Message transmission/reception system, terminal device, terminal processing program, server device, server processing program, display control method, and user information transmission method

The present invention relates to a technical field such as a message transmission / reception system capable of transmitting / receiving a message between terminal devices via a network.

In recent years, instant messengers (also called IM clients) that can exchange text messages (generally called instant messages) between terminal devices such as mobile phones and personal computers via networks such as the Internet and intranets, and communication installed on the terminal devices. Application software for applications) is widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Then, in each terminal device, it is possible to display user information such as a user's name and nickname of another terminal device with which a message is exchanged. For example, such user information is displayed on a screen for inputting and displaying a message, a screen for displaying the status of a user registered as a friend, and the like.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-44418</text></patcit>

<p> However, the user information displayed in this way may be seen and grasped by a person near the user of the terminal device (the user indicated by the user information is grasped), which is inconvenient. was there. For example, when you do not want people to know that you are going to the hospital and you want to exchange messages with a doctor who is going to the hospital, it was difficult to send a message without knowing who you are exchanging messages with. In addition, for example, when a managerial user exchanges a message with human resources in the workplace or exchanges a message with a user in another department in a confidential project, it is difficult to send a message without knowing the message exchange partner. ..</p><p> The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and one example of the problem is that the user grasps the user indicated by the user information displayed on the screen of the terminal device to a nearby person. It is an object of the present invention to provide a message transmission / reception system, a terminal device, a terminal processing program, a server device, a server processing program, a display control method, and a user information transmission method that can be grasped by oneself without being aware of it.</p>

