JP5773759B2 - Method, server device, and program for sharing information - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology that makes it possible to share various information among an unspecified number of members using a network.

  In recent years, with the spread of data transmission / reception mechanisms via the Internet and mobile phone networks, it has become possible for general individuals who are not news professionals to easily transmit information to the public.

  For example, on the virtual bulletin board now, a large number of members exchange messages in real time, SNS (Social Network Service) where members exchange messages, and personal notes, etc. are widely released There are many message exchange mechanisms, such as blogs and Twitter (registered trademark) that exchange messages at near real-time speed while releasing relatively short messages widely.

  Both of these can be used free of charge or at a low price, and do not require so much specialized knowledge and experience in sending and receiving messages, so they are widely used for sending personal information.

  On the other hand, in recent years, many mobile phones have a function of acquiring data (location data) indicating the geographical location where the mobile phone is currently located. Currently, as a mechanism for acquiring the location data by these mobile phones, the location data indicating the location of the mobile phone specified based on the radio field strength when a plurality of base stations receive radio waves transmitted from the mobile phone. Have been put into practical use, such as a method for transmitting a mobile phone from a base station to a mobile phone, a method for generating location data on a mobile phone based on radio waves received from a plurality of GPS satellites, and a method for combining them. Yes.

  Smartphones, which are mobile phones that perform data communication via a mobile communication network and have an information terminal function that can be customized by installing an application program that a user wants to use, are rapidly spreading.

  Due to the improvement of the infrastructure for acquiring and exchanging information as described above, a general individual can send and receive high-density information without choosing time and place.

  Under such circumstances, content data indicating a message or an image related to a specific location is uploaded to a server device in the network together with location data indicating the location of the location, and other information for which information is to be obtained. A mechanism has been proposed in which a general individual can download information related to a specific place by downloading content data accompanied by position data from a server device.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, transition information that changes with the passage of time input to a mobile terminal device by an information provider is stored in a service providing device together with data indicating the position and time at which the information was generated. A mechanism has been proposed in which change information is transmitted from a service providing device to a requester's terminal device in response to a request from the requester's terminal device that wants to know information. According to the mechanism proposed in Patent Document 1, a requester who wants to know information can know information that changes according to location and time.

JP 2006-165859 A

  As described above, when a mechanism for easily exchanging messages by general individuals becomes widespread, the amount of information disclosed through a network increases rapidly in both stock and flow. As a result, if there is no mechanism for easily accessing only the necessary information among the ever-increasing information, important information is buried in a huge amount of information, and as a result, most information is not used. The inconvenience arises.

  In addition, when the amount of information increases, new information that cannot be obtained by observing a small amount of information from a micro viewpoint may be obtained by observing the information from a macro viewpoint.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention allows a viewer to easily identify necessary information from information that is constantly increasing and disclosed by an unspecified number of information providers, and to quickly access the identified information. It is an object of the present invention to provide means for enabling the above.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
The server device is message data indicating a message input by a user of an arbitrary mobile terminal device, the time data indicating the time when the message is input, and the mobile terminal device at the time when the message is input A message data receiving step for receiving message data with address data indicating address of a message to a user who has input the message indicated by the message data , the message data including position data indicating a position;
An extraction condition data receiving step in which the server device receives extraction condition data indicating a condition for extracting message data based on the attribute of the message data from an arbitrary terminal device;
The server apparatus includes position data indicating a position within a predetermined range from one or more message data received in the message data receiving step, and indicates a time within a predetermined period in the past from a predetermined reference time. A message data extraction step for extracting message data accompanied by time data and having an attribute satisfying a condition indicated by the extraction condition data;
The server device is arranged at a position indicated by position data associated with the message data on the image indicating the map with respect to each of the image indicating the map and one or more message data extracted in the message data extraction step. A message map data generation step for generating message map data for instructing display with the predetermined image;
A message map data transmission step in which the server device transmits the message map data generated in the message map data generation step to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the extraction condition data ;
An address data receiving step in which the server device receives address data indicating a destination of a message for a user of the one terminal device from one terminal device;
Question data receiving step for receiving, from the terminal device of the user, question data indicating a question input by the user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the address data received by the server device in the address data receiving step;
Address data associated with the message data received in the message data receiving step, together with the address data received in the address data receiving step, the data indicating the question indicated by the question data received in the question data receiving step in the server device And a query data transmission step of transmitting to a destination indicated by. (First embodiment)

In the first embodiment above,
In the message map data generation step, the server device changes the predetermined reference time with the passage of time, and instructs the change of the display mode of the predetermined image with the change of the reference time. A configuration for generating data may be employed. (Second Embodiment)

In the above first or second embodiment,
The server device includes a route data receiving step of receiving route data indicating a geographical route by at least a starting point and a destination from a terminal device that is a transmission source of the extraction condition data,
In the message data extraction step, the server device specifies one or more routes connecting the starting point and the destination indicated by the route data included in the extraction condition data, and the one or more specified routes A configuration for extracting message data with position data indicating the upper position may be adopted. (Third embodiment)

In any of the first to third embodiments described above,
The server device receives question data indicating a question for requesting an answer in a predetermined format from one terminal device;
A question data transmitting step in which the server device transmits data indicating a question indicated by the question data received in the question data receiving step to a portable terminal device that is a transmission source of the message data received in the message data receiving step; ,
As a response to the data indicating the content of the question data transmitted by the server device in the question data transmission step, the answer to the content of the question data is transmitted from the mobile terminal device together with the position data indicating the current position of the mobile terminal device. An answer data receiving step for receiving answer data indicating
With respect to each of the one or more answer data received in the answer data receiving step, the server device is arranged at a position indicated by an image showing a map and position data associated with the answer data on the image showing the map. An answer map data generating step for generating answer map data for instructing display with a predetermined image according to the contents of the answer indicated by the answer data;
A configuration may be employed in which the server device includes a response data transmission step of transmitting the response map data generated in the response map data generation step to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the question data. ( Fourth embodiment)

In any of the first to fourth embodiments described above,
The message data received by the server device in the message data receiving step is accompanied by user identification data for identifying a user who has input the message indicated by the message data.
In the message map data generation step, the server device stores the message map data in which message identification data for identifying the message data or user identification data associated with the message data is associated with the predetermined image corresponding to the message data. Generate
The server device transmits from the terminal device as a response to the message map data transmitted in the message map data transmission step, from among one or more message identification data or user identification data associated with the message map data. An identification data receiving step for receiving one message identification data or user identification data selected by the user of the terminal device;
User identification data that is the same as the user identification data associated with the message data identified by the message identification data received in the identification data reception step is selected from the one or more message data received in the message data reception step by the server device. The same user message data extraction step for extracting the message data accompanying the message data or the user identification data received in the identification data receiving step,
Data indicating the position indicated by the position data associated with the message data for each of the one or more message data, and the message data extracted by the server device in the same user message data extraction step The same user message data transmission step for transmitting to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the one message identification data or user identification data may be employed together with the data indicating the time indicated by the time data associated therewith. ( Fifth embodiment)

The present invention also provides:
Receiving means for receiving data transmitted from another communication device, storage means for storing data, arithmetic means for performing arithmetic processing, and transmission means for transmitting data to another communication device,
The receiving means is message data indicating a message input by a user of an arbitrary mobile terminal device, and includes time data indicating a time when the message is input, and the mobile terminal device at a time when the message is input Receive message data with position data indicating the position of
The receiving means receives extraction condition data indicating a condition for extracting message data based on an attribute of message data from an arbitrary terminal device,
The calculating means includes position data indicating a position within a predetermined range from one or more message data received by the receiving means, and a time indicating a time within a predetermined period in the past from a predetermined reference time. Extracting message data that has data and attributes that satisfy the conditions indicated by the extraction condition data;
The calculation means includes an image showing a map, and a predetermined image arranged at a position indicated by position data associated with the message data on the image showing the map with respect to each of the extracted one or more message data. Generate message map data that indicates the display of
The transmission means transmits the message map data generated by the calculation means to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the extraction condition data ,
The message data received by the receiving means is accompanied by address data indicating the destination of the message for the user who has input the message indicated by the message data,
The reception means receives address data indicating a destination of a message for a user of the one terminal device from one terminal device,
The receiving means receives question data indicating a question input by a user of the one terminal device from the terminal device of the user;
The transmission means includes a message received by the receiving means, together with address data of the user of the one terminal device received by the receiving means, indicating the question indicated by the question data received by the receiving means. Provided is a server device that transmits to a destination indicated by address data accompanying the data . ( Sixth embodiment)

