Programs, information processing methods, terminals

Abstract

To increase the convenience of a search.SOLUTION: A program which is executed by a terminal that communicates with a first terminal is provided, by which the terminal executes: displaying talk information for talking with a user of the first terminal, on a display unit of the terminal; performing with a control unit of the terminal, processing relating to the talk based on a first input by a user of the terminal for the talk information; and displaying, based on the first input, a search screen for at least the user of the terminal to perform a search, on the display unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1-1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to programs, information processing methods, terminals, servers, systems, etc.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image search system that can search for partial images of images in a database similar to a query image.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a program executed by a terminal that communicates with a first terminal causes the terminal to display call information for making a call with a user of the first terminal on a display unit of the terminal, perform call-related processing by a control unit of the terminal based on a first input by the user of the terminal with respect to the call information, and display, on the display unit, at least a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search based on the first input. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an information processing method of a terminal that communicates with a first terminal includes displaying call information for making a call with a user of the first terminal on a display unit of the terminal, performing call-related processing by a control unit of the terminal based on a first input by the user of the terminal with respect to the call information, and displaying, on the display unit, at least a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search based on the first input. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a terminal that communicates with a first terminal includes a display unit that displays call information for making a call with a user of the first terminal, and a control unit that performs call-related processing based on a first input by the user of the terminal with respect to the call information, and the display unit displays at least a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search based on the first input. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0005] [Figure 1-1] A diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a communication system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-2] A diagram showing an example of a function realized by the control unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-3] A diagram showing an example of information stored in the storage unit of the server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-4] A diagram showing an example of account registration data related to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-5] A diagram showing an example of an account management database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-6] A diagram showing an example of a function realized by the control unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-7] A diagram showing an example of information stored in the memory unit of the terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-8] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-9] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-10] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-11] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-12] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1-13] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal relating to the first modified example. [Figure 1-14] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal relating to the first modified example. [Figure 2-1] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-2] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the second embodiment. [Figure 2-3]A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow executed by each device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 3-1] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the third embodiment. [Figure 4-1] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-2] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-3] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-4] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-5] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow executed by each device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 4-6] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fourth modification. [Figure 5-1] A diagram showing an example of an account management database according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-2] A diagram showing an example of note data according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-3] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-4] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-5] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-6] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow executed by each device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-7] A flowchart showing an example of the processing flow executed by each device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 5-8] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fifth modification. [Figure 5-9] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the fifth modification. [Figure 6-1] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-2] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-3] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 6-4] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 7-1] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 7-2] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 8-1] A diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a terminal according to the eighth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0006] <Compliance with legal matters> Please note that the disclosures described herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the implementing country, including the confidentiality of communications, which are necessary for the implementation of these disclosures.

[0007] <Embodiment> This specification includes phrases such as "as an example, not an limitation" for clarity, but please note that this does not limit the scope of the embodiments described below to those specific phrases.

[0008] Embodiments for implementing the program etc. related to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] The production of the terminal of the claimed invention (the terminal of the claimed invention) may, by definition and not limited to, include the concept that a state is created in which the functions of the claimed invention become achievable in the terminal when a program described herein (for example, an application program) is received (or received and stored in the terminal) on a terminal owned (possessed) by a user, thereby creating a state in which the functions of the claimed invention become achievable (a state is created in which the claimed invention becomes executable).

[0010] Furthermore, the production of the system of the claimed invention (the system of the claimed invention) may also include, without limitation, the concept that a state is created in which the function of the claimed system becomes achievable (a state is created in which the claimed invention becomes executable) by receiving a program described in this specification (for example, an application program) transmitted from a server included in the system to a terminal included in the system (or by storing the received program in the terminal).

[0011] Furthermore, in this specification, a system may, by example and not by limitation, be configured to include multiple devices. Multiple devices may be a combination of devices of the same type, a combination of devices of different types, or a combination of devices of the same type and devices of different types. Furthermore, the term "system" can also be thought of, not as a limited definition, but as an example, as a system in which multiple devices work together to perform some kind of processing.

[0012] Furthermore, a system involving a client (client device) and a server can be considered, not as an exhaustive list, but as an example, as at least one of the following: (1) Terminals & Servers (2) Server (3) terminal

[0013] (1) is, as an example and not an limitation, a system comprising at least one terminal and at least one server. This example is a client-server system.

[0014] The server may consist of the following devices, not as an example but as an extension of the following: it may be a single device or a combination of multiple devices.

[0015] Specifically, a server may consist of, but is not limited to, at least one processor (for example, a CPU: Central Processing Unit, a GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, an APU: Accelerated Processing Unit, a DSP: Digital Signal Processor (for example, an ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, an FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array), etc.), a computer device (processor + memory), a control device, an arithmetic unit, a processing unit, etc., and may be configured with multiple identical units of any one device (for example, a CPU + CPU, a homogeneous multicore processor, etc.), or with multiple heterogeneous units of any one device (for example, a CPU + DSP, a heterogeneous multicore processor, etc.), or with a combination of multiple devices (for example, a processor + computer device, a processor + arithmetic unit, a heterogeneous configuration of multiple devices, etc.). Note that the processor may be a virtual processor.

[0016] Furthermore, when a server performs some processing, if it is configured as a single device, the processing described in the embodiment will be performed by that single device. If it is configured as having multiple devices, some processing may be performed by one device and other processing may be performed by the other devices. As an example, and not an limitation, if it is configured as having a processor and an arithmetic unit, the first processing may be performed by the processor and the second processing may be performed by the arithmetic unit. Furthermore, if the system consists of multiple devices, each device may be arranged in a location that is physically separated from the others.

[0017] Furthermore, the server's functionality is not limited; for example, it may be provided in the form of PaaS, IaaS, or SaaS in cloud computing.

[0018] Furthermore, the system's control unit can be at least one of either the terminal's control unit or the server's control unit. In other words, the system's control unit can be any of the following, not limited to: (1A) only the terminal's control unit, (1B) only the server's control unit, or (1C) both the terminal's control unit and the server's control unit.

[0019] Furthermore, the control and processing performed by the system's control unit (hereinafter collectively referred to as "control, etc.") may be (1A) performed solely by the terminal's control unit, (1B) performed solely by the server's control unit, or (1C) performed by both the terminal's control unit and the server's control unit. Furthermore, (1C) is not an limitation but an example in which some of the controls that the system would normally perform are performed by the control unit of the terminal, and the remaining controls are performed by the control unit of the server. In this case, the allocation of controls may be equal, or they may be allocated in different proportions.

[0020] Furthermore, when referring to the server's communication unit, if the server is composed of a single device, it may refer to the communication unit itself provided by that single device. Also, if the server is composed of multiple devices, the server's communication unit may include the communication units provided by each of those devices. As an example, and not an limitation, if a server comprises a first device and a second device, with the first device having a first communication unit and the second device having a second communication unit, then the communication unit of the server may be considered a concept that includes both the first and second communication units.

[0021] (2) may, as an example and not an limitation, be a system consisting of multiple servers (hereinafter referred to as the "server system"). In this case, the configuration described above can be applied similarly to the configuration of each server.

[0022] The control and other functions performed by the server system may be performed by (2A) only one server, (2B) only the other servers, or (2C) one server and the other servers. Furthermore, (2C) is not limited to but is an example in which one server may perform some of the controls that the server system performs, and the remaining controls may be performed by other servers. In this case, the allocation of controls may be divided equally, or it may be allocated in different proportions.

[0023] (3) can be a system consisting of multiple terminals, not an exhaustive example. This system can be, as an example and not limited to, the following: • A system (distributed system) that assigns server functions to terminals. This is not limited to this example, but can be achieved using blockchain technology. A system in which terminals communicate wirelessly with each other. This is not limited to this, but can be achieved by using short-range wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) to communicate in a P2P (peer-to-peer) manner.

[0024] Furthermore, the above applies not only to the control unit but also to each functional unit that can be a component of the system, such as the input / output unit, communication unit, memory unit, and clock unit.

[0025] In the following embodiments, a system including terminals and servers (a client-server system, for example, is provided as an example, but is not an limitation) is illustrated. Furthermore, it is also possible to apply the server system described in (2) above as the server.

[0026] Furthermore, instead of a system that includes terminals and servers, it is also possible to apply a system that does not include a server, such as the system described in (3) above, not as a limitation but as an example. In this case, the embodiment can be constructed based on the aforementioned blockchain technology. Specifically, and not limited to, but as an example, data stored and managed on the server described in the following embodiment is stored on the blockchain. Then, when a terminal generates a transaction to the blockchain and the transaction is approved on the blockchain, the data stored on the blockchain is updated.

[0027] Furthermore, even when the term "terminal" is used, it is not limited to the meaning of a terminal as a client device in a client-server system. In other words, the term "terminal" can sometimes include the concept of a device that is not part of a client-server relationship.

[0028] Furthermore, the expression "by communication I / F" is used as appropriate in this specification. This is not an limitation, but rather an example that the device may send and receive various information and data via a communication I / F (via a communication unit) based on the control of a control unit (processor, etc.).

[0029] Furthermore, in this specification, when terms such as "concerning" or "related" are used, "B concerning A" or "B related to A" may be used not as an limitation, but as an example, to mean "B" that has some kind of relationship with "A". Specific examples will be given later.

[0030] Furthermore, in this specification, when a device processes two or more things, such as "transmitting A and B" or "receiving A and B," it may include both cases where "A" and "B" are performed at the same time (hereinafter referred to as "simultaneous") and cases where "A" and "B" are performed at different times (hereinafter referred to as "non-simultaneous"). As an example, rather than being limited, when we say that we are transmitting the first piece of information and the second piece of information, we may include both concepts: transmitting the first piece of information and the second piece of information at the same time, and transmitting the first piece of information and the second piece of information at different times. Furthermore, taking into consideration lag (time lag), "simultaneous" may include "almost simultaneous."

[0031] Furthermore, even if "A" and "B" are performed at different times, this only requires that the processing targets "A" and "B," and their purposes do not necessarily have to be the same. As an example, rather than being limited, when transmitting the first and second pieces of information as described above, it is sufficient to simply transmit the first and second pieces of information, and this may include cases where the first and second pieces of information are transmitted for different purposes, as well as cases where they are transmitted for the same purpose.

[0032] In the following examples, a messaging service is used as an example of a service for users to chat (hereinafter referred to as the "chat service"). Furthermore, an application for implementing the chat service is referred to as a "chat application," and an application for implementing the messaging service is referred to as a "messaging application." In a chat application, it is possible to allow users to chat in chat rooms, not as an example, but as an example.

[0033] Furthermore, messaging services (MS) (including instant messaging services: IMS) can be considered a form of social networking services (SNS). Therefore, a distinction may or may not be made between messaging services and social networking services. In other words, messaging services may be included within the definition of social networking services.

[0034] Furthermore, in the following embodiment, as an example of a messaging service, we will illustrate an Instant Messaging Service (IMS) that enables the sending and receiving of simple messages between multiple devices (not limited to, but for example, terminals) via a server. In instant messaging applications, it is possible to allow users to have conversations in chat rooms, not as an example, but as an example.

[0035] A chat room (or, for example, a talk room) can be a UI (User Interface) or GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows content sent and received between multiple users' devices to be viewed by each user.

[0036] Furthermore, the chat rooms may include one-on-one chat rooms (hereinafter referred to as "one-on-one chat rooms"), group chat rooms containing multiple users (hereinafter referred to as "group chat rooms"), and chat rooms with office automation (OA) providers (not limited to OA providers, but for example, OA providers that partner with messaging service providers) (hereinafter referred to as "OA chat rooms").

[0037] Furthermore, a messaging application account belonging to a business rather than a regular user may be referred to as "(OA (Official Account))", and a user of such an official account may be referred to as an "official user". This may also be referred to as an "official account user" or "official account business," etc. In contrast, a messaging application account belonging to a user who is not an office automation provider is referred to as a "general account," and a user of a general account is referred to as a "general user." This may also be referred to as a "general account user," etc. In other words, messaging application accounts may include both general accounts and official accounts.

[0038] A general account may be an example of a first-type account, and an official account may be an example of a second-type account. Furthermore, a general account may be an example of an account associated with a terminal 20 or a user of that terminal 20 as a first type in a messaging service (messaging application), and an official account may be an example of an account associated with a terminal 20 or a user of that terminal 20 as a second type in a messaging service (messaging application).

[0039] Furthermore, office automation (OA) service providers may, as an example and not limited to, enable users to send and receive messages with other devices via a server using terminals similar to those used by general account users.

[0040] Furthermore, "message" (message information) is not limited to this definition, but may also refer to information used in messaging services that defines the sender and recipient, and may consist of identification information (message ID) for identifying the message and the message content. Furthermore, "message content" may, for example, mean the contents of a message excluding the message ID, rather than being limited to a specific definition. Message content may consist of one or more pieces of content.

[0041] Furthermore, the information set as identification information for identifying a message is called the "message ID." It can be argued that message content contained within messages with the same message ID is identified by that message ID. Therefore, the identification information used to identify a message can be considered substantially synonymous with the identification information used to identify message content. Alternatively, you may or may not set individual identification information (message content ID) for each message content.

[0042] Content may include, but is not limited to, text content in text format, image content in image format (including at least one of both still images and moving images), and sound content in sound format (including voice). In addition, other elements such as buttons and icons for user interaction, as well as link content such as URIs (including URLs), may also be included.

[0043] The text may, but not be limited, include at least one of the following: national characters represented by character codes, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and codes. Note that the text does not have to contain at least one of the above characters, extended characters, machine-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and codes, but may also contain other text.

[0044] Images can include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following types of image information: icons, buttons, stamps, emojis, banner images, etc.

[0045] Contrary to the definition above, it is also acceptable to define "message" as a higher-level concept than "content," or to define "content" and "message" as synonymous, or not to define them in this way.

[0046] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the user of terminal 20A will be referred to as "User AA," the user of terminal 20B as "User BB," the user of terminal 20C as "User CC," and so on.

[0047] Furthermore, in the following embodiments, "friends" may be interpreted, not as an exhaustive term, but as an example, as the relationship between a first user and a second user when their accounts in a messaging application are linked unilaterally or bidirectionally. As an example, and not an exhaustive one, if there is a mutual association between the first user's account and the second user's account, then it can be said that the first user and the second user are "friends." Also, as an example, and not an exhaustive one, if there is an association between the first user's account and the second user's account, then it can be said that the first user and the second user are "friends," even if there is no association between the second user's account and the first user's account.

[0048] <Examples> The following describes an example of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. Sometimes, groups of friends, family, or colleagues plan events such as meals or shopping trips. These events can be anything. In this case, some users may use messaging applications or other chat applications to schedule appointments. Others may choose to schedule appointments by phone or other means without using a chat application. However, with this method, it can be difficult to finalize plans, and there's a risk that the event might be cancelled altogether. The following embodiments illustrate, rather than limit, methods that can address such cases.

