terminal 20, there may be cases where one user starts playing a video due to time constraints or being unable to wait for an absent user. Then, after the video starts playing, there is a possibility that the absent user will join the conversation.

[0500] Therefore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can, for example and not by way of limitation, execute a video sharing control process (S460 in FIG. 4-4 or FIG. 4-7) for the terminal 20 that has gone online. In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can, by way of example and not limitation, stream the video from the frame corresponding to the current playback time of the shared video, so that the video is played on the terminal 20 from that playback time.

[0501] In this embodiment, a terminal 20 of one user receives video information transmitted by a terminal 20 of another user via the communication I / F 22 and displays a video based on the video information in the talk room. In this case, the video is played from the playback time at which it is being played in the talk room of the terminal 20 of the other user. As an example of the effect of the modified example obtained by such a configuration, and not by way of limitation, even if a user of a terminal joins a chat midway through, the video can be viewed from the playback time being played in the chat room of the first terminal.

[0502] <Sixth Modification (3)> In the above embodiment, when a user operates terminal 20 to share a video via input / output unit 23, information for confirming with the user whether or not to start sharing the video may be displayed on display unit 24 based on the communication determination result of each terminal 20.

[0503] FIG. 6-4 is a diagram showing an example of a talk room displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20P in this modification, and shows a group talk room corresponding to FIG. 6-1. In this example, when user PP performs an operation to share a video, video sharing confirmation information PCR is displayed superimposed on the chat area TR, containing the text "RR is offline. Do you want to start sharing video?", a "Start sharing" button to start sharing video, and a "Cancel" button to stop sharing video. When the "Start sharing" button is tapped, video sharing begins. When the "Cancel" button is tapped, video sharing is stopped.

[0504] As described above, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P can control the lighting / non-lighting of the "circle" object associated with each user's icon in the in-app position display area based on the communication determination result received from the server 10.

[0505] Furthermore, in this modification, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P determines, by way of example and not limitation, whether or not a user has made an input related to video playback via the input / output unit 23. If it is determined that an input has been made, then, based on the latest presence information, by way of example and not limitation, if it is determined that there is at least one user whose terminal 20 is offline, the control unit 21 can display the video sharing confirmation information as described above. This can also be understood as the control unit 21 of the terminal 20P displaying video sharing confirmation information based on the communication determination result.

[0506] <Sixth Modification (4)> In the above embodiment, the presence information is expressed as a two-stage status representation of online and offline, but this is not limiting. For example, the online status may be further subdivided, and detailed statuses such as "away," "available," and "unavailable" may be displayed as characters or marks in association with the icon or user name.

[0507] The above detailed states may be, by way of example and not limitation, settable by the user based on input (user operation, etc.) to the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20, or may be set by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 based on the elapsed time since the last operation, etc.

[0508] The offline state may or may not be further subdivided.

[0509] <Seventh Example> The seventh embodiment is an embodiment in which the contents of the fourth to sixth embodiments are applied to the live chat with a viewer comment function described in the first embodiment as an example and not a limitation.

[0510] The contents described in the seventh embodiment can be applied to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0511] <Display screen example> FIG. 7-1 shows an example in which a viewer area AR is displayed together with a broadcaster area DR in a chat room. On the terminal 20X of the user XX who is the distributor, a viewer area AR and a distributor area DR are displayed, and the video display area MR is displayed superimposed on the distributor area DR.

[0512] In this example, the distributor area DR is provided below the viewer area AR, but this is not limiting, and the viewer area AR may be provided below the distributor area DR in a talk room displayed on the distributor's terminal 20. Also, the video display area MR may be displayed superimposed on the viewer area AR instead of the distributor area DR. In the viewer's terminal 20, the positional relationship between the viewer area AR and the distributor area DR is opposite to that in the distributor's terminal 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the positional relationship between the viewer area AR and the distributor area DR may be the same as that in the distributor's terminal 20.

[0513] As described above, the content input area INR is provided at the bottom of the talk room. While watching a video being played in the distributor area DR, the distributor can input their own comments about the video into the content input area INR, causing text content and the like to be displayed in the distributor area DR according to the playback status of the video. Also, by displaying text content and the like sent by viewers, such as viewers' comments about the video, in the viewer area AR, the distributor can grasp the viewer's reaction according to the playback status of the video. In this way, distributors can enhance the live feeling by presenting new content one after another while monitoring the playback status of the video and the viewer's reaction.

