Information processing device, information processing method, and storage medium

Abstract

This storage medium stores a computer program for executing a method. The method receives a selection of a channel to which a message written in a chat is transcribed, and displays the message transcribed to the selected channel on a screen of the selected channel. On the screen of the channel on which the transcribed message is displayed, an object capable of identifying that the message is the transcribed message is displayed.

Description

Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Storage Medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to information processing technology for providing a chat service.

[0002] In recent years, chat services that allow users to share messages posted in one-on-one or groups of three or more people have become widespread. In particular, chats in groups of three or more people (group chats) can share the same message with all members in one post, or view all posts of other members in one chat room.

[0003] On the other hand, since all posts of all members are gathered in one place in a group chat, for example, when one person posts a message for contact or question to other members, many replies are posted in one chat room, resulting in poor visibility of messages. In Patent Document 1, replies from each member to a message addressed to the entire group (group message) are displayed for each group message in a separate chat room from the chat room where all messages in the group chat are posted. In Patent Document 1, the messages displayed for each group message are displayed while retaining metadata such as the poster and the posting date and time, and the visibility is not deteriorated. [[ID=eleven]]

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 特開2017-041236号公報

[0005] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that messages that can be displayed in a separate chat room while retaining metadata are limited to group messages and reply messages identified by the processor as being sent as replies to the group messages.

[0006] The present disclosure is a storage medium storing a computer program for executing a method, the method comprising: receiving a selection of a channel to which a message written in a chat is to be posted; displaying the message posted to the selected channel on a screen of the selected channel; and on the screen of the channel on which the posted message is displayed, an object that can identify that the message is the posted message is displayed.

[0007] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] A system configuration diagram showing the entire system of this embodiment. A block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the client terminal and chat tool server. A block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the client terminal and chat tool server. A flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in the first embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the channel screen displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal in the first embodiment. A flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in the second embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the channel screen and chat room screen displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal in the second embodiment. A flowchart illustrating the process of generating chat message data based on message information in the third embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the channel screen displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal in the third embodiment. A flowchart illustrating the process of obtaining message information of the selected chat (S403 or S603) in the fourth embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the chat room screen displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal in the fourth embodiment.

[0009] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 shows an example of the system configuration of the entire system in this embodiment. The client terminal 110 and chat tool server 120 described in this embodiment are connected via network 100 in an internet environment.

[0011] The client terminal 110 is an information processing device such as a PC or smartphone. By running a chat application, the client terminal 110 can communicate constantly with other client terminals 110 and the chat tool server 120 via the network 100, enabling instant message sharing. The chat tool server 120, which provides the chat service, can communicate with multiple client terminals 110 simultaneously and manages chat users and messages posted by each user.

[0012] Figure 2 shows an example configuration of an information processing device that can be used as a client terminal 110 and a chat tool server 120 in this embodiment. The information processing controller unit 200 is a controller that oversees the information processing control related to the operation of the client terminal 110 and the chat tool server 120, and is connected to an operation unit 209 and a display unit 210.

[0013] The information processing controller unit 200 has a CPU 201. The CPU 201 starts the OS using a boot program stored in the ROM 202. The CPU 201 executes application programs stored in the storage 204 on this OS, thereby performing various processes. The RAM 203 is used as the workspace for the CPU 201. In addition to providing a workspace, the RAM 203 also provides an image memory area for temporarily storing image data.

[0014] Storage 204 is an auxiliary storage device such as an SSD or HDD, and stores the application program, image data, various settings, and history.

[0015] The CPU 201 is connected via the system bus 208 to the ROM 202, RAM 203, and storage 204, along with the operation interface 205, display interface 206, and network interface 207.

[0016] The control unit I / F 205 is an interface with the control unit 209, such as a keyboard or mouse, and outputs information entered by the user via the control unit 209 to the CPU 201.

[0017] The display interface 206 outputs image data to be displayed on the display unit 210, such as a display, to the display unit 210. Note that the operation unit 209 and the display unit 210 are not essential components of the chat tool server 120.

[0018] The network interface 207 is connected to network 100 and performs information input and output with other client terminals 110 and chat tool server 120 via network 100.

