Message delivery system

Abstract

To provide a messaging system and a program makes more proper a profile photo of a message-transmission-source user as compared with a case in which the profile photo is used without variation.SOLUTION: A chat service server comprises: a profile photo DB 145 which stores a plurality of mutually different profile photos of users; and a profile photo controller 143. The profile photo controller 143 is configured to: select a profile photo from among the multiple profile photos as a profile photo of a message-transmission-source user based upon user information on a message-transmission-destination user according to a rule; and display the selected profile photo to the message-transmission-destination user when the message-transmission-source user transmits a message.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a message providing system and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an information processing system capable of controlling its own name to be disclosed to a user according to the relationship with other users. This information processing system is an information processing system including a user management server and a plurality of client devices used by any of a plurality of users. The user management server includes a user information storage unit that stores, for each of the plurality of users, an identification name that uniquely identifies the user, a restricted disclosure name registered by the user, and information specifying a disclosure target user who permits the disclosure of the restricted disclosure name among the plurality of users, in association with each other. Each of the plurality of client devices includes an application execution unit that executes an application program, and a user information request unit that transmits a request for acquisition of name information of a request target user, including information specifying a requesting user who uses the client device, to the user management server in response to an instruction from the application execution unit. The user management server further includes a user information request reception unit that receives the acquisition request of the name information by the client device, and a user information transmission unit that transmits the restricted disclosure name of the request target user as a reply to the acquisition request when the requesting user is registered as a disclosure target user for the request target user. The application execution unit displays the name information of the request target user on a display screen according to the transmission content of the user information transmission unit.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a device that makes it less likely for problems to arise regarding sender information when sending a message. This device is a terminal device that makes messages sent from multiple users viewable on a display unit, and comprises a setting unit that sets multiple profile information corresponding to different sender information for the same user, a management unit that manages multiple users who are recipients of messages in association with each of the different sender information, a transmission unit that sends a message to some or all of the multiple users corresponding to the sender information, attaching the associated sender information from among the different sender information, and a display control unit that displays the message on a display unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6348622 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5903011 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] While there are known technologies that switch the profile information settings of the message sender depending on the recipient from a privacy protection standpoint, the profile picture of the message sender does not change.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a technology that makes the profile picture of the user sending the message more appropriate compared to the case where a uniform profile picture is used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention comprises a storage means for storing a plurality of different profile pictures of a user, and a processor, wherein the processor, by executing a program, selects one of the plurality of profile pictures as the profile picture of the message-sending user according to the user information of the message-receiving user and the content of the message, and displays the selected profile picture to the message-receiving user when the message-sending user sends the message. Furthermore, when the processor selects and switches one of the multiple profile pictures, it sends a message to the user who sent the message asking for confirmation of the profile picture to be displayed to the recipient. It is a message delivery system.

[0008] The second aspect is, The user information includes the user's affiliation information, and the processor selects one of the multiple profile pictures according to the differences in affiliations between the user who sent the message and the user who received the message, and the content of the message. This is a message provision system relating to the first aspect.

[0009] The third aspect is, The user information includes the number of times the user has sent messages, and the processor selects one of the multiple profile pictures according to the number of messages sent and the content of the messages. This is a message delivery system relating to the manner of [the specified method].

[0010] The fourth aspect is, The user information includes the user's message contact period, and the processor selects one of the multiple profile pictures according to the length of the message contact period and the content of the message. This is a message delivery system relating to the manner of [the specified method].

[0012] The 5 The embodiment is a message delivery system according to the first to fourth embodiments, wherein the processor provides the user who sent the message with a screen indicating which of the multiple profile pictures will be displayed for each user to whom the message is sent.

[0013] The 6 The embodiment is a message delivery system according to the first to fourth embodiments, wherein the processor provides the message sender with a screen indicating which message recipients will see each of the multiple profile pictures.