[0514] <Processing> The process in this embodiment can be realized by combining the process of Figure 1-14 and the process of Figure 4-7, so a detailed description will be omitted. Specifically, by way of example and not limitation, the process of Figure 1-14 can be executed in the live chat process of S430 in Figure 4-7.

[0515] In this embodiment, the terminal 20 of one broadcaster uses the control unit 21 to control the display of broadcaster content transmitted and received between the terminal 20 of another broadcaster and the broadcaster's own terminal 20 in the broadcaster area (not limited to this, but an example of the first area) of the talk room. In addition, the terminal 20 of one distributor is configured to control, via the control unit 21, the display of viewer content sent from a viewer (not limited to, but an example of a second user) different from other distributors in a viewer area (not limited to, but an example of a second area) different from the distributor area of ​​the talk room. As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to enable the user of a terminal to view not only the content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal, but also the first content transmitted from the user of the terminal and a second user different from the first user.

[0516] In addition, this embodiment shows a configuration in which, on the distributor's terminal 20, the distributor area (not limited to, but an example of the first area) is displayed below the viewer area (not limited to, but an example of the second area). As an example of an effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, the first area of ​​the chat room in which content sent and received between the user of the terminal and the first user is displayed can be displayed below the second area of ​​the chat room in which the first content sent from the second user is displayed, and by displaying it in a separate area, visibility can be improved.

[0517] In addition, this embodiment shows a configuration in which the distributor (not limited to, an example of a user of a terminal or a first user of a first terminal) is a distributor who distributes distributor content displayed in the distributor area of ​​a talk room (not limited to, an example of a first area), and the viewer (not limited to, an example of a second user) is a viewer who views the content displayed in the distributor area of ​​a talk room. As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, a second user can view content that is distributed by the user of the terminal and the first user and displayed in the first area of ​​the chat room.

[0518] <Seventh Modification (1)> In the above embodiment, as in the second embodiment, after the live chat with the viewer comment function has ended, for example and not by way of limitation, the live chat archive data may be stored in the server 10 based on an operation being performed on the main broadcaster's terminal 20 to save the live chat in an archive.

[0519] In addition to storing the live chat archive data in the server 10, for example and without limitation, the live chat archive data may also be stored in the memory unit 28 of the main broadcaster's terminal 20 in association with information related to the chat room of the live chat in a format similar to the live chat archive data stored in the server 10.

[0520] In addition, it is also possible to similarly archive and save live chats without a viewer comment function.

[0521] In this modified example, the main broadcaster's terminal 20 is configured to use the control unit 21 to associate and store in the server 10 the broadcaster content displayed in the broadcaster area, the viewer content displayed in the viewer area, information about the shared video, and the chat room in which the live chat took place, and store these in the main broadcaster's terminal 20 (this is not a limitation, but an example of a process of associating and storing the content displayed in the first area, the content displayed in the second area, the first video information, and the chat room). As an example of the effect of this modified example obtained by such a configuration, by performing a process of storing the content displayed in the first area, the content displayed in the second area, the first video information, and the chat room in association with each other, the content of the chat that took place in the chat room (including the content of the video played in the chat room) can be saved and the user can view it later.

[0522] <Eighth Example> The eighth embodiment is an embodiment relating to picking up a viewer content displayed in the viewer content area.

[0523] The contents described in the eighth embodiment can be applied to any of the other embodiments and other modified examples. Furthermore, the same components as those already mentioned are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0524] <Display screen> 8-1 is a diagram showing an example of a live chat screen displayed on the broadcaster's terminal 20X. In this example, a viewer area AR is configured at the top of the screen so as to be superimposed on the broadcaster area DR. Among the viewer contents displayed in the viewer area AR, for example and not by way of limitation, the viewer content "I want to eat a balanced diet of vegetables and meat. Is there a good way to do this?" sent by user EE at "14:32" is tapped by user XX via the input / output unit 23 of terminal 20X, and an operation is performed to move it down to the distributor area DR. Based on this, a picked viewer content that picked up the viewer content is displayed in the distributor area DR. In this example, the display of the viewer content of user EE is also erased from the viewer area AR. In this example, the display mode of the picked viewer content displayed in the distributor area DR is different from the display mode of the viewer content that was displayed in the viewer area AR that is the source of the picked viewer content.

[0525] FIG. 8-2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen following FIG. 8-1. 8-1, the picked viewer content displayed in the distributor area is tapped by the user XX via the input / output unit 23 and then pulled up to the viewer area AR, and based on this, the viewer content of the user EE, which is the source of the picked viewer content, is displayed in its original position in the viewer area AR. In this example, the display of the picked viewer content is accordingly erased from the distributor area DR.