In the sixth embodiment above,
In the generation of the message map data, the arithmetic means changes the predetermined reference time as time elapses, and instructs the change of the display mode of the predetermined image as the reference time changes. A configuration for generating data may be employed. ( Seventh embodiment)

In the sixth or seventh embodiment,
The receiving means receives route data indicating a geographical route by at least a starting point and a destination from a terminal device that is a transmission source of the extraction condition data,
In the extraction of the message data, the calculation means specifies one or more routes connecting the starting point and the destination indicated by the route data included in the extraction condition data, and the one or more specified routes A configuration for extracting message data with position data indicating the upper position may be adopted. ( Eighth embodiment)

In any of the sixth to eighth embodiments described above,
The receiving means receives question data indicating a question requesting an answer in a predetermined format from one terminal device,
The transmitting means transmits data indicating the question indicated by the question data received by the receiving means to the portable terminal device that is the transmission source of the message data received by the receiving means,
The receiving means responds to the contents of the question data together with the position data indicating the current position of the mobile terminal device from the mobile terminal device as a response to the data indicating the content of the question data transmitted by the transmitting means. Receive the answer data
The calculation means is arranged at a position indicated by an image showing a map and position data associated with the answer data on the image showing the map for each of the one or more answer data received by the receiving means, Generating response map data instructing display with a predetermined image corresponding to the content of the response indicated by the response data;
The transmission unit may be configured to transmit the answer map data generated by the calculation unit to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the question data. ( Ninth Embodiment)

In any of the sixth to ninth embodiments described above,
The message data received by the receiving means is accompanied by user identification data for identifying a user who has input the message indicated by the message data.
In the generation of the message map data, the calculation means is configured to use the message map data that associates the message identification data for identifying the message data with the predetermined image corresponding to the message data or the user identification data associated with the message data. Generate
The receiving means transmits the terminal apparatus from one or more message identification data or user identification data associated with the message map data, which is transmitted from the terminal apparatus as a response to the message map data transmitted by the transmitting means. Receiving one message identification data or user identification data selected by a user of
The computing means is a message having the same user identification data as the user identification data accompanying the message data identified by the message identification data received by the receiving means from among one or more message data received by the receiving means. Data, or message data with user identification data received by the receiving means,
The transmission means converts the one or more message data extracted in the extraction by the computing means into data indicating the position indicated by the position data accompanying the message data and the message data for each of the one or more message data. A configuration may be adopted in which data is transmitted to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the one message identification data or user identification data together with the data indicating the time indicated by the accompanying time data. ( Tenth embodiment)

The present invention also provides:
The receiving means of the server apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10 a computer having a communication means for performing data communication with another communication device, said storage means, said calculation means, functions as the transmitting means Provide a program to let ( Eleventh embodiment)

According to the method according to the first embodiment or the server device according to the sixth embodiment, the location of a message that is constantly added in a message exchange mechanism such as Twitter (registered trademark) is a map. A list can be displayed by a predetermined image such as a circle mark arranged above. At that time, for example, message filtering is performed according to a condition designated by the viewer such as “include keyword XXX in the message”, and the viewer maps the predetermined image corresponding to the filtered message. Can be viewed. Therefore, for messages whose contents greatly affect the value, such as traffic jam information and weather information, the message viewer can grasp the location and time of the transmission intuitively and appropriately By specifying a keyword or the like, it is possible to quickly specify a message that seems to contain necessary information.

According to the method according to the second embodiment or the server device according to the seventh embodiment, as time passes, a display such as a circle indicating the location of the message on the map appears, for example. Disappears or its concentration changes. Therefore, the viewer can intuitively grasp information about when and where the messages are transmitted in the past week, for example, from an image displayed on the map.

According to the method according to the third embodiment or the server device according to the eighth embodiment, the viewer connects the starting point and the destination by designating the starting point and the destination. Only messages sent on the route can be filtered. Thus, the viewer can more quickly identify messages that may contain information such as traffic jam information when moving from the departure point to the destination by car and operation information when moving from the departure point to the destination by train. it can.

According to the method according to the first embodiment described above or the server device according to the sixth embodiment described above, when the viewer cannot find the target information in a message that has already been transmitted, A question can be made to a caller who has recently sent a message in a place where the target information can be obtained. At that time, a question is transmitted to a destination such as a mail address added along with the transmission of the message, and a destination such as a reply destination mail address is transmitted to the other party of the question together with the question. Therefore, there is no need to individually manage the data such as the mail addresses of the sender and receiver of the question, and interactive exchange of questions and answers is possible using the existing message exchange mechanism.

According to the method according to the fourth embodiment or the server apparatus according to the ninth embodiment, for example, a person who wants to know the current weather in a specific area has recently sent a message within the area. To a number of unspecified callers, regular questions such as “1. Sunny”, “2. Cloudy”, “3. Rain”, “4. Snow” are sent, and the contents of the answers are sent to the terminal. It is possible to know intuitively by displaying an image such as a weather mark on the map on the device. As described above, even if the information can have different answers depending on individual respondents, it is possible to quickly obtain information with high accuracy by collecting and displaying a large number of them.

According to the method according to the fifth embodiment or the server device according to the tenth embodiment, a message viewer can send a message sent in the past by a sender of an interested message at the time. And know with location information. Therefore, it is convenient when it is necessary to guess the content from a short message.

In addition, according to the program according to the eleventh embodiment, any of the seventh to twelfth described above can be used by using a general computer having communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external communication device. The server apparatus concerning these embodiments is implement | achieved, and the various effects mentioned above regarding those embodiments are acquired.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a message map providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the user DB stored in the message exchange server device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the message DB stored in the message exchange server device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the message map providing server device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the data configuration of the user DB stored in the message map providing server device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a data configuration of the message DB stored in the message map providing server device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a message map display page displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the message detail display window displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a message transmission history page displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a free question transmission page displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a fixed question transmission page displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the answer map display page displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of a message map display page corresponding to the route search displayed on the terminal device constituting the message map providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[1. Example]
The configuration and operation of the message map providing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The message map providing system 1 is a plot showing a place where a message is sent on a map for a message sent by an arbitrary general individual (hereinafter referred to as “sender”) in a known open type message exchange system. And a message map indicating the freshness of the message according to the density of the plot, is provided in response to a request from an arbitrary general individual (hereinafter referred to as a “viewer”).

  In the present application, the open message exchange system does not require the user registration and the identity authentication according to the registered content in the transmission of the message, but does not require those procedures in the browsing of the message, It means a system that allows free viewing of messages.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the message map providing system 1. The message map providing system 1 includes a message exchange server device 11 that is a server device that manages messages in a known open type message exchange system, and a message map providing server device 12 that is a server device that mainly provides a message map. A known route search server 13 for returning route data indicating a traffic route connecting the departure point and the destination in response to reception of data indicating the departure point and the destination, and a sender mainly used for sending a message A portable terminal device 14 and a terminal device 15 that a viewer mainly uses for browsing a message map are provided.

  The mobile terminal device 14 and the terminal device 15 can transmit and receive various data between the message exchange server device 11 and the message map providing server device 12 via the network 19. Further, the message map providing server device 12 can transmit and receive various data between the message exchange server device 11 and the route search server 13 via the network 19.

  The network 19 is configured by connecting a plurality of wired communication networks and a wireless communication network including a mobile telephone communication network, and relays transmission / reception of various data according to the Internet protocol between communication devices.

  In FIG. 1, the number of the message exchange server device 11, the message map providing server device 12, and the route search server 13 shown in the drawing is one, but these server devices may be configured as a single device. It may be configured as an aggregate of a plurality of devices that cooperate with each other. As a configuration of such a group of devices, each of a plurality of devices performs the same kind of processing distributed by the load balancer, each of the plurality of devices shares processing depending on the area in the network 19, and the server device Various types of data processing, such as those in which a plurality of apparatuses share the various data processing depending on the type of processing, can be employed.

  Moreover, each of the mobile terminal device 14 and the terminal device 15 changes constantly according to the number of senders and viewers who use the message map providing system 1. In FIG. 1, p (p is an arbitrary natural number) portable terminal devices 14 and q (q is an arbitrary natural number) terminal devices 15 are shown.

  Since the message exchange server device 11 is a known message exchange server device, detailed description of its configuration and operation is omitted, but in order to help understanding the overall operation of the message map providing system 1, its operation is described below. And the structure of data stored in the message exchange server device 11 will be described.