[0014] The 7The embodiment comprises a storage means for storing a plurality of different profile pictures of a user, and a processor, wherein the processor, by executing a program, selects one of the plurality of profile pictures as the profile picture of the message-sending user according to the user information of the message-receiving user, displays the selected profile picture to the message-receiving user when the message-sending user sends a message, and further, the processor selects one of the plurality of profile pictures Switch This is a message delivery system that, in the event of a message being sent, sends a message to the user who sent the message asking them to confirm the profile picture to be displayed to the recipient.

[0015] The 8 The embodiment of the message delivery system comprises a storage means for storing multiple different profile pictures of a user, and a processor, wherein the processor, by executing a program, selects one of the multiple profile pictures as the profile picture of the message-sending user according to the length of the message contact period of the message-receiving user, the message contact period being the period from the start date to the present, with the start date being the date on which the message-receiving user and the message-sending user first contacted each other, and the message-sending user displays the selected profile picture to the message-receiving user when sending a message. The 9 The embodiment is such that the processor provides the user who sent the message with a screen indicating which of the multiple profile pictures will be displayed for each user to whom the message is sent. 8 This is a message delivery system relating to the manner of [the specified method]. The 10 The embodiment is such that the processor provides the message sender with a screen indicating which message recipients will see each of the multiple profile pictures. 8 This is a message delivery system relating to the manner of [the specified method]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] 1 According to the aspect, the profile photo of the user who is the message sender can be made more appropriate as compared with the case where the profile photos are made uniform. Depending on the content of the message In other words, you can select a profile picture by supplementing or fine-tuning predetermined rules depending on the content of the message.

[0017] According to the second to 4th

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[0019] According to the aspect from the fifth to the 8 9 10

[0020] [Figure 1] According to the aspect from the [Figure 2] ~to the [Figure 3] [Figure 4] [Figure 5] [Figure 6] [[ID=4〕 [Figure 7] [Figure 8] [Figure 9] [Figure 10] [Figure 11] [Figure 12] <000!27> [Figure 14] [Figure 15]

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[0056] <00002 [Figure 8] This is a diagram illustrating the rules of the embodiment (part 2). [Figure 9] This is a diagram illustrating the rules for implementing the system of respect and appreciation. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram for setting the profile picture in the embodiment. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram of the automatic profile picture switching embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a diagram (part 1) illustrating the user terminal screen of the embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a diagram (part 2) illustrating the user terminal screen of the embodiment. [Figure 14] This is a diagram (part 3) illustrating the user terminal screen of the embodiment. [Figure 15] This is a processing flowchart of the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings, using a messaging service in which users exchange messages in a chat room as an example.

[0022] <Overall System Configuration> Figure 1 shows the overall configuration diagram of the message delivery system that executes the message service in the embodiment. The message delivery system comprises user terminals A (10A) to D (10D) and a chat service server 14 on the cloud 12.

[0023] User terminals A (10A) to D (10D) are terminals used by users of the messaging service, and are information terminals such as smartphones, tablet devices, and PCs (personal computers). Figure 1 shows four terminals: User Terminal A (10A), User Terminal B (10B), User Terminal C (10C), and User Terminal D (10D), but the number is arbitrary. Users operate User Terminals A (10A) to D (10D) to access the chat service server 14 on the cloud 12 and exchange messages with other users. In the following, it will be assumed that User A operates User Terminal A, User B operates User Terminal B, User C operates User Terminal C, and User D operates User Terminal D. User Terminals A (10A) to D (10D) and the chat service server 14 are connected via a wired or wireless communication network to enable data transmission and reception. An example of a communication network is a public line such as the internet, but a dedicated line may also be used.

[0024] The chat service server 14 is a cloud server located on the cloud 12 and is a server that provides chat services. The chat service server 14 consists of one or more server computers. The chat service server 14 performs all processing related to message exchange, including sending and receiving messages to user terminals A to D, and displaying message exchange screens. In addition to processing message exchanges between two users, the chat service server 14 can form a group of three or more users and process message exchanges within that group (group chat).

