Patent ID: 12218771

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a specific configuration example of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a block diagram schematically illustrating a system configuration of a conversation system100according to an embodiment of the present invention. The conversation system100is a system that allows users operating user terminals10to hold a conversation via a network30. The conversation system100includes a plurality of user terminals10and a conversation control device20. The plurality of user terminals10and the conversation control device20are communicatively connected via the network30. The network30may be a network based on wireless communication or may be a network based on wired communication. The network30may include a combination of a plurality of networks.

FIG.2is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a user terminal10. The user terminal10is constituted, for example, by an information device such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, a mobile game machine, a stationary game machine, or a dedicated device. The user terminal10includes a communicator11, an operator12, a display13, a voice input14, a voice output15, a storage16, and a controller17.

The communicator11is a communication device. The communicator11may be configured, for example, as a network interface. The communicator11performs data communication with another device via the network30under the control of the controller17. The communicator11may be a device that performs wireless communication or may be a device that performs wired communication.

The operator12is constituted by an existing input device such as a keyboard, a pointing device (such as a mouse or a tablet), buttons, or a touch panel. The operator12is operated by a user when the user inputs the user's instruction to the user terminal10. The operator12may be an interface that connects an input device to the user terminal10. In this case, the operator12inputs an input signal generated on the basis of the user's input in the input device to the user terminal10. The operator12may be constituted by a microphone and a voice recognition device. In this case, the operator12voice-recognizes words uttered by a user and inputs character string information as a result of recognition to the user terminal10. The operator12may have any configuration as long as it can input a user's instruction to the user terminal10.

The display13is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The display13displays image data which is used for a user to hold a conversation. The display13may be an interface that connects an image display device to the user terminal10. In this case, the display13generates a video signal for displaying image data and outputs the video signal to the image display device connected thereto.

The voice input14is constituted by a microphone. The voice input14may be configured as a microphone or may be configured as an interface that connects a microphone which is an external device to the user terminal10. The microphone acquires vocal sound uttered by a user who holds a conversation. The voice input14outputs voice data acquired by the microphone to the controller17.

The voice output15is constituted by a voice output device such as a speaker, headphones, or earphones. The voice output15may be configured as a voice output device or may be configured as an interface that connects a voice output device which is an external device to the user terminal10. It is preferable that the voice output device output vocal sound such that a user who holds the conversation can recognize the vocal sound. The voice output15outputs vocal sound based on a voice signal output from the controller17.

The storage16is constituted by a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device. The storage16stores data which is used by the controller17. The storage16may serve, for example, as a user information storage161. The user information storage161stores information on a user who operates the user terminal10(hereinafter referred to as “user information”). User information may include, for example, a screen name of a user, icon data of the user, and attribute information of the user. The screen name is a name (a nickname or a real name) which is used for a user to hold a conversation using the conversation system100. Icon data is image data which is used for a user to hold a conversation using the conversation system100. Attribute information may include, for example, information on age, sex, or a department of a user.

The controller17is constituted by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. The controller17serves as a display controller171, a conference controller172, and a conversation controller173by causing the processor to execute a program. All or some of the functions of the controller17may be realized in hardware such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of a computer-readable recording medium include portable media such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disc, a read only memory (ROM), a compact disc (CD)-ROM, and a semiconductor storage device (for example, a solid state drive (SSD)) and a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor storage device incorporated into a computer system. The program may be transmitted via an electric telecommunication line.

The display controller171receives display information from the conversation control device20via the communicator11. The display controller171generates an image signal on the basis of the acquired display information and displays an image indicated by the generated image signal on the display13. The display information may be, for example, image data indicating an image to be displayed. In this case, a main entity (an image data generator) that generates the image data is a display information generator233(which will be described later) of the conversation control device20. The display information may be, for example, data indicating information necessary for generating an image to be displayed (for example, information indicating a position, a size, and a display mode of a conference room to be displayed or positions and icon images of users). In this case, the display controller171generates image data to be displayed on the display13on the basis of the display information. In this case, a main entity (an image data generator) that generates image data is the display controller171.