  The message exchange server device 11 provides a virtual message exchange system simulating Twitter (registered trademark). The caller performs user registration with the message exchange server device 11 in advance using the mobile terminal device 14, and inputs and transmits the user ID (Identifier) and password specified at the time of user registration, or is uniquely assigned to the mobile terminal device 14. You can log in to the message exchange system by sending the terminal ID automatically.

  In order to mainly perform login processing, the message exchange server device 11 stores a user DB, which is a DB (Database) for managing user information. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the user DB stored in the message exchange server device 11.

  The user DB stored in the message exchange server device 11 is a collection of records storing data relating to each of users who are users of the message exchange system. Each record in the user DB has the following fields.

“User ID”: Stores a user ID for identifying a user.
“Password”: Stores a password for verifying the identity of the user.
“Terminal ID”: Stores a terminal ID that is an ID uniquely assigned to the mobile terminal device 14 used by the user.
“Mail address”: Stores a mail address indicating a destination of various messages from the message exchange server device 11 to the user.
“Follower”: Stores user ID (s) that identify a user who receives automatic distribution of message data when new message data is transmitted from this user.

  After logging in, the user of the message exchange system, who is a caller, freely inputs a message in a message input field displayed on the mobile terminal device 14 and performs a transmission operation, thereby exchanging message data indicating the message. It can be uploaded to the server device 11.

  When the portable terminal device 14 performs a login process with the message exchange server device 11, a communication connection is established between the portable terminal device 14 and the message exchange server device 11, and a logout process is performed. Until that time, the communication connection is maintained. While this communication connection is maintained, the message exchange server device 11 can identify the mobile terminal device 14 of the communication partner by the connection ID assigned to the communication connection.

  By the way, the portable terminal device 14 has a function of acquiring position data indicating the current position. The mobile terminal device 14 adds the acquired position data to the message data when uploading the message data to the message exchange server device 11. Furthermore, when uploading message data to the message exchange server device 11, the mobile terminal device 14 adds time data indicating the current time to the message data. As such, the message data to which the position data and the time data are added is transmitted from the mobile terminal device 14 to the message exchange server device 11.

  Note that the position data is not necessarily added to the message data in the mobile terminal device 14. For example, position data may be added to message data at a data relay point such as a base station of a mobile telephone communication network connected when the mobile terminal device 14 accesses the network 19.

  Similarly, the addition of the time data to the message data is not necessarily performed in the mobile terminal device 14. For example, the message exchange server device 11 may add time data indicating the time at which the message exchange server device 11 received the message data. In that case, the time indicated by the time data is exactly the time after the transmission time of the message data. However, since the time required for transmission / reception of the message data is sufficiently short, the arrival time of the message data in the message exchange server device 11 is determined. Even if it is handled as the transmission time of the message data from the mobile terminal device 14, there is no practical problem.

  The message exchange server device 11 stores the message data received as described above together with the location data and time data associated therewith, and a user ID for identifying the user (sender) of the mobile terminal device 14 as the sender. For this purpose, the message exchange server device 11 stores a message DB that is a DB for managing message data. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure of the message DB stored in the message exchange server device 11.

  The message DB stored in the message exchange server device 11 is a collection of records storing data relating to each message data transmitted from any portable terminal device 14. Each record of the message DB has the following fields.

“Message ID”: A message ID for identifying message data is stored. The message ID is arbitrarily assigned by the message exchange server device 11.
“User ID”: Stores the user ID for identifying the user who sent the message.
“Message content”: Message data is stored.
“Sending time”: Stores time data indicating a sending time of message data.
“Transmission position”: Stores position data indicating the transmission position of the message data.
“Reply-to”: When the message data is data indicating a reply message to the message data of the other person, the message ID of the message data of the reply destination is stored. Blank if not a reply message.

  The message exchange server device 11 publishes the message data stored in the message DB as described above and the data such as the position data associated therewith so that it can be freely viewed on the network 19. That is, the message exchange server device 11 transmits the data stored in the message DB to the requesting communication device in response to a request from any communication device.

  Therefore, a viewer of a message published in the message exchange system displays a message list page by inputting a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into the browser of his / her terminal device, and the list is displayed in a new order there. Messages can be browsed in sequence, or a keyword can be input to extract messages that seem to contain the desired information from messages uploaded in the past and browse them.

  The reader who has read the message logs in to the message exchange server device 11 using his / her mobile terminal device, and inputs and transmits the message as a reply message in a state where a specific message is selected on the message list page, for example, You can send your own messages to other people's messages. Regarding the message data transmitted in such a manner, a message ID for identifying the message data of the reply destination is stored in the field “reply destination” of the message DB (FIG. 3).

  In addition, a viewer who wants to always browse a message transmitted from a specific caller logs in to the message exchange server device 11 using his / her terminal device, and selects a message of a specific caller on, for example, a message list page In such a state, by performing a predetermined operation such as clicking a “follower registration” button, the user can be registered as a follower of the sender. That is, the user ID of the viewer is registered in the field “follower” of the sender record in the user DB (FIG. 2).

  When a new message is sent from the caller to the viewer registered as a follower as described above, the message exchange server device 11 sends it to the mail address of the viewer registered in the user DB (FIG. 2). The message is automatically sent. Also, for each user registered as a user in the message exchange server device 11, a page called “My Page” that displays a list of messages sent by the user in a time-series manner is generated by the message exchange server device 11 and released. However, the message from the caller registered as a follower is automatically displayed on the viewer's My Page by the message exchange server device 11.

  The above is the outline of the operation of the message exchange system provided by the message exchange server device 11.

  The message map providing server device 12 is realized by causing a general-purpose computer capable of transmitting / receiving data to / from an external communication device to perform processing according to the program according to the present invention. However, instead, the message map providing server device 12 that performs the processing described below as a so-called dedicated server device may be configured in hardware.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 has, as its functional component, a receiving unit that receives various data transmitted from external communication devices (message exchange server device 11, route search server 13, mobile terminal device 14, and terminal device 15). 121, a transmission unit 122 that transmits various data to an external communication device, a storage unit 123 that stores various data such as data indicating a program according to the present invention and data related to a user, and message map data that instructs display of a message map And a calculation unit 124 for performing various calculations for controlling other components of the message map providing server device 12.

  The storage unit 123 stores a user DB for the message map providing server apparatus 12 to manage user information and a message DB for the message map providing server apparatus 12 to manage message data.

  The user DB stored in the message map providing server device 12 is required when sending a question as a reply message to the sender of the message displayed on the message map provided by the message map providing server device 12. This is a database for managing information such as user IDs and passwords. Therefore, a user who only browses the message map and does not send a question does not need user registration with the message map providing server device 12.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the data configuration of the user DB stored in the message map providing server device 12. As described above, since the user DB of the message map providing server device 12 is used by a viewer to send a question as a reply message in the message exchange system provided by the message exchange server device 11, the message exchange server device It has a configuration similar to 11 user DBs (FIG. 2). Specifically, the user DB record of the message map providing server device 12 has the following fields.

“User ID”: Stores a user ID for identifying a user in the message exchange system.
“Password”: Stores a password for confirming the identity of the user in the message exchange system.
“Terminal ID”: Stores a terminal ID that is an ID uniquely assigned to the mobile terminal device 14 used by the user. Used in place of user ID and password in message exchange system.
“Mail address”: Stores a mail address indicating a destination of various messages from the message map providing server device 12 to the user.
“Point balance”: Points given from the message map providing server device 12 according to a predetermined rule when a user who has received a question from the viewer using the message map provided by the message map providing server device 12 makes an answer Indicates the balance. This point is, for example, a pseudo-currency having a convertibility, and is adopted in the message map providing system 1 for the purpose of prompting an answer to a question via the message map.

  The message DB stored in the message map providing server device 12 is a DB for copying and storing data stored in the message DB (FIG. 3) of the message exchange server device 11 in order to generate a message map. It is. In addition, the message DB stored in the message map providing server device 12 manages the point assignment for the caller who answered the question from the viewer in the message map providing service provided by the message map providing server device 12. The data for storing is also stored.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the data configuration of the message DB stored in the message map providing server device 12. The message DB record of the message map providing server device 12 has the following fields.