[0049] <First Example> The first embodiment, as an example and not an limitation, describes an embodiment in which terminal 20 makes a call with another user based on the call information input by the user of terminal 20, and performs a search together while on the call.

[0050] The contents described in the first embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments and any of the other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0051] In the following examples, the act of performing a search while making a call (not limited to, but including voice calls as an example) between users of a messaging application is referred to as "call search." Call-based searches can also be referred to as "group searches" or "collaborative searches," as they involve searching among friends or colleagues.

[0052] The search results obtained by the call search described below are not limited to those shown below, but may be displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 based on at least one of the following data. (1) Data in an external server database (external data) (2) Data in the database of server 10 (internal data)

[0053] In the following explanation, we will assume that the search data is stored in the database of server 10, but this is not an limitation. For example, the search data may be stored in the database of a server different from server 10, managed by the messaging service provider.

[0054] [Functional Configuration of Each Device] (1) Server Figure 1-2 shows an example of a function realized by the control unit 11 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The control unit 11 may include, but is not limited to, an application management processing unit 111 as a functional unit for executing application management processing according to an application management processing program 151 stored in the storage unit 15.

[0055] Figure 1-3 shows an example of information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 in this embodiment. The memory unit 15 stores, but is not limited to, an application management processing program 151 executed as application management processing, account registration data 153, an account management database 155, and a search engine database 157.

[0056] Account registration data 153 is registration data related to the messaging application account, and an example of its data structure is shown in Figure 1-4. The account registration data 153 stores, as an example and not limited to, the username, application ID, and other registration information in association with each other.

[0057] The username is the name of the account on device 20 using the application. It is not limited to this, but rather, it is the name registered by the user of device 20 when they use the application that is stored.

[0058] An application ID is information used to identify an application account, or the account itself. This application ID is preferably a unique value for each account, and is not limited to, but is set and stored by the server 10 as an example for each account. The Application ID is information associated with terminal 20 or the user of terminal 20, and is an example of information about the terminal or the user of the terminal.

[0059] Other registration information may include, but is not limited to, various types of information such as identification information to identify terminal 20, terminal 20's phone number (terminal phone number), email address (terminal email address), and authentication information such as passwords used for various authentications in the application (login password, authentication password, etc.).

[0060] Furthermore, other registered data may include, but are not limited to, profile information registered by the user of this application ID from terminal 20 (which may include username, icon image, self-introduction text, etc.).

[0061] The identification information used to identify terminal 20 can be, for example, the terminal ID (or, for example, the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)), not limited to these. Furthermore, the identification information used to identify the user of terminal 20 is not limited to this; for example, it could be an application ID or an official application ID. Note that you may or may not use "User ID" instead of "Application ID".

[0062] Furthermore, for applications where only one account can be registered per device 20, the limitation is not restrictive; for example, "identification information for identifying device 20 = identification information for identifying the user of device 20 = application ID" can be used.

[0063] Furthermore, as an example rather than a limitation, it may be possible to assign multiple device IDs to a single application ID, or it may not be necessary.

[0064] Alternatively, it is possible to manage accounts using information such as the device's phone number instead of an application ID. In this case, instead of storing the application ID in the account registration data 153, information such as the terminal phone number can be stored in the account registration data 153.

[0065] Figure 1-5 shows an example of the data structure of account management database 155A, which is an example of account management database 155. The account management database 155A stores account management data as management data for each account registered in the account registration data 153.

[0066] Each account management data entry, while not limited to specific examples, stores the user's application ID, friend registration data, and one or more call search management data entries.

[0067] The friend registration data can be configured to store the application IDs of users that this application ID user has registered as friends in messaging applications.

[0068] Each call search management data entry stores detailed call search data, associated with the host ID, not as an exclusive example, but as an example.

[0069] The host ID can be configured to store the application ID of the user who acted as the host in that call search. You may also refer to the host as the "master" and the guest as the "slave," etc. You may also use the host ID as the master ID, etc., and the guest ID as the slave ID, etc.

[0070] The call search details data includes, but is not limited to, the call search ID, call search time information, guest ID, and search history information, all stored in association with each other.

[0071] The call search ID is not limited to this, but can be, for example, an ID to uniquely identify each call search, and a unique ID is set and stored by the server 10.

[0072] The call search time information is not limited to, but rather includes information about the duration of each call search. For example, it can store information such as the start time (date and time), end time (date and time), and the length of time the call search was performed.

[0073] The guest ID can be configured to store the application ID of the user who became a guest in this call search.

[0074] The search history information can, as an example and not limited to, store information (data) about the search results history in this call search.

[0075] The call search management data may, for example, be stored separately in the account management data of the host user and the account management data of the guest user. However, this is not the only option; the data may also be stored only in the account management data of the host user.

[0076] Additionally, call search management data may be managed separately from account management data. As an example, and not an exhaustive one, you could configure a database for call search management data (call search management database) and manage the call search management database and the account management database 155 as separate databases.

[0077] Although not shown in the diagram, the account management data may also store data such as the history of chats in the messaging application (which may be called chat history data or content sending / receiving history data).

[0078] Messaging service providers can, for example, use robot-based search engines to explore and collect various types of information on the web. Specifically, for example, they can collect and acquire various types of data through crawling processes using crawlers (bots).

[0079] Server 10 can, for example, analyze acquired external information, convert it into searchable data, and register (index) it in the search engine database 157. In this way, Server 10 can perform search processing based on the search engine database 157.

[0080] The search engine database 157 can store, as an example but not an exhaustive list, URIs (including URLs and URNs) and various corresponding information associated with file IDs (resource IDs, data IDs), which are unique identifiers for identifying files (resources, data). Furthermore, since URIs are also unique identifiers, it is also acceptable to manage them using URIs.

[0081] Terminal 20 may display the page using a web browser or the like based on the URI, or it may display the page using the browser of the messaging application (hereinafter referred to as the "in-app browser (internal browser)"). By using the in-app browser of a messaging application, it is possible to display web pages on the application screen of the messaging application.

[0082] Furthermore, the search engine database 157 may also store search information generated independently by the messaging service provider. It is also conceivable that the messaging service provider might build its own search system. It is possible to generate search information without necessarily acquiring external information, and in some cases, no external information that can be referenced exists at all.

[0083] (2) terminal Figure 1-6 shows an example of a function realized by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The control unit 21 includes, but is not limited to, an application processing unit 211 as a functional unit for executing messaging application processing according to an application processing program 281 stored in the storage unit 28.

[0084] Figure 1-7 shows an example of information stored in the storage unit 28 of the terminal 20 in this embodiment. The memory unit 28 stores, but is not limited to, an application processing program 281 that is executed as messaging application processing, the application ID 283 of its own terminal 20 or the user of its own terminal 20, and a search condition setting stamp database 287.

[0085] Furthermore, application ID 283 may or may not be able to store multiple application IDs.

[0086] <Display screen> An example of the display screen in this embodiment will be described. The screen transitions described below are merely examples of screen transitions for implementing the method of this disclosure. Some screens may be omitted or additional screens may be added to the screen transitions exemplified below.

[0087] Furthermore, the terminology used in the display screens described below may differ from that used in the processes described later (some terms may not be consistent). This is merely for convenience, and is intended to make the display screens easier to understand from the user's perspective. This also applies to other embodiments and variations.

[0088] In the following examples, rather than being limited, we will illustrate the case where terminal 20 is a smartphone equipped with a vertically oriented display unit 24.

[0089] A smartphone, as an example, has a touch panel that functions as an input area, positioned opposite its display, thereby forming a touchscreen. When an element such as an icon, button, item, or input area is displayed on the display, and a portion of the touch panel opposite the area where the element is displayed is operated by the user, the program associated with that element or a subroutine of that program is executed.

[0090] The screen transitions described below are merely examples of screen transitions for implementing the method of this disclosure. Some screens may be omitted or additional screens may be added to the screen transitions exemplified below.

[0091] In addition, the screen transition flow may be explained by showing predetermined screens displayed on different terminals 20, either within a single drawing or across multiple drawings. In this case, as an example and not an limitation, the predetermined screen may be displayed on different terminals 20 based on (or triggered by) at least one of the following: • Automatically displayed • When a notification (including push notifications, etc.; the same applies hereinafter) is sent to device 20, and the user takes action in response to the notification, it will be displayed. • No notification is sent to device 20, but it will be displayed when the user performs a specific action on the application. • A notification is sent to terminal 20, and the user performs a specified action on the application that sent the notification, which then displays the message.

[0092] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the host of a call search (the user acting as the host) will be referred to as "User AA," and the user participating in the call search (the guest user) will be referred to as "User BB."

[0093] Furthermore, since both the host and guest will be making calls while viewing the search screen, it's possible to switch to speakerphone mode for calls, not just as a limitation, but as an example.

[0094] Figure 1-8 shows an example of the screen transitions displayed on the display unit 24 of user AA's terminal 20A in this embodiment. In the following example, we will assume that user AA, who is a user of the messaging application, is friends with at least user BB, who is also a user of the messaging application.

[0095] Furthermore, the following examples, while primarily illustrating a one-on-one chat room between user AA and user BB, are not exhaustive.

[0096] The left side of Figure 1-8 shows an example of the friends list screen of a messaging application displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A, not as an example but as an illustration. The top center of the screen displays the name of the messaging application, "Messaging App." The top right of the screen displays the icon image and username (user AA in this example) of the user of this device 20A in the messaging application.

[0097] While the diagrams illustrate how other types of screens are generally displayed, they are not necessarily limited to these examples.

[0098] In this friends list screen, as an example (though not limited to this example), tabs such as "Favorites," "Friends," "Groups," and "Official Accounts" are provided at the top of the screen. In this example, based on the user tapping the "Friends" tab, a list of users that user AA has added as friends is displayed, associated with their icon images and usernames.

[0099] As an example, and not limited to this case, if "User BB" is tapped by the user, the profile screen shown in the center of Figure 1-8 will be displayed. This profile screen displays the icon image and username of the selected user BB, along with a "Talk" icon for one-on-one chat with user BB, a "Voice Call" icon IC2 for voice calls with user BB, a "Video Call" icon for video calls with user BB, and a "Call Search" icon IC1 for searching for users BB to call.

[0100] As an example, and not limited to this case, when the user taps the "Call Search" icon IC1, the call search screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-8 will be displayed. At the top of the screen is a Call Information Display Area (CIR), which displays information about the user making the call (in this example, an icon image and username). In this example, since user BB has not yet entered user information to join the call search, only information about user AA is displayed on the left side of the Call Information Display Area (CIR).

[0101] Furthermore, below the call information display area CIR, there is a search area SR which includes a search query input area SWR (search window) for the user to enter search queries. In this example, the search query input area SWR is located above the search area SR. In this example, a magnifying glass icon indicating "Search" is displayed to the left of the search query input area SWR, and an "×" icon to hide the search area SR (or call search screen) is displayed to the right of the search query input area SWR.

[0102] As an example, and not limited to this case, when the search query input area SWR is tapped by the user, the display changes to what is shown on the left side of Figure 1-9. Specifically, a keyboard appears rising from the bottom of the screen, allowing the user to enter search queries by operating this keyboard. The entered search query is displayed in the search query input area SWR. In this example, the user AA has entered the text "Tokyo Western-style restaurant".

[0103] In this state, if the "Search" button located in the lower right corner of the keyboard is tapped (not limited to this case, but as an example), the display will change to something like the one shown in the center of Figure 1-9 (not limited to this case, but as an example). Specifically, as an example rather than a limiting one, the search results generated by server 10 based on the search query "Tokyo Western-style restaurants" are displayed below the search query input area SWR in the search area SR. In this example, a list of search results for multiple Western-style restaurants located in Tokyo, such as "Western-style restaurant Y" and "Western-style restaurant X," is displayed.

[0104] Note that in this example, a "search" button is provided on the keyboard, but this is not the only option. As an example, and not limited to specific locations, you may place a "Search" button within or outside the search query input area. Alternatively, a "Search" button may be provided both on the keyboard and within or outside the search query input area.

[0105] As an example, and not limited to this case, when a user taps on the "Western Restaurant Y" section of the search results, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 1-9. Specifically, and this is not limited to a specific example, the area corresponding to the search area SR displays a store page from a gourmet website (in this example, "Gourmet NET") that contains information about "Western-style Restaurant Y". In other words, in this example, the information about "Western-style Restaurant Y" in the central screen of Figure 1-9 is associated with the URI (link) of the store page for "Western-style Restaurant Y" on the gourmet website, and the store page for "Western-style Restaurant Y" on the gourmet website is displayed from this URI. In this case, and this is not limited to a specific example, the store page can be displayed via an in-app browser.

[0106] Furthermore, the link may be configured to display the homepage or other information published by "Western Restaurant Y" rather than the restaurant's page on the gourmet website.

[0107] Figure 1-10, on the left, shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the guest user BB's terminal 20B. This screen is not an example, but rather an example of an incoming call screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B based on the user tapping the "Call Search" icon IC1 on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in the center of Figure 1-8. In this example, the username of the calling user (in this example, "AA") is displayed along with the words "Call Search" indicating that a "Call Search" is required. Additionally, the lower part of the device features an "Answer" icon IC3 for participating in (answering) a call search and a "Reject" icon IC4 for rejecting a call search.

[0108] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "Respond" icon IC3 is tapped by the user, the display changes to what is shown in the center of Figure 1-10. Specifically, the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B is similar to the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A, as shown on the right side of Figure 1-8, but not as a limitation.

[0109] As one method, and not as an example but as an exception, the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the host terminal 20A can be displayed on the display unit 24 of the guest terminal 20B based on the control of the application layer's shared screen viewing (hereinafter referred to as "application layer shared screen viewing" as appropriate).

[0110] This allows the host terminal 20 and guest terminal 20 to search together at the application layer level, allowing the guest to view the screen displayed on the host terminal 20 while simultaneously making a call. Furthermore, unlike typical screen sharing, it prevents the host from showing unnecessary information to the guest. However, this is not the only option; screen sharing at the OS layer may also be used.

[0111] Furthermore, when user BB taps the "Respond" icon IC3, user BB may be temporarily placed in a waiting room, and the display on the screen corresponding to the waiting room shown on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B may change to a display like the one in the center of Figure 1-10 based on the user's input to enter the waiting room.

[0112] Furthermore, on the host user AA's terminal 20A, it is possible, not limited to this but as an example, to directly transition to the call search screen without going through a waiting room, etc., based on the aforementioned "call search" icon IC1 being touched, allowing the user to perform the search alone until the guest user BB joins the room.