<p> In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device via a network. In the message transmission / reception system including the above, each of the terminal devices includes a display control means for displaying a screen in which user graspable information is displayed at a predetermined position, which is a display object that can grasp the user of the other terminal device. A secret setting means for setting on / off of the secret mode for hiding the user-recognizable information displayed on the screen is provided, and when the secret mode is on, the display control means is on the screen. Instead of the user-recognizable information that should be displayed at the predetermined position, the user-unrecognizable information consisting of a display object that the user indicated by the user-recognizable information cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the terminal device is the predetermined position. The screen is displayed on the screen.</p><p> According to the present invention, the terminal device, when the secret mode is set to ON, instead of the user prehensible information to be displayed on a predetermined position of the screen, the user grasp impossible information to the predetermined position is displayed Since the screen is displayed, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a nearby person.</p><p> The invention according to claim 2 is a terminal device having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device via a network. Display control means for displaying a screen in which user-recognizable information consisting of display objects that can be grasped by the user is displayed at a predetermined position, and on / off setting of a secret mode for hiding the user-recognizable information displayed on the screen. When the secret mode is set to ON, the display control means can grasp the user instead of the user graspable information to be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. The user indicated by the information is displayed on the screen in which the user-unrecognizable information consisting of a display object that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the terminal device is displayed at the predetermined position.</p><p> According to the present invention, when the secret mode is set to ON, the terminal device displays the user-unrecognizable information at the predetermined position instead of the user-recognizable information that should be displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. Since the screen is displayed, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a nearby person.</p><p> The invention according to claim 3 is the terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the display control means further displays a search input field for searching a user of the other terminal device on the screen. , The user-recognizable information corresponding to the user searched based on the search information input in the search input field is displayed as a search result, and the display control means is set to turn on and off the secret mode. In any of the above cases, the user-recognizable information is displayed as a search result.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 4, when the screen in which the user-unrecognizable information is displayed at a predetermined position is displayed in the terminal device according to claim 2 or 3, the display control means is transmitted from the user. When a switching instruction is given via the input means, the user-recognizable information is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen instead of the user-unrecognizable information.</p><p> According to the present invention, the convenience of the secret mode can be improved.</p><p> The invention of the terminal processing program according to claim 5 is characterized in that it functions as the terminal device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.</p><p> The invention according to claim 6 is a display control method in a terminal device having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device via a network. The process of displaying a screen in which user-recognizable information consisting of a display object that can grasp the user of the terminal device is displayed at a predetermined position, and turning on / off of a secret mode for hiding the user-recognizable information displayed on the screen. A step of setting is provided, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the user indicated by the user graspable information is replaced with the user graspable information that should be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. The screen is characterized in that user-unrecognizable information consisting of display objects that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the terminal device is displayed at the predetermined position.</p><p> The invention according to claim 7 is a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of transmitting and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device via a network, and the plurality of terminal devices. In a message transmission / reception system including a server device that can be connected via a network, the server device is user-recognizable information consisting of a display object that can grasp the user of another terminal device, and is a screen in one terminal device. User-unrecognizable information consisting of user-recognizable information displayed above and a display object that cannot grasp the user of the other terminal device from a person other than the user of the one terminal device, and is the user-unrecognizable information in the one terminal device. A storage means for identifiablely storing the user-unrecognizable information displayed on the screen and the secret mode setting information indicating the on / off setting of the secret mode for hiding the user-recognizable information for each user, and the above-mentioned one. When the terminal device of the above is connected to the server device via the network, whether or not the secret mode is set to ON is determined by referring to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device. Setting for discrimination When the discriminating means and the secret mode are not set to on, the user graspable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is transmitted to the one terminal device, and the secret mode is set to on. In this case, the user information transmitting means for transmitting the user-unrecognizable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device to the one terminal device is provided, and the one terminal device has been transmitted from the server device. A user information receiving means for receiving the user graspable information or the user unrecognizable information, and a display control means for displaying a screen on which the received user graspable information or the user ungraspable information is displayed at a predetermined position. It is characterized by having.</p><p> According to the present invention, a user of each terminal device can grasp a user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a nearby person.</p><p> According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of sending and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device via a network can be connected via the network. User-recognizable information that is a server device and consists of a display object that can grasp the user of another terminal device, that is, user-recognizable information displayed on the screen of one terminal device, and the other terminal device. User-unrecognizable information consisting of display objects that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the one terminal device, user-unrecognizable information displayed on the screen of the one terminal device, and user-recognizable information. When the storage means for storing the secret mode setting information indicating the on / off setting of the secret mode for hiding is distinguishably stored for each user, and the one terminal device is connected to the server device via the network. Refers to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device, and determines whether or not the secret mode is on setting, and when the secret mode is not on setting, , User graspable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device is transmitted to the one terminal device, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the user cannot grasp the user corresponding to the user of the other terminal device. It is characterized by including a user information transmitting means for transmitting information to the one terminal device.</p><p> According to the present invention, a user of each terminal device can grasp a user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a nearby person.</p><p> The invention of the server processing program according to claim 9 is characterized in that it functions as the server device according to claim 8.</p><p> According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of terminal devices having a messenger function capable of sending and receiving a message instructed by a user to and from another terminal device via a network can be connected via the network. User information transmission method in a server device, user graspable information consisting of a display object capable of grasping a user of another terminal device, user graspable information displayed on a screen in one terminal device, and the above. User-unrecognizable information consisting of display objects that cannot be grasped by a person other than the user of the one terminal device and displayed on the screen of the one terminal device, and user-unrecognizable information displayed on the screen of the one terminal device. A step of identifiablely storing secret mode setting information indicating on / off setting of the secret mode for hiding the user-recognizable information for each user, and the one terminal device connecting to the server device via a network. If so, the step of determining whether or not the secret mode is on by referring to the secret mode setting information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device, and the case where the secret mode is not on. Is to send user-recognizable information corresponding to the user of the other terminal device to the one terminal device, and when the secret mode is set to ON, the user corresponding to the user of the other terminal device. It is characterized by including a step of transmitting unrecognizable information to the one terminal device.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, when the secret mode is set to ON, the terminal device displays the user-unrecognizable information at the predetermined position instead of the user-recognizable information that should be displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. Since the screen is displayed, the user of each terminal device can grasp the user of another terminal device by himself / herself without being grasped by a nearby person.</p>

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are embodiments when the present invention is applied to a message transmission / reception system.