“Message ID”: A message ID for identifying message data is stored.
“User ID”: Stores the user ID for identifying the user who sent the message.
“Message content”: Message data is stored.
“Sending time”: Stores time data indicating a sending time of message data.
“Transmission position”: Stores position data indicating the transmission position of the message data.
“Reply-to”: When the message data is data indicating a reply message to the message data of the other person, the message ID of the message data of the reply destination is stored. Blank if not a reply message. In the case of an answer message to the question message, the message ID of the message indicating the question is indicated.
“Question type”: “Individual” indicating that the question is a question made only to a specific caller when a question is made as a reply message to the caller's message. One of “simultaneous” indicating that the question was made to the caller is stored. Blank if it is a normal message.
“Points have been added”: When the reply destination is a question message, either “Yes” indicating that point addition processing has been completed or “No” indicating that point addition processing has not been completed. Store.

  The message map providing server device 12 accesses the message exchange server device 11 at sufficiently short intervals, acquires data relating to newly uploaded message data from an arbitrary sender, and stores it in the message DB (FIG. 6). Always keep the data up to date.

  The route search server 13 indicates departure point data indicating the departure point from the message map providing server device 12, destination data indicating the destination, and moving means (for example, “automobile” or “public transportation means”). The route search request data including the moving means data is received, the starting point indicated by the starting point data included in the request data is connected to the destination indicated by the destination data, and the moving indicated by the moving means data. One or more movable routes are specified by the means, and route data indicating the specified routes is transmitted to the message map providing server device 12. Since the route search server 13 is known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The mobile terminal device 14 is capable of data communication with the message exchange server device 11 and the message map providing server device 12 via the network 19 and is a general mobile phone or the like capable of acquiring location data. It is a portable terminal device. Since the portable terminal device 14 is also known, its detailed description is omitted.

  The terminal device 15 is capable of data communication with the message map providing server device 12 via the network 19, has a browser function, and displays a page transmitted from the message map providing server device 12 according to the Internet protocol. This is a general terminal device capable of displaying various pages such as a message map in accordance with data instructing. Since the terminal device 15 is also known, its detailed description is omitted.

  Next, the message map provided from the message map providing server device 12 will be described.

  As described above, the message map shows the location of a message from an arbitrary sender uploaded to the message exchange server device 11 at a position on the map corresponding to the transmission position and a concentration corresponding to the transmission time. It is the image shown by the plot of.

  The viewer who wants to use the message map does not need to log in for the browsing. Therefore, user registration for the message exchange server device 11 or the message map providing server device 12 is not required.

  The viewer can display a message map display page on the terminal device 15 by inputting a predetermined URL on the browser screen of the terminal device 15. The message map providing server device 12 that has received the message map display page distribution request from the terminal device 15 uses the template data stored in advance in the storage unit 123 to use the message map display page corresponding to the requesting terminal device 15. Message map data, which is data for instructing to display the message, is generated.

  Note that the message map data and the data for instructing the display of the page displayed on the terminal device 15 in the following description are data described in a markup language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the content of a message map display page displayed on the terminal device 15.

  A map 201 is displayed at the center of the message map display page, and a number of plots 202 are displayed on the map 201.

  The display area and scale of the map 201 are determined so as to cover an area within a circle having a specified radius from the specified center. By default, that is, when the message map display page is first displayed on the terminal device 15, for example, the central location is a geographical location specified from a global IP (Internet Protocol) address used by the terminal device 15 in the network 19, for example. And the radius is, for example, 1 kilometer.

  Each of the plots 202 corresponds to a message transmitted from an arbitrary caller during a period of a specified length whose end time is a specified reference time, and the display position thereof indicates the transmission position of the message. The shading indicates the freshness of the message. Note that the freshness of the message means the elapsed time from the time when the message is sent to the reference time, and the shorter the elapsed time, the higher the freshness and the darker the display. The longer the time, the lower the freshness and the lighter the display. . By default, the reference time is, for example, the current time, and the period is, for example, 1 hour.

  In response to the message map data request from the terminal device 15, the message map providing server device 12 transmits, for example, the global IP of the terminal device 15 to a known conversion server device, and the global IP is used as a response. Receive data indicating the area that is present. For example, the message map providing server device 12 can store map data covering an area with a radius of 1 km centered on the center of the area indicated in the received data from among a group of map data stored in the storage unit 123 in advance. Search and get. The message map providing server device 12 already describes the file name of the map data acquired as described above in the template data as a reference destination of the map data indicating the map 201.

  Subsequently, the message map providing server device 12 indicates from the message DB (FIG. 6) stored in the storage unit 123 that the field “transmission time” indicates a time within the past one hour from the current time, and the field “transmission position” ”Extracts a record indicating a position in the area having a radius of 1 kilometer. The message map providing server device 12 has a predetermined magnitude of the density according to the elapsed time which is the difference between the current time and the transmission time at a position on the map 201 corresponding to each transmission position of the record thus extracted. A code for instructing to draw the plot 202 is added to the template data.

  In the message map providing server device 12, the density of the plot 202 is, for example, 256 gradations (the gradation is the darkest when the gradation is 256, and the lightest when the gradation is 1). Accordingly, when the designated period is 1 hour, since 3,600 seconds ÷ 256≈14 seconds, the gradation of density decreases by 1 from 256 every time the elapsed time increases by about 14 seconds.

  Further, the message map providing server device 12 uses the message ID and message content of the corresponding message data record in the message DB (FIG. 6) as link information for each plot 202 to be drawn for the template data as described above. , Add each data of outgoing time. Thereby, the generation of the message map data is completed.

  The message map providing server device 12 transmits the message map data generated using the template data as described above to the terminal device 15. As a result, a message map display page as shown in FIG.

  In the message map display page displayed in such a manner, the viewer can change the center position of the map 201 by inputting an address or a famous spot name in the center location designation box 203. Further, the viewer can change the scale of the map 201 by inputting the radius in the radius designation box 204.

  The data indicating the center and the data indicating the radius input by the viewer as described above are transmitted from the terminal device 15 to the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 re-executes the search of the map data and the extraction of the record from the message DB according to the data, and generates message map data instructing the display of the new map 201 and the plot 202. The message map data is transmitted to the terminal device 15. As a result, the updated message map display page is displayed on the terminal device 15.

  In addition, the viewer can display a plot 202 corresponding to a message transmitted during a predetermined past period by inputting any past time as a reference time in the reference time designation box 205. In addition, the viewer can change the range of the message transmission time displayed by the plot 202 by inputting the period in the period designation box 206.

  For example, if “1 day” is entered in the period specification box 206 instead of the default “1 hour”, messages sent within the past one day from the reference time specified in the reference time specification box 205 will be displayed. A corresponding plot 202 will be displayed on the map 201. In this case, the density gradation of the plot 202 decreases by 1 every time 337.5 seconds elapse from the transmission time to the reference time.

  The data indicating the reference time and the data indicating the period input by the viewer as described above are transmitted from the terminal device 15 to the message map providing server device 12. In accordance with the data, the message map providing server device 12 re-executes the extraction of the record from the message DB described above, generates message map data instructing the display of the new plot 202, and uses the message map data as the terminal device. 15 to send. As a result, the updated message map display page is displayed on the terminal device 15.

  When the viewer wants to see the content of the message corresponding to each of the plots 202, for example, by moving the mouse over the target plot 202 (operation for moving the cursor over the target object with the mouse), A message display window 207 for displaying the contents of the corresponding message can be pop-displayed.

  When a viewer performs a mouse over a plot 202, the terminal device 15 follows the code described in the message map data, and the message content and transmission contained in the message map data as link information for the plot 202. A message display window 207 for displaying the time is displayed in a pop-up near the cursor.

  By using the above-described function of the message map display page, the viewer can satisfy the needs such as “I want to know the impression about the concert sent by the audience at the concert venue in real time”. In this case, the viewer designates the name of the concert venue in the center designation box 203, “200 meters” in the radius designation box 204, “current time” (default) in the reference time designation box 205, and the period designation box 206. For example, by inputting “15 minutes”, the target message can be quickly accessed.

  On the other hand, for example, when the viewer has a need to “look for cherry blossom viewing spots within 50 kilometers from his / her place”, the above-described function of the message map display page alone does not satisfy the need. This is because many of the messages corresponding to the displayed plot 202 are not related to cherry-blossom viewing. In order to satisfy such needs, a keyword input box 208 is provided on the message map display page.

  In such a case, the viewer inputs keywords such as “cherry blossom”, “cherry blossom viewing”, and “full bloom” in the keyword input box 208, and then clicks the extraction execution button 209, so that the viewer is likely to be related to cherry blossom viewing. A plot 202 for the message only can be displayed on the map 201. As a result, the viewer can quickly access the target message.