[0019] Figure 3(a) shows an example of the software configuration of the client terminal 110 in this embodiment. In this disclosure, these software configurations are realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0020] The data transmission / reception unit 301 communicates with the chat tool server 120 via the network 100 and has the function of sending requests and receiving data. The operation input unit 402 has the function of receiving messages and instructions entered by the user from the operation unit 209. The display output unit 303 has the function of displaying various information on the display unit 210. The chat application 304 connects to the chat tool server 120 that provides the chat service and has the function of sending and receiving messages to and from the chat tool server 120.

[0021] Figure 3(b) shows an example of the software configuration of the chat tool server 120 in this embodiment. In this disclosure, these software configurations are realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0022] The data transmission / reception unit 311 receives chat message requests from client terminals 110 via the network 100.

[0023] The tenant management unit 312 manages tenant information in the tenant information database 316, which defines the scope of use for each contracted user, such as a corporation or individual, who uses the chat tool server 120. The data stored in the tenant information database 316 is saved in the storage 204.

[0024] The user management unit 313 has the function of managing users who use the chat tool server 120. The user management unit 313 manages information such as user IDs, permissions, and user groups to which users belong in the user information database 317. The data stored in the user information database 317 is saved in the storage 204.

[0025] The chat room management unit 314 manages users who participate in chat rooms created by users, as well as chat history. The chat history includes message information, such as message identification information to identify individual messages, message content, the user who posted the message, and the date and time the message was posted.

[0026] The team management unit 315 manages the users who join teams, which are user groups created by users, as well as threads and permissions for each team.

[0027] Figure 4 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 4 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0028] Figure 5 shows an example of the channel screen 500 and chat room screen 510 that are displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0029] In S401, the team management unit 315 determines whether to import messages from the chat history when creating a thread in a channel. Specifically, for example, when the user presses the post start button 504 for creating a new thread displayed on the channel screen 500 shown in Figure 5(a), a popup 505 is displayed to present the user with options. The popup 505 presents the user with the option to create a new thread or create a thread by importing messages from the chat, and determines whether to import messages from the chat history depending on the item selected by the user. If "create a new thread" is selected and messages are not to be imported from the chat history, the process proceeds to S405. If "import from chat" is selected and messages are to be imported from the chat history, the process proceeds to S402.

[0030] In S402, the team management unit 315 obtains message identification information from the chat application 304 to identify the message to be imported selected by the user. Specifically, the chat application 304 displays a list of chats and the chat room of the selected chat, in this case the chat history of "Group Y," on the chat room screen 510, as shown in Figure 5(b). The chat application 304 accepts the user's selection of the chat history to be imported by allowing the user to directly specify the message using dashed lines 506, etc. The team management unit 315 obtains the identification information of the selected message from the chat application 304. Here, the method of selection is not limited to this; for example, the range of the chat history may be specified by date and time. Also, by selecting another chat from the list of chats on the chat room screen 510, the user can select the history of a different chat. The team management unit 315 obtains the message identification information of the message to be imported selected by the user from the chat application 304.

[0031] In S403, the team management unit 315 extracts message information corresponding to the message identification information obtained in S402 from the chat history managed by the chat room management unit 314. The message information includes at least the message identification information, the user who posted the message, the date and time the message was posted, and the message content. The message content may include text, images, videos, audio messages, etc. In addition, the message information may also include read status information and edit / delete flags indicating whether the message has been edited or deleted.

[0032] In S404, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data based on the message information acquired in S403. Specifically, the chat message data generated here is thread message data for creating the thread 501 shown in Figure 5(a). In the thread 501 created with this chat message data, the oldest message 503a acquired in S403 is used as the body of the thread, and subsequent messages 503b are displayed as replies to the thread. At this time, based on the message information, the user who posted each message is identifiable on the created thread, and the messages are displayed in chronological order of posting date and time, thereby recreating the chat history. In the example shown in Figure 5(a), a title 502 is set for thread 501, but the presence or absence of a title is optional; there can be no title, or a title can be set using any method specified during import. In addition, a marker may be added to the thread created in S404 to distinguish it from a thread newly created in S406 without importing messages, as described later. This makes it possible to see whether or not previously posted messages have been imported into the messages on the thread.

[0033] In S405, the team management unit 315 obtains the title and body of the thread to be created from the chat application 304. Specifically, the chat application 304 displays fields on the screen for the user to enter the thread title and body, waits for user input, and once the user has entered the information, the team management unit 315 obtains that input.

[0034] In S406, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data based on the title and body of the acquired thread. Specifically, the chat message data generated here is data to create a thread containing only the title 502 and body 503a by deleting message 503b from thread 501 shown in Figure 5(a).