[0113] In addition, in the following display screen examples, including this example, the display unit 24 of terminal 20B displays the username and icon image of user BB at the very top of the screen for clarity. However, this uppermost area does not need to be provided, and this may be the case for both terminal 20A and terminal 20B.

[0114] In this example, based on user BB's participation in the call search, the call information display area (CIR) shows information about user BB to the right (on the right side) of the information about user AA, the host, which is displayed on the left.

[0115] Furthermore, in the central screen of Figure 1-10, based on the fact that the host is user AA, information PU1 indicating the user with operational authority is displayed at the bottom of the search area SR, including the text "User AA is performing the operation," which indicates that user AA is performing the operation.

[0116] It is not strictly necessary to display information indicating the user with operational privileges; this information may be omitted. The same applies to subsequent examples.

[0117] Furthermore, in the following display screen examples, including this example, a call search screen including a call information display area CIR and a search area SR will be displayed on the terminal 20, however, the call information display area CIR may be omitted. Furthermore, regardless of whether the call information display area CIR is displayed or not, the display of the search area SR can be considered as the display of the "search screen". The same applies to subsequent examples.

[0118] The right side of Figure 1-10 shows an example of a call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A, corresponding to the screen in the center of Figure 1-10. The screen configuration can be basically the same as the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B in the center of Figure 1-10. However, in this example, since the user (user AA) is the host and is aware that they are the host, information indicating the user with operational authority, including the text "User AA is operating," is not displayed.

[0119] Furthermore, terminal 20A may also display information indicating the user with operational authority. The same applies hereafter.

[0120] <Processing> Figure 1-11 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device in this embodiment. This diagram shows, from left to right, examples of processes executed by the control unit 21 of user AA's terminal 20A, the control unit 11 of server 10, and the control unit 21 of user BB's terminal 20A.

[0121] Prior to this process, it is assumed that user BB has already been added as a friend by user AA. Furthermore, this process exemplifies the case where user AA is the host and user BB is the guest.

[0122] Furthermore, the processes described below are merely examples of processes for implementing the method of this disclosure, and are not limited to these. You may add other steps to the process described below, or you may omit (delete) some steps from the process described below.

[0123] First, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A requests information such as profile information (in this example, information such as user BB's profile information) from the server 10 via the communication interface 22 based on user input to the input / output unit 23, which displays a screen such as a profile screen (for example, the profile screen of user BB) (A110).

[0124] When the server 10 receives a request for profile information from terminal 20A via the communication interface 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 obtains the corresponding user (in this example, user BB's profile information) from, for example, other registration information in the account registration data 153, and transmits it to terminal 20A via the communication interface 14 (S110).

[0125] When the terminal 20A receives profile information from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays a profile screen based on the received profile information on the display unit 24 (A120). The profile screen may include at least the information necessary for performing a call search, such as the aforementioned "call search" icon IC1 (hereinafter referred to as "call search information").

[0126] Alternatively, the profile information of user AA's friends may be stored in the memory unit 28 of terminal 20A, and the control unit 21 of terminal 20A may display a profile screen based on the profile information stored in the memory unit 28 on the display unit 24. You may do the same for your own profile information.

[0127] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A receives user input for call search information via the input / output unit 23 (A130). Then, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends call search request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, requesting the execution (start) of a call search (A140).

[0128] When the server 10 receives call search request information from terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs a call search process for user BB's terminal 20B (S140). In response, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B performs incoming call processing for call search (B140).

[0129] Next, call search processing is performed between the control unit 21 of terminal 20A, the control unit 11 of server 10, and the control unit 21 of terminal 20B (A150, S150, B150).

[0130] Figure 1-12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the call search process. The interpretation of this figure is the same as that of Figure 1-11. The control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits call search information (hereinafter referred to as "call search information") to the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S1510).

[0131] When call search information is received from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A displays the call search screen on the display unit 24 based on the received call search information (A1510).

[0132] The control unit 21 of terminal 20B determines whether or not to participate in a call search by, for example, determining via the input / output unit 23 whether or not user input has been made to the "Answer" button or the like included in the incoming call screen displayed on the display unit 24 (B1510).

[0133] If it is determined to participate in the call search (B1510: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B sends call search participation request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, requesting participation in the call search (B1520).

[0134] After S1510, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not it has received call search participation request information from terminal 20B via the communication I / F 14 (S1520). If it determines that it has received the information (S1520: YES), it starts the application layer shared screen viewing control process and call control process (S1530).

[0135] Specifically, and not limited to this example, the process of sharing the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A with terminal 20B via application layer shared screen viewing control (application layer shared screen viewing control process) is initiated.

[0136] In this case, as an example rather than an limitation, the differential data of the application layer may be sent from terminal 20A to server 10, and the control unit 11 of server 10 may send the differential data received from terminal 20A to terminal 20B, thereby enabling shared viewing of the application layer screen. A different method may also be used.

[0137] Furthermore, as an example rather than an exclusive one, if a keyboard for inputting text is provided as part of the OS UI, even if the keyboard is launched and operated on terminal 20A through the above-mentioned joint screen viewing of the application layer, its display may be prevented from being shared with terminal 20B. Conversely, if the keyboard is provided as part of the application's UI, then when the keyboard is activated and operated on terminal 20A through the shared screen viewing of the application layer described above, the display may be shared with terminal 20B.

[0138] Please note that the above methods are merely examples and are not the only ones that can be used. Alternatively, as mentioned above, screen sharing can be achieved by controlling screen sharing at the OS layer.

[0139] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 controls the call between terminal 20A and terminal 20B.

[0140] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the host user AA has the authority to perform searches, and that the guest user BB is not granted such authority.

[0141] After B1520, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B starts the application layer shared screen viewing process and call control process based on the server 10's commencement of the application layer shared screen viewing process and call control process (B1530).

[0142] After A1510, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines whether or not the guest has joined the call search (A1520). In this case, as an example and not an exhaustive one, if in step S1520 the control unit 11 of server 10 determines that it has received call search participation request information from terminal 20B (S1520: YES), it may send guest participation information indicating that the guest has joined the call search to terminal 20A before step S1530 (or in step S1530). Then, in step A1520, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A may determine whether or not it has received guest participation information from server 10.

[0143] If it is determined that a guest has joined (A1520: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A starts the application layer shared screen viewing process and call process (A1530).

[0144] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines whether or not to perform a search by, for example, determining whether a search query has been entered into the search query input area SWR via the input / output unit 23 and whether the "search" button has been operated (A1540).

[0145] If it is determined to perform a search (A1540: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends search request information, including the search query, as well as information such as the application ID of user AA, to the server 10 via the communication interface 22 (A1550).

[0146] After S1530, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not it has received search request information from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S1540). If it determines that the request has been received (S1540: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs the search process (S1550). Specifically, and not limited to, but as an example, it refers to the search engine database 157 and performs a search based on the search query contained in the received search request information.

[0147] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of server 10 may, as an example and not an exhaustive one, use an application programming interface (hereinafter referred to as "API") to send the search request information, including the search query contained in the received search request information, to the server of a company (merchant) partnered with the messaging service provider. The merchant's server may then use the API to send the search results information, retrieved from a database stored in its memory unit based on the search query, to server 10.

[0148] Furthermore, in this case, in order to present more convenient information as search results, the control unit 11 of server 10 may, as an example, include rich snippet (rich result) flag information in the search request information and send it to the merchant's server. Then, the rich snippet search result information may be sent from the merchant's server to server 10.

[0149] In addition, the rich snippet information may be obtained in advance by server 10 from each merchant's server and stored in the search engine database 157. Alternatively, the rich snippet information could be added to the search engine database 157 each time a search is performed. In this way, by performing a search from the search engine database 157, search results including those displayed in rich snippets can be sent to and displayed on the terminal 20.

[0150] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits the search result list information, which is a list of search results obtained in the search process, to the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S1560). Here, the search result list information may include at least the following information corresponding to each search result. File ID or URI • Various information associated with this, such as text information and image information.

[0151] Following A1550, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays the search result list information received from server 10 via the communication interface 22 on the display unit 24 (A1560). Specifically, and this is not an exhaustive example, the search result list information is displayed in the search result display area.

[0152] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines, via the input / output unit 23, whether or not user input has been made regarding the search results included in the displayed search results list information (A1570). If it is determined that the action has been taken (A1570: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A launches a browser based on the URI associated with the user-entered search result, not limited to but as an example. As a result, the page (screen) corresponding to the search result is displayed on the display unit 24, not limited to but as an example (A1580).

[0153] After A1580, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines whether or not to terminate the call search by determining, via the input / output unit 23, whether or not user input to terminate the call search has been made (A1590).

[0154] If it is determined that the call search should be terminated (A1590: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends call search termination request information to the server 10 via the communication interface 22 (A1590).

[0155] After S1560, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not it has received call search termination request information from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S1570). If it is determined that the call was not received (S1570: NO), the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether the guest (in this example, user BB) has already joined the call search (S1580). If it is determined that the guest has not joined (S1580: NO), it returns to S1520. If it is determined that the guest has already joined (S1580: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 returns to S1540.

[0156] On the other hand, if it determines that it has received a call search termination request information (S1570; YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 terminates the execution of application layer shared screen viewing control processing and call control processing if those processes are being executed, and terminates the call search process.

[0157] If it is determined in A1590 that the call search should not be terminated (A1590:NO), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A returns processing to A1520 if the guest has not joined, and returns processing to A1540 if the guest has already joined.

[0158] After B1530, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B determines whether to terminate the process (B1540). If it determines to continue the process (B1540: NO), it returns to B1510 if the user is not participating in the call search, or returns to B1530 if the user is already participating in the call search. On the other hand, if it is determined that the process should be terminated (B1540: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B terminates the process.

[0159] Returning to Figure 1-11, once the call search process has been completed, the control unit of each device terminates its processing.

[0160] <Effects of the First Example> In this embodiment, terminal 20 displays call information such as a "call search" icon on the display unit 24 for making a call with a guest user (not limited to, but an example of a user of the first terminal). Based on the input from the terminal 20 user regarding this call information (not limited to, but an example of a first input), the control unit 21 performs call-related processing, such as processing a call with the guest user's terminal (not limited to, but an example of the first terminal). Furthermore, terminal 20 displays a search screen on the display unit 24 for the user of terminal 20 to perform a search, based on the input from the terminal 20 user. As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, the terminal can perform call-related processing based on a first input from the terminal user to call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal, which is displayed on the terminal's display unit, thereby enabling a call with the user of the first terminal. Furthermore, the terminal can display at least a search screen for the terminal user to perform a search on its display unit based on the first input, thereby enabling the terminal user to perform a search while making a call with the user of the first terminal.

[0161] Furthermore, the concept that at least 20 users on terminal 20 can perform a search can be interpreted to include not only the host being able to perform searches, but also guests being able to perform searches. As will be explained in more detail later, it may also include the fact that guests can perform searches by changing their operating permissions to guest. Furthermore, as mentioned above, it may include the possibility that the host can perform a search alone when the guest is not participating in the call search.

[0162] In this case, the search screen may also be displayed on terminal 20 of the guest (not limited to, but an example of a user on the first terminal). As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, by displaying the search screen on the first terminal, the user of the first terminal can also view the search screen displayed on the terminal.

[0163] <First variation (1)> The screen configuration and UI shown in the above example are merely examples and are not the only possibilities.

[0164] Figure 1-13, on the left, shows an example of the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this modified example. In this call search screen, map information is displayed below the search query input area SWR within the search area SR. This map information is not limited to, but can be configured such that, based on search results (in this example, search results for "Western-style restaurants in Tokyo"), the server 10 or terminal 20 displays information corresponding to at least one of multiple search results (information based on the search results). In this example, based on search results for multiple Western-style restaurants in Tokyo, such as "Western Restaurant Y" and "Western Restaurant X," a map is displayed with markers indicating the locations of those restaurants superimposed.

[0165] Figure 1-13, on the right, shows an example of a call search screen similarly displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B. This call search screen can be basically the same as the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A shown on the left side of Figure 1-13. However, in this example, as mentioned above, information PU1, which indicates the user with operational privileges, is displayed at the bottom of the search area SR, including the text "User AA is performing the operation," indicating that user AA is performing the operation.

[0166] Furthermore, in the above screen, it may be possible to allow at least one of the users, either the host or the guest, to write to the call search screen. As an example, rather than being limited, you may allow at least one of the users, either the host or the guest, to write to the map information, as shown in the screen above. Furthermore, the information that is written may be shared between the host and the guest (shared across these devices 20).

[0167] <First variation (2)> In the above embodiment, the call search is initiated when the "Call Search" icon displayed on the profile screen or other screens is tapped, but the embodiment is not limited to this. As an example, after a call such as an audio or video call is initiated between the host and the guest, a path to initiate a call search may be provided on the call screen or other screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the host's terminal 20.

[0168] Figure 1-14, on the left, shows an example of the profile screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this modified example. This profile screen is not exclusive, but is almost identical to the profile screen in the center of Figure 1-8 as an example, although some of its configuration differs. In this example, the "Call Search" icon IC1, which was displayed in the center screen of Figure 1-8, is not shown. Instead, the "Talk" icon, the "Voice Call" icon IC6 (similar to the "Voice Call" icon IC2 shown in the center screen of Figure 1-8), and the "Video Call" icon are displayed.

[0169] As an example, and not limited to this case, when the user taps the "Voice Call" icon IC6, the voice call screen shown in the center of Figure 1-14 will be displayed. On this screen, a voice call has been initiated between user AA and user BB, based on user BB's response to the voice call. In this example, at the bottom of the voice call screen displayed on the display unit 24, there is a "Call Search" button BT6 for starting a call search and an "End Call" button BT7 for ending a voice call.

[0170] As an example, and not limited to this case, when the user taps the "Call Search" button BT6, a call search screen like the one shown on the right in Figure 1-14 will be displayed. The configuration of this call search screen is not limited to this; for example, it can be the same as the call search screen shown on the right side of Figure 1-8.

[0171] In this example, instead of using the "voice call" icon IC6 as the guide to perform a call search, it may be possible to use the "video call" icon as the guide to perform a call search.

[0172] This modified example shows that terminal 20 displays call information such as a "voice call" icon and a "video call" icon on the display unit 24 for making a call with the user of terminal 1, and the control unit 21 performs call-related processing such as making a call to terminal 1 and processing the call based on the input from the user of terminal 20 to this call information (not limited to, but an example of a first input). Furthermore, terminal 20 displays a search screen on the display unit 24, such as a call search screen for the user of terminal 20 to perform a search, based on the above input from the user of terminal 20. As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, the terminal can perform call-related processing based on a first input from the terminal user to call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal, which is displayed on the terminal's display unit, thereby enabling a call with the user of the first terminal. Furthermore, the terminal can display at least a search screen for the terminal user to perform a search on its display unit based on the first input, thereby enabling the terminal user to perform a search while making a call with the user of the first terminal.