  Data indicating a keyword input to the keyword input box 208 by the viewer is transmitted from the terminal device 15 to the message map providing server device 12 in response to a click on the extraction execution button 209. The message map providing server device 12 includes, in the field “message content”, data indicating a message including the keyword indicated by the data received from the terminal device 15 among the records previously extracted from the message DB (FIG. 6). To extract. The message map providing server device 12 uses the newly extracted record to generate message map data instructing display of a new plot 202, and transmits the message map data to the terminal device 15. As a result, the updated message map display page is displayed on the terminal device 15.

  When the viewer finds an interesting message on the message map display page, the message detail display window 210 as shown in FIG. 8 can be opened by, for example, double-clicking the plot 202 corresponding to the message.

  The terminal device 15 transmits the message ID included in the message map data as link information of the double-clicked plot 202 to the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 searches the message DB (FIG. 6) for a record including the message ID in the field “message ID”. Further, the message map providing server device 12 searches the message DB (FIG. 6) for a record including the message ID received from the terminal device 15 in the field “reply to” as a record related to the reply message. The message map providing server device 12 provides the terminal device 15 with data indicating whether the fields “message ID”, “user ID”, “message content”, “transmission time”, and reply message of the retrieved records are returned. Send.

  Using the data transmitted from the message map providing server device 12 as described above, the terminal device 15 displays the message detail display window 210 (FIG. 8) according to the code described in the message map data.

  In the message detail display window 210, in addition to the transmission time and message content displayed in the message display window 207, a user ID and a reply message to the message are displayed. Furthermore, a call history button 211 and a question button 212 are displayed in the message detail display window 210.

  When the viewer clicks the transmission history button 211, a message transmission history page as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In the message transmission history page, a plot 213 corresponding to messages transmitted in the past by the sender of the message displayed in the message detail display window 210 (FIG. 8) is displayed on the map 214. The positions of these plots 213 indicate the transmission positions of the messages, and the shading of the plot 213 indicates the freshness of the messages, as in the message map display page (FIG. 7).

  On the message transmission history page, an arrow 215 indicating the order of transmission of each message is displayed. Therefore, the viewer can browse the content of the message in the order that the caller has sent by performing a mouse over the plot 213 in the order indicated by the arrows.

  In response to the click of the call history button 211 by the viewer, the terminal device 15 transmits the user ID displayed in the message detail display window 210 to the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 includes the received user ID in the field “user ID”, and records a record indicating the time within the past one hour from the current time in the field “transmission time” from the message DB (FIG. 6). Extract.

  The message map providing server device 12 stores in the storage unit 123 template data of display instruction data for instructing display of a message transmission history page. The message map providing server device 12 generates the data for instructing the display of the message transmission history page by applying the record data extracted as described above to the template data, and transmits the data to the terminal device 15. As a result, the message transmission history page shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the terminal device 15.

  In the message transmission history page, a reference time designation box 216 and a period designation box 217 for the viewer to input the reference time and period are also displayed. Since the operation when data is input to these boxes is the same as that described above with respect to the message map display page (FIG. 7), description thereof is omitted.

  The viewer clicks the question button 212 displayed in the message detail display window 210 (FIG. 8), thereby asking the sender of the message as a reply message to the message displayed in the message detail display window 210. You can send a message.

  However, in order to transmit the question message, it is necessary to log in to the message exchange server device 11. In the message map providing system 1, the message map providing server device 12 uses the user ID and password of the user DB (FIG. 5) stored in the storage unit 123 to log in the terminal device 15 to the message exchange server device 11. Act as a proxy. Therefore, in order to transmit the question message, the viewer needs to perform user registration for the message exchange server device 11 and the message map providing server device 12 in advance.

  When the viewer who has completed the user registration clicks the question button 212 while not logging in to the message map providing server device 12, a login page is displayed on the terminal device 15, and the viewer performs a login operation. I do. When the login operation is completed, a free question transmission page as shown in FIG. If the user has already logged in when the question button 212 is clicked, the free question transmission page is displayed without displaying the login page.

  In the free question transmission page, the viewer inputs the contents of the question in the question input box 218 and the desired response time limit in the response time limit input box 219, and clicks the send button 220. In response to this click operation, the terminal device 15 transmits the input data to the message map providing server device 12 together with the message ID displayed in the message detail display window 210.

  Further, the message map providing server device 12 searches the user DB (FIG. 5) stored in the storage unit 123 for a record including the user ID acquired at the time of login in the field “user ID”, and sets the password of the record. It transmits to the message exchange server apparatus 11 with a user ID, and the login with respect to the message exchange server apparatus 11 by a browser is performed on behalf. When the login is completed, the message map providing server device 12 transmits message data indicating the previously generated question message to the message exchange server device 11 as a reply message to the message ID received from the terminal device 15.

  When the message exchange server device 11 receives message data or the like indicating a question message from the message map providing server device 12, the message exchange server device 11 creates a new record in the message DB (FIG. 3) stored in the own device, and adds a new record to the record. After allocating the message ID, the user ID, message data (message contents), transmission time, and received message ID (reply destination) acquired at login are stored in the corresponding fields. Thereafter, the processing of the message exchange server device 11 causes the question message to be displayed on the my page of the questioned caller and made public.

  Further, the message exchange server device 11 searches the message DB (FIG. 3) stored in its own device for a record including the message ID received from the message map providing server device 12 in the field “message ID”, and the record Is retrieved from the user DB (FIG. 2) that stores the record including the user ID in the field “user ID” in its own device, and the mail address of the record is obtained. The e-mail address acquired in this way is the e-mail address of the sender of the question destination. The message exchange server device 11 transmits a reply mail notification mail to the mail address thus acquired.

  On the other hand, the message map providing server device 12 transmits message data or the like related to the question message to the message exchange server device 11, and then stores the message DB (FIG. 6) stored in the storage unit 123 in the message exchange server device 11. The same processing as that performed in step 1 is performed to register the transmitted message data. At that time, the message map providing server device 12 stores “individual” in the field “question type” of the record to be newly registered.

  When the sender of the question knows the content of the question message on the My Page or notification email and wants to answer the question, he logs in to the message map providing server device 12 using the mobile terminal device 14. Enter the answer on the displayed answer sending page and send it.

  The message map providing server device 12 registers message data and the like regarding the answer message received from the portable terminal device 14 of the questioned caller in the message DB (FIG. 6) stored in the storage unit 123, and Log in to the message exchange server device 11 as an agent, and send message data and the like regarding the reply message to the message exchange server device 11. As a result, the questioner can know the contents of the answer message through a notification mail or the like. Note that the reply message is also disclosed to the public in accordance with normal processing by the message exchange server device 11.

  When the message map providing server device 12 transmits message data related to the reply message to the message exchange server device 11 and registers the message data in the message DB stored in the storage unit 123 (FIG. 6), The message DB (FIG. 6) is searched for the message ID stored as the reply destination, that is, the record containing the message ID of the question message in the field “message ID”, and “individual” is stored in the question type of the searched record. In this case, for example, 50 points are given to the answerer.

  Specifically, the message map providing server device 12 searches the user DB (FIG. 5) for a record including the user ID of the reply message in the field “user ID”, and adds 50 to the point balance of the record. Then, “Yes” is stored in the field “point added” of the record related to the reply message registered in the message DB (FIG. 6). As a result, 50 points are given to the sender of the reply source. The points given in this way can be exchanged by a known method.

  With the above question / answer system, the message viewer can say, for example, to the caller who sent the message “I am at the observatory of Tokyo Sky Tree” 10 minutes ago. Sending a question message "How long?" And responding quickly by exchanging information interactively, such as receiving an answer message of "It's about 30 minutes. Necessary information can be obtained.

  By the way, depending on the content of the viewer's question, it may not be appropriate to individually ask a specific caller as described above. For example, there is a case where the viewer wants to know the current weather in the area to which he is going. If there are a large number of senders who have recently sent messages in the target area, it is arbitrary and uncomfortable to select one of those senders arbitrarily. In addition, since the weather has a spread, there are cases where the weather is different if it is a little away even within the same area. Furthermore, when it is lightly cloudy, there are some people who judge “sunny” and some people who judge “cloudy”, and there may be individual differences in the judgment.

  In such a case, the viewer can send the same question all at once to all the senders who have sent messages within the past 10 minutes from the current time in a specific area. For this purpose, the message map display page (FIG. 7) is provided with a free question button 221 and a fixed question button 222 for simultaneous questions.

