Information processing device and method

Abstract

When a request acquisition unit 32 has acquired a request to begin posting to an SNS provided by an information processing device 30, a usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires usage information that is to be used to generate index information that is to be reported to a user that is using a user terminal 10. A generation unit 34 uses the acquired usage information to generate index information that is an index for the amount of content that a posting user is attempting to post. Before the posting user finishes posting, a reporting unit 35 transmits the index information generated by the generation unit 34 to a user terminal of the posting user and thereby reports the index information to the posting user. The posting user creates and posts content in consideration of the reported index information.

Description

Information Processing Apparatus and Method

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for assisting operations when a user posts content.

[0002] As a service for sharing content posted by a plurality of users among these users, so-called SNS (Social Networking Service) has become widespread. For example, in Patent Document 1, a mechanism has been proposed for recommending posting content to be posted on an SNS to a target user based on the action attributes of the target user and the posting data posted on the SNS by a plurality of users including the target user.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-26683

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an object thereof is to assist an operation when a certain user posts content to a site where content posted by a plurality of users is shared by these plurality of users.

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus comprising: a generation unit that generates index information serving as an index of the amount of content that a certain user is about to post when the certain user posts content to a site where content posted by a plurality of users is shared by these plurality of users; and a notification unit that notifies the certain user of the generated index information before the posting by the certain user is completed.

[0006] Further, the present invention provides an information processing method comprising: a generation step of generating index information serving as an index of the amount of content that a certain user is about to post when the certain user posts content to a site where content posted by a plurality of users is shared by these plurality of users; and a notification step of notifying the certain user of the generated index information before the posting by the certain user is completed.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to assist a user in the process of posting content to a site where content posted by multiple users is shared among these multiple users.

[0008] This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device 30 according to the same embodiment. This is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an information processing device 30. This is a diagram illustrating data stored in the storage unit 31 of the information processing device 30. This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of an information processing device 30. This is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on a user terminal 10 according to the same embodiment. This is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on a user terminal 10 according to the same embodiment. This is a diagram illustrating an image displayed on a user terminal 10 according to the same embodiment.

[0009] [Embodiment] [Configuration] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 1 comprises a plurality of user terminals 10, each used by a plurality of users, an information processing device 30 corresponding to the information processing device of the present invention, and a communication network 2 including the Internet that connects these in a communicative manner. The user terminals 10 are computers such as smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, or personal computers. The information processing device 30 is a computer that provides a site for multiple users using the user terminals 10 to share content posted by each user. In other words, the information processing device 30 provides an SNS (Social Networking Service). This information processing device 30 may be composed of a single computer or may be composed of multiple computers.

[0010] Figure 2 shows the hardware configuration of the information processing device 30. Physically, the information processing device 30 is configured as a computer including a processor 3001, memory 3002, storage 3003, communication device 3004, input device 3005, output device 3006, and a bus connecting them. Each of these devices operates on power supplied from a battery (not shown). In the following description, the term "device" can be read as a circuit, device, unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the information processing device 30 may include one or more of the devices shown in Figure 2, or it may be configured without some of the devices. Alternatively, multiple devices with different enclosures may be connected via communication to constitute the information processing device 30.

[0011] Each function in the information processing device 30 is realized by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 3001 and memory 3002, which allows the processor 3001 to perform calculations, control communication by the communication device 3004, and control at least one of data reading and writing in the memory 3002 and storage 3003.

[0012] The processor 3001 controls the entire computer, for example, by running an operating system. The processor 3001 may consist of a central processing unit (CPU) that includes interfaces with peripheral devices, control units, arithmetic units, registers, and so on.

[0013] The processor 3001 reads programs (program code), software modules, data, etc., from at least one of the storage 3003 and the communication device 3004 into the memory 3002 and executes various processes accordingly. The program used is one that causes the computer to execute at least a part of the operations described later. The functional blocks of the information processing device 30 may be stored in the memory 3002 and implemented by control programs that run on the processor 3001. Various processes may be executed by one processor 3001, but may also be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 3001. The processor 3001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The program may also be transmitted to the information processing device 30 via a telecommunications line.

[0014] The memory 3002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The memory 3002 may also be called a register, cache, main memory, etc. The memory 3002 can store executable programs (program code), software modules, etc., for carrying out the method according to this embodiment.

[0015] The storage 3003 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: an optical disc such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disc, a digital multipurpose disc, a Blu-ray® disc), a smart card, flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy® disk, a magnetic strip, etc. The storage 3003 may also be called an auxiliary storage device.