[0173] <First variation (3)> In call searches, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may use the audio and conversation content of the call between the host and the guest as a search query to perform the search process.

[0174] Specifically, and this is not an exhaustive example, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may determine (recognize) the content of the conversation from the audio of the call using speech recognition processing, and then use the words based on the determined conversation content as a search query to perform the search process. Furthermore, since accessing call audio without permission may violate the confidentiality of communications, this provision may only be applied after obtaining the user's consent (permission) and with the user's agreement.

[0175] For example, if the control unit 11 of server 10 determines, based on the call audio, that user AA and user BB are talking about "Kyoto," it may, for example, search for famous tourist spots in "Kyoto" and send the search results to terminal 20.

[0176] This modified example shows a configuration in which the search screen, including search results, is determined based on a call between the user of terminal 20 and a guest user (not limited to, but an example of a user of terminal 1). One example of the effects of this modified configuration is that, by determining the search screen (search results) based on a call between the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal, it becomes possible to perform searches while on a call without having to enter a search query, thereby improving convenience.

[0177] <Second Example> The second embodiment relates to providing a pathway for performing a call search within the chat room.

[0178] The contents described in the second embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments or any of the other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0179] <Data Structure> In this embodiment, each account management data in the account management database 155A stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 can be configured to store, for example, the aforementioned talk history data (content transmission and reception history data).

[0180] <Display screen> Figure 2-1 shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. Figure 2-1, on the left, shows an example of a chat room screen in a messaging application where user BB is the chat partner. In the area at the very top of the screen, "BB" is displayed to indicate that user BB is the chat partner, along with a "<" button to return to the previous screen. To the right of this area, the call icon IC21, indicated by a telephone icon, is displayed to show information related to the call.

[0181] Furthermore, below this area is a content display area TR where content (messages) sent and received between user AA and user BB are displayed. Content originating from user AA is displayed in a speech bubble from the right, and content originating from user BB is displayed in a speech bubble from the left.

[0182] In this example, text content originating from User AA is displayed, suggesting that User AA and User BB search for a restaurant together for a meal they plan to have next week.

[0183] Furthermore, as an example rather than an exclusive one, the bottom of the screen contains an area that includes a content input area for sending content entered via a keyboard (not shown), and on the right side of this area, there is a "Talk Room Search" icon IC23, indicated by a magnifying glass, which allows the user to perform a search (a different type of search than a call search; hereinafter referred to as "Talk Room Search" for convenience) while the Talk Room is open.

[0184] The in-chat room search function is not limited to this; for example, when the user taps the "In-chat room search" icon IC23, a search screen (hereinafter referred to as the "In-chat room search screen" for convenience) will be displayed, and the user can perform a search on the displayed In-chat room search screen.

[0185] As an example, not limited to this case, when the call icon IC21 is tapped by the user, as shown in the center of Figure 2-1, the display changes to the one shown on the right of Figure 2-1, also as an example. Specifically, below the area containing the call icon IC21, an area containing the "voice call" icon, the "video call" icon, and the "call search" icon IC1 is displayed, not as an example but as an example. For example, when the "Call Search" icon IC1 is tapped, a call search screen like the one shown on the right in Figure 1-8 can be displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A.

[0186] Figure 2-2 on the left shows an example of a talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B, which is displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B based on the user tapping the "Call Search" icon IC1 on the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A on the right side of Figure 2-1. The screen configuration is not limited to this, but can be similar to the talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A described above. In the content display area TR, content originating from the user (user BB) is displayed in a speech bubble from the right, and content originating from the other party (user AA) is displayed in a speech bubble from the left.

[0187] In this example, below the text content "Like" originating from the user on the right side of the content display area TR, the content SCT21 for participating in a call search is displayed as content originating from user AA. The call search participation content SCT21 includes, but is not limited to, a mark indicating a call search, the text "Call Search", and a "Join" button B21 for participating in a call search.

[0188] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "Join" button B21 is tapped by the user, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 2-2. Specifically, as an example rather than a limited one, a call search screen similar to the one in the center of Figure 1-10 will be displayed.

[0189] In the example screen shown above, the call search is performed using the "Call Search" icon IC1 as the guide, but this is not the only option. For example, the call search could also be performed using the "In-Chat Room Search" icon IC23 as the guide.

[0190] Specifically, when the user taps the "Talk Room Search" icon IC23 on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A, for example, as shown on the left side of Figure 2-1, a call search screen, for example, as shown on the right side of Figure 1-8, may be displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A. In this case, to allow the user to choose whether to perform a search within the chat room or a call search, when the user taps the "Search within chat room" icon IC23, the options "Search within chat room" and "Call search" may be displayed, and the search screen corresponding to the selected search (search within chat room screen, call search screen) may be displayed.

[0191] Alternatively, the system may be designed so that a call search can be performed regardless of whether the "Call Search" icon IC1 or the "In-Chat Room Search" icon IC23 is used.

[0192] <Processing> Figure 2-3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow performed by each device in this embodiment. The diagram can be interpreted in the same way as in Figures 1-11, etc.

[0193] First, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A acquires talk room information (in this example, talk room information with user BB) via the input / output unit 23, not limited to, but as an example, when user input is made from a screen such as the talk list screen to initiate a talk with a registered friend (A210). The talk room information may include, not limited to, talk history information and information for displaying the talk room.

[0194] In this case, as an example rather than being limited, the talk room information may be stored in the memory unit 28 of the terminal 20A, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may obtain the talk room information by reading it from the memory unit 28. Furthermore, as an example, the chat room information may be stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A may request the server 10 to send the chat room information and obtain it by receiving the chat room information from the server 10.

[0195] When the chat room information is acquired, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays the chat room screen on the display unit 24 based on the acquired chat room information (A220).

[0196] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A receives user input for call search information provided as a guide on the talk room screen via the input / output unit 23 (A230). Then, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends call search request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, requesting the execution (start) of a call search (A140).

[0197] When the server 10 receives call search request information from terminal 20A via the communication interface 14, the control unit 11 of the server 10 transmits call search participation content information, which is content information for participating in the call search, to terminal 20B via the communication interface 14 (S240).

[0198] When the terminal 20B receives call search participation content information from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B displays the received call search participation content information on the talk room screen with user AA on the display unit 24 (B240).

[0199] Subsequently, call search processing is performed between the control unit 21 of terminal 20A, the control unit 11 of server 10, and the control unit 21 of terminal 20B (A150, S150, B150).

[0200] In this embodiment, however, as an example, in the process shown in Figure 1-12, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B may determine that user BB will participate in the call search when it determines, via the input / output unit 23, that user input has been made for the call search participation content information displayed on the talk room screen in step B240, in step B1510.

[0201] <Effects of the second example> This embodiment shows a configuration in which call information is displayed in a talk room (not limited to, an example of a chat room) that includes the user of the other party's terminal 20 (not limited to, an example of a first terminal) and the user of terminal 20. As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, call information is displayed in a chat room that includes the user of the first terminal and the user of the terminal, making it possible to make calls and search for the user of the first terminal from this chat room.

[0202] In this case, the talk room (not limited to, but an example of a chat room) may be displayed on the terminal 20 of the user who is the talk partner (not limited to, but an example of a first terminal), and may include content information for participating in a call search (not limited to, but an example of information for starting a call based on the first input). As an example of the effects of this configuration, the chat room includes information displayed on the first terminal for initiating a call based on the first input, thereby enabling the user of the first terminal to participate in calls and searches.

[0203] <Third Example> The third embodiment relates to enabling users to perform category-based searches when searching for calls.

[0204] The contents described in the third embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments or other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0205] <Display screen> Figure 3-1 shows an example of the transition of the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. Figure 3-1 on the left shows an example of a call search screen. In this example, category icons, divided into multiple categories, are displayed above the search area SR, which is below the search query input area SWR.

[0206] In this example, instead of being limited, multiple category icons are displayed to narrow down the search results according to your purpose, such as "Find restaurants," "Find accommodations," "Find theme parks," and "Find gifts."

[0207] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "Find a restaurant" category icon is tapped, the display changes to what is shown in the center of Figure 3-1. In this example, based on the tapping of the "Find Restaurants" category icon on the left side of Figure 3-1, the search query input area SWR automatically displays "Find Restaurants>", which includes the words "Find Restaurants" followed by a ">" prompting the user to enter a search query. Furthermore, at the top of the search area SR, category icons corresponding to multiple prefectures ("Tokyo," "Chiba," "Saitama," "Kanagawa") are displayed as examples, not as a limitation, allowing users to further refine their search by prefecture when searching for restaurants.

[0208] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "Tokyo" category icon is tapped, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 3-1. In this example, based on the fact that the "Find Restaurants" category icon was tapped on the left side of Figure 3-1, and then the "Tokyo" category icon was tapped on the center side of Figure 3-1, "Tokyo" was automatically entered after "Find Restaurants>" in the search query input area SWR, and the text "Find Restaurants>Tokyo>" is displayed.

[0209] <Processing> In this embodiment, as an example and not an limitation, in the process shown in Figure 1-12, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, as an example and not an limitation, in step S1510, transmit to the terminal 20A category icon information (hereinafter referred to as "category icon information"), which corresponds to multiple search targets separated by category, as shown in the screen of Figure 3-1, as an example and not an limitation, and which is associated with identification information such as category ID and ranking (hierarchical ranking of categories, display ranking).

[0210] The control unit 21 of terminal 20A stores category icon information received from server 10 in the storage unit 28, not limited to, but as an example. Then, in step A1510, based on the category icon information, the highest-level category icon (not limited to, but as an example in Figure 3-1, category icons such as "Find a restaurant," "Find accommodation," "Find a theme park," "Find a gift," etc.) can be displayed on the call search screen. Furthermore, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A can, not limited to, but as an example, display lower-level category icons on the call search screen step by step each time user input for a category icon is made, and update the display in the search query input area.

[0211] Furthermore, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A can, for example, determine whether or not to execute a search by determining, in step A1540, whether or not user input has been made to the "Search" button. If it determines to execute the search (A1540: YES), it can send search request information to the server 10, which includes the search query entered in the search query input area (including any words corresponding to category icons that have already been entered).

[0212] In contrast to the above, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A may send information such as the category ID corresponding to a category icon to the server 10 whenever a user inputs information for a category icon. The control unit 11 of server 10 may then send category information corresponding to the lower-level category icons to terminal 20A based on the received information. The control unit 21 of terminal 20A may then display the category icons on the call search screen based on the received information.

[0213] <Effects of the third embodiment> In this embodiment, the call search screen (not limited to this, but an example of a search screen) shows a configuration that includes multiple search targets separated by category. As an example of the effects of the embodiments obtained by such a configuration, the search convenience can be improved by including a plurality of search targets divided by category on the search screen.

[0214] <Fourth Embodiment> The fourth embodiment is an embodiment related to changing the operation authority in call search. The operation authority can be, by way of example and not limitation, the authority to operate the search screen in call search. Rather than granting all the host's authorities to the guest, it is made possible, by way of example and not limitation, to change the authority to operate the search screen from the host to the guest. Also, after changing the operation authority from the host to the guest, it is made possible to have the operation authority returned from the guest to the host.

[0215] The content described in the fourth embodiment is applicable to any of the other embodiments and any of the other variations. Also, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those already described, and the repeated description is omitted.

[0216] <Display Screen> On the left side of FIG. 4-1, an example of the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment is shown. On this screen, the characters "Tokyo Western Restaurant" are input in the search query input area SWR, and the state where the "Search" button in the lower right part of the keyboard is tapped is shown. In this case, by way of example and not limitation, it changes to a display like the one in the center of FIG. 4-1.

[0217] On this screen, by way of example and not limitation, the icon and user name of user B.B are displayed in the call information display area CIR, indicating that the guest user B.B has already participated in the call search. Also, in the search area SR, a plurality of search results (search result candidates) such as "Western Restaurant Y" and "Western Restaurant X" are displayed in a list, similar to the screen in the center of FIG. 1-9.

[0218] In this example, the operation permission change icon IC41, which includes a finger icon, is displayed floating in the lower right corner of the search area SR, not as a limiting example but as an example. This operation permission change icon IC41 can be used by user AA to change the operation permission to the guest (user BB in this example) (grant operation permission to the guest).

[0219] When the user taps the operation permission change icon IC41, the display changes to what is shown in Figure 4-1 (right side), not exclusively, but as an example. In this example, information including the message "Host changed to BB" indicating that the operating authority has been changed from server 10 to terminal 20A is sent (push-sent) to the top of the screen and displayed as push notification PN41. Note that this example screen displays "Host has been changed to BB" as an example, but it could also display something like "Operational permissions have been changed to BB".

[0220] Additionally, at the bottom of the search area SR, information PU2 is displayed, indicating the user with operational privileges, including the text "This is being operated by BB," based on the change in operational privileges to user BB.

[0221] Furthermore, based on the change in operating privileges to user BB, in this example, the operating privileges change icon IC41 is displayed in a different manner than described above, not as an example but as an illustration. Specifically, in this example, the finger icon with a diagonal line through it indicates that the user does not have permission to perform the operation.

[0222] Figure 4-2, on the left, shows an example of a search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B based on the above. Based on the change in user privileges to user BB, user BB is now able to perform searches. In this example, user BB has opened the keyboard and entered "Tokyo Western-style restaurant Omurice" into the search query input area SWR.

[0223] In this state, when the user taps the "Search" button in the lower right corner of the keyboard, the display changes to what is shown in the center of Figure 4-2 (not necessarily the only example). Specifically, in the search area SR, a list of search results containing "Western-style restaurant A" is displayed as search results for Western-style restaurants located in Tokyo that serve omurice.

[0224] When the operation permission change icon IC41 is tapped, the display changes to what is shown in Figure 4-2 (right side), not as a limited example, but as an example. In this example, information including the message "Host changed to AA" is sent (push-sent) from server 10 to terminal 20B at the top of the screen, indicating that the operation privileges have been changed to user AA (or returned to user AA), and is displayed as push notification PN43.

[0225] Additionally, at the bottom of the search area SR, information PU1 is displayed, indicating the user with operational privileges, and includes the text "This is being operated by user AA," based on the change in operational privileges to user AA. Furthermore, based on the change in operating privileges to user AA, the operating privileges change icon IC41 is displayed in the same manner as on the right side of Figure 4-1.