  The viewer enters the sender of the simultaneous question destination by entering appropriate keywords in the center specification box 203, radius specification box 204, reference time specification box 205, period specification box 206, and keyword input box 208, respectively. After narrowing down, the free question button 221 or the fixed question button 222 is clicked.

  When the free question button 221 is clicked, a free question transmission page (FIG. 10) is displayed on the terminal device 15, and the questioner freely inputs the contents of the question and the desired answer deadline, and transmits the question. Can do. At that time, the processing performed in the message map providing system 1 is substantially the same as the processing related to the individual question performed when the question button 212 of the message detail display window 210 (FIG. 8) is clicked.

  However, in the case of simultaneous questions, the destination of the question message is all the messages narrowed down on the message map display page (FIG. 7). Further, in the case of a simultaneous question, “simultaneous” is stored in the field “question type” in the record newly registered in the message DB (FIG. 6) of the message map providing server device 12 regarding the question message. Furthermore, in the case of a simultaneous question, 5 points, which is less than 50 points in the case of an answer to an individual question, is added to a sender who has sent an answer message to the question message.

  On the other hand, when the standard question button 222 is clicked on the message map display page (FIG. 7), the standard question transmission page as shown in FIG. In addition to the question input box 218, the answer due date input box 219, and the send button 220 of the free question send page (FIG. 10), the fixed question send page includes a question input box 223, an answer due date input box 225, and a send button 226, respectively. A plurality of option input boxes 224 are provided.

  For example, when the viewer wants to know the current weather in the destination area, he / she enters a question sentence such as “What is the current weather?” In the question input box 223 and “1. Sunny” in each of the plurality of option input boxes 224. Input reply options such as “2. cloudy”, “3. rain”, and “4. snow”, enter a desired reply deadline in the reply deadline input box 225, and then click the send button 226. In response to the click, the message map providing system 1 performs substantially the same processing as when the transmission button 220 is clicked on the above-described free question transmission page (FIG. 10).

  However, when a general question is sent from the fixed question transmission page (Fig. 11), the question message is mapped with a note such as "Please select one of the following options" and the answer to this question. The URL of the answer map display page to be displayed is automatically added.

  In addition, in order to specify a map used in generating the answer map display page described below, the question message includes a center specification box 203 and a radius specification box in the message map display page (FIG. 7) when the question message is transmitted. The latitude / longitude and radius indicating the central location designated in 204 are automatically added.

  When the sender of the question destination who knows the contents of the question message with the above-mentioned options from the My Page or the notification mail, when he / she wants to answer the question, he / she uses the mobile terminal device 14 to send a message map. The user logs in to the providing server device 12 and inputs and transmits a response on the displayed response transmission page. At that time, a sender who makes an answer makes an answer by inputting a number attached to a designated option, and can freely enter a comment if desired.

  The viewer displays the answer message displayed on the terminal device 15 by displaying the question message transmitted by the viewer on the terminal device 15 and clicking on the URL automatically assigned to the question message. Can be displayed. Since this answer map display page is open to the public, it is possible to browse not only the viewer who asked the question but also the caller who made the answer.

  The answer map display page is provided with a question display box 225 for displaying the contents of the question message and a transmission time display box 226 for displaying the transmission time of the question message. Thereby, the browsing person can confirm the content of the question displayed on this page, and its transmission time.

  Further, on the answer map display page, a map 227 and a large number of figures 228 arranged on the map 227 are displayed. The map 227 is the same as the map 201 displayed on the message map display page (FIG. 7) when the question message is transmitted. Each of the figures 228 corresponds to an answer message, and the contents of the answer indicate one of the options shown in the legend 229 by the shape of the figure. Further, the point that the position of the graphic 228 on the map 227 indicates the transmission position of the reply message, and the density indicates the freshness of the reply message, for example, is the same as the plot 202 on the message map display page (FIG. 7).

  Note that, also on the answer map display page, a reference time designation box 230 and a period designation box 231 for the viewer to input the reference time and period are displayed. The operation when data is input to these boxes is the same as that described above with respect to the message map display page (FIG. 7).

  When the browser displays the question message transmitted by the reader on the terminal device 15 and clicks on the URL assigned thereto, a distribution map display page distribution request is transmitted from the terminal device 15 to the message map providing server device 12. . In response to the distribution request, the message map providing server device 12 searches the message DB (FIG. 6) for a record including the message ID corresponding to the URL in the field “message ID”, and acquires the message content and the transmission time.

  The message map providing server device 12 stores model data of answer map data, which is data instructing display of the answer map display page, in the storage unit 123. The message map providing server device 12 adds a code for displaying the message content and transmission time of the question message acquired as described above in the question display box 225 and the transmission time display box 226 to the template data.

  Further, the message map providing server device 12 identifies map data to be displayed on the answer map display page based on the latitude / longitude and radius included in the question message acquired as described above, and maps according to the identified map data. A code is added to the template data so that 227 is displayed. Further, the message map providing server device 12 adds a code for displaying the legend 229 to the template data based on the contents of the options included in the question message.

  Further, the message map providing server device 12 extracts a record including the message ID corresponding to the URL in the field “Reply-To” from the message DB (FIG. 6), and selects an option included in the message content for each of the extracted records. A code for displaying a figure corresponding to the number to be displayed at a position corresponding to the transmission position on the map 227 at a gradation density corresponding to the transmission time (and the reference time and period) is added to the template data, Text data indicating a comment included in the message content is added to the template data as link information for the graphic. Thereby, the generation of the answer map data is completed.

  The response map data generated as described above is transmitted from the message map providing server device 12 to the terminal device 15, and the terminal device 15 displays the response map display page. The viewer can quickly obtain target information by listing the results of answers obtained from a large number of senders on the answer map display page.

  The message map display page (FIG. 7) has a function of extracting and displaying a message transmitted on a specific route instead of the message transmitted in the circular area described above. By using this function, the viewer can specify the departure point and destination, and can view the messages sent on the route from the departure point to the destination, or the caller who seems to be on the route. For example, information such as traffic jam information and transportation operation information can be quickly obtained by sending a question message to the user.

  In order to provide the above functions, the message map display page (FIG. 7) includes a departure point input box 232, a destination input box 233, a moving means selection list 234, a route search button 235, and a route search result display box 236. ing.

  When the viewer inputs the departure place and destination addresses and spot names in the departure place input box 232 and the destination entry box 233, selects the moving means from the moving means selection list 234, and clicks the route search button 235, The input data is transmitted from the terminal device 15 to the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 transmits data indicating the destination received from the terminal device 15 to the route search server 13, and receives one or more route data as a response.

  The message map providing server device 12 searches for map data covering the route data received from the route search server 13, displays the map 201 according to the map data, and displays the route indicated by the route data on the map 201 and Codes to be displayed with arrows and characters in the route search result display box 236 are added to the template data of the message map data.

  Further, the message map providing server device 12 has the reference time designation box 205 on the message map display page in which the transmission position is indicated in the route data and the transmission time is currently displayed on the terminal device 15 from the message DB (FIG. 6). A record within the period specified by the reference time and period specified in the period specification box 206 is extracted, and a code for displaying the plot 202 corresponding to each extracted record on the map 201 is added to the template data. Thereby, the generation of the message map data corresponding to the route search is completed.

  The message map data generated as described above is transmitted from the message map providing server device 12 to the terminal device 15. As a result, a message map display page corresponding to the route search as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the terminal device 15. Thus, the viewer can quickly access a target message regarding information related to a linear route, not a planar area.

  Further, the message map display page (FIG. 7) has a function of displaying an animation indicating how the transmission position has changed over time with respect to messages transmitted and accumulated in the past.

  In order to provide the above functions, the message map display page (FIG. 7) is provided with a reproduction time designation slider 237, a resolution designation slider 238, a reproduction button 239, a pause button 240, and a stop button 241.

  For example, the viewer inputs “1 month” in the period designation box 206, slides the playback time designation slider 237 to designate “1 minute”, and slides the resolution designation slider 238 to “1/100”. When the play button 239 is clicked after the designation is made, the plot 202 corresponding to the messages transmitted in the past month in the area is sequentially displayed on the map 201 of the message map display page and disappears. The animation is displayed over 1 minute.

  At that time, “1/100” designated as the resolution simultaneously displays a plot 202 corresponding to a message transmitted within a period of 1/100 of “1 month” designated as the period. It means that. That is, during animation playback, many plots 202 are displayed on the map 201 with a density of 256, and then fade out and disappear as the playback time elapses. The gradation is sequentially changed so that the time until disappearance becomes 1/100 of the reproduction time (in this case, 1 minute).