[0016] The communication device 3004 is hardware (transceiver / receiver device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as a network device, network controller, network card, communication module, etc.

[0017] Each device, such as the processor 3001 and the memory 3002, is connected by a bus for communicating information. The bus may be configured using a single bus, or different buses may be configured for each device.

[0018] The information processing device 30 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and some or all of each functional block may be realized by this hardware. For example, the processor 3001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware components.

[0019] The user terminal 10 is physically configured as a computer device including a processor, memory, storage, communication device, input device, output device, and a bus connecting them. The processor, memory, and storage of the user terminal 10 are the same hardware as the processor 3001, memory 3002, and storage 3003 of the information processing device 30. The communication device of the user terminal 10 may include high-frequency switches, duplexers, filters, frequency synthesizers, etc., to implement at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, transmitting and receiving antennas, amplifier section, transmitting and receiving section, transmission path interface, etc., may be implemented by the communication device. The transmitting and receiving section may be implemented in a physically or logically separated manner, consisting of a transmitting section and a receiving section. The input device of the user terminal 10 is an input device that accepts input from the outside (e.g., keys, microphones, switches, buttons, sensors, etc.). The output device of the user terminal 10 is an output device that outputs to the outside (for example, a display, speaker, LED lamp, etc.). The input device and output device may be configured as an integrated unit (for example, a touchscreen).

[0020] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing device 30. In the information processing device 30, the processor 2001 reads programs and the like from the storage 2003 into the memory 2002 and executes them, thereby realizing the functions of the storage unit 31, the request acquisition unit 32, the usage information acquisition unit 33, the generation unit 34, the notification unit 35, and the distribution unit 36.

[0021] Among the users of SNS, there are users who post content (hereinafter referred to as posting users) and users who view that content (hereinafter referred to as viewing users). As illustrated in Figure 4, the storage unit 31 stores the user IDs of viewing users who can view the content posted by each posting user, associated with the user ID of each posting user. Furthermore, the storage unit 31 stores the attributes of each viewing user, the posting history of the content posted by the posting user, and the viewing history of the content posted by the posting user, associated with the user ID of each posting user.

[0022] The request acquisition unit acquires various requests from the user terminal 10 via the communication network 2. These requests include, for example, requests to start posting to the SNS provided by the information processing device 30, requests to complete posting, and requests to view posts.

[0023] The usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires usage information to be used in generating indicator information to be notified to the user using the user terminal 10.

[0024] Metric information refers to information that indicates the amount of content a user intends to post when posting content to a social networking service (SNS). For example, if the content a user intends to post consists of text, the metric information notified to that user will be the amount of text in that content.

[0025] Usage information is information used to generate indicator information.

[0026] This usage information concerns the time when a user attempts to post content, and includes information such as whether the user is posting on a weekday or a holiday, the time of day, and the season in which that time falls. The usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires this information from, for example, the information processing device 30, i.e., the timing function generally provided by a computer.

[0027] Furthermore, the usage information includes information about the weather when the user attempts to post content, such as whether the weather is sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, windy, high temperature, or low temperature. The usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires this information via the communication network 2 from an external device, such as a weather forecast site that provides weather information in real time. In this case, the usage information acquisition unit 33 identifies the approximate location of the user terminal 10 based on, for example, the IP address of the user terminal 10, and acquires weather information for that location.

[0028] Furthermore, the usage information is information about the posting history of the posting user, including, for example, the number of posts, posting frequency, and posting interval of the content posted by that posting user in the past. As mentioned above, the storage unit 31 stores the posting history of the posting user, and the usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires this information from the contents stored in the storage unit 31.

[0029] Furthermore, the usage information is information about the viewing history of content previously posted by the posting user on the site by other users (hereinafter referred to as "viewing users"), and includes, for example, the number of views, viewing frequency, and viewing interval for the content previously posted by that posting user. As mentioned above, the storage unit 31 stores the past viewing history of each user for each piece of content, and the usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires this information from the contents stored in the storage unit 31.

[0030] Furthermore, the usage information is information about the attributes of users who share content posted on SNS, including, for example, the gender, age, and whether the user is a student or working adult. As mentioned above, the storage unit 31 stores the attributes of each user, and the usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires this information from the contents of the storage unit 31, calculates the median of the acquired user attributes, and uses this as the usage information.