[0035] In S407, the team management unit 315 creates a thread displaying messages according to the posting user and posting time based on the chat message data acquired in S404 or S406, and then terminates the series of processes.

[0036] In this embodiment, the history of one-on-one individual chats and group chats involving three or more people can be imported into a thread along with message information including the posting user and posting date and time, thereby enabling the transition to a highly visible thread.

[0037] In this embodiment, the import target is chat, but threads from other channels may also be imported.

[0038] [Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, the creation of a new thread was instructed from the team's channel screen, but in this embodiment, the creation of a new thread is instructed from the chat room screen.

[0039] Figure 6 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of creating a new thread in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 6 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0040] Figure 7 shows an example of the channel screen 700 and chat room screen 710 that are displayed when the chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0041] In the chat room screen 710 shown in Figure 7(b), when the detailed settings button 701 provided for each chat is pressed, a popup 702 is displayed to accept the instruction to export the message to the thread.

[0042] In S601, the team management unit 315 obtains chat identification information from the chat application 304 to identify the chat selected by the user to be exported. Specifically, in response to the press of the Export to Thread button on the popup 702, the chat application 304 displays a screen allowing the user to select the chat to export and accepts the user's selection. The team management unit 315 obtains the chat identification information of the selected chat from the chat application 304. This is basically the same as S402, but the difference is that the target individual chat or group chat is predetermined, so other individual chats or group chats cannot be selected. In the example shown in Figure 7(b), the popup 702 is displayed for group Y, so if the Export to Thread button is pressed as is, only messages from group Y can be selected. If you want to select messages from a group other than group Y, for example, messages from group Z, you need to press the button 701 for detailed settings of group Z to display the popup 702, and then press the Export to Thread button.

[0043] In S602, the team management unit 315 obtains channel identification information from the chat application 304 to identify the export destination channel selected by the user. Specifically, the chat application 304 displays a screen allowing the user to select the export destination channel and accepts the selection. The team management unit 315 obtains the channel identification information of the selected channel from the chat application 304. The user is allowed to select from a list of teams and channels as shown in Figure 5(a), and the identification information of the selected channel is obtained. Note that the export destination may be selected in other ways, as long as the export destination channel is uniquely determined.

[0044] In S603, the team management unit 315 acquires message information corresponding to the message identification information of the messages included in the chat history acquired in S601 from the chat history managed by the chat room management unit 314. Specifically, S603 is the same as S403 in the first embodiment.

[0045] In S604, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data based on the message information acquired in S603. The chat message data generated here is the same thread message data as S404 in the first embodiment. Here, for the thread created in S604, a mark may be added to distinguish it from a newly created thread without importing a message. As a result, it becomes possible to know whether a message posted in the past has been imported into the message on the thread.

[0046] In S605, the team management unit 315 creates a thread in which messages are displayed according to the posting user and posting date and time based on the chat message data acquired in S604 at the export destination selected in S602, and ends a series of processes.

[0047] In this embodiment, the chat history can be transferred to the thread while maintaining good visibility from the chat room screen 710 instead of the channel screen 700.

[0048] Note that in this embodiment, the export target is a chat, but the thread of the channel may be the export target.

[0049] [Third Embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, it has been realized to import individual chats, group chats, or threads of separate channels while maintaining good visibility. Here, among the chat histories to be imported, there may be messages of users who do not belong to the team in which the thread to be imported into the chat history is installed. If the chat history is directly imported into the thread in that state, there is a risk of causing confusion because messages of users who do not belong to the team exist on the thread.

[0050] Therefore, in the third embodiment, it is possible to identify whether or not the user who posted the imported message belongs to the team.

[0051] Figure 8 shows a flowchart illustrating the process (S404 or S604) for generating chat message data based on message information in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 8 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204. Figure 9 shows an example of a channel screen 900 displayed when a chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0052] In S801, the team management unit 315 obtains a list of members belonging to the team that will create the thread. Specifically, it obtains member information for the team managed by the team management unit 315.

[0053] In S802, the team management unit 315 extracts message information for each posting user from the message information acquired in S403 and S603. Specifically, it extracts message information for one posting user and performs S803 to S804, repeating this until S803 to S804 has been performed for the message information of all posting users.

[0054] In S803, the team management unit 315 determines whether the user who posted the extracted message information is a member of the team. Specifically, it compares the posting user included in the message information with the list of members obtained in S801. If it is determined that the user who posted the message information is a member of the team, it returns to S802 and repeats S803 for the message information of the next posting user. If it is determined that the user who posted the message information is not a member of the team, it proceeds to S804.