  When the playback button 239 is clicked by the viewer, the data input by the playback time designation slider 237 or the like is transmitted from the terminal device 15 to the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 extracts records from the message DB (FIG. 6) according to the data received from the terminal device 15, and displays the plot 202 so that the gradation changes with time according to the rules described above. Message map data including the code to be generated.

  The message map data generated as described above is transmitted from the message map providing server device 12 to the terminal device 15. As a result, in the message map display page displayed on the terminal device 15, an animation is displayed in which the plot 202 is sequentially displayed and then faded and disappears.

  The viewer uses the animation function described above to input a keyword such as “fashion” in the keyword input box 208 to narrow down the messages, select an appropriate area, period, etc., and then click the play button 239. By clicking, it is possible to intuitively know information such as in what region and at what timing many messages about fashion are transmitted within the past designated period.

  The viewer can pause or stop the reproduction by clicking the pause button 240 or the stop button 241 during the reproduction of the animation.

[2. Modified example]
The above-described embodiments can be variously modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Examples of such modifications are shown below.

  In the above-described embodiment, the message map providing system 1 is configured by using the message exchange server device 11 that provides an existing message exchange system. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a message map is provided. A configuration in which the server device 12 and the message exchange server device 11 are integrated and the message map providing server device 12 provides both the message exchange service and the message map providing service may be adopted. In this case, it is not necessary to copy the message data or the like from the message exchange server device 11 to the message map providing server device 12.

  In the above-described embodiment, the map data is stored in the message map providing server device 12. However, for example, the message map providing server device 12 acquires necessary map data from an external map data providing server device. May be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the existing route search server 13 is used. However, the route search server 13 is integrated into the message map providing server device 12, and the route search processing is performed in the message map providing server device 12. A configuration in which is performed may be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the message map providing server device 12 logs in to the message exchange server device 11 as a reader's proxy when transmitting a question message by the viewer. A browser password or the like is stored in the map providing server device 12. Instead, for example, when login processing to the message exchange server device 11 is required, a login page distributed from the message exchange server device 11 is displayed on the terminal device 15, and the message exchange server device is directly displayed to the viewer. 11 may be used to perform a login operation on the computer 11. In this case, since it is not necessary to manage a password for logging in to the message exchange server device 11 in the message map providing server device 12, it is particularly desirable for the user to manage the confidential information.

  In the above-described embodiment, the message exchange service provided by the message exchange server device 11 is an open message exchange service. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only member members can view messages. The message map may be provided by the message map providing server device 12 using a closed-type message exchange service that is permitted.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the extraction of the message for displaying the plot on the message map, a configuration is adopted in which the extraction is performed based on the attribute of the keyword included in the message in addition to the transmission position and the transmission time. The message attributes that can be used for message extraction are not limited to these, and various other message attributes can be used for message extraction.

  For example, data such as the gender, age, hobbies of the message sender, and product type purchased in the past on the EC site are registered in advance in the user DB (FIG. 5) of the message map providing server device 12, and their attributes are related By enabling the viewer to input the search condition on the message map display page, for example, the plot 202 corresponding to the message transmitted by “a man who enjoys sports in his 30s” is displayed on the map 201. It becomes possible.

  The user attribute acquisition method as described above includes, for example, a method of inputting by a user at the time of member registration, attribute data associated with data communicated between the mobile terminal device 14 or the terminal device 15 as cookie information, etc. Various methods such as a method of automatically acquiring and storing the message map in the message map providing server device 12 can be adopted.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the message map providing server device 12 obtains data related to the message content and the message transmission time, transmission position, etc. from the message exchange server device 11 in advance, and responds to a request from the terminal device 15. Thus, a configuration is employed in which message map data is generated using those data acquired in advance. Instead, after the message map providing server device 12 receives a message map data transmission request from the terminal device 15, the message map providing server device 12 acquires data related to a necessary message from the message exchange server device 11 in response to the transmission request. It may be adopted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the terminal device 15 interprets page display instruction data transmitted from the message map providing server device 12 using a general browser function, and displays various pages such as a message map display page. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, these pages may be displayed in accordance with a dedicated application customized for displaying a message map.

  For example, by providing, for example, a barcode reader function in such a dedicated application, the message map providing system 1 can be used as a marketing research tool.

  Specifically, the marketing research company extracts, for example, “single women in their 20s” from the users who are registered as members of the message map providing system 1, and then those users. Distribute research applications to. When the user cooperates with the research, the distributed application is installed in the mobile terminal device 14, and the products of the product classifications specified in various stores (for example, “clothing”, When “cosmetics” or the like is purchased, the barcode attached to the product purchased on the spot is photographed by the camera function of the mobile terminal device 14.

  According to the application, the mobile terminal device 14 recognizes the content of the code from the barcode image obtained by photographing, and transmits message data having the recognized code as the message content to the message map providing server device 12. The message map providing server device 12 stores message data indicating the product code transmitted from the mobile terminal device 14 in the message DB together with the user ID, the transmission time, and the transmission position of the transmission source user.

  The person in charge of the marketing research company uses the terminal device 15 to access the URL notified from the operating company of the message map providing server device 12 to display a message map display page for displaying the research result. Can be displayed. In the message map display page displayed in this way, for example, by extracting the message using the product name as a keyword and then displaying an animation, the person in charge of the marketing research company can purchase a specific product when and where It is possible to know intuitively the information that has been done.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the terminal device 15 used by the viewer is a portable terminal device with a function of transmitting position data, the viewer installs a dedicated application on the terminal device 15, and the terminal device 15 By performing processing in accordance with the application, it is possible to construct a mechanism that can automatically receive notification of a time sale or an event currently being performed in the vicinity of the location where the viewer is currently located.

  Specifically, according to the installed application, the terminal device 15 generates, for example, the following data at a sufficiently short interval (for example, every minute), and sends a transmission request for message map data including the generated data. It is transmitted to the message map providing server device 12.

“Position”: Position data indicating the current position of the machine “Radius”: Data indicating a predetermined distance (for example, 100 meters) designated in advance by the viewer “Reference time”: Time data indicating the current time “Period”: Data “Keyword” indicating a predetermined period (for example, 30 minutes) designated in advance by a viewer: Data indicating a keyword (for example, “PR”) indicating notification of a predetermined time sale or event

  On the other hand, a store clerk or event organizer who performs a time sale logs in to the message exchange server device 11 using the mobile terminal device 14 as a caller, and then inputs information such as a time sale or an event. The message data shown is transmitted to the message exchange server device 11. At that time, for example, a predetermined keyword (for example, “PR”) is added to the title.

  The message map providing server device 12 acquires the message data uploaded by the caller as described above via the message exchange server device 11, while the message map data periodically transmitted from the terminal device 15 of the viewer. Message data is extracted according to the data indicating the “position”, “radius”, “reference time”, “period”, and “keyword” included in the transmission request, and the extracted message data is used. Generate message map data. The message map providing server device 12 transmits the message map data thus generated to the requesting terminal device 15.

  As a result, the time sale or event transmitted to the viewer's terminal device 15 by an arbitrary sender in the vicinity of the current position (for example, within a radius of 100 meters) within a predetermined period in the past (for example, within 30 minutes). Etc. is displayed as a message map. Since this message map is updated every predetermined time (for example, every minute), the viewer can always know information around the current location in a timely manner even when the viewer is moving.

  In the embodiment described above, geometric figures such as the plot 202 and the plot 213 or the figure 228 are adopted as the figures displayed on the map 201, the map 214, and the map 227. However, the shape and display mode can be arbitrarily changed. For example, various images such as an image displaying characters and a sun mark indicating a “sunny” option can be adopted.

  In the above-described embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which graphics (plot 202, plot 213, and graphic 228) displayed on the map 201, the map 214, and the map 227 are displayed lightly over time. This is an example of a display mode that changes over time, and the idea of the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the display corresponding to the message data transmitted within a predetermined period in the past from the reference time is displayed at the same density, and the display disappears at a timing outside the predetermined period (the density becomes zero), A mode in which the size of the graphic gradually decreases with time may be employed.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the viewer makes a question to the sender of the message, the message map providing server device 12 specifies the user ID from the message ID accompanying the message and specifies the mail address from the user ID. Process. These message ID, user ID, and mail address are all examples of address data indicating the destination of the question. (Data that can specify a destination is address data even if it is not accompanied by a name “address” like a network address or a mail address.)