[1. Message transmission / reception system configuration and functions]

First, the configuration and functions of the message transmission / reception system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline configuration example of the message transmission / reception system S according to the present embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 1, the message transmission / reception system S is an IM (instant messenger) service providing server SA and other users through a network NW (composed of communication lines and relay devices such as routers) such as the Internet and intranet. An example of a plurality of user terminals (terminal devices) having an instant messenger function (hereinafter, simply referred to as "messenger") capable of sending and receiving instant messages (hereinafter, simply referred to as "messages") to and from the terminal UTm. ) UTm (m = 1,2 ... k) and is included.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, one IM service providing server SA is shown, but the IM service providing server SA has a plurality of server groups (for example, application server, proxy server, redirect server, registrar, and location). It may be composed of a server, etc.).

The IM service providing server SA is connected to the network NW and is assigned a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address (global IP address). On the other hand, each user terminal UTm can connect to a network NW through, for example, a server of an Internet service provider, and when connecting to the network NW, a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address (for example, a global IP address) is assigned. It has become like.

Here, the configuration and functions of the IM service providing server SA will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an outline configuration of the IM service providing server SA, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of registration information in the user information database 51.

As shown in FIG. 2, the IM service providing server SA includes an operation unit 1, a display unit 2, a communication unit 3, a drive unit 4, a storage unit 5, an input / output interface unit 6, a system control unit 7, and the like. , The system control unit 7 and the input / output interface unit 6 are connected via the system bus 8.

The operation unit 1 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, receives an operation instruction from an administrator or the like, and outputs the instruction content as an instruction signal to the system control unit 7.

The display unit 2 is composed of, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and displays information such as characters and images.

The communication unit 3 connects to the network NW and controls the communication status with the user terminal UTm or the like.

The drive unit 4 reads data or the like from a disc DK (recording medium) such as a flexible disc, a CD (Compact Disc), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and records data or the like on the disc DK.

The input / output interface unit 6 performs interface processing between the operation unit 1 to the storage unit 5 and the system control unit 7.

The storage unit 5 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive or the like, and stores an operating system (O / S), various programs, data (including data provided to the user terminal UTm), and the like.

Further, in the storage unit 5, a user information database 51 for registering information about the user of the user terminal UTm is constructed.

In the example of registration information in the user information database 51 shown in FIG. 3, each user has an address information, a user ID, a password, a nickname (also referred to as a screen name, hereinafter referred to as "NN"), and a member registered as a friend (hereinafter referred to as "NN"). , "Friend record member"), and presence information (state information) indicating the current state of the user presented to each friend record member are registered in association with each other.

Here, the user ID, password, and NN are registered, for example, after each user terminal UTm connects to the IM service providing server SA and undergoes a procedure process for using the system S. Further, the user ID and NN are uniquely given to each user in the system S, and are registered so as not to be duplicated with other users. Further, the NN is an example of user-recognizable information that can grasp who is indicated even by a person near the user of the user terminal UTm, and is composed of a display object such as an alphabet or a kanji including a name or the like.

Further, the address information includes, for example, an IP address (current IP address) assigned when the user terminal UTm is connected to the network NW. For example, when the login process is executed in response to the login (sign-in) request (including the user ID and password) from the user terminal UTm in which the messenger is activated and the login is permitted (that is, the user ID and password are the user information). If it is registered in the database 51), the address information of the user terminal UTm is registered in the user information database 51.

In addition, the friend record member is a user who has mutually permitted as a partner for exchanging messages, and is the NN of the user who becomes the friend record member in response to the friend registration request from the user terminal UTm (the user ID of the user). Is also good) is registered in the user information database 51. When the user terminal UTm is used in the company where the user works, the friend record member includes not only a mere friend of the user but also a related person in the company and a related person of a business partner. In addition, it is possible to make the status display of each other public among the users who are permitted as members of the friendship record.