[0025] <Chat service server configuration> Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the chat service server 14. The chat service server 14 comprises, as functional blocks, a communication unit 141, a message processing unit 142, a profile picture control unit 143, a user information DB (database) 144, a profile picture DB (database) 145, a rule DB (database) 146, and a message storage unit 147.

[0026] The communication unit 141 communicates with user terminals 10A to 10D. The communication unit 141 outputs messages received from user terminals 10A to 10D to the message processing unit 142. The communication unit 141 also transmits messages from the message processing unit 142 to user terminals 10A to 10D.

[0027] The message processing unit 142 receives a message from the communication unit 141 and identifies the sender and recipient users of the message. The message processing unit 142 outputs the identified sender and recipient users to the profile picture control unit 143. The message processing unit 142 also stores the received message in the message storage unit 147. The message processing unit 142 transmits the received message to the recipient user via the communication unit 141.

[0028] The profile picture control unit 143 controls the switching of the message sender's profile picture based on the user information of the identified recipient user of the message. In other words, when the message processing unit 142 sends a message to the recipient user, the profile picture control unit 143 attaches the message sender's profile picture to the message. However, instead of using a pre-set, fixed profile picture, the profile picture attached to the message sender is dynamically switched according to the recipient user information.

[0029] The user information database 144 stores information about users who use the chat service server 14 as a table. User information includes, for example, user ID, user name, and user affiliation. The profile picture control unit 143 accesses the user information database 144, retrieves the user information for each user stored therein, and controls the switching of profile pictures.

[0030] The profile picture DB 145 stores each user's profile picture. Each user may have one or more profile pictures. If there is only one profile picture, no switching control is performed. If there are multiple profile pictures, the profile picture control unit 143 performs switching control by adaptively selecting one of the multiple profile pictures according to the user information of the message recipient user.

[0031] The rule database 146 stores the rules used by the profile picture control unit 143 to switch profile pictures. The profile picture control unit 143 selects a profile picture according to the user information of the message recipient, based on the rules stored in the rule database 146. The rules are pre-configured, but users can also set them individually.

[0032] The message storage unit 147 sequentially stores the received messages.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the chat service server 14. The chat service server 14 consists of one or more server computers and includes one or more CPUs 14b, ROM 14c, RAM 14d, communication interface (I / F) 14e, input / output I / F 14f, and storage device 14g.

[0034] One or more CPUs 14b read programs stored in ROM 14c or storage device 14g and use RAM 14d as working memory to realize the functions of the chat service. The CPUs 14b implement the message processing unit 142 and the profile picture control unit 143 shown in Figure 2.

[0035] Communication I / F14e handles message exchange with user terminals 10A to 10D.

[0036] The Input / Output I / F14f transmits and receives data to and from input devices such as keyboards and mice, and output devices such as display devices.

[0037] The storage device 14g is composed of non-volatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive). In addition to storing programs, the storage device 14g stores a user information table, a profile picture table, a rule table, and a message management table. The storage device 14g implements the user information DB 144, profile picture DB 145, rule DB 146, and message storage unit 147 shown in Figure 2 as storage means.

[0038] The term "processor" in this embodiment refers to a broad type of processor, including general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU Central Processing Units) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU Graphics Processing Units, ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuits, FPGA Field Programmable Gate Arrays, programmable logic devices, etc.).

[0039] Furthermore, the operation of the processor may not be performed solely by a single processor, but may also be performed collaboratively by multiple processors located in physically separate locations. The order of each processor operation may also be changed as appropriate.

[0040] Figure 4 shows an example of a user information table stored in the user information DB144. In the user information table, the user ID, user information, and profile picture ID are related to each other. For example, user A's user ID is "10000", user information is "name, company name, department name", and profile picture ID is "20000", etc. The actual profile picture is stored in the profile picture DB145 along with the profile picture ID. In addition, the user information DB144 stores a correspondence table of the profile picture IDs of the message sender user for each message recipient user, which is adaptively determined by rules as described later.