[0526] In this example of the display screen, the viewer content is erased from the viewer area AR when it is picked up, but it may be displayed as is without being erased. Similarly, in this example of the display screen, the picked viewer content is erased from the distributor area DR when the display screen is restored, but it may be displayed as is without being erased.

[0527] Furthermore, when picking up, the viewer content may be displayed in the viewer area AR in a display mode such as grayed out, and when returning to the original state, the display mode of the viewer content may be restored, or may not be so.

[0528] <Processing> In the process of this embodiment, for example and not by way of limitation, in the process of FIG. 1-14 executed in the process of FIG. 1-13 or FIG. 4-7, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X determines, after step X1150, via the input / output unit 23, whether one of the viewer contents displayed in the viewer content area is selected, and, for example and not by way of limitation, an operation to move the selected viewer content to the distributor area is performed. If it is determined that an operation has been performed, for example and not by way of limitation, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20X transmits identification information (such as a viewer content ID) of the selected viewer content to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22.

[0529] After step S1150, when the identification information of the viewer content is received from terminal 20X via communication I / F 14, control unit 11 of server 10 generates a pick-up viewer content for displaying the viewer content identified by the identification information in the distributor area in the set format. Then, control unit 11 of server 10 transmits the identification information of the viewer content and the generated pick-up viewer content to terminal 20X of the main distributor, terminal 20 of the sub-distributor, and terminal 20A of the viewer, respectively.

[0530] The terminal 20 that has received the pick-up viewer content displays the received pick-up viewer content below the latest distributor content displayed in the distributor area. Furthermore, if the viewer content identified by the received identification information is displayed in the viewer content, the terminal 20 hides it and closes up the lines of the viewer content.

[0531] Conversely, when a picked-up viewer content is selected on terminal 20X and, for example but not limited to, an operation to move it to the viewer area is performed, the picked-up viewer content can be returned to its original position in the viewer area.

[0532] When the picked-up viewer content is displayed in the distributor area, the original viewer content may be displayed as is without being deleted from the viewer area. In this case, the viewer content that is the source of the picked content to be displayed in the viewer area as is may be displayed in a display mode different from that of viewer content that is not picked up. Specifically, the viewer content that is the source of the picked viewer content may be displayed in the viewer area with a set color as a shade, the color of the text of the viewer content may be different from that of other viewer content, or a mark indicating that the viewer content has been picked up may be displayed. As a non-limiting example, the viewer content that is the source of the picked viewer content may be fixed and displayed in the top row of the rows that make up the viewer area.

[0533] The above processing may or may not be performed on the terminal 20 of the sub-distributor.

[0534] <Effects of the Eighth Embodiment> In this embodiment, the distributor's terminal 20 is configured to use the control unit 21 to control the display of a pick-up viewer content (not limited, second content based on the first content) in the distributor area (not limited, an example of the first area) based on the distributor's input regarding viewer content (not limited, an example of the first content) displayed in the viewer area (not limited, an example of the second area). As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it becomes possible to pick up a first content displayed in the second area and display it in the first area as a second content.

[0535] In this case, the distributor's terminal 20 is configured to use the control unit 21 to control the display of the viewer content that is the source of the picked viewer content in the viewer area based on the distributor's input regarding the picked viewer content. As an example of an effect of the embodiment obtained by such a configuration, it is possible to return the first content, which is the source of the second content that has been picked up and displayed in the first area, to the second area.

[0536] In this case, the distributor's terminal 20 can be configured to use the control unit 21 to control the display of the viewer content that is the source of the picked viewer content in a different display mode from the other viewer content displayed in the viewer area. As an example of the effect of an embodiment obtained by such a configuration, when a pick-up viewer content is displayed based on input from a distributor regarding viewer content displayed in the viewer area, the control unit 21 can control the display of the original viewer content and other viewer content displayed in the viewer area in different display modes.

[0537] The contents described in this embodiment can also be applied to a live chat with a viewer comment function in which advertisements (advertising content) are output.

[0538] <Other Examples / Others> In the first to third examples, live chat is used as an example in which content sent and received between a first user and a second user is displayed in a first area of ​​a chat room, and first content entered by a third user different from the first and second users is displayed in a second area different from the first area, but this is not limiting.

[0539] For example, and not by way of limitation, in the case of the open chat described above, the chat area of ​​the open chat room in which the open chat is conducted may be split into a first area and a second area. Then, for example, and not by way of limitation, content sent and received between the administrator of the open chat (first user) and a user designated by the administrator (second user) may be displayed in a speech bubble in the first area (for example, and not by way of limitation, the upper area), while content entered and sent by other users (third users) may be displayed in a speech bubble in the second area (for example, and not by way of limitation, the lower area).