In addition, the presence information of each user is registered for each friend record member (for example, when logging in or when the user's status is changed). In the example of FIG. 3, NN The state shown in the presence information of a user who is "bbbbb" is that of all the friend record members of that user (that is, each user of NN "aaaaa", NN "ccccc", NN "ddddd", and NN "eeeee". ) Is "online". As a result, the "online" status will be presented (notified) to all Yuroku members.

Next, the system control unit 7 is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 7a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 7b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7c, etc., and controls the entire IM service providing server SA in an integrated manner. There is. Then, the system control unit 7 executes authentication processing and the like in response to a login request from the user terminal UTm by having the CPU 7a read and execute various programs stored in the ROM 7b and the storage unit 5, and at the same time, perform the login. When permitted, the presence information of the friend record member of the user of the user terminal UTm is transmitted to the user terminal UTm via the communication unit 3 and the network NW (PUSH type distribution).

At this time, the system control unit 7 registers the presence information (for example, information indicating "online") of the logged-in user in the user information database 51 in association with the NNs of all the friend record members of the user. At the same time, it is sent (notified) to the user terminal UTm of the logged-in friend record member among the friend record members of the user. It is transmitted to the user terminal UTm of the friend record member who is not logged in among the friend record members of the user when the friend record member logs in. Further, the user terminal UTm may periodically acquire the presence information of the logged-in user from the IM service providing server SA.

As a result, the presence information of the friend record member is presented to the user on the main screen related to the messenger function described later.

Further, the system control unit 7 manages the presence information of each user by using the user information database 51, and when a change in the current state of any user is detected, the changed state of the user is displayed. The presence information to be shown is changed and registered in the user information database 51, and is transmitted to the user terminal UTm of the logged-in friend record member among the friend record members of the user via the communication unit 3 and the network NW (). PUSH type distribution).

Next, the configuration and functions of the user terminal UTm will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 and the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the outline configuration of the user terminal UTm. Further, FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams showing an example of a display screen on the user terminal UT2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user terminal UTm includes an operation unit 11, a display unit 12, a communication unit 13, a drive unit 14, a storage unit 15, an input / output interface unit 16, a system control unit 17, etc. as an example of input means. The system control unit 17 and the input / output interface unit 16 are connected to each other via the system bus 18. The configuration of the operation unit 11, the display unit 12, the communication unit 13, the drive unit 14, the storage unit 15, and the input / output interface unit 16 is the operation unit 1, the display unit 2, and the communication unit in the IM service providing server SA described above. The configuration is the same as that of 3, the drive unit 4, the storage unit 5, and the input / output interface unit 6.

The system control unit 17 activates the messenger function by the CPU 17a reading and executing various programs (including the terminal processing program of the present invention) stored in the ROM 17c and the storage unit 15, and the display control means and the display control unit 17 of the present invention. It is designed to function as a secret setting means.

The system control unit 17 as a display control means displays a screen in which an NN that can be grasped by a person nearby can display a screen in which a friend record member who is a user of another user terminal UTm is displayed at a predetermined position. ..

For example, after the messenger is started and logged in on the user terminal UT2 (the same applies to other user terminals UTm), the icon 101a as shown in FIG. 5 (A) indicating that the messenger is started is a toolbar on the display unit 12. Along with being displayed on 101, the main screen 100 is displayed (opened) on the display unit 12, and the presence information of the friend record member and the friend record member NN etc. transmitted from the IM service providing server SA are displayed in the communication unit 13 Received via.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), for example, in the status display unit 100a on the main screen 100, presence information indicating the status of each friend record member is associated with the NN (100b part) of the friend record member. Is displayed. In this way, the presence information displayed on the status display unit 100a is displayed and changed (rewritten) from the IM service providing server SA to the latest presence information received later. As a result, the user of the user terminal UT2 can grasp that it is currently difficult or impossible for his / her friend record member to give a message input instruction on the user terminal UTm.