[0031] The generation unit 34 generates indicator information that serves as an indicator of the amount of content a user intends to post when the user posts content. Specifically, the generation unit 34 uses an algorithm that defines the correspondence between the aforementioned usage information and indicator information to generate indicator information corresponding to the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 33. For example, if the usage information is information about when the user intends to post content, this algorithm outputs indicator information that means the amount of content is small when the usage information input indicates that the user intends to post content on a weekday, and outputs indicator information that means the amount of content is large when the usage information input indicates that the user intends to post content on a holiday. Similarly, if the usage information is information about the weather, information about the posting history of content the user has previously posted to the site, information about the viewing history of content previously posted by the user to the site, or information about the attributes of the viewing user, the corresponding indicator information is output from this algorithm. The correspondence between usage information and indicator information may be predetermined by the administrator of the information processing device 30, or it may be learned through machine learning or the like from the history of the correspondence between past usage information and indicator information when providing the SNS.

[0032] Furthermore, the generation unit 34 may generate one metric information from multiple types of usage information. Specifically, the generation unit 34 may generate metric information from usage information related to time, usage information related to weather, usage information related to the posting history of content posted by the posting user to the site in the past, usage information related to the viewing history of content posted by the posting user to the site in the past, and usage information related to the attributes of the viewing user, and then calculate the average value of these multiple metric information and use this as the metric information to notify the user.

[0033] The notification unit 35 notifies the posting user by sending the indicator information generated by the generation unit 34 to the posting user's user terminal before the posting user completes the posting process. The posting user creates and posts the content using the notified indicator information as a reference. The posted content is stored in the storage unit 31 in the storage area corresponding to the posting user.

[0034] The distribution unit 36 ​​distributes the content stored in the storage unit 31 to the user terminal 10 of the viewing user in response to a viewing request from that user. The viewing user then views the content using their user terminal 10.

[0035] [Operation] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the information processing device 30. When a posting user starts an application program for using SNS on the user terminal 10 and displays a screen for creating content to post, the user terminal 10 sends a request to start posting content to the information processing device 30 via the communication network 2. The request acquisition unit 32 of the information processing device 30 acquires this request via the communication network 2 (step S11).

[0036] Next, the usage information acquisition unit 33 acquires usage information based on the current time, the user ID of the posting user, etc. (step S12).

[0037] Next, the generation unit 34 generates indicator information corresponding to the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 33 using an algorithm that defines the correspondence between usage information and indicator information (step S13).

[0038] Then, the notification unit 35 notifies the posting user by sending the indicator information generated by the generation unit 34 to the posting user's user terminal (step S14).

[0039] Here, Figure 6 is an example of an image displayed on the user terminal 10 in response to this notification. In the post creation screen G shown in Figure 6, the indicator information "The recommended number of characters for you is 150" is displayed above the text input field T that makes up the content.

[0040] The display mode of the index information is not limited to the example in FIG. 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, an example where the input field T for the characters constituting the content is displayed in a size corresponding to the index information is also conceivable. That is, the larger the amount of content indicated by the index information, the larger the input field T, and the smaller the amount of content indicated by the index information, the smaller the input field T.

[0041] Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, an example where an input range t of a size corresponding to the index information is displayed in the input field T for the characters constituting the content is also conceivable. That is, the larger the amount of content indicated by the index information, the larger the input range t, and the smaller the amount of content indicated by the index information, the smaller the input range t.

[0042] Thus, the notification of the index information is performed when the posting creation screen is displayed, that is, before the posting by the posting user is completed. The posting user creates content referring to the notified index information and selects a soft button labeled "Post".

[0043] In response to this, the user terminal 10 transmits a posting completion request including the created content to the information processing device 30 via the communication network 2. The request acquisition unit 32 of the information processing device 30 acquires this request via the communication network 2 (step S15). The created content is stored in the storage area corresponding to the posting user in the storage unit 31 (step S16). Thereafter, this content is distributed in response to a viewing request.

[0044] According to the present embodiment, by notifying the posting user of the index information that is an index of the amount of content that the posting user intends to post, it is possible to assist the work when the posting user posts the content.

[0045] [Modification Example] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. Also, two or more of the following modification examples may be combined and implemented.

[0046] For example, in a screen G as illustrated in Figure 9, the user can specify the attributes of the content they are posting (for example, whether the content's theme is related to hobbies, politics, the Olympics, etc.) in the attribute specification field Tm, and when they select the soft button S labeled "OK", the system can generate indicator information corresponding to the usage information for each attribute. In this case, the generation unit 34 maintains an algorithm that defines the correspondence between usage information and indicator information for each content attribute, and generates indicator information corresponding to the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 33. In this way, when a posting user specifies the attributes of the content they intend to post, the generation unit 34 can recommend to the user the appropriate amount of content according to the content's attributes by generating indicator information corresponding to the acquired usage information using an algorithm that corresponds to the specified theme's attributes.