[0226] Furthermore, changing operational permissions may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following cases as an example: (A) Cases where control permissions are changed by muting or leaving the computer. (B) Cases in which operational permissions are changed other than (A)

[0227] (A) may include, as an example rather than an exhaustive list, cases where a user temporarily leaves their seat. In such cases, one possible method is for the user to leave their seat by muting their device. Alternatively, this could be called a "leaving seat" operation. In this case, the user may grant (transfer) control to the other user and leave their seat.

[0228] (B) may include, as an example and not an exhaustive list, cases like those shown in Figures 4-1 to 4-2, where the user does not enter a muted or away state, but rather grants (transfers) control to another user.

[0229] Figure 4-3 shows an example of the display screen of the display unit 24 of the terminal 20 in case (A). The screen on the left in Figure 4-3 is not limited to this example, but can be the same as the screen on the left in Figure 4-1, showing that the text "Tokyo Western-style restaurants" has been entered into the search query input area SWR, and the "Search" button in the lower right corner of the keyboard has been tapped. In this case, the display will change to the one shown in the center of Figure 4-3, not limited to this example.

[0230] On this screen, as an example rather than a limited one, multiple search results (search result candidates) such as "Western Restaurant Y" and "Western Restaurant X" are displayed in the search area SR, similar to the screen in the center of Figure 4-1. In addition, in the lower right corner of the search area SR, in addition to the aforementioned operation permission change icon IC41, a mute icon IC43, which includes a microphone symbol, is displayed (not limited to this, but as an example).

[0231] The right side of Figure 4-3 shows an example of a call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B, based on the user tapping the mute icon IC43 on the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in the center of Figure 4-3. On this call search screen, in the call information display area CIR, the display of the icon image and user name of user A.A has been erased. This indicates that user A.A is in the mute state.

[0232] Also, accordingly, the icon image and user name of user B.B are displayed packed to the left. Note that it is not limited to this, and the icon image and user name of user B.B may be displayed at their original positions (right side positions).

[0233] Also, the icon image and user name of the host user may be displayed on the left, and the icon image and user name of the guest user may be displayed on the right. In this case, each time the host is changed, the positions where the icon images and user names of each user are displayed may change.

[0234] Also, at the upper part of the screen, a push notification PN45 including the character "The host has been changed to B.B" is displayed, similar to the example described above.

[0235] On the left side of Figure 4-4, after the screen on the right side of Figure 4-3 is displayed, the state where "Tokyo Western Food Restaurant Omurice" is input in the search query input area SWR using the keyboard by the user and the "Search" button is tapped is shown, which is almost the same as the screen shown on the left side of Figure 4-2. However, only the icon image and user name of user B.B are displayed in the call information display area CIR.

[0236] Then, as an example rather than a limitation, it changes to a display like the one in the center of Figure 4-4. Specifically, similar to the screen in the center of Figure 4-2, search results including "Western Food Restaurant A" are displayed in a list as search results of Western food restaurants existing in Tokyo that offer omurice.

[0237] Figure 4-4, on the right, shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B after user AA has unmuted. Although not shown in the diagram, when the mute icon IC43 is tapped by the user on the call search screen (the screen in the center of Figure 4-3) displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A, the mute state of user AA is released. As a result, on the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B, the call information display area CIR, which previously only displayed the icon image and username of user BB, has reverted to displaying both user AA's icon image and username.

[0238] Additionally, at the top of the screen, information including the message "AA has returned" is sent from server 10 to terminal 20B and displayed as push notification PN47. By displaying this information, user BB can easily understand that user AA has unmuted (that user AA has returned).

[0239] <Processing> Figure 4-5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device in this embodiment. The diagram can be interpreted in the same way as in Figures 1-11, etc. This process is an example of an operation permission change process related to the change of operation permissions in this embodiment, and is not an exhaustive example; it can be executed as a subroutine of the call search process shown in Figure 1-12.

[0240] First, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines, via the input / output unit 23, whether or not user input for changing operation privileges has been made (A410). If it is determined that the action has been taken (A410: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A checks the operation permission flag stored in the memory unit 28 (A420).

[0241] Here, the operation permission flag is not limited to a specific case, but for example, it can be a flag that is set to "ON" when the user has operation permission and set to "OFF" when the user does not have operation permission. In this process, since the host is user AA and the guest is user BB, the operation permission flag can be initially set to "ON" on terminal 20A and to "OFF" on terminal 20B.

[0242] If it is determined that the operation permission flag is "ON" (A420:ON), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends operation permission change request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 to request a change in operation permission (A430).

[0243] When the control unit 11 of the server 10 receives an operation authority change request information from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S410: YES), it performs the operation authority change process (A420).

[0244] Specifically, as one method, and not limited to this, but as an example, display data from the host terminal 20 (user AA in this example) (data related to the screen (page) displayed on the host terminal 20; not limited to this, but as an example, if the call search screen is displayed, the display data of that screen; if the search results screen is displayed by an in-app browser, etc., the display data of that screen (URI, etc.)) is sent to the guest terminal 20 (terminal 20B in this example) via the communication I / F 14, along with information that allows the operation. In response, the guest terminal 20 can take over the information displayed on the host terminal 20 and display it on the display unit 24 based on the information received from the server 10.

[0245] Subsequently, when a user performs an operation on the authorized guest terminal 20 and the display is updated, the guest terminal 20 sends differential display data to the server 10. The control unit 11 of the server 10 then sends the differential data to the guest terminal 20, causing the host terminal 20 to update its display.

[0246] Please note that the above method is merely one example and is not the only way to change access permissions. Other methods may also be used. Specifically, and this is not an exhaustive example, the operation permissions may be changed via remote control. Remote control may be initiated by terminal 20 or by server 10 (in this example, the host terminal 20 is the one being remotely controlled, and the guest terminal 20 is the one performing the remote control). In this case, it is possible to change the operating permissions by taking over (controlling) the operating permissions of the shared screen.

[0247] Alternatively, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may send confirmation information to the terminal 20B to approve or reject the change in operation privileges before performing the operation privilege change processing. If the terminal 20B provides user input approving the change and the approval information is sent from the terminal 20B to the server 10, the operation privilege change processing may be performed.

[0248] Furthermore, the server 10 may be configured to perform operation permission change processing based on a request to change operation permissions from the guest user BB's terminal 20B (hereinafter referred to as the "operation permission change request"). In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may send confirmation information to the host user AA's terminal 20A to allow or deny the change in operation privileges before performing the operation privilege change processing. The operation privilege change processing may then be performed only when the terminal 20A provides an approval user input and the approval information is sent from terminal 20A to the server 10.

[0249] When the host (user AA in this example) receives operational privileges back from the guest (user BB in this example), it is possible, not limited to but as an example, for a user input via the input / output unit 23 to stop the user from changing operational privileges to terminal 20A, to send information requesting the suspension of changes to operational privileges from terminal 20A to server 10.

[0250] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 sends operation authority change information, indicating that the operation authority has been changed, to terminals 20A and 20B respectively via the communication interface 14 (S430). Furthermore, the information regarding changes in operating permissions may include information to display a push notification on terminal 20 indicating that operating permissions have been changed.

[0251] After A430, when terminal 20A receives operation permission change information from server 10 via communication I / F22, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sets the operation permission flag to "OFF" based on the received operation permission change information (A440).

[0252] Subsequently, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A checks the operation permission flag (A450), and if it determines that the operation permission flag is "OFF" (A450:OFF), it determines whether or not it has received operation permission change information from server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A460).

[0253] If it is determined that the message has been received (A460: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sets the operation permission flag to "ON" (A470).

[0254] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines whether or not to terminate the process (A490). If it determines to continue the process (A490: NO), it returns the process to A410. On the other hand, if it is determined that the process should be terminated (A490:YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A terminates the process.

[0255] If A410 determines that no user input has been made to change the operation privileges (A410:NO), or if A420 determines that the operation privilege flag is "OFF" (A420:OFF), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A will, as an example, move the processing to A450, not necessarily to any other location.

[0256] Furthermore, if A450 determines that the operation permission flag is "ON" (A450:ON), or if A460 determines that it did not receive operation permission change information (A460:NO), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A will, as an example, transfer processing to A490, not necessarily.

[0257] Similarly, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B determines the operation permission flag stored in the memory unit 28 (B410), and if it determines that the operation permission flag is "OFF" (B410:YES), it determines whether or not it has received operation permission change information from server 10 via the communication interface 22 (B420).

[0258] If it is determined that information regarding a change in operational authority has been received (B420: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B sets the operational authority flag to "ON" (B430).

[0259] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B determines via the input / output unit 23 whether or not user input for changing operation privileges has been made (B440). If it is determined that the action has been taken (B440: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B determines the operation permission flag (B450).

[0260] If it is determined that the operation permission flag is "ON" (B450:ON), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B sends operation permission change request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 to request a change in operation permission (A460).

[0261] Subsequently, when the terminal 20B receives information about the change in operation privileges from the server 10 via the communication interface 22, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20B sets the operation privilege flag to "OFF" (B470).

[0262] Next, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B determines whether or not to terminate the process (B490). If it determines to continue the process (B490: NO), it returns the process to B410. On the other hand, if it is determined that the process should be terminated (B490:YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B terminates the process.

[0263] If B410 determines that the operation permission flag is "ON" (B410:ON), or if B420 determines that it did not receive operation permission change information (B420:NO), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B will, as an example, move processing to B440, not necessarily.

[0264] Furthermore, if B440 determines that no user input has been made to change the operation privileges (B440:NO), or if B450 determines that the operation privilege flag is "OFF" (B450:OFF), the control unit 21 of terminal 20B will, as an example, transfer processing to B490, not exclusively.

[0265] Alternatively, instead of performing flag management on the terminal 20 side, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may determine whether or not to perform operation permission change processing based on the operation permission recognized on the server 10 side and the operation permission change request information sent from the host terminal 20 or the guest terminal 20.

[0266] Furthermore, it is not necessarily required that only one of the users, either the host or the guest, have operational privileges; operational privileges may be granted to both the host and the guest.

[0267] In this embodiment, as shown in the above example display screen and processing, it is possible to relay search and browsing actions between the host and guest, not as an exhaustive example, but as an example.

[0268] <Effects of the 4th embodiment> This embodiment shows a configuration in which terminal 20, based on input from the user of terminal 20, has a control unit 21 that performs a process to change the authority to operate the search screen from the user of terminal 20 to a guest terminal 20 user (not limited to, but an example of the user of the first terminal). In this case, the process to be changed may include, but is not limited to, a process to request the server 10 to change the authority to operate the search screen (a process to send operation authority change request information, etc., to the server 10). One example of the effects of this configuration is that, based on input from the terminal user, the authority to operate the search screen can be changed from the terminal user to the first terminal user, thereby improving convenience.

[0269] In this case, the authority to operate the search screen may be changed from the user of terminal 20 to the user of guest terminal 20 based on input such as approval operations (not limited to, but an example of input by the user of terminal 1, input by the user of terminal 1 on terminal 1) on guest terminal 20 by the user of terminal 20 (not limited to, but an example of the user of terminal 1). One example of the effects of this configuration is that the permissions for operating the search screen can be changed based on input from the user of the first terminal to the first terminal.

[0270] <Fourth variation (1)> The UI for changing operational permissions in the above embodiment is not limited to those described above.

[0271] Figure 4-6 shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B in this modified example. Figure 4-6 on the left shows an example of the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the guest terminal 20B. In this example, the information PU1, which indicates the user with operational authority and includes the text "AA is operating" displayed at the bottom of the search area SR, is shown to be tapped.

[0272] Then, as an example rather than a limitation, the display changes to something like the one in the center of Figure 4-6. Specifically, and this is not an exhaustive example, above Information PU1, Operation Permission Change Confirmation Information PCI is displayed to ask User BB whether or not to take over the operation permissions. In this example, the Operation Permission Change Confirmation Information PCI includes the words "Do you want to take over the host?" along with a "Yes" button to approve and a "No" button to reject.

[0273] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "Yes" button is tapped, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 4-6. Specifically, a push notification PN49 containing the text "Host has been taken over" is displayed at the top of the screen, making it easy for user BB to understand that they have taken over control of the system. Furthermore, based on the change in operating privileges to the user, the information PU1 display indicating the user with operating privileges, including the text "AA is operating this" at the bottom of the search area SR, has been removed.

[0274] In this modified example, as an example rather than an limitation, in the process shown in Figure 4-5, the control unit 21 of terminal 20B can send operation authority change request information to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 when a user input to change the operation is made via the input / output unit 23 as described above, requesting a change in operation authority. In this case, as described above, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform the operation authority change processing based on approval by user AA, or the control unit 11 of the server 10 may perform the operation authority change processing without approval by user AA.

[0275] This modified example shows a configuration in which the authority to operate the search screen is changed from the user of terminal 20 to the user of guest terminal 20, based on input such as a request to change the operational authority of guest terminal 20 by a user of guest terminal 20 (not limited to, an example of a first terminal user) (not limited to, an example of a first terminal user). One example of the effects of this configuration is that the permissions for operating the search screen can be changed based on input from the user of the first terminal to the first terminal.

[0276] In this case, the host terminal 20 may also be configured so that the authority to operate the search screen is changed from the host terminal 20 user to the guest terminal 20 user based on input from the host terminal 20 user, such as an operation to approve a request (not limited to, but an example of input by the terminal user, input by the terminal user to the terminal). One example of the effects of this modified configuration is that, based on input from the terminal user, the authority to operate the search screen can be changed from the terminal user to the first terminal user, thereby improving convenience.

[0277] <Example 5> The fifth embodiment is an embodiment that enables saving and storing the contents of meeting minutes and other documents related to call searches.

[0278] The contents described in the fifth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments or other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0279] <Data Structure> Figure 5-1 shows an example of the data structure of account management database 155C, which is an example of account management database 155 in this embodiment. In this account management database 155C, within each account management data, the call search management data also stores one or more note (Note, NOTE) data entries, not as an example but as an extension of the existing data.

[0280] The call search details data includes, but are not limited to, the call search ID, call search time information, guest ID, and search history information, as well as, but are not limited to, the note save history information.

[0281] The note save history information is not limited to this, but as an example, it can include information such as the URI corresponding to the search results page that was requested to be saved to note based on the note save request information sent from the host terminal 20, and its history can be stored.

[0282] Figure 5-2 shows an example of the data structure of note data. Note data can be used, for example, to manage information about notes generated for each call search ID. For example, it may store the call search ID, note name, corresponding host ID, corresponding guest ID, corresponding call search time information, and note content data.

[0283] In addition to the call search ID, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may also set and store information such as the noteID. In this case, as an example, the call search ID and the noteID may be associated and stored together.

[0284] Additionally, the system may store information such as the icon image and username of the host identified by the host ID, and the icon image and username of the guest identified by the guest ID.