In addition, the main screen 100 shown in FIG. 5 (A) has a "setting" button 100c, a "register new member" button 100d, an "x" (close) button 100e for closing the main screen 100, and a logout. A "logout" button 100f, a "chat start" button 100g, for example, a "call start" button 100h for making an IP phone based on SIP, and a "minimize" button 100k are provided so as to be selectable by the user. If the "Minimize" button 100k is specified, the main screen 100 will not be displayed, but the icon 101a will continue to be displayed for the main screen 100 on the toolbar 101 (that is, the main screen 100 will be minimized). ..

In such a display state, when the user operates the operation unit 11 to specify the "register new member" button 100d (for example, click with the mouse), a new member registration screen for newly registering a friend (shown in the figure). Is displayed. On the new member registration screen, the user operates the operation unit 11 to specify the NN or the like of the user who wants to newly register as a friend, and sends a message to the user terminal UTm (to the IP address) or the e-mail address of the user. It is possible to send information to invite the other party (friend) to exchange with, and if this is permitted to the destination user, the NN etc. of the user who permitted the friend registration is saved in the storage unit 15. In addition, a friend registration request including the NN of the user who has permitted the friend registration is sent to the IM service providing server SA, and is associated with the user ID of the user terminal UT2 who made the friend registration request, and is associated with the user information database. It will be registered in 51 (friend registration).

By registering as a friend in this way, a friend record member of the user of the user terminal UT2 is added, and the status of the friend record member is displayed on the status display unit 100a on the main screen 100 of the user terminal UT2. (Conversely, the user of the user terminal UT2 is also registered as a friend record member on the friend record member side).

By the way, since the NN of the friend record member consists of a display object such as an alphabet or kanji including a name and the like, a person near the user of the user terminal UT2 (for example, a person near the user (for example, a boss, etc. Colleagues)) can also grasp it, which may be inconvenient.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the system control unit 17 as a secret setting means is an example of user-recognizable information displayed on a screen (for example, the main screen described above or the chat window screen described later) according to an instruction from the user. The secret mode is set to be turned on / off to hide the NN as, and when the secret mode is set to on, the system control unit 17 replaces the NN that should be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. , The screen in which the pseudonym information is displayed at the predetermined position is displayed.

This pseudonym information is information that can be arbitrarily assigned by each user to his / her own friend record member, and the user indicated by the NN of the friend record member cannot be grasped by a person near him / her. This is an example of information that cannot be grasped by the user, which consists of display objects such as images and images.

The example of FIG. 5B is a display example of the main screen 100 when the secret mode is set to ON. In this example, the pseudonym information given to the friend record member (NN is "aaaaa") of the user (NN "bbbbb") of the user terminal UT2 is "Rakuten Ichiro". On the other hand, pseudonym information is not given to the friend record member (NN is "ddddd") of the user of the user terminal UT2.

In addition, when the user gives a switching instruction via the operation unit 11 (for example, the position where the NN or pseudonym information is displayed on the screen is double-clicked with the mouse), the system control unit 17 turns on / off the secret mode. The setting of is switched, and the display of NN and pseudonym information is switched. For example, when a screen displaying pseudonym information is displayed and a user gives a switching instruction via the operation unit 11, NN is displayed on the screen instead of the pseudonym information (Fig. 5 (Fig. 5). You can switch from the display in B) to the display in Fig. 5 (A)). The secret mode on / off setting may be switched for each friend record member (for example, by double-clicking the NN or pseudonym information of the friend record member with the mouse). Further, the secret mode setting information indicating the on / off setting of the secret mode is transmitted to the IM service providing server SA, associated with the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2, and registered in the user information database 51.