The conference controller172performs control associated with a conference which is virtually provided in the conversation control device20. For example, when a user instructs to install a new conference room by operating the operator12, the conference controller172performs a process of installing the new conference room.

The conversation controller173performs control associated with a conversation which is made with a user of another user terminal10. The conversation which is made with the user of the other user terminal10may be carried out as a conversation which is held without entering the conference room (hereinafter referred to as a “private conversation”) or may be carried out as a conversation with a user participating in the installed conference room (hereinafter referred to as a “conference-room conversation”). For example, the conversation controller173transmits voice data input from the voice input14to the conversation control device20via the communicator11. When voice data is received from the conversation control device20, the conversation controller173outputs the received voice data from the voice output15.

FIG.3is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the conversation control device20. The conversation control device20is constituted by, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer or a server device. The conversation control device20includes a communicator21, a storage22, and a controller23.

The communicator21is a communication device. The communicator21may be configured, for example, as a network interface. The communicator21performs data communication with another device via the network30under the control of the controller23. The communicator21may be a device that performs wireless communication or may be a device that performs wired communication.

The storage22is constituted by a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device. The storage22stores data which is used by the controller23. The storage22may serve, for example, as a user information storage221and a conference room information storage222. The user information storage221stores information on a plurality of users who operates the user terminals10(hereinafter referred to as “user information”). User information on a plurality of users may be registered in advance in the conversation control device20.

The conference room information storage222stores information on a conference room (hereinafter referred to as “conference room information”). A conference room is a virtual room that is installed for a user to hold a conversation in the conversation system100. For example, the conference room information may include information indicating a theme set in a conference room, information indicating a name set for the conference room, information indicating a date and time of reservation for installation of the conference room, and information on attributes of the conference room. The information on attributes of a conference room may include the number of users to enter the conference room and information indicating users who can enter the conference room. The conference room information may additionally include information indicating whether the conference room is currently installed or reserved for installation or information indicating users who are currently in the conference room.

The controller23is constituted by a processor such as a CPU and a memory. The controller23serves as a user controller231, a conference room controller232, a display information generator233, and a conversation controller234by causing the processor to execute a program. All or some of the functions of the controller23may be realized in hardware such as an ASIC, a PLD, or an FPGA. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of a computer-readable recording medium include portable media such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disc, a ROM, a CD-ROM, and a semiconductor storage device (for example, an SSD) and a storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor storage device incorporated into a computer system. The program may be transmitted via an electric telecommunication line.

The user controller231performs a control process associated with a user. For example, the user controller231may perform a log-in process (for example, an authentication process) of a user terminal10accessing the conversation control device20. The user controller231may register user information received from a user terminal10in the user information storage221.

The conference room controller232performs a control process associated with a conference room. For example, when an instruction to install a new conference room has been received from a user terminal10, the conference room controller232may generate conference room information on the basis of the received information and register the generated conference room information in the conference room information storage222. The conference room controller232virtually installs a conference room at a timing at which the conference room is to be installed. For example, the timing at which a conference room is to be installed is a time at which an instruction to install a new conference room has been received from the user terminal10or a time at which a date and time of reservation has come when a reservation for installation of a conference room is registered in advance. When a user performs a predetermined operation for participating in a conference room and predetermined conditions are satisfied, the conference room controller232performs a process for allowing the user to participate in the conference room. For example, the conference room controller232registers participation of a new user in the conference room by updating the conference room information storage222.

The display information generator233generates information necessary for generating an image to be displayed on the user terminal10(display information). Display information may include, for example, information on a conference room which is currently installed and information on users of user terminals10which are accessing the conversation control device20. The display information generator233transmits the generated display information to the user terminals10.

The conversation controller234receives voice data from user terminals10. The conversation controller234generates voice data (hereinafter referred to as “conversation voice data”) to be output to the user terminals10and transmits the conversation voice data to the user terminals10. The conversation controller234may generate the conversation voice data, for example, on the basis of what conversation a user of each user terminal10participates in.