[0041] Figure 5 shows an example of multiple profile pictures 20 for user A. As for user A's profile pictures 20, "Default" "Profile Picture 1" "Profile picture 2" There are three profile pictures (20 in total).

[0042] These profile pictures 20 are stored in the profile picture DB 145 when user A operates user terminal 10A and sends (uploads) them to the chat service server 14. In this example, "Default": General photo "Profile Picture 1": A more formal photo "Profile Picture 2": A more casual photo However, this is not the only definition. "Profile pictures" can include not only photographs taken with a camera, but also images created using computer graphics (CG).

[0043] The reason for providing multiple profile pictures is to allow users to switch between them according to the user information of the recipient, thereby adapting to the relationship between the message sender and the recipient and facilitating and promoting smooth communication between them.

[0044] In other words, it is inappropriate for a user's terminal operated by someone outside the company with whom they have never interacted to uniformly display a private, casual photo as their profile picture. Conversely, it is also inappropriate for a user's terminal operated by a close business partner to uniformly display a formal, stiff-looking photo as their profile picture. Both situations would hinder smooth communication. Multiple profile pictures 20 are prepared from this perspective. Of course, since all of the multiple profile pictures 20 are User A's profile pictures, it is necessary that the recipient of the message can see these photos and identify them as User A.

[0045] Figure 6 schematically shows the switching control in the profile picture control unit 143 when sending a message from user terminal 10A operated by user A to user terminals 10B, 10C, and 10D operated by users B, C, and D, respectively.

[0046] User terminal 10A sends a message to chat service server 14. Profile picture control unit 143 checks the user information of the recipient user of the message and selects one of user A's multiple profile pictures 20 according to the rules and provides it to the recipient user. For example, as shown in Figure 6, For user terminal 10B operated by user B: default For user terminal 10C operated by user C: Profile picture 1 For user terminal 10D operated by user D: Profile picture 2 As shown above, please note that even though the message sender is the same user (User A), User A's profile picture differs depending on the recipient user. This means that User A's profile picture is not fixed but changes dynamically depending on the relationship between User A and User B, User A and User C, and User A and User C.

[0047] The profile picture control unit 143 may select the profile pictures to be provided to each user terminal 10B, 10C, and 10D when it receives a message from user terminal 10A, or it may receive a profile picture acquisition request from each user terminal 10B, 10C, and 10D to which it is sending the message, and select the profile pictures to be provided to each user terminal 10B, 10C, and 10D in response to this profile picture acquisition request.

[0048] For example, taking user terminal 10B as an example, the processing flow is as follows: (1) Receive a message from user terminal 10A (2) Identifying User B as the recipient of the message in question. (3) Send a message to user terminal 10B (4) Receipt of a request to obtain a profile picture from user terminal 10B (5) Obtain user information for user B from user information DB144 (6) Retrieve the rules from Rule DB146 (7) Select one of the 20 profile pictures according to the rules. (8) The photo ID of the selected profile picture is associated with the user ID of user B and stored in the user information DB144 as a correspondence table. (9) Send the selected profile picture to user terminal 10B The profile picture control unit 143 performs these processes for each message recipient user according to the program.

[0049] <Profile Picture Selection Rules> Next, we will explain the rules used for profile picture switching control performed by the profile picture control unit 143.

[0050] Figure 7 shows an example of a rule table stored in Rule DB146. A rule consists of an "item," a "condition," and a "profile picture."

[0051] The "Item" includes "Company," "Department," and "Number of Contacts." "Company" and "Department" refer to the company and department to which the user belongs. "Number of Contacts" is the number of times messages are sent and received between users, specifically between a particular sending user and a particular receiving user. If users are treated as nodes and connected by links, the number of contacts can be counted per link. Specifically, Link between User A and User B: 1 Links between User A and User C: 2 Links between User A and User D: 0 And so on. The number of contacts is also stored in the user information DB144.