[0285] The note name is not limited to this; for example, it can be the name of the note entered by the user on the host user's terminal 20 and registered on server 10. The control unit 11 of the server 10 may be configured to automatically set and store the note name.

[0286] Note content data is not limited to this; for example, it can be data that stores content information to be displayed on the Note screen shown on device 20, based on the Note save history information. The term "content" used here may differ in nature from the content displayed as messages in a messaging application's chat room, but it refers to content included in note, and for convenience, will be referred to as "note content" below.

[0287] Note content information is not limited to this; for example, it can be content information generated by server 10 based on search engine database 157 or a different database from search engine database 157 (details below).

[0288] In this example, the note content data is stored in association with the note save information, file ID, and content information, not as a limited but illustrative example.

[0289] The information saved in the note is not limited to this; for example, it can be the information saved in the note saving history information shown in Figure 5-1.

[0290] The file ID is not limited to any specific case; for example, it could be the file ID corresponding to the note's storage information (URI, etc.) in the search engine database 157.

[0291] Note content information is not limited to, but can include, for example, content information contained in Note, generated by the control unit 11 of server 10 based on Note storage information, file ID, and search engine database 157 (and other databases).

[0292] Note content information can include various pieces of information, not limited to, but including, for example, the store name associated with the file ID, store contact information (phone number, address, email address, etc.), etc. The corresponding URI may also be included in the note content information. As will be explained in more detail later, you may also include other information in your note content.

[0293] <Display screen> Figure 5-3, on the left, shows an example of the call search screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. In this example, the display unit 24 of terminal 20A shows the store page for "Western Restaurant Y" from the "Gourmet Site" website, based on the search results for "Western Restaurant in Tokyo".

[0294] As an example, and not limited to this, by performing an operation to slide upwards from the bottom of the screen, the display shown in the center of Figure 5-3 will appear. Specifically, as an example rather than a limited one, an area appears rising from the bottom of the screen, displaying a list of registered friends' icons and usernames, along with the text "Select Recipient," allowing you to send information about this store page to selected friends.

[0295] With this configuration, as an example (not limited to this), when performing a call search, the user of terminal 20 can share information about the search results with other users they have added as friends.

[0296] Furthermore, the area below it consists of an area containing multiple function icons. In this example, as an example and not an exhaustive list, it displays a "Copy Link" icon for copying the link to this store page, an "Other Apps" icon for launching other apps, and a "note" icon IC51 for saving information about this store page.

[0297] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "note" icon IC51 is tapped by a user, the display shown on the right side of Figure 5-3 will appear. Specifically, as an example rather than a limited one, a saved information notification area SIR51, which contains information informing users that information related to this store page has been saved to "note," is displayed superimposed in the center of the screen.

[0298] As will be explained later, when the "note" icon IC51 is tapped, information about this store page will be saved to "note," and this information (content) from note may be displayed in the chat room between user AA and user BB.

[0299] Figure 5-4, on the left, shows an example of the home screen of a messaging application, which is displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A. In this example, the "Services" tab on the home screen has been selected by the user, and several function icons related to services are displayed.

[0300] Among these, the "Recommended Services" section displays, as an example rather than a limited selection, function icons such as "Gifts" and "Stamp Shop," as well as the "note" function icon, also as an example rather than a limited selection. This "note" feature icon is not limited to any specific function; for example, it could be used as an icon for users to later review content saved to note in the call search mentioned above.

[0301] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "note" function icon is tapped by a user, the display changes to what is shown in the center of Figure 5-4. Specifically, as an example rather than being limited, a "note list" is displayed in list format for one or more of the users you have added as friends, based on the fact that you have made a call search with that user.

[0302] In this example, rather than being limited, it displays list items NL1 for a note titled "Consultation about a dinner party in August" associated with user BB, and list item NL2 for a note titled "Consultation about a drinking party in July" associated with another user, showing lists and item NL corresponding to multiple notes. In this example, the note titled "August Dinner Party Consultation" is the note in the right-hand screen of Figure 5-3 where user AA saved information about the page during a call search with user BB.

[0303] The note name can also be set by the host from terminal 20 at any time.

[0304] As an example, not limited to this case, when a user taps the note list item NL1 titled "Consultation for a dinner party in August," the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 5-4, not limited to this case. Specifically, in this example, the note title "August Dinner Party Consultation" is displayed along with the icon image of guest user BB, not as a specific example. Also, not as a specific example, date and time information related to this note is displayed.

[0305] The date and time information is not limited to this; for example, it could include the date and time the call search started, the date and time the call search ended, or the date and time the note was given a name.

[0306] Below that, note content information based on the search results saved during the call search is stored. In this example, note content information about multiple Western-style restaurants, such as "Western Restaurant Y" and "Western Restaurant A," which are search results that the user entered during the call search and saved to note, is displayed. In this example, each note content includes, but is not limited to, information such as the store name, store contact information, and corresponding URI.

[0307] The URI saved to note here is not limited to any of the following; for example, it could be any of the following. • URI corresponding to the page information displayed when a user enters user input and saves it to note. • The URI corresponding to the information of the page above the page displayed when the user entered user information to save it to note (not limited to this, but for example, the URI corresponding to the information on the store's top page).

[0308] As an example, not limited to this case, when a URI included in the note content information related to "Western-style restaurant Y" is tapped, as shown on the left side of Figure 5-5, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 5-5, also as an example, not limited to this case. Specifically, the store page for "Western Restaurant Y" on the gourmet website based on the above URI is displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A.

[0309] As described above, the process of storing information related to the search screen in a call search is performed by the terminal 20 and the server 10, and the function that allows the user to later check the contents may be called a "note function" or similar.

[0310] <Processing> Figure 5-6 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow performed by each device in this embodiment. The diagram can be interpreted in the same way as in Figure 1-11, etc.

[0311] After performing the call search process in A150, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines via the input / output unit 23 whether or not user input for displaying the note has been made (A570). In this case, as an example, as shown on the left side of Figure 5-4, based on the operation of the "note" icon IC53, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A may request information to request a note list from server 10 via communication I / F22, and the control unit 11 of server 10 may, based on the note data contained in user AA's account management data, send note list information including, for example, call search ID (or note ID) and note name via communication I / F14 to terminal 20A.

[0312] In this case, it is also possible to send information such as the host's icon image and username, identified by the host ID, and the guest's icon image and username, identified by the guest ID, based on the note data.

[0313] If it is determined that user input has been made to display a note (A570: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends note display request information, which includes information to identify the selected note (not limited to, but for example, the above call search ID (or note ID)), to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 (A580).

[0314] After performing the call search process in S150, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not it has received note request information from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S570). If it determines that the message has been received (S570: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 sends the note data, including the note content information, to the terminal 20A via the communication interface 14 (S580). Then, the control unit 11 of the server 10 terminates processing.

[0315] After A580, when note data is received from server 10 via communication I / F22, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays the note screen on the display unit 24 based on the received note data (A590). Then, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A terminates processing.

[0316] Figure 5-7 is a flowchart showing an example of the note processing flow performed by each device in this embodiment. In this process, the left side shows an example of processing performed by the control unit 21 of terminal 20A, and the right side shows an example of processing performed by the control unit 11 of server 10.

[0317] The control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines, not limited to but as an example, whether or not a search results page (search results screen) is currently being displayed (A510). If it determines that it is being displayed (A510; YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A determines, via the input / output unit 23, whether or not user input has been made to save information about this search results page to note (A520).

[0318] If it is determined that user input has been received (A520: YES), the control unit 21 of terminal 20A sends note save request information to the server 10 via the communication interface 22 (A530). Note save request information can include, but is not limited to, information such as the application ID of user AA, and, but is not limited to, information such as the URI of the displayed search results page. Then, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A proceeds to process the termination determination for A540.

[0319] The control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not it has received note save request information from the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14 (S510). If it is determined that the data has been received (S510: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs the note saving process (S520).

[0320] Specifically, as an example (not limited to this), the note save history information of the call search details data included in the account management data (user AA's account management data, not limited to this) in Figure 5-1 will store information such as the URI included in the received note save request information as note save information.

[0321] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 generates note content information based on note save history information and the search engine database 157, not limited to, but as an example. Specifically, and not limited to this example, note content information is generated based on the corresponding note storage information and the data stored in association with the file ID in the search engine database 157 corresponding to the URI of this note storage information.

[0322] Furthermore, a database associated with the search engine database 157 is configured (hereinafter referred to as the "auxiliary database" for convenience) that stores more detailed information related to search results, such as rich snippet information. The control unit 11 of the server 10 may then generate note content information based on the information stored in this auxiliary database. Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may generate note content data that includes the generated note content information and store it in the note data (update the note data).

[0323] The control unit 11 of the server 10 may also generate note content information by using the search engine database 157 and the auxiliary database in combination. Alternatively, rich snippet information may be stored in the search engine database 157.

[0324] Next, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines whether or not to terminate the process (S530). If it determines to continue the process (S530; NO), it returns the process to S510. On the other hand, if it is determined that the process should be terminated (S530: YES), the control unit 11 of the server 10 terminates the process.

[0325] Furthermore, if note content information is displayed on the display unit 24 in step A590, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20A determines via the input / output unit 23 that user input corresponding to link information such as a URI included in the note content information has been made, the control unit 21 may display the corresponding search results page on the display unit 24 based on that URI.

[0326] Additionally, the note data may be stored in the account management data of the guest device 20 user (user BB in the example above). Alternatively, the call search details may also be stored in the account management data of the guest terminal 20 user (user BB in the example above).

[0327] Furthermore, as explained in the fourth embodiment, the operating privileges may be changed to those of the guest user. For this reason, the note processing shown in Figure 5-7 may be performed by the control unit 21 of terminal 20B, similar to terminal 20A.

[0328] Alternatively, the note data may be stored in the storage unit 28 of the host terminal 20 or the guest terminal 20, either in addition to or separately from the server 10.

[0329] Furthermore, the terminal 20 or server 10 may perform a process to change the background of the title (note name) area or the overall background of the note screen, not limited to any specific example, based on the note content information contained in that note. Specifically, and this is not limited to a specific example, the above example mainly includes note content information related to "Western-style restaurants." In this case, and this is not limited to a specific example, the server 10 could set data for a Western-style background image on the note screen and send this screen data to the terminal 20 so that the note screen with a Western-style background is displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20.

[0330] <Effects of the 5th Example> This embodiment shows a configuration in which the terminal 20 has a control unit 21 that stores information related to the search screen based on input from the user of the terminal 20 to the "note" icon, etc. (not limited to, but an example of a second input to the terminal). As an example of the effects of this configuration, by performing a process to store information related to the search screen based on a second input from the terminal user to the terminal, it becomes possible to store information related to the search history (not limited to this example) and display it later, thereby improving convenience.

[0331] In this case, the terminal 20 may also display on the display unit 24 the URI and other information related to the first search screen of the search screen (not limited to, but an example of the first information) and the URI and other information related to the second search screen of the search screen (not limited to, but an example of the second information) that were stored by the second input as described above. As an example of the effects of this configuration, by displaying the first information regarding the first search screen and the second information regarding the second search screen, which are stored by the second input, on the display unit, it becomes possible to store information about multiple search screens and display it later.

[0332] In this case, terminal 20 displays on the display unit 24 a search screen (not limited to, but an example of a third search screen related to the first search screen) the page that was displayed when the user made user input to save to note, or the page higher up in the search results for the page that was displayed when the user made user input to save to note. As an example of the effects of this configuration, a third search screen related to the first search screen can be displayed based on user input from the terminal regarding first information related to the first search screen, thereby improving convenience.

[0333] <Fifth variation (1)> As illustrated in the sixth embodiment, the note content information (structure of note content information) described in the above embodiments is merely an example and is not limited to it.

[0334] Figure 5-8, on the left, shows an example of the note screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this modified example. The notes displayed on this screen are not limited to specific examples, but are similar to the notes shown on the left side of Figure 5-5, although each item is displayed in a more specific manner. Specifically, and this is not limited to specific examples, the note content information corresponding to each search result includes, in addition to the aforementioned store name, store contact information, and corresponding URI, it also includes, and this is not limited to specific examples, a summary of the store (selling points) and images used to introduce the store.

[0335] In this example, rather than being limited to a specific case, it shows the state when the image portion of the store's introduction, included in the note content information for "Western-style Restaurant Y," is tapped. Then, as an example, rather than being limited to a specific case, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 5-8. Specifically, the page for "Western Restaurant Y," which is a gourmet website page based on the above URI, is displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A.

[0336] In this modified example, as an example rather than an limitation, information such as a store overview and images for introducing the store may be stored in the aforementioned auxiliary database. Furthermore, in the process shown in Figure 5-7 (not limited to this), the control unit 11 of the server 10 can, in the note saving process of S520, store note content information, including store overviews and images for introducing stores stored in the auxiliary database, in the note content data, for example.

[0337] <Fifth variation (2)> In the above embodiment, the link to display the note may be displayed in the chat room.

[0338] Figure 5-9 shows an example of the screen transitions displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this modified example. The left side of Figure 5-9 shows a chat room screen similar to the left and center of Figure 2-1, but as an example, not a limited representation. In this example, below the text content ("Like") originating from user BB in the content display area TR, the note display content NCT is displayed as content originating from user AA, serving as a guide to display the aforementioned note screen for "August Dinner Party Consultation".

[0339] This NCT content for displaying notes is structured as follows: the upper area contains the user BB's icon image, the note name (e.g., "Discussion about a dinner meeting in August"), and information about the date and time, while the lower area contains the note icon and the word "note".

[0340] As an example, not limited to this case, when the user taps the area below, the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 5-9. Specifically, as an example rather than a limited one, a note screen similar to the one on the right side of Figure 5-4 is displayed.

[0341] In this modified example, as an example rather than an limitation, the content for displaying the note can be sent from the server 10 to terminal 20A at the time the call search process is completed, as shown in Figure 5-6. It may also be sent to terminal 20B. Alternatively, at the time the call search process is completed, the user may be allowed to input and set the note name on terminal 20A, and the server 10 may send note display content reflecting the set note name. Furthermore, the guest user BB may also be allowed to input and set the note name.

[0342] Furthermore, as an example, and not limited to this, the note display content may be sent from the server 10 to the terminal 20A each time the note saving process (S520) is performed by the control unit 11 of the server 10, as shown in Figure 5-7.

[0343] Furthermore, in relation to the aforementioned background image changes, and not limited to this, but as an example, the control unit 11 of the server 10 or the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may perform the process of changing the background image of the NCT content for displaying note, which serves as a guide to displaying the note screen shown in the talk room, based on the note content information contained in that note, as shown on the left side of Figure 5-9.