[0540] In addition, in the first embodiment, advertisements are displayed in the distributor area, but this is not limiting. As a non-limiting example, an advertisement display area for displaying advertisements may be configured similarly to the video display area described in the fourth to eighth embodiments, and advertisements may be displayed in this advertisement display area.

[0541] Furthermore, the content relating to advertisement output explained in the first to third embodiments and the content relating to video display explained in the fourth to eighth embodiments can be applied in combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0542] 1. Communication Systems 10 Servers 20 terminals 30 Network

Claims

1. A program executed by a terminal communicating with a first terminal, a control unit of the terminal to control a display unit of the terminal to display a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and a user of the terminal; controlling, by the control unit, displaying content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room; The terminal transmits first video information to the first terminal based on an input by the user to the terminal, and controls the control unit to play a first video based on the first video information in the chat room; the first video is played in the chat room between at least the terminal and the first terminal based on a first input by the user regarding playback of the video; The content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal is displayed in a first area of ​​the chat room; controlling, by the control unit, to display first content transmitted from a second user different from both the user and the first user in a second area different from the first area of ​​the chat room; The terminal controls the control unit to display second content based on the first content in the first area based on the user's input regarding the first content displayed in the second area.

2. 2. The program according to claim 1, The first area is displayed below the second area.

3. 3. The program according to claim 1 or 2, The terminal controls the control unit to display the first content in the second area based on the user's input for the second content.

4. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, When the second content is displayed based on the user's input regarding the first content displayed in the second area, the control unit is controlled by the terminal to display the first content and the content displayed in the second area in different display modes.

5. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The terminal executes a process of associating and storing the content displayed in the first area, the content displayed in the second area, the first video information, and the chat room using the control unit.

6. 6. The program according to claim 1, the user and the first user are distributors who distribute content displayed in the first area, The second user is a viewer who views the content displayed in the first area.

7. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The terminal controls the position of the first video in the chat room using the control unit based on an input by the user to the first video.

8. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the first moving image is displayed in the first area; Based on a second input by the user to the chat room, the control unit controls moving the position of the content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room, and controls not to move the position of the first video displayed in the first area.

9. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 8, When third content is transmitted from the terminal while the first video is being played, the terminal executes control such that the control unit displays the third content in the chat room, the third content including the playback time of the first video at the time the third content was transmitted.

10. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The terminal controls the control unit to display information about the presence of the chat room on the display unit.

11. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 10, receiving second video information transmitted by the first terminal by a communication unit of the terminal; and displaying a second video based on the second video information in the chat room, the second video being executed by the terminal; The second video is played in the chat room of the first terminal from the playback time at which it is being played in the chat room of the first terminal.

12. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The terminal executes, by the control unit, a process of storing the first video information and the chat room in association with each other, based on an input to the terminal by the user.

13. An information processing method for a terminal communicating with a first terminal, comprising: a control unit of the terminal to control a display unit of the terminal to display a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and a user of the terminal; controlling, by the control unit, displaying content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room; transmitting first video information to the first terminal based on an input to the terminal by the user, and controlling the control unit to play a first video based on the first video information in the chat room; the first video is played in the chat room between at least the terminal and the first terminal based on a first input by the user regarding playback of the video; The content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal is displayed in a first area of ​​the chat room; controlling, by the control unit, to display first content transmitted from a second user different from both the user and the first user in a second area different from the first area of ​​the chat room; The method includes controlling, by the control unit, to display, in the first area, a second content based on the first content, based on an input from the user regarding the first content displayed in the second area.

14. A terminal that communicates with a first terminal, A processor that reads a program stored in a memory and executes processing based on the program, The processor: performing control to display a chat room including a first user of the first terminal and a user of the terminal on a display unit of the terminal; Controlling the display of content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal in the chat room; transmits first video information to the first terminal based on an input by the user to the terminal, and controls playback of a first video based on the first video information in the chat room; the first video is played in the chat room between at least the terminal and the first terminal based on a first input by the user regarding playback of the video; The content transmitted and received between the first terminal and the terminal is displayed in a first area of ​​the chat room; The processor: performing control to display first content transmitted from a second user different from both the user and the first user in a second area different from the first area of ​​the chat room; Based on the user's input regarding the first content displayed in the second area, control is executed to display, in the first area, a second content based on the first content.

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