[0052] The "conditions" are set for each item, and for "company" and "department," they are "same" and "different," respectively. For "number of contacts," they are "above the threshold" and "below the threshold."

[0053] The "profile picture" is set to one of three options—"default," "photo (profile picture) 1," or "photo (profile picture) 2"—depending on the "conditions" for each "company" and "department." Specifically, If the company is the same: Profile picture 1 If the companies are different: default If the departments are the same: Profile picture 2 If the departments are different: default If the number of contacts exceeds the threshold: Profile picture 2 If the number of contacts is below the threshold: Default That is the case.

[0054] Therefore, taking the example of sending a message from user terminal 10A operated by user A to user terminal 10B operated by user B, if user A and user B work for the same company, user terminal 10B will be set to "Profile Picture 1" as user A's profile picture. Also, if the number of times user A and user B have contacted each other exceeds a threshold (for example, 10 times), user terminal 10B will be set to "Profile Picture 2" as user A's profile picture.

[0055] These rules can be used selectively or in combination. When used in combination, the relationship between User A and User B may fall under multiple rules shown in Figure 7. For example, if User A and User B work for the same company and the number of contacts is below a threshold, this could be the case.

[0056] To address such situations, a priority order may be set between the rules. The priority order is arbitrary, but for example, if the priority order is Company < Department < Number of Contacts, then if User A and User B work for the same company and the number of contacts is below the threshold, the default will be set as User A's profile picture. Also, if User A and User B work for the same company but in different departments, the default will be set as User A's profile picture. The priority order may be predetermined by the chat service server 14, or User A may individually set the priority order by operating the user terminal 10A.

[0057] Figure 8 schematically illustrates the rule-based control of switching profile pictures. This example uses "Company" and "Number of Contacts" as "Items."

[0058] If User A and User B work for the same company, "Profile Picture 1" will be selected as User A's profile picture and displayed on User Terminal 10B.

[0059] Additionally, if User A and User B have contacted each other 10 or more times, "Profile Picture 2" will be selected as User A's profile picture and displayed on User Terminal 10B.

[0060] In all other cases, i.e., if the companies are different and the number of contacts is less than 10, the "default" image will be displayed as User A's profile picture.

[0061] Although not shown in the diagram, if User A and User B work for the same company and have contacted each other 10 or more times, "Profile Picture 2" will be selected as User A's profile picture according to priority and displayed on User Terminal 10B.

[0062] The rules are predetermined by the chat service server 14, and can also be set individually by users of the chat service. Next, we will explain the case where user A, the message sender, sets the rules individually.

[0063] Figure 9 shows an example of the rule setting screen displayed on user terminal 10A operated by user A. The operation screens transition sequentially from Figure 9(a) to Figure 9(b), and then to Figure 9(c).

[0064] Figure 9(a) shows the initial state of the rule setting screen, where the user terminal 10A displays screen 24 for setting "items" and "conditions," and screen 26 for other cases. Screen 24 displays the profile picture to be set by the set rule. Specifically, if the rule is set for "Profile Picture 1," "Profile Picture 1" will be displayed. On the other hand, screen 26 displays "Default" as the profile picture for other cases.

[0065] When User A sets the "items" and "conditions," they operate the "Select Item" menu. The screen then transitions to Figure 9(b), and the "Item" dropdown menu is displayed.

[0066] Figure 9(b) shows the "Item" dropdown menu, with "Company," "Department," and "Number of Contacts" displayed as options. User A can select their desired item from these options.

[0067] When User A selects "Company," the screen transitions to Figure 9(c), and a "Select Conditions" dropdown menu for the selected item is displayed.