[0055] In S804, the team management unit 315 adds a note to the message information indicating that the person is not a member. Specifically, a note 903 as shown in Figure 9(a) may be added, or other symbols or symbols may be used to distinguish the person. Alternatively, a confirmation screen 910 as shown in Figure 9(b) may be displayed immediately before S804.

[0056] Repeat steps S803 and S804 for all posting users to check whether any notes are needed for all message information.

[0057] In S805, the team management unit 315 generates chat message data, similar to S404 and S604, based on the message information that has been checked to determine whether or not a note is necessary. The chat message data generated here, for message information that includes note information, is data for creating the channel screen 900 shown in Figure 9(a). On the channel screen 900, for messages that correspond to message information that includes note information, a note 903 is displayed in association with the message.

[0058] This embodiment allows for the identification of whether the user who posted the imported message belongs to the team when importing messages from individual chats, group chats, or threads in other channels. This enables users belonging to the team to view the message history of the thread without confusion.

[0059] [Fourth Embodiment] In the first to third embodiments, it was realized that selected chats or threads could be imported as threads in any channel. However, some chats or threads may contain messages that should not be shared with anyone other than the members participating in them, for reasons such as confidentiality. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, when attempting to import a chat or thread, the import is restricted if the imported messages contain information that should not be shared.

[0060] Figure 10 shows a flowchart illustrating the process (S403 or S603) for acquiring message information of a selected chat in this embodiment. In this disclosure, the process shown in Figure 10 is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in one of the storage devices, ROM 202, RAM 203, or storage 204.

[0061] Figure 11 shows an example of a chat room screen displayed when a chat application is executed on the client terminal 110 in this embodiment.

[0062] In S1001, the team management unit 315 retrieves a list of selected messages. Here, the message information includes the user who posted the message, the date and time the message was posted, the message content, and sharing information specifying whether sharing is permitted or prohibited.

[0063] In S1002, the team management unit 315 determines whether or not there are any messages in the message information that are designated as prohibited from being shared. Specifically, when a message is posted, the chat application 304 receives the sharing information of that message from the user and includes the received sharing information in the message information. Here, messages that are designated as prohibited from being shared in the sharing information are displayed, for example, in the chat room screen 1100 shown in Figure 11(a), with a symbol 1101 indicating prohibited sharing associated with the message. The team management unit 315 refers to this sharing information and determines whether there is at least one message that is set as prohibited from being shared. If there is at least one message designated as prohibited from being shared among the messages to be imported, the process proceeds to S1003; if there are no messages designated as prohibited from being shared, the process proceeds to the next step (S404 or S604). Note that the sharing information does not have to be on a message-by-message basis; for example, it may be specified on a chat or thread basis, or on a user basis.

[0064] In step S1003, the team management unit 315 displays a pop-up screen 1110, as shown in Figure 11(b), on the chat application 304. When the OK button is pressed, the entire import process is terminated due to an error.

[0065] In this embodiment, if there are messages containing confidential information that should not be shared with anyone other than team members, confidentiality can be protected by restricting the unauthorized export of the group's chat history to other threads.

[0066] This disclosure allows for the display of messages arbitrarily selected by the user from messages posted to a chat service, in a visually appealing format. (Other embodiments)

[0067] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by a process in which one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions. This disclosure includes the following configurations and methods.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are attached to make the scope of the invention public.

[0069] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-227348, filed on December 24, 2024, and all of its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A storage medium for storing a computer program that performs a method, wherein the method receives the selection of a channel to which a message written in a chat is to be transcribed, displays the message transcribed to the selected channel on the screen of the selected channel, and on the screen of the channel on which the transcribed message is displayed, an object that can identify the message as a transcribed message is displayed.

2. The storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel is a space for conversations within a team, and the chat is a space for conversations independent of the team and the channel.

3. The storage medium according to claim 2, characterized in that multiple channels are grouped by team.

4. The storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the chat includes a group chat which is a chat involving three or more people.

5. The storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the object is displayed in correspondence with the transcribed message.

6. The storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the message to be transcribed is a message selected from among a plurality of messages written in the chat.

7. The storage medium according to claim 1, characterized in that the transcribed message is displayed as a thread on the channel's screen.

8. A storage medium for storing a computer program that performs a method, wherein the method receives a selection of a channel to which a message written in a chat is to be transcribed, displays the message transcribed to the selected channel on the screen of the selected channel, and on the screen of the channel on which the transcribed message is displayed, an object is displayed that indicates that the message is a transcribed message.

9. The storage medium according to claim 8, characterized in that the channel is a space for conversations within a team, and the chat is a space for conversations independent of the team and the channel.

10. The storage medium according to claim 9, characterized in that multiple channels are grouped by team.

11. The storage medium according to claim 8, characterized in that the chat includes a group chat which is a chat involving three or more people.

12. The storage medium according to claim 8, characterized in that the object is displayed in correspondence with the transcribed message.

13. The storage medium according to claim 8, characterized in that the message to be transcribed is a message selected from among a plurality of messages written in the chat.

14. The storage medium according to claim 8, characterized in that the transcribed message is displayed as a thread on the channel's screen.

15. An information processing device comprising: a memory for storing at least one program; and at least one processor which, by executing the program, accepts the selection of a channel to which a message written in chat will be transcribed, and causes the message transcribed to the selected channel to be displayed on the screen of the selected channel, wherein on the screen of the channel on which the transcribed message is displayed, an object that can identify the message as a transcribed message is displayed.

16. The information processing device according to claim 15, characterized in that the channel is a space for conversation within a team, and the chat is a space for conversation independent of the team and the channel.

17. The information processing device according to claim 16, characterized in that multiple channels are grouped by team.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the chat includes a group chat which is a chat involving three or more people.

19. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the object is displayed in correspondence with the transcribed message.

20. The information processing device according to claim 15, characterized in that the message to be transcribed is a message selected from among a plurality of messages written in the chat.

21. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the transcribed message is displayed as a thread on the channel's screen.

22. An information processing device comprising: a memory for storing at least one program; and at least one processor which, by executing the program, accepts the selection of a channel to which a message written in chat will be transcribed, and causes the message transcribed to the selected channel to be displayed on the screen of the selected channel, wherein on the screen of the channel on which the transcribed message is displayed, an object indicating that the message is a transcribed message is displayed.

23. The information processing device according to 22, characterized in that the channel is a space for conversation within a team, and the chat is a space for conversation independent of the team and the channel.

24. The information processing apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that multiple channels are grouped by team.

25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the chat includes a group chat which is a chat involving three or more people.

26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the object is displayed in correspondence with the transcribed message.

27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the message to be transcribed is a message selected from among a plurality of messages written in the chat.

28. The information processing apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the transcribed message is displayed as a thread on the channel's screen.

29. An information processing method characterized in that an information processing device accepts the selection of a channel to which a message written in a chat will be transcribed, the information processing device displays the message transcribed to the selected channel on the screen of the selected channel, and on the screen of the channel where the transcribed message is displayed, an object that can identify the message as a transcribed message is displayed.

30. The information processing method according to 29, characterized in that the channel is a space for conversation within a team, and the chat is a space for conversation independent of the team and the channel.

31. The information processing method according to claim 30, characterized in that multiple channels are grouped by team.

32. The information processing method according to 29, characterized in that the chat includes a group chat which is a chat involving three or more people.

33. The information processing method according to 29, characterized in that the object is displayed in correspondence with the transcribed message.

34. The information processing method according to claim 29, characterized in that the message to be transcribed is a message selected from among a plurality of messages written in the chat.

35. The information processing method according to 29, characterized in that the transcribed message is displayed as a thread on the channel's screen.

36. An information processing method characterized in that an information processing device accepts the selection of a channel to which a message written in a chat will be transcribed, the information processing device displays the message transcribed to the selected channel on the screen of the selected channel, and on the screen of the channel where the transcribed message is displayed, an object indicating that the message is a transcribed message is displayed.

37. The information processing method according to 36, characterized in that the channel is a space for conversation within a team, and the chat is a space for conversation independent of the team and the channel.

38. The information processing method according to 37, characterized in that multiple channels are grouped by team.

39. The information processing method according to 36, characterized in that the chat includes a group chat which is a chat involving three or more people.

40. The information processing method according to 36, characterized in that the object is displayed in correspondence with the transcribed message.

41. The information processing method according to 36, characterized in that the message to be transcribed is a message selected from among a plurality of messages written in the chat.

42. The information processing method according to 36, characterized in that the transcribed message is displayed as a thread on the channel's screen.

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