  Further, the numerical values, graphics, data configuration, page display configuration, and the like shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to specific contents thereof.

  The present invention is widely effective for general individuals to exchange information. For example, the present invention can be used in the advertising industry by being accompanied by an advertisement, and can be used in the research industry by being used for marketing research.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Message map provision system, 11 ... Message exchange server apparatus, 12 ... Message map provision server apparatus, 13 ... Route search server, 14 ... Portable terminal device, 15 ... Terminal device, 19 ... Network, 121 ... Reception part, 122 ... Transmission unit, 123 ... storage unit, 124 ... calculation unit

Claims (11)

The server device is message data indicating a message input by a user of an arbitrary mobile terminal device, the time data indicating the time when the message is input, and the mobile terminal device at the time when the message is input A message data receiving step for receiving message data with address data indicating address of a message to a user who has input the message indicated by the message data , the message data including position data indicating a position;
An extraction condition data receiving step in which the server device receives extraction condition data indicating a condition for extracting message data based on the attribute of the message data from an arbitrary terminal device;
The server apparatus includes position data indicating a position within a predetermined range from one or more message data received in the message data receiving step, and indicates a time within a predetermined period in the past from a predetermined reference time. A message data extraction step for extracting message data accompanied by time data and having an attribute satisfying a condition indicated by the extraction condition data;
The server device is arranged at a position indicated by position data associated with the message data on the image indicating the map with respect to each of the image indicating the map and one or more message data extracted in the message data extraction step. A message map data generation step for generating message map data for instructing display with the predetermined image;
A message map data transmission step in which the server device transmits the message map data generated in the message map data generation step to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the extraction condition data ;
An address data receiving step in which the server device receives address data indicating a destination of a message for a user of the one terminal device from one terminal device;
Question data receiving step for receiving, from the terminal device of the user, question data indicating a question input by the user of the terminal device that is the transmission source of the address data received by the server device in the address data receiving step;
Address data associated with the message data received in the message data receiving step, together with the address data received in the address data receiving step, the data indicating the question indicated by the question data received in the question data receiving step in the server device A question data transmission step of transmitting to a destination indicated by . In the message map data generation step, the server device changes the predetermined reference time with the passage of time, and instructs the change of the display mode of the predetermined image with the change of the reference time. The method of claim 1, wherein data is generated. The server device includes a route data receiving step of receiving route data indicating a geographical route by at least a starting point and a destination from a terminal device that is a transmission source of the extraction condition data,
In the message data extraction step, the server device specifies one or more routes connecting the starting point and the destination indicated by the route data included in the extraction condition data, and the one or more specified routes The method according to claim 1, wherein message data with position data indicating an upper position is extracted. The server device receives question data indicating a question for requesting an answer in a predetermined format from one terminal device;
A question data transmitting step in which the server device transmits data indicating a question indicated by the question data received in the question data receiving step to a portable terminal device that is a transmission source of the message data received in the message data receiving step; ,
As a response to the data indicating the content of the question data transmitted by the server device in the question data transmission step, the answer to the content of the question data is transmitted from the mobile terminal device together with the position data indicating the current position of the mobile terminal device. An answer data receiving step for receiving answer data indicating
With respect to each of the one or more answer data received in the answer data receiving step, the server device is arranged at a position indicated by an image showing a map and position data associated with the answer data on the image showing the map. An answer map data generating step for generating answer map data for instructing display with a predetermined image according to the contents of the answer indicated by the answer data;
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: an answer data transmitting step in which the server device transmits the answer map data generated in the answer map data generating step to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the question data. 5. The message data received by the server device in the message data receiving step is accompanied by user identification data for identifying a user who has input the message indicated by the message data.
In the message map data generation step, the server device stores the message map data in which message identification data for identifying the message data or user identification data associated with the message data is associated with the predetermined image corresponding to the message data. Generate
The server device transmits from the terminal device as a response to the message map data transmitted in the message map data transmission step, from among one or more message identification data or user identification data associated with the message map data. An identification data receiving step for receiving one message identification data or user identification data selected by the user of the terminal device;
User identification data that is the same as the user identification data associated with the message data identified by the message identification data received in the identification data reception step is selected from the one or more message data received in the message data reception step by the server device. The same user message data extraction step for extracting the message data accompanying the message data or the user identification data received in the identification data receiving step,
Data indicating the position indicated by the position data associated with the message data for each of the one or more message data, and the message data extracted by the server device in the same user message data extraction step together with data indicating the time indicated by the time data associated with any one of claims 1 to 4 and a same user message data transmitting step of transmitting to the transmission source terminal device a message identifying data or user identification data of the one The method described in 1. Receiving means for receiving data transmitted from another communication device, storage means for storing data, arithmetic means for performing arithmetic processing, and transmission means for transmitting data to another communication device,
The receiving means is message data indicating a message input by a user of an arbitrary mobile terminal device, and includes time data indicating a time when the message is input, and the mobile terminal device at a time when the message is input Receive message data with position data indicating the position of
The receiving means receives extraction condition data indicating a condition for extracting message data based on an attribute of message data from an arbitrary terminal device,
The calculating means includes position data indicating a position within a predetermined range from one or more message data received by the receiving means, and a time indicating a time within a predetermined period in the past from a predetermined reference time. Extracting message data that has data and attributes that satisfy the conditions indicated by the extraction condition data;
The calculation means includes an image showing a map, and a predetermined image arranged at a position indicated by position data associated with the message data on the image showing the map with respect to each of the extracted one or more message data. Generate message map data that indicates the display of
The transmission means transmits the message map data generated by the calculation means to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the extraction condition data ,
The message data received by the receiving means is accompanied by address data indicating the destination of the message for the user who has input the message indicated by the message data,
The reception means receives address data indicating a destination of a message for a user of the one terminal device from one terminal device,
The receiving means receives question data indicating a question input by a user of the one terminal device from the terminal device of the user;
The transmission means includes a message received by the receiving means, together with address data of the user of the one terminal device received by the receiving means, indicating the question indicated by the question data received by the receiving means. A server device that transmits to a destination indicated by address data accompanying the data . In the generation of the message map data, the arithmetic means changes the predetermined reference time as time elapses, and instructs the change of the display mode of the predetermined image as the reference time changes. The server device according to claim 6 which generates data. The receiving means receives route data indicating a geographical route by at least a starting point and a destination from a terminal device that is a transmission source of the extraction condition data,
In the extraction of the message data, the calculation means specifies one or more routes connecting the starting point and the destination indicated by the route data included in the extraction condition data, and the one or more specified routes the server apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 extracts the message data with the position data indicating the position of the upper. The receiving means receives question data indicating a question requesting an answer in a predetermined format from one terminal device,
The transmitting means transmits data indicating the question indicated by the question data received by the receiving means to the portable terminal device that is the transmission source of the message data received by the receiving means,
The receiving means responds to the contents of the question data together with the position data indicating the current position of the mobile terminal device from the mobile terminal device as a response to the data indicating the content of the question data transmitted by the transmitting means. Receive the answer data
The calculation means is arranged at a position indicated by an image showing a map and position data associated with the answer data on the image showing the map for each of the one or more answer data received by the receiving means, Generating response map data instructing display with a predetermined image corresponding to the content of the response indicated by the response data;
The transmission unit, the server apparatus according to any one of claims 6-8 sends response map data generated by the calculating means to a transmission source terminal device of the query data. The message data received by the receiving means is accompanied by user identification data for identifying a user who has input the message indicated by the message data.
In the generation of the message map data, the calculation means is configured to use the message map data that associates the message identification data for identifying the message data with the predetermined image corresponding to the message data or the user identification data associated with the message data. Generate
The receiving means transmits the terminal apparatus from one or more message identification data or user identification data associated with the message map data, which is transmitted from the terminal apparatus as a response to the message map data transmitted by the transmitting means. Receiving one message identification data or user identification data selected by a user of
The computing means is a message having the same user identification data as the user identification data accompanying the message data identified by the message identification data received by the receiving means from among one or more message data received by the receiving means. Data, or message data with user identification data received by the receiving means,
The transmission means converts the one or more message data extracted in the extraction by the computing means into data indicating the position indicated by the position data accompanying the message data and the message data for each of the one or more message data. The server device according to any one of claims 6 to 9 , wherein the server device transmits the data indicated by the accompanying time data to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the one message identification data or user identification data. The receiving means of the server apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 10 a computer having a communication means for performing data communication with another communication device, said storage means, said calculation means, functions as the transmitting means Program to make.