If the user wants to exchange messages with his / her own friend record member, he / she wants to operate the operation unit 11 to exchange messages. The status display unit displays the NN or pseudonym information of the online friend record member who wants to exchange messages. If you specify with 100a and specify the "Chat start" button 100g (for example, click with the mouse or double-click the NN of the friend record member in the status display unit 100a with the mouse), the chat window screen as shown in Fig. 6 102 is displayed on the display unit 12, and the icon 101b for the chat window screen 102 is displayed on the toolbar 101. In the example of FIG. 6A, the main screen is minimized by the minimize button, and the icon 101a for the main screen is displayed on the toolbar 101.

Note that FIG. 6 (A) is a display example of the chat window screen when the secret mode is set to off, and FIG. 6 (B) is a table of the chat window screen when the secret mode is set to on. It is an example. Even when this chat window screen is displayed, if the user gives a switching instruction via the operation unit 11, the system control unit 17 switches the on / off setting of the secret mode, and NN and pseudonym information are displayed. (At this time, the display of NN or pseudonym information on the main screen displayed at the same time can also be switched).

The chat window screen 102 is a screen for the user of the user terminal UT2 to exchange messages with a user (friend record member) who is an NN "aaaaa" (pseudonym information "Rakuten Ichiro"), and is a chat window screen. The 102 is provided with a transmission message input field 102a, a "send" button 102b, a message output field 102c, an "x" (close) button 102d for closing the chat window screen 102, and the like.

In such a display state, the user of the user terminal UT2 operates the operation unit 11 to input the desired message content (for example, a relatively short document) into the transmission message input field 102a (for example, input with a keyboard). When the "Send" button 102b is specified (for example, clicked with the mouse), the content of the input message is displayed in the message output field 102c, and the input message is transmitted from the user terminal UT2 to the user terminal UT1. Will be done. The message transmitted in this way includes the NN of the source user and the NN of the destination user.

In addition, a message from the user terminal UT1 is also displayed in the message output field 102c. At this time, as shown in the figure, NN or pseudonym information is displayed in association with the secret mode on / off setting. It will be.

Instead of the "send" button 102b, the "Enter" key on the keyboard may be used. Specifically, the user may enter a desired message in the transmission message input field 102a and, for example, select the "Enter" key on the keyboard to start sending and receiving the message.

The session establishment and message transmission between the user terminal UT2 and the user terminal UT1 are performed based on, for example, a known SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) or Jabber protocol, but since this is known, a further detailed explanation will be given. Omit.

Further, the user can assign the pseudonym information to each friend record member on the pseudonym information setting screen 103 as shown in FIG. 7, for example. For example, the user of the user terminal UT2 operates the operation unit 11 on the pseudonym information setting screen 103, inputs the pseudonym information to be assigned to each friend record member in the corresponding input field 103a, and specifies the registration button 103b (for example). , Click with the mouse), the system control unit 17 sets the allocation of the pseudonym information input according to the instruction from the user, and stores the pseudonym information at a predetermined address in the memory of the storage unit 15. In addition, the pseudonym information set in this way is transmitted to the IM service providing server SA, associated with the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2 and the NN of each friend record member, and registered in the user information database 51. become.

The pseudonym information setting screen 103 is displayed when, for example, a pseudonym information setting item is selected from a list of various setting items that are pulled down when the "setting" button 100c on the main screen 100 is specified. Is displayed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the main screen 100 is provided with a search input field 100p for searching a friend record member and a "search" button 100o. When the user of the user terminal UT2 operates the operation unit 11, for example, inputs search information such as friend record member NN or pseudonym information in the search input field 100p and specifies the registration button 103b (for example, clicks with the mouse). The system control unit 17 is an NN (NN when the secret mode is set to ON) corresponding to a user who is searched based on the input search information (for example, NN including the search information or search for pseudonym information). If the secret mode is set to off, the pseudonym information) and presence information are displayed as search results (for example, displayed in the area where the status display unit 100a is located). As a result, the user of the user terminal UT2 can immediately display the presence information of the desired friend record member when, for example, all the presence information cannot be displayed on the status display unit 100a because there are dozens of friend record members. Can be grasped.