[0344] This modified example shows a configuration in which terminal 20 displays content information, including images of "note" (not limited to, but an example of image information for displaying the first and second information), for displaying the first information related to the first search screen of the call search screen and the second information related to the second search screen of the call search screen, in a talk room (not limited to, but an example of a chat room) that includes the user of terminal 20 and a guest user (not limited to, but an example of a user of terminal 1). As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, image information for displaying the first information related to the first search screen and the second information related to the second search screen is displayed in a chat room including the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal. This allows the user of the terminal to be notified of the image information that serves as a guide to displaying the first and second information in an easy-to-understand manner. Furthermore, the first and second information can be easily displayed using this image information.

[0345] <Sixth Example> The sixth embodiment is an embodiment relating to other variations of note content information described in the fifth embodiment, etc.

[0346] The contents described in the sixth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments or other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0347] <Display screen> Figure 6-1 shows an example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. In this example, the page displaying note information in the messaging application shows multiple note content pieces, such as note content information SS61 corresponding to "Western-style restaurant Y" and note content information SS62 related to "Western-style restaurant A".

[0348] In this example, each note content piece includes a "reservation" button (BT61) that, as an example rather than a limitation, allows users to make reservations at the corresponding store. Although not shown in the diagram, when the user taps the "Reserve" button BT61, the system can transition to the reservation page of the corresponding store (not limited to this example), and the store's reservation page can be displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A.

[0349] Figure 6-2 shows another example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. In this example, the page displaying note information in the messaging application shows multiple note content pieces, such as note content information SS63 corresponding to "Western-style restaurant Y" and note content information SS64 related to "Western-style restaurant A".

[0350] In this example, unlike Figure 6-1, the note content information is not limited to a specific format, but rather includes store information about the store, such as an overview of the store and promotional images, as shown in Figure 5-8 as an example. In addition, a "Reservation" button BT61 is provided, similar to Figure 6-1 as an example, rather than being limited to a specific format.

[0351] Figure 6-3 shows another example of the screen displayed on the display unit of terminal 20A in this embodiment. In this example, the page displaying note information in the messaging application shows multiple note content pieces, such as note content information SS65 corresponding to "Western-style restaurant Y".

[0352] In this example, unlike Figures 6-1 and 6-2, the note content information is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 6-2, but also includes, as an example, information about the store's menu (in this example, information about the course menus offered at the store) and information about the store's location (in this example, map information and place information). A "Reservation" button BT61 is also provided.

[0353] Furthermore, information regarding the store's menu and / or location may be displayed, or both may be displayed.

[0354] Figure 6-3 on the left shows the state after the user has tapped the image portion of "Lunch Course A" among the displayed meal courses. Then, as an example (not limited to this case), the display changes to what is shown on the right side of Figure 6-3. Specifically, as an example rather than a limiting one, the page displayed on display unit 24 is a page on the Gurusite website, specifically the page for "Western-style Restaurant Y," which introduces "Lunch Course A" at "Western-style Restaurant Y."

[0355] Figure 6-4 shows another example of the screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A in this embodiment. In this example, instead of being limited, note content information SS63 about "Western-style restaurant Y" and note content information SS64 about "Western-style restaurant A" are displayed as an example, similar to the configuration in Figure 6-2. However, between note content information SS63 and note content information SS64, an advertisement (advertisement information, advertisement content information) about Western-style restaurants in Tokyo is displayed.

[0356] The advertisements displayed may be static images or video images. Furthermore, the placement of advertisements is not necessarily limited to positions between note content information; they may also be placed at the very top or very bottom of the note page.

[0357] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 6-4 above, it is also possible to display the note content information and the advertisement information alternately, such as displaying an advertisement related to "Western Restaurant Y" below the note content information corresponding to "Western Restaurant Y," and displaying an advertisement related to "Western Restaurant A" below the note content information corresponding to "Western Restaurant A."

[0358] Additionally, it is acceptable to display advertisements that are unrelated to the note content.

[0359] Furthermore, the various note content information described above may be combined and applied, and note content information with different configurations may be displayed together on a single note screen.

[0360] <Processing> In this embodiment, one method is to have the terminal 20 send a URI corresponding to the store page information to the server 10, thereby allowing the server 10 to obtain a URI corresponding to the store's reservation page information associated with this URI (hereinafter referred to as the "reservation URI" for convenience), and the obtained reservation URI to be sent from the server 10 to the terminal 20.

[0361] Specifically, and not limited to this, as an example, in the process shown in Figure 5-7, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, in step S520, obtain a reservation URI for a store corresponding to a URI, based on the URI corresponding to the store page information contained in the note save request information received from the terminal 20A.

[0362] In this case, the method for obtaining the reserved URI is not limited to the following, but any of the following methods may be applied as examples. (A) Obtain from the auxiliary database (B) Obtain from the store's (affiliated store's) server.

[0363] In (A), as an example, not limited to any specific case, the aforementioned auxiliary database can be used to store the reservation URI for a store by associating it with a URI corresponding to the store's page information (not limited to any specific case, but for example, a URI corresponding to the store's top page). Then, based on this association, the reservation URI can be retrieved from the note content database.

[0364] In (B), as an example and not an limitation, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may request a reservation URI from the merchant's server using an API and receive and obtain the reservation URI from the merchant's server.

[0365] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can generate note content information including the acquired reservation URI and store it in the note content data.

[0366] In this case, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may associate the acquired reservation URI with an object such as a button (set a link) and include this in the note content information. Alternatively, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may include the acquired reservation URI in the note content information. The control unit 11 of the server 10 may then send the note content information including the reservation URI to the terminal 20, and the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may associate the received reservation URI with an object such as a button (set a link).

[0367] Alternatively, instead of including a reservation button in the note content information, the reservation URI may be included. In this case, on terminal 20, the reservation URI will be displayed on the note screen shown on display unit 24, rather than the reservation button.

[0368] The same approach can be used when creating note content information that includes store-related information, such as a store overview, images for introducing the store, menu information, and location information. This information is often a type of rich snippet information as described above, and may be stored in a search engine database 157 or an auxiliary database, for example, rather than being limited to this. Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, in the note saving process, obtain rich snippet information from the corresponding merchant's server and generate note content information.

[0369] Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may, in addition to the various note content information described above, generate note content information including advertising information (advertising content information), such as shown in Figure 6-4, based on an advertising database (not shown) stored in the storage unit 15, not limited to the above, but also for example.

[0370] Specifically, and not limited to this, but as an example, advertisements (advertising information) related to information saved on note could be searched and retrieved from an advertising database based on note saving history information. In this case, and not limited to this, but as an example, the user's search purpose, etc., could be analyzed based on the information saved on note (at least some of the information), and advertisements based on the analysis results could be retrieved from an advertising database. The information saved on each note may have a unified content. Therefore, displaying advertisements related to the information saved on note may provide useful information to the user.

[0371] Alternatively, the control unit 11 of server 10 may obtain the reservation URI of the advertised store using a method similar to the method for obtaining the reservation URI described above, and associate the obtained reservation URI with the advertisement. In this way, when a user taps the advertisement on the note screen, the reservation page for that store will be displayed, and they will be able to make a reservation directly. Alternatively, instead of associating the reservation URI with the advertisement, you could associate the advertisement with a URI corresponding to the store's homepage or similar page.

[0372] Furthermore, in order to clearly distinguish between advertisements and information saved by users on note, it may be possible to display information indicating that an advertisement is an advertisement (such as "promotion" or "promotional ad") associated with the advertisement, not as a limiting measure but as an example.

[0373] Furthermore, unlike the above, it is also permissible to include advertisements obtained by randomly selecting them from an advertising database in the note content information. In other words, the selected advertisements do not necessarily have to be related to the information stored on note.

[0374] <Effects of the 6th Example> This embodiment shows a configuration in which terminal 20 displays information related to the search screen saved in note, as well as information such as a "reservation" button (not limited to this, but an example of reservation information for reserving a store included in the search screen) on display unit 24. As an example of the effects of this configuration, information related to the search screen and reservation information for reserving a store included in the search screen are displayed on the terminal's display unit. This makes it possible for the terminal user to reserve a store included in the search screen from the screen displaying the information related to the search screen.

[0375] In this case, the terminal 20 may display information such as a "reservation" button, as well as store information such as an overview of the store, images for introducing the store, information about the store's menu, and information about the store's location, on the display unit 24. As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, reservation information for booking a store included in the search screen and store information about the store are displayed on the terminal's display unit, making it easy for the terminal user to check information about the store they are booking.

[0376] In this case, the store information may also include information about the store's menu or information about the store's location. As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, reservation information for booking a store included in the search screen, information about the store's menu, or information about the store's location are displayed on the terminal's display. This allows the terminal user to check information about the menu of the store they are booking or information about the store's location, thereby improving convenience.

[0377] In this case, terminal 20 may also display information related to the search screen saved in note, and advertising information related to the information contained in the search screen saved in note, on the display unit 24. As an example of the effects of this configuration, information related to the search screen and advertising information related to the information contained in the search screen are displayed on the terminal's display unit. This allows the terminal user to view the advertising information related to the information contained in the search screen together with the information contained in the search screen, thereby improving convenience.

[0378] <Example 7> The seventh embodiment is related to the fifth and sixth embodiments, and is an embodiment that provides a way to perform a call search on the note screen.

[0379] The contents described in the seventh embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments or any of the other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0380] Figure 7-1 on the left shows an example of a note screen (page) displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A. In this example, note content information SS61 and note content information SS62, similar to those in Figure 6-1, are displayed as an example, not as a limitation. In this example, a "Further Call Search" button (BT71) is provided in the upper right corner of the screen, allowing users to start a call search from this note screen.

[0381] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "Search for more calls" button BT71 is tapped by the user, the display changes to what is shown in the center of Figure 7-1. This screen is not limited to specific cases, but can be used as an example of a call search screen similar to the one on the right side of Figure 1-8, showing that the guest user BB is not participating.

[0382] Figure 7-1 on the right shows an example of the talk room screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20B in this case. In this example, as an illustration rather than a limitation, the left side of the content display area TR shows the note display content NCT, which corresponds to the aforementioned note and originates from user AA. Below that, the call search participation content SCT71, which includes the "Join" button BT21 for joining a call search and originates from user AA, is displayed.

[0383] For example, and not limited to this, when the "Join" button BT21 of the call search participation content SCT71 is tapped by the user, a screen similar to the right side of Figure 2-2 can be displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20B.

[0384] Figure 7-2, on the left, shows an example of the call search screen that subsequently appears on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A. On this call search screen, the search area SR displays a page from a gourmet website, specifically the page for "Western-style restaurant B".

[0385] Furthermore, rising from the bottom of the screen, and not limited to specific users but similar to the screen in the center of Figure 5-3 as an example, an area is displayed showing a list of registered friends' icon images and usernames, along with the words "Select Recipient" for sending information about this page to a user selected from among the registered friends.

[0386] Furthermore, the area below it contains multiple function icons, similar to the screen shown in the center of Figure 5-3.

[0387] As an example, not limited to this case, when the "note" icon IC51 is tapped by a user, the display shown in the center of Figure 7-2 will appear. Specifically, rather than being limited to a specific case, as shown in the right-hand screen of Figure 5-3 as an example, a saved information notification area SIR71 containing information notifying that information about this page has been saved to "note" is displayed superimposed in the center of the screen.

[0388] The right side of Figure 7-2 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display unit 24 of terminal 20A, which is displayed after the display in the center of Figure 7-2 has been shown, and when user input is made to display the note page shown on the left side of Figure 7-1.

[0389] In this example, instead of being limited, a note screen similar to the note page for "August Dinner Party Consultation" shown on the right side of Figure 7-1 is displayed as an example. Specifically, below the note content information SS62 corresponding to "Western Restaurant A," the note content information SS71 concerning "Western Restaurant B," which was saved on the screen in the center of Figure 7-2, is displayed. In other words, in this example, a call search is initiated between user BB and the user via the "Further Call Search" button BT71 included in the note page for "August Dinner Party Consultation" shown on the left side of Figure 7-1. The user input to save information about "Western Restaurant B" based on the search results is then added to the note for "August Dinner Party Consultation" shown on the left side of Figure 7-1, which is the starting point, and the note content information corresponding to "Western Restaurant B" is displayed.

[0390] The structure of the note content information to be displayed is not limited to this, and may also be, for example, the structure shown on the right side of Figure 5-4, the structure shown on the left side of Figure 5-8, the structure shown on the screen in Figure 6-2, the structure shown on the left side of Figure 6-3, etc. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6-4, advertising information (advertising content information) may also be displayed.

[0391] <Processing> In this embodiment, as an example rather than an limitation, in the process shown in Figure 5-6, the control unit 11 of the server 10 sends note data, including objects such as the aforementioned "Further Call Search" button BT71, to the terminal 20A via the communication I / F 14. In this case, objects such as the "Further Call Search" button BT71 can be associated with a call search ID (or note ID), as an example rather than an limitation.

[0392] The control unit 21 of terminal 20A displays a note screen containing objects such as the "Further Call Search" button BT71 on the display unit 24 at A590. If it determines that user input has been made to the object such as the "Further Call Search" button BT71 via the input / output unit 23, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A can return processing to A140. In this case, the control unit 21 of terminal 20A can include the call search ID (or noteID) associated with the user-inputted "Perform further call search" button BT71 or similar object in the call search request information and send it to the server 10.

[0393] Furthermore, as an example, not limited to the above, in the process shown in Figure 5-7, when the control unit 11 of the server 10 performs note saving processing in step S520, it can store information such as the URI included in the received note saving request information in the note saving history information of the data field of the call search ID included in the call search request information received from the terminal 20A, among the call search detail data included in the account management data of user AA in Figure 5-1. By doing this, as described above, we can store information corresponding to the search results that were requested to be saved, by adding it to the starting note.

[0394] In this embodiment, information corresponding to the search results that were requested to be saved is stored by adding it to the starting note, but this is not limited to this. Even when a call search is initiated from a note, the control unit 11 of the server 10 may store the requested information as separate data from the data of that note. In other words, a different call search ID may be set as the call search ID to constitute separate note data.

[0395] <Effects of the 7th Example> In this embodiment, terminal 20 displays information related to the search screen stored in note (not limited to, but an example of information related to the search screen) and information such as the "Further Call Search" icon (not limited to, but an example of call information) on the display unit 24. Then, based on the user input of terminal 20 to the call information (not limited to, but an example of a third input), the control unit 21 performs call-related processing. Based on the above input, terminal 20 displays at least a call search screen on the display unit 24 for the user of terminal 20 to perform a search. As an example of the effects obtained by this configuration, the terminal can make a call with the user of the first terminal by displaying information related to the search screen and call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal on its display unit, and by performing call-related processing based on a third input from the user of the terminal to the displayed call information. Furthermore, by displaying at least a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search on its display unit based on the third input, the user of the terminal can perform a search while making a call with the user of the first terminal.