[0068] Figure 9(c) shows the "Condition" dropdown menu, with "Same" and "Different" displayed as options. User A can select the desired condition from these options.

[0069] If user A selects "same," one rule is set. In this case, If the company is the same: Profile picture 1 This is the rule. The set rule is stored in rule DB146 along with the user ID of user A who set the rule.

[0070] Similarly, with profile picture 2 displayed on screen 24, select "Category" from "Items" and "Same" from "Conditions," If the departments are the same: Profile picture 2 The following rule is established.

[0071] Figure 9 illustrates the case where User A sets the rules, but User A can also set rules individually for each user to whom they send messages. Specifically, User A selects and sets the profile picture to be displayed for each user to whom they send messages.

[0072] Figure 10 shows another example of the rule setting screen displayed on user terminal 10A operated by user A. The operation screen transitions from Figure 10(a) to Figure 10(b).

[0073] Figure 10(a) shows the initial state, displaying a list of users who will be using the chat service. User A, the sender of the message, selects a user from this list to set their profile picture. In the figure, "User A" and "User B" are selected and have checkmarks, but for convenience, "User A" is a different user from User A.

[0074] Figure 10(b) shows the screen after the transition, where the user selects their own profile picture for the selected user. In Figure 10(a), user B is selected, so a profile picture is selected for user B. For example, if user B is a user that user A is contacting for the first time, the default profile picture would be preferable, so the default is selected. In the figure, the default is checked. Through the above operations, User B: Default The rule is set. The set rule is stored in rule DB146 along with the user ID of user A who set the rule.

[0075] In this way, the profile picture of the message sender is switched according to the set rules and displayed on the message recipient's terminal. However, even if the combination of the message sender and message recipient remains the same, the profile picture may change. Specifically, this can happen if the message recipient's company or department changes due to a job change or transfer, or if the number of contacts increases and reaches a threshold from below.

[0076] Figure 11 shows a state where, as a result of selecting a profile picture according to the rules, the profile picture switches to a different profile picture at a certain point in time. For example, when user A sends a message to user B, at a certain point user terminal 10B displays user A's "default" profile picture, but at another point (for example, because the number of contacts reaches 10), user terminal 10B will display user A's "profile picture 2".

[0077] In this case, for user B, user A's profile picture switches from "default" to "profile picture 2," and a more casual profile picture is displayed depending on the frequency of contact, which increases familiarity with user A and makes communication smoother. However, for user A, it is undesirable that they do not know which of their multiple profile pictures is being displayed to user B.

[0078] Therefore, when the profile picture control unit 143 controls the switching of profile pictures according to the rules, it inquires with the message sender user about switching the profile picture. That is, when user A sends a message to user B and the number of contacts increases from 9 to 10, the profile picture control unit 143 decides to switch user A's profile picture from "default" to "profile picture 2" according to the rules, and sends an inquiry message to the user terminal 10A via the communication unit 141. The inquiry message is, for example, "Do you want to change your profile picture to profile picture 2?" And so on.

[0079] Figure 12 shows an example of an inquiry message displayed on user terminal 10A. The profile picture before and after the switch, i.e., the "default" before the switch and the "profile picture 2" after the switch, are displayed on screen 28, and the user to whom the message is sent is displayed as the target user on screen 30. In addition, screen 32 is displayed with a message that the profile picture will be changed according to the rule, and a message asking whether or not to change the profile picture. Along with the inquiry message, "Do not change" "Change" Button 34 is also displayed.

[0080] By checking such a message, User A can easily recognize that their profile picture displayed to the recipient of the message will switch from "default" to "profile picture 2".

[0081] In this embodiment, the profile picture of the message-sending user is switched according to the user information of the message recipient, and the profile picture may differ for each message recipient. Therefore, it is desirable for the message-sending user to be able to easily recognize which profile picture is selected and displayed for each message recipient.