The search based on the search information input in the search input field 100p may be configured to be performed by the system control unit 17, or may be configured to be performed by the system control unit 7 of the IM service providing server SA. You may. When the system control unit 7 of the IM service providing server SA performs the above search, the search information entered in the search input field 100p and the user ID of the user of the user terminal UT2 are transmitted to the IM service providing server SA to perform the above search. Then, the information indicating the search result is returned to the user terminal UT2 and displayed as shown in FIG.

[2. Screen display processing of user terminal UTm]

Next, the screen display process and the secret mode setting switching process in the user terminal UTm will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 (A) is a flowchart showing the screen display process in the system control unit 17 of the user terminal UTm, and FIG. 8 (B) is a flowchart showing the secret mode setting switching process in the system control unit 17 of the user terminal UTm. is there.

In the following description, it is assumed that the messenger is running on a certain user terminal UTm. Further, it is assumed that the above-mentioned pseudonym information allocation is set.

First, the screen display process shown in FIG. 8A is started when the above-mentioned main screen 100 is displayed and when the chat window screen 102 is displayed after the messenger is activated.

In step S1 shown in FIG. 8A, the system control unit 17 determines whether the secret mode is set to on or off.

Then, in the case of the off setting (step S1: off setting), the system control unit 17 displays a screen in which the NN of the friend record member is displayed at a predetermined position as described above (step S2). End the process.

On the other hand, when the setting is on (step S1: on setting), the system control unit 17 determines whether or not there is a friend record member for which the pseudonym information is assigned (step S3), and the pseudonym information is set. If there is no friend record member for which the allocation setting of is made (step S3: NO), the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, if there is a friend record member for which the pseudonym information allocation setting is made (step S3: YES), the system control unit 17 acquires the pseudonym information assigned to the friend record member from the memory and described above. As described above, the screen in which the pseudonym information is displayed at a predetermined position is displayed (NN is displayed for the friend record member for which the pseudonym information allocation setting is not made) (step S4), and the process is terminated. Next, the secret mode setting switching process shown in FIG. 8 (B) is switched from the user via the operation unit 11 when the screen in which the NN or pseudonym information of the friend record member is displayed at a predetermined position is displayed. It starts when instructed.

In step S11 shown in FIG. 8B, the system control unit 17 determines whether the secret mode is set to on or off.

Then, in the case of the off setting (step S11: off setting), the system control unit 17 switches the secret mode to the on setting (step S12). Next, the system control unit 17 determines whether or not there is a friend record member for which the pseudonym information is assigned (step S13), and if there is no friend record member for which the pseudonym information is assigned, the system control unit 17 determines. (Step S13: NO), the process is terminated without switching the display of NN. On the other hand, if there is a friend record member for which the pseudonym information allocation setting is made (step S13: YES), the system control unit 17 acquires the pseudonym information assigned to the friend record member from the memory, and the relevant The pseudonym information is displayed in place of the friend record member NN (step S14), and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when the setting is on (step S11: on setting), the system control unit 17 switches the secret mode to the off setting (step S15). Next, the system control unit 17 displays NN instead of the pseudonym information of the friend record member (step S16), and ends the process.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, when the secret mode is set to ON, the user terminal UTm has the pseudonym information at the predetermined position instead of the NN that should be displayed at the predetermined position on the screen. Since the screen displayed on the screen is displayed, the user of each user terminal UTm can grasp, for example, the friend record member exchanging messages by himself / herself without being grasped by a nearby person. ..