[0396] In this case, the search screen is the first search screen, and the control unit 21 stores the first information about the first search screen, which is stored by user input (not limited to, but an example of the first information) that saves information about the first search screen for terminal 20 to note by the user of terminal 20. Then, after input (not limited to, but an example of the third input) from the user of terminal 20 regarding call information, the control unit 21 stores the fourth information about the fourth search screen displayed on the display unit 24, based on user input (not limited to, but an example of the fourth information) that saves information about the fourth search screen for terminal 20 to note by the user of terminal 20. The terminal 20 is configured to display the above first information and fourth information on the display unit 24. As an example of the effects of this configuration, the terminal's control unit performs a process to store the first information relating to the first search screen, which was stored by the second input. After the third input, the terminal's control unit performs a process to store the fourth information relating to the fourth search screen, which was displayed on the terminal's display unit, based on the fourth input from the terminal user to the terminal. This ensures that, in addition to the first information relating to the first search screen, the fourth information relating to the fourth search screen is also stored. Furthermore, by displaying both the first and fourth information on the terminal's display unit, the terminal user can confirm information relating to both the first and fourth search screens.

[0397] <Eighth Example> The eighth embodiment is an embodiment that suggests saving information about stores that were not saved in note, as described above, to note by displaying this information on the note screen.

[0398] The contents described in the eighth embodiment are applicable to any of the other embodiments or other modifications. Furthermore, components identical to those previously mentioned are given the same symbols, and their explanation is omitted.

[0399] <Display screen> Figure 8-1 shows an example of the note screen displayed on the display unit 24 of the terminal 20A in this embodiment. This note screen, rather than being limited, displays note content information SS61 about "Western-style restaurant Y" and note content information SS62 about "Western-style restaurant A," similar to the note screen shown on the left side of Figure 7-1 as an example.

[0400] Furthermore, below the note content information SS62, as an example rather than a limited one, recommended store information is displayed, which includes information about stores not yet saved on note, generated by server 10, and which is recommended to be saved on note. In this example, as an example rather than a limited one, recommended store information is displayed in a carousel format from left to right, along with the text, "Why not save this site on note too?"

[0401] Such a display can be seen as a feature (a feature to prevent users from forgetting to save) that helps users save to note later, in cases where they become engrossed in a call and forget to save to note, or simply forget to save to note by accident.

[0402] The structure of the note content information to be displayed is not limited to this, and may also be, for example, the structure shown on the right side of Figure 5-4, the structure shown on the left side of Figure 5-8, the structure shown on the screen in Figure 6-2, the structure shown on the left side of Figure 6-3, etc. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6-4, advertising information (advertising content information) may also be displayed.

[0403] <Processing> In this embodiment, as an example but not an exhaustive one, in the process shown in Figure 5-6, the control unit 11 of the server 10 determines, as an example but not an exhaustive one, that it has received note display request information from terminal 20A at S570 (S570: YES), and based on the set conditions, searches the search engine database 157 for information about stores that are not stored in the note storage history information of the call search details data of user AA's account management data.

[0404] Here, instead of being limited, you may set at least one of the following conditions as an example. (C1) Whether or not the store page was displayed on the display unit 24 of the host terminal 20 during the call search. (C2) The duration of time (length of time) during which the store page was displayed on the display unit 24 of the host terminal 20 in a call search. (C3) During the call search, the time period in which the store page was displayed on the display unit 24 of the host terminal 20. (C4) Relationship between host attribute information and guest attribute information (C5) The state of the conversation between the host and guest during the call search / the level of engagement

[0405] (C1) could be a condition, not limited to but as an example, relating to selecting stores whose pages were displayed on host terminal 20, even though they were not saved to note, but were accessed based on the URI from the search results list. Not limited to but as an example, it could also be determined whether the store page was displayed more than a set number of times (or more than a set number of times). The set number of times could be 1.

[0406] In this case, not as an example but as an example, if a user visits too many pages, the number of stores suggested to the user may become too large. For this reason, not as an example but as an example, if the number of pages a user visits exceeds a set number, stores that the user visited most recently may be excluded from the suggestions.

[0407] It should be noted that, as an example and not limited to this, it is also possible to enable the display of external website store pages via a web browser. However, in this case, it may be difficult for server 10 to detect this. On the other hand, when a page is opened in the in-app browser of a messaging application, information such as the time the page was opened (or closed), the content of user input on the displayed page, and the time the user transitioned to another page can be sent from the terminal 20 to the server 10, although this is not limited to this case. Based on this information, the control unit 11 of the server 10 can obtain information regarding the display of the page on the terminal 20.

[0408] (C2) was not saved in note, but can be used, not limited to, as an example, as a condition to select stores that were accessed based on a URI from the search results list and whose store page was displayed on the host terminal 20 for a reasonably long period of time. Not limited to, as an example, it can be used to determine whether the display time is equal to or exceeds a set time.

[0409] Furthermore, the display time is not limited to the time during which the information was continuously displayed on terminal 20; it may also be the sum of the times during which the information was displayed intermittently on terminal 20.

[0410] In this case as well, if the page is opened in the in-app browser, the server 10 can be configured to determine the display time.

[0411] (C3) was not saved in note, but as an example, it can be used as a condition to select a store based on the time of day when the store page was displayed on the host terminal 20, accessed based on the URI from the search results list. As an example, since the user's attention span may be reduced during late-night hours, stores that were displayed at that time may not be selected, while stores that were displayed during daytime hours may be selected.

[0412] (C4) Although not saved in note, it can be used as a condition for selecting stores that the host and guest are likely to be interested in, based on the host's and guest's attribute information. Not limited to this, but as an example, user attribute information such as gender, age, and occupation can be referenced, and stores that the host and guest are likely to be interested in can be selected based on this information. Not limited to this, but as an example, a match score can be calculated based on the attribute information, and stores with a match score above (or exceeding) a threshold can be selected.

[0413] Furthermore, instead of accessing user attribute information without permission, it is acceptable to access user attribute information only after obtaining the user's consent (permission). Alternatively, instead of using both the host's and guest's attribute information, the store may be selected based on the attribute information of only one of the users.

[0414] (C5) was not saved in the note, but it can be used as a condition for selecting a store based on the conversation status / level of engagement between the host and guest in that call search. Not limited to this, but as an example, with the user's consent (permission), the conversation status and level of engagement can be determined from the call content. Not limited to this, but as an example, an index value such as the level of engagement can be calculated, and if the calculated index value is above (or exceeds) a threshold, the store whose store page was displayed on the host's terminal 20 can be selected.

[0415] The control unit 11 of server 10 selects at least one store based on at least one of the above conditions and retrieves its file ID (or URI) and associated information from the search engine database 157. The control unit 11 of server 10 then uses the retrieved information not exclusively, but as an example, to provide recommended store information, and in S580, it can include this information in note data and send it to terminal 20A.

[0416] The control unit 21 of terminal 20A can, in A590, display a note screen containing recommended store information on the display unit 24 based on note data received from server 10.

[0417] Server 10 may also set a display priority (priority) for the recommended store information and send it to terminal 20A. In this case, instead of being limited, you could, for example, set the priority for displaying recommended store information based on the above conditions, such as in order of most impressions, longest display time, highest match based on user attribute information, or highest level of excitement.

[0418] <Eighth Example> This embodiment shows a configuration in which terminal 20 displays store information not stored in note and search screen information stored in note on display unit 24 based on set conditions. As an example of the effects of this configuration, based on the set conditions, store information and search screen information that are not stored as search screen information are displayed on the terminal's display. This allows, for example, but is not limited to, recommended store information that is not stored as search screen information, to be viewed by the terminal user together with stored search screen information, thereby improving convenience.

[0419] In this case, the set conditions may be determined based on whether or not store information was displayed on terminal 20, the time for which store information was displayed on terminal 20, and at least one of the following: user attribute information of terminal 20 and guest user attribute information (not limited to, but examples of information related to the terminal user and the first terminal user). As an example of the effects of this configuration, information about stores that is not stored as information on the search screen can be appropriately determined based on at least one of the following: whether or not information about stores is displayed on the terminal, the time for which information about stores is displayed on the terminal, and information relating to the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal.

[0420] <Other> The above embodiment primarily demonstrates searching for stores using phone calls, but it is not limited to this. The same method can be applied to searching for things other than stores using phone calls.

[0421] Furthermore, as an example rather than an limitation, at least some of the processes described above as being performed by the control unit 11 of the server 10 may be performed by the control unit 21 of the terminal 20.

[0422] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the server for distributing various applications (messaging applications) (the server from which terminal 20 downloads applications) may be configured as a different server from the server that provides the corresponding services (applications). In other words, the server for distributing applications and the server that performs application management processing as described in the above embodiment may be configured as physically separate servers, or they may be configured as a single server.

[0423] Furthermore, the term "application" is not limited to programs for various applications, but may also include, for example, programs that provide the functionality of other services as a feature of the underlying application (for example, a program that provides the functionality of a payment service as a feature of a messaging application, or vice versa), or programs for updating the underlying application. It may also include data used by application programs (which may also include data for application updates).

[0424] Furthermore, while the above embodiments describe a method for realizing the present invention using a client-server system, not as an example but as an limitation, the invention is not limited to this. As mentioned above, it may also be realized by a distributed system or other system in which the functions of a server or server system are provided to the terminal 20. Not as an example but as an limitation, the processing described in the flowchart described in the above embodiments as being performed by a server or server system may be performed by the terminal. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0425] 1. Communication System 10 servers 20 devices 30 Networks

Claims

1. A program executed by a terminal that communicates with the first terminal, To display call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal on the display unit of the terminal, Based on a first input by the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, the control unit of the terminal performs processing related to the call. Based on the first input, the terminal performs at least the following actions: displaying a search screen on the display unit for the user of the terminal to perform a search; The search screen is displayed on the first terminal, Based on input from the user of the terminal, the terminal performs a first process, which is to change the authority to operate the search screen from the user of the terminal to the user of the first terminal, or a second process, which is to ensure that both the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal have the authority.

2. The program according to Claim 1, The first process is performed by the control unit based on input from the user of the terminal to put it into a muted state or an away state.

3. A program executed by a terminal that communicates with a first terminal, To display call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal on the display unit of the terminal, Based on a first input by the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, the control unit of the terminal performs processing related to the call. Based on the first input, the terminal performs at least the following actions: displaying a search screen on the display unit for the user of the terminal to perform a search; A call with the user of the first terminal is initiated based on control by the control unit after the search screen is displayed on the display unit.

4. The program according to claim 3, A call with the user of the first terminal is initiated based on control by the control unit, after the search screen is displayed on the display unit and the user of the first terminal has entered a response to the call.

5. The program according to claim 3, The search screen is displayed on the first terminal.

6. A program according to claim 1 or claim 3, The aforementioned call information is displayed in a chat room that includes the user of the first terminal and the user of the terminal.

7. L according to claim 6, The chat room is displayed on the first terminal and includes information for initiating the call based on the first input.

8. A program according to claim 1 or claim 3, The aforementioned search screen includes multiple search targets, each categorized by type.

9. A program according to claim 1 or claim 3, Based on a second input to the terminal by the user of the terminal, the control unit performs a process to store information related to the search screen, which is executed by the terminal.

10. The program according to claim 9, The terminal then displays the first information relating to the first search screen and the second information relating to the second search screen, which were stored by the second input, on the display unit.

11. The program according to claim 10, The terminal performs the action of displaying image information for displaying the first information and the second information in a chat room that includes the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal.

12. The program according to claim 10, Based on the user input of the first information to the terminal, the terminal displays a third search screen related to the first search screen on the display unit.

13. The program according to claim 9, The terminal performs the following actions: displaying information related to the search screen and reservation information for reserving a store included in the search screen on the display unit.

14. The program according to claim 13, The terminal performs the action of displaying the aforementioned reservation information and store information relating to the store on the display unit.

15. The program according to claim 14, The store information includes information about the store's menu or information about the store's location.

16. The program according to claim 9, The terminal performs the following actions: displaying information related to the search screen and advertising information related to the information contained in the search screen on the display unit.

17. The program according to claim 9, The information related to the search screen and the call information are displayed on the display unit. Based on a third input from the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, the control unit performs processing related to the call. Based on the third input, the terminal performs at least the following actions: display the search screen for the terminal user to perform a search on the display unit.

18. The program according to claim 17, The aforementioned search screen is the first search screen, The control unit performs a process to store the first information relating to the first search screen, which has been stored by the second input. After the third input, the control unit performs a process to store fourth information relating to the fourth search screen displayed on the display unit, based on a fourth input to the terminal by the user of the terminal. The terminal performs the actions of displaying the first information and the fourth information on the display unit.

19. The program according to claim 9, Based on the set conditions, the terminal displays store information and information related to the search screen on the display unit, which are not stored as information related to the search screen.

20. The program according to claim 19, The set conditions are determined based on at least one of the following: whether or not information about the store is displayed on the terminal, the time for which information about the store is displayed on the terminal, and information relating to the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal.

21. A program according to claim 1 or claim 3, The search screen is determined based on a call between the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal.

22. A method for processing information of a terminal that communicates with a first terminal, To display call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal on the display unit of the terminal, Based on a first input by the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, the control unit of the terminal performs processing related to the call. Based on the first input, the display unit includes at least displaying a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search. The search screen is displayed on the first terminal, The control unit performs a first process, based on input from the user of the terminal, to change the authority to operate the search screen from the user of the terminal to the user of the first terminal, or a second process, to ensure that both the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal have the authority to operate the search screen.

23. A terminal that communicates with the first terminal, A display unit that displays call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal, The system includes a control unit that performs call-related processing based on a first input by the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, The display unit, based on the first input, displays at least a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search. The search screen is displayed on the first terminal, The control unit performs a first process, based on input from the user of the terminal, to change the authority to operate the search screen from the user of the terminal to the user of the first terminal, or a second process, to ensure that both the user of the terminal and the user of the first terminal have the authority.

24. A method for processing information of a terminal that communicates with a first terminal, To display call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal on the display unit of the terminal, Based on a first input by the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, the control unit of the terminal performs processing related to the call. Based on the first input, the display unit includes at least displaying a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search. A call with the user of the first terminal is initiated based on control by the control unit after the search screen is displayed on the display unit.

25. A terminal that communicates with a first terminal, A display unit that displays call information for making a call with the user of the first terminal, The system includes a control unit that performs call-related processing based on a first input by the user of the terminal to the aforementioned call information, The display unit, based on the first input, displays at least a search screen for the user of the terminal to perform a search. A call with the user of the first terminal is initiated based on control by the control unit after the search screen is displayed on the display unit.

Images