[0082] Figure 13 shows a list of profile pictures for each recipient user displayed on the user terminal 10A, the user who sent the message. For each recipient user, one of the currently set profile pictures, "Default," "Profile Picture 1," or "Profile Picture 2," is displayed according to the rules. For example, for "User B," if "Default" is set because they work for a different company, then "Default" will be displayed for "User B." Similarly, for "User C," if "Profile Picture 2" is set because they have been in contact 12 times, then "Profile Picture 2" will be displayed for "User C."

[0083] When displaying the screen shown in Figure 13, the profile picture control unit 143 refers to the correspondence table between user IDs and profile picture IDs stored in the user information DB 144, detects which user has which profile picture set, and provides this information to the user terminal 10A.

[0084] Figure 14 shows the list of message recipients for each profile picture, displayed on the user terminal 10A, which is the message sender. "User A" "User B" "User C" "User D" "User E" The list is displayed, and the users who have "Profile Picture 1" set are listed as "User F" "User G" The list is displayed, and the users who have "Profile Picture 2" set are shown. "User H" "User I" The list will be displayed.

[0085] When displaying the screen shown in Figure 14, the profile picture control unit 143, as in the case of Figure 13, refers to the correspondence table between user IDs and profile picture IDs stored in the user information DB 144, detects which user has which profile picture set, and provides it to the user terminal 10A.

[0086] Figure 13 makes it easy to recognize which profile picture is set based on the user, and Figure 14 makes it easy to recognize which user is set based on the profile picture. The screens in Figure 13 and Figure 14 can be selectively switched between and displayed.

[0087] Figure 15 shows the processing flowchart of this embodiment. It shows the processing of the CPU 14b of the chat service server 14 when user A sends a message to user B.

[0088] When CPU 14b receives a message from user terminal 10A, it identifies user B, the recipient of the message, and sends the message to user terminal 10B. At the same time, CPU 14b receives a request from user terminal 10B to retrieve user A's profile picture (S101).

[0089] When CPU 14b receives a request from user A to retrieve a profile picture, it accesses user information DB 144 to determine whether user A has set a fixed profile picture (S102). If user A has set a fixed profile picture (YES in S102), CPU 14b reads the pre-set fixed profile picture from profile picture DB 145 without referring to any rules and sends it back to user terminal 10B (S105). This process takes into account that user A may not necessarily want their profile picture to be automatically switched.

[0090] If user A has not set a fixed profile picture (NO in S102), CPU 14b accesses rule DB 146 to determine whether a rule for switching is set (S103). If no rule is set (NO in S103), CPU 14b selects "default" from user A's multiple profile pictures, reads it from profile picture DB 145, and sends it back to user terminal 10B (S106).

[0091] If a switching rule is set (YES in S103), CPU 14b accesses the rule DB 146 and determines whether a matching rule exists based on user B's user information (S104). Note that the switching rule includes both rules set in advance on the chat service server 14 side and rules set individually by user A. If no matching rule exists based on the user information (NO in S104, for example, corresponding to "Other" in Figure 8), CPU 14b selects "Default" from user A's multiple profile pictures, reads it from the profile picture DB 145, and sends it back to user terminal 10B (S106).

[0092] On the other hand, if a matching rule exists (YES in S104), CPU 14b selects the profile picture of user A set by that rule, reads it from the profile picture DB 145, and sends it back to user terminal 10B (S107).

[0093] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible. Modifications will be described below.

[0094] <Example 1> In this embodiment, the profile picture is switched according to the number of times the user has contacted the system, but instead of this, or in conjunction with this, the profile picture may be switched according to the duration of the user's contact, also as part of the user information. Here, "duration of contact" means the period from the start date to the present, with the start date being the day the users first contacted each other (including both the day one person sent a message and the day both people sent messages). A rule using the duration of contact could be, for example, depending on the length of the duration of contact: Contact period is below the threshold: Profile picture 2 Contact period exceeds threshold: Profile picture 1 For example, the rules could be a combination of the number of contacts and the contact period. Contact period is less than the threshold, but the number of contacts is greater than or equal to the threshold: Profile picture 2 Contact period exceeds threshold and number of contacts exceeds threshold: Profile picture 1 Contact period exceeds the threshold, and the number of contacts is less than the threshold: Default And so on.