In addition, since the display is switched between the NN and the pseudonym information in response to a switching instruction (for example, a click on the screen) from the user, the convenience of the secret mode can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the user terminal UTm is configured to determine whether or not the secret mode is set to ON, but as another example, whether the IM service providing server SA is set to set the secret mode to ON. It may be configured to determine whether or not. In this case, the secret mode setting information indicating the on / off setting of the secret mode of each user in the user information database 51 and the pseudonym information of the friend record member of each user are registered in association with the user ID. There is. Then, the system control unit 7 of the IM service providing server SA determines, for example, whether or not the secret mode corresponding to the user of the user terminal UT2 is set as the setting determination means, and if the secret mode is not set to on. , Sends the NN of the friend record member of the user of the user terminal UT2 to the user terminal UT2 (PUSH type distribution), and when the secret mode is set to on, the friend record member of the user of the user terminal UT2 The pseudonym information is transmitted to the user terminal UT2 as a user information transmission means (PUSH type distribution). As a result, the user terminal UT2 that has received the NN or the pseudonym information displays the NN or the pseudonym information at a predetermined position on the screen as described above. The NN or pseudonym information is transmitted when the user logs in and when the secret mode setting is changed (that is, when the secret mode setting information is received from the user terminal UTm).

In this way, if the secret mode setting information and the pseudonym information of the friend record member are managed on the IM service providing server SA side, for example, when the user uses a plurality of user terminals UTm (for example, at home and at work). If the user sets the secret mode on / off setting and the pseudonym information on one user terminal UTm, the setting can be used on the other user terminal UTm as well. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the secret mode setting information and the pseudonym information of the friend record member are managed on the user terminal UTm side as described above, for example, the user uses a plurality of user terminals UTm (for example, at home and at work). If so, the secret mode on / off setting and the pseudonym information can be set for each user terminal UTm, and the settings can be made different.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the secret mode is set to ON, the pseudonym information as an example of the user-unrecognizable information is configured to be displayed at the position where the NN should be displayed instead of the NN. As another example of such user-unrecognizable information, the NN display may simply be erased and configured to be assimilated with the background. FIG. 9A shows an example of a display screen on the user terminal UT2 in this case. In this example, the friend record members aaaaa, ccccc, and eeeee of the user of the user terminal UT2 are secret. Since the mode is set to on, not only the NN but also the presence information is not displayed, while the secret mode is set to off for the friend record member "ddddd", so that NN and presence information are displayed. It has become. Even in this case, when the user operates the operation unit 11, inputs the search information in the search input field 100p as described above, and specifies the registration button 103b, the system control unit 17 performs the input. The NN and presence information corresponding to the user searched based on the searched information (for example, "aaaaa") are displayed as the search result as shown in FIG. 9B, for example. That is, the user-recognizable information is displayed as the search result regardless of whether the secret mode is set to on or off. As a result, even if the secret mode is set to on, it is possible to easily search for the friend record member to be secreted.

In the above embodiment, the main screen and the chat window screen have been described as examples of the screen on which the NN or the pseudonym information is displayed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any screen in which the NN is displayed is used. Any screen may be used, for example, a small screen (toaster screen) is displayed in the right corner of the display when the first message is received so that the user can visually recognize that the message has been received. However, it can also be applied to this screen.

Further, in the above embodiment, NN has been described as an example of information that can be grasped by the user, but the information is not limited to this, and may be a real name.

<figref num="1">It is a figure which shows the outline configuration example of the message transmission / reception system S which concerns on this embodiment.</figref><figref num="2">It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline structure of IM service providing server SA.</figref><figref num="3">It is a figure which shows the example of the registration information in the user information database 51.</figref><figref num="4">It is a block diagram which shows an example of the outline structure of a user terminal UTm.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure which shows the display screen example in the user terminal UT2.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure which shows the display screen example in the user terminal UT2.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure which shows the display screen example in the user terminal UT2.</figref><figref num="8">(A) is a flowchart showing the screen display process in the system control unit 17 of the user terminal UTm, and (B) is a flowchart showing the secret mode setting switching process in the system control unit 17 of the user terminal UTm.</figref><figref num="9">It is a figure which shows the display screen example in the user terminal UT2.</figref>

Code description

1,11 Operation unit 2,12 Display unit 3,13 Communication unit 4,14 Drive unit 5,15 Storage unit 6,16 I / O interface unit 7,17 System control unit 8,18 System bus 51 User information database SA IM service Providing server UTm User terminal S Message transmission / reception system NW network