A relationship between an image displayed on a user terminal10and conversation voice data which is output when the corresponding image is displayed will be described below.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the display13of the user terminal10. InFIG.4, a conference room area image31, an icon image41, and an operation area image51are displayed on the display13. An image of a virtual space in which a conference room can be installed is displayed on the display13. The virtual space mainly includes an area of a conference room and an area outside of the conference room. The area of a conference room is displayed as a conference room area image31. The area outside of a conference room (hereinafter referred to as an “outside area”) is an area indicated by a reference sign91and is an area in which an icon image41of a user who is not in the conference room is displayed.

The conference room area image31is displayed as a geometrical image indicating an area with a predetermined size. In an example of the embodiment, the conference room area image31is displayed as a circular image including a shared area311at the center thereof. Some or all of the conference room information may be displayed in the shared area311. For example, a character string indicating the theme set for the conference room and a value indicating the number of users who are currently in the conference room may be displayed in the shared area311. In the shared area311, a title of a conference may be displayed instead of the character string indicating the theme of the conference room. In the example illustrated inFIG.4, it is assumed that a conference room with a chat as the theme is installed and the number of users in the conference room is “0.”

The icon image41is an image indicating information on a user and a virtual position of the user. The icon image41may be displayed, for example, on the basis of icon data included in the user information.

The operation area image51is an image of an area in which a button or information for performing operations associated with a conversation or a conference room is displayed. The operation area image51includes, for example, a conference room installation button511, a conference room information image512, and a user information display area513. When the conference room installation button511is operated, the conference controller172performs a process of installing a new conference room. Through the process performed by the conference controller172, the conference room controller232registers information on a new conference room (conference room information) in the conference room information storage222.

The conference room information image512is an image indicating information on a conference which is currently installed. In the example illustrated inFIG.4, a character string (text) indicating the theme of the conference room which is currently installed is displayed in the conference room information image512. The conference room information image512may include a character string or an image in which link information for movement to another uniform resource locator (URL) in response to a user's operation (such as tapping or clicking) is embedded. An operation object image such as a button used to perform an operation for the conference room may be additionally displayed in the conference room information image512. For example, a button used for a user to enter the conference room may be included in the conference room information image512.

Information on a user such as an icon image is displayed in the user information display area513. When a predetermined operation is performed on the user information display area513, an image (hereinafter referred to as a “user state setting image”) for setting information indicating a current state of a user (hereinafter referred to as a “user state”) may be additionally displayed. The predetermined operation may be, for example, an operation of tapping or clicking an icon image in the user information display area513, an operation of moving a pointer onto an icon image in the user information display area513, or another operation.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating an example of a user state setting image. When the predetermined operation is performed on the user information display area513illustrated inFIG.4, a user state setting image514is displayed. InFIG.5, for example, icon images and character strings indicating three user states including “online,” “exited,” and “on business” are displayed in the user state setting image514.

“Online” indicates, for example, a state in which the corresponding user accesses the conversation control device20and can operate a screen. “Exited” indicates, for example, a state in which the corresponding user accesses the conversation control device20and has not browse and operate a screen for a moment. “On business” indicates, for example, a state in which the corresponding user accesses the conversation control device20and browses the screen, but does not operate the screen for a moment. These examples of the user state are only examples, and the user state may be defined in another mode. For example, the following definitions may be made. “Online” indicates a state in which the voice input14and the voice output15of the user terminal10are activated, “exited” indicates a state in which the voice input14and the voice output15of the user terminal10are inactivated, and “on business” indicates a state in which the voice input14of the user terminal10is inactivated and the voice output15is activated. With these definitions, when the user operates the operator12to change the user state, the controller17may control the operations of the voice input14and the voice output15of the user terminal10such that the user state reaches the changed state. By constructing the user state setting image514in this way, the user can easily set activation and inactivation of the voice input14and the voice output15by operating the user state setting image514. Titles indicating the user state are not limited to “online,” “exited,” and “on business.” For example, the titles indicating the user state may be defined as words such as “open,” “zone,” and “work” instead of “online,” “exited,” and “on business.”

FIG.6is a diagram illustrating an example of the icon image41. The icon image41may be configured to indicate the user state. In the example illustrated inFIG.6, the icon image41includes a user state image42indicating the user state. The user state image42is an image indicating the user state. The user state image42may be configured to indicate the user state, for example, using shapes or colors. For example, icon images of the user states in the user state setting image514may be displayed as the user state image42. The user state image42illustrated inFIG.6indicates that the user state is “online.” A mode for indicating the user state with the icon image41is not limited to the mode using the user state image42. For example, the user state may be indicated in a mode in which the color of the icon image41changes according to the user state. For example, the icon image41may be displayed in a normal color when the user state is “online,” the icon image41may be displayed in a color of sepia when the user state is “exited,” and the icon image41may be displayed in black and white (for example, a binary image) when the user state is “off-line.”

FIG.7is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the display13of the user terminal10. In the example illustrated inFIG.7, icon images41(41_1and41_2) of two users and a conference room area image31of one conference room are displayed. No user yet participates in the conference room indicated by the conference room area image31. The two users do not participate in any conference room. Accordingly, the icon image41_1and the icon image41_2are displayed in an outside area91instead of the inside of the conference room area image31.

A user who desires to participate in the conference room can participate in the conference room by performing a predetermined operation. For example, a user who desires to participate in the conference room can participate in the conference room by performing a predetermined operation on a conference room information image512of the conference room in which the user desires to participate in the operation area image51. The predetermined operation may be, for example, an operation on a button for participation. For example, a user who desires to participate in the conference room can participate in the conference room by performing a predetermined operation such as clicking or tapping on the conference room area image31. For example, a user who desires to participate in the conference room can participate in the conference room by dragging and dropping the icon image41displayed in the outside area91to the conference room area image31. When entrance limitation is set for the conference room, only a user whose entrance into the conference is permitted in the entrance limitation can participate in the conference room.

FIG.8is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the display13of the user terminal10. In the example illustrated inFIG.8, one user participates in a conference room with a chat as a main theme. Accordingly, an icon image41(41_2) of one user is displayed inside of the conference room area image31indicating the conference room with a chat as a main theme. At this time point, no user participates in the same conference room as the user of the icon image41_2. Accordingly, the user of the icon image41_2cannot hold a conversation with another user in the conference room with a chat as a main theme.

When the user of the icon image41_1in the outside area91performs an operation for participating in the conference room with a chat as a main theme, the user participating in the conference room is notified that there is a user who desires to participate in the conference room. For example, predetermined sound (for example, door knocking sound) may be output from the user terminals10of the users. The user to be notified may be all users participating in the conference room or may be only a predetermined user (for example, a user who is a manager of the conference room). When predetermined conditions are satisfied after notification has been performed, the user of the icon image41_1can participate in the conference room with a chat as a main theme. The predetermined conditions may include, for example, a condition that a predetermined time (for example, 1 second, 3 seconds, or 5 seconds) has elapsed, a condition that participation in the conference room has been permitted by a predetermined user (for example, a manager or a participant of the conference room), or a condition that participation conditions set in advance for the conference room have been satisfied.

FIG.9is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the display13of the user terminal10. In the example illustrated inFIG.9, two users participate in a conference room with a chat as a main theme. Accordingly, icon images41(41_1and41_2) of two users are displayed inside of the conference room area image31indicating the conference room with a chat as a main theme. At this time point, the user of the icon image41_1and the user of the icon image41_2participate in the same conference room. Accordingly, the user of the icon image41_1and the user of the icon image41_2can hold a conversation in the conference room with a chat as a main theme. That is, the users participating in the same conference room can hold a conversation using the user terminals10.

More specifically, the users participating in the same conference room can hold a conversation as follows. The user terminal10of a user participating in the conference room receives voice data uttered by another user participating in the same conference room and outputs the received voice data. The user terminal10of a user participating in the conference room transmits voice data uttered by the user to the conversation control device20. By this transmission, the voice data is output from the user terminal10of another user participating in the same conference room. When a user of an icon image41_3in the outside area91performs an operation for participating in the conference room with a chat as a main theme, the user of the icon image41_3can participate in the conference room with a chat as a main theme after predetermined conditions have been satisfied.

FIG.10is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on the display13of the user terminal10. In the example illustrated inFIG.10, three users participate in a conference room with a chat as a main theme. Accordingly, icon images41(41_1,41_2, and41_3) of three users are displayed inside of the conference room area image31indicating the conference room with a chat as a main theme. At this time point, the user of the icon image41_1, the user of the icon image41_2, and the user of the icon image41_3participate in the same conference room. Accordingly, the user of the icon image41_1, the user of the icon image41_2, and the user of the icon image41_3can hold a conversation in the conference room with a chat as a main theme. The same is true of a case in which four or more users participate in the same conference room.

FIG.11is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on a conference room screen. In the example illustrated inFIG.11, an example of a conference room screen of a conference room with a chat as a main theme in the state illustrated inFIG.10is illustrated. The conference room screen is a screen indicating an inside state of a conference room. Icon images41of users participating in the conference room may be displayed on the conference room screen. In the example illustrated inFIG.11, icon images41(41_1,41_2, and41_3) of three users are displayed on the conference room screen. The user terminal10of a user participating in a conference room receives voice data uttered by another user participating in the same conference room and outputs the received voice data. At this time, a volume of vocal sound to be output may be controlled on the basis of a position of an icon image.

For example, a distance on an image of the icon image41_2from the icon image41_3is smaller than that of the icon image41_1. Accordingly, in the user terminal10of the user of the icon image41_3, vocal sound of the user of the icon image41_2may be output more loudly than vocal sound of the user of the icon image41_1. This control may be performed by the conversation control device20or may be performed by the user terminal10.

FIG.12is a diagram illustrating an example of the conference room area image31of a conference room to which a fixture user is connected. A fixture user cannot utter but can hear utterance details of another user in the conference room. In other words, utterance details of a fixture user are not output to other users connected to the same conference room, but utterance details of the other users connected to the same conference room are output to the fixture user.

In the example illustrated inFIG.12, a fixture user is connected to a conference room with a chat as a main theme. An icon image41_3of the fixture user may be displayed in a mode other than that of icon images41(for example, an icon image41_1and an icon image41_2) of users other than the fixture user. For example, as illustrated inFIG.12, an outer frame of the icon image41_3may be displayed in a display mode similar or equal to that of the conference room area image31of the conference room to which the fixture user is connected. In the example illustrated inFIG.12, the icon image41_3of the fixture user is surrounded by a frame of the same shape as the shape of the conference room area image31. The icon image41_3of the fixture user may be displayed in a mode in which it protrudes from the conference room area image31instead of being displayed inside the conference room area image31. By displaying the icon image41_3of the fixture user in this way, a user can easily determine what user is connected as a fixture user to each conference room.

The conference room area image31of a conference room to which a fixture user is connected may be displayed in a mode other than that of the conference room area image31of a conference room to which a fixture user is not connected. For example, as illustrated inFIG.12, the conference room area image31of a conference room to which a fixture user is connected may be constituted by a plurality of concentric circles having the same shape. By displaying the conference room area image31of a conference room to which a fixture user is connected in this way, a user can easily determine whether a fixture user is connected to each conference room.

FIG.13is a diagram illustrating an example of icon images41of users who hold a private conversation. Users who hold a private conversation can hold a private conversation with a partner of the private conversation such that vocal sound is not output to users other than the partner of the private conversation. In other words, utterance details in a private conversation are output to only the users holding the private conversation but are not output to the other users. A private conversation may be started, for example, by allowing