[0095] <Modification 2> In this embodiment, the profile picture of the message sender is switched according to the user information of the message recipient user, i.e., the message receiver user. However, in addition to user information, the profile picture may also be switched according to the message content of the message.

[0096] Specifically, when user A sends a message to user B, if the number of contacts is 9 and has not yet reached the threshold, "default" will be selected according to the rules described above. However, if the content of the message is parsed and determined to be of a casual type, then "profile picture 2" will be selected, taking the message content into consideration, even if the number of contacts is below the threshold. For example, if the message "How about we have lunch together?" For example, if it falls under the casual category, you would select "Profile Picture 2".

[0097] In this modified example 2, it can be said that the predetermined rules are supplemented or fine-tuned depending on the message content. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 10A~10D User terminals, 12 Cloud, 14 Chat service server, 141 Communication unit, 142 Message processing unit, 143 Profile picture control unit, 144 User information DB, 145 Profile picture DB, 146 Rule DB, 147 Message storage unit.

Claims

1. A storage means for storing multiple, different profile pictures of a user, Processor and Equipped with, The aforementioned processor executes a program, Depending on the user information of the recipient and the content of the message, the sender of the message selects one of the aforementioned multiple profile pictures as their profile picture. When the user who sends the message sends the message, the selected profile picture is displayed to the user who receives the message, and further, When the processor selects and switches one of the multiple profile pictures, it sends a message to the user who sent the message asking for confirmation of the profile picture to be displayed to the recipient. Message delivery system.

2. The aforementioned user information includes the user's affiliation information, The processor selects one of the multiple profile pictures according to the differences in the affiliations of the user who sent the message and the user who received the message, and the content of the message. The message provision system according to claim 1.

3. The user information includes the number of times the user has sent messages, The processor selects one of the multiple profile pictures according to the number of message exchanges and the content of the message. The message provision system according to claim 1.

4. The user information includes the user's message contact period, The processor selects one of the multiple profile pictures according to the length of the message contact period and the content of the message. The message provision system according to claim 1.

5. The processor provides the message sender with a screen indicating which of the multiple profile pictures will be displayed for each user to whom the message is sent. The message delivery system according to claims 1 to 4.

6. The processor provides the message sender with a screen indicating which of the multiple profile pictures will be displayed to which message recipients. The message delivery system according to claims 1 to 4.

7. A storage means for storing multiple, different profile pictures of a user, Processor and Equipped with, The aforementioned processor executes a program, Depending on the user information of the user to whom the message is being sent, the sender of the message selects one of the above multiple profile pictures as their profile picture. When the user who sent the message sends the message, the selected profile picture is displayed to the user who received the message. moreover, When the processor selects and switches one of the multiple profile pictures, it sends a message to the user who sent the message asking for confirmation of the profile picture to be displayed to the recipient. Message delivery system.

8. A storage means for storing multiple, different profile pictures of a user, Processor and Equipped with, The aforementioned processor executes a program, Depending on the length of the message exchange period with the recipient user, the user sending the message selects one of the aforementioned multiple profile pictures as their profile picture. The aforementioned message communication period is the period from the start date to the present, with the start date being the date on which the user receiving the message and the user sending the message communicated. When the user who sent the message sends the message, the selected profile picture is displayed to the user who received the message. Message delivery system.

9. The processor provides the message sender with a screen indicating which of the multiple profile pictures will be displayed for each user to whom the message is sent. The message provision system according to claim 8.

10. The processor provides the message sender with a screen indicating which of the multiple profile pictures will be displayed to which message recipients. The message provision system according to claim 8.

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