[0047] The block diagrams used in the description of the above embodiments show functional units. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one device that is physically or logically coupled, or it may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wired or wireless connections). A functional block may also be realized by combining software with the one or more of the above devices.

[0048] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, decision-making, determination, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, solution, selection, selection determination, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notification, communication, forwarding, configuration, reconfiguration, allocation (mapping), assignment, etc. For example, a functional block (component) that enables transmission is called a transmission control unit or a transmitter. In any case, as described above, the implementation method is not particularly limited.

[0049] For example, an information processing apparatus 30 in an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs the processing of the present disclosure.

[0050] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of systems using LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (new Radio), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth (registered trademark), other appropriate systems, and next-generation systems extended based on these. Also, a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G, etc.) may be applied.

[0051] The present invention may also be an information processing method characterized by comprising: a generation step of generating indicator information that serves as an indicator of the amount of content a certain user intends to post when a certain user posts content to a site where content posted by multiple users is shared by those multiple users; and a notification step of notifying a certain user of the generated indicator information before the posting by that user is completed. The processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be rearranged in order as long as there is no contradiction. For example, in the method described in this disclosure, various step elements are presented using an exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0052] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or appended to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be transmitted to other devices.

[0053] The determination may be made by a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), by a boolean value (true or false), or by a numerical comparison (for example, by comparing with a predetermined value).

[0054] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the intent and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the descriptions in the present disclosure are illustrative and not intended to be restrictive in any way.

[0055] Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, etc., whether they are called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or by any other name. Furthermore, software, instructions, information, etc., may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or digital subscriber line (DSL)) and wireless technologies (such as infrared or microwave), at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included in the definition of a transmission medium.

[0056] The information, signals, etc., described herein may be represented using any of the following different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc., which may be referred to throughout the above description, may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof. Terms used herein and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meaning.

[0057] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc., described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or corresponding other information.

[0058] In this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based solely on" unless otherwise specified. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based solely on" and "based at least on."

[0059] Any reference to elements using the designations “First,” “Second,” etc., as used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Accordingly, references to the First and Second elements do not imply that only two elements may be employed, or that the First element must precede the Second element in any way.

[0060] In the above-described configuration of each device, the term "part" may be replaced with "means," "circuit," "device," etc.

[0061] Where the terms “include,” “including,” and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, as is the term “comprising.” Furthermore, the term “or” as used in this disclosure is not intended to mean exclusive OR.

[0062] In this disclosure, if articles are added through translation, such as a, an, and the in English, this disclosure may include the fact that the noun following these articles is plural.

[0063] In this disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "combine" may be interpreted similarly to "different."

[0064] 1: Information processing system, 2: Communication network, 10: User terminal, 30: Information processing device, 31: Storage unit, 32: Request acquisition unit, 33: Usage information acquisition unit, 34: Generation unit, 35: Notification unit, 36: Distribution unit, 3001: Processor, 3002: Memory, 3003: Storage, 3004: Communication device.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: a generation unit that generates indicator information that serves as an indicator of the amount of content a certain user intends to post when a certain user posts content to a site where content posted by multiple users is shared by those multiple users; and a notification unit that notifies the certain user of the generated indicator information before the posting by that user is completed.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a usage information acquisition unit that acquires usage information to be used to generate the indicator information, wherein the generation unit generates the indicator information corresponding to the acquired usage information using an algorithm that defines the correspondence between the usage information and the indicator information.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation unit generates the indicator information using the usage information relating to when a certain user attempts to post content.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation unit generates the indicator information using the usage information relating to the weather when a certain user attempts to post content.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation unit generates the indicator information using the usage information relating to the posting history of a certain user who has previously posted content to the site.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation unit generates the index information using the usage information relating to the browsing history of other users of content previously posted to the site by a certain user.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the generation unit generates the indicator information using the usage information relating to the attributes of the plurality of users who share content posted on the site.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that when a user specifies the attributes of the content they intend to post, the generation unit generates the index information corresponding to the acquired usage information using the algorithm corresponding to the attributes of the specified theme.

9. Information processing method characterized by comprising: a generation step of generating indicator information that serves as an indicator of the amount of content a certain user intends to post when a certain user posts content to a site where content posted by multiple users is shared by those multiple users; and a notification step of notifying the certain user of the generated indicator information before the posting by the certain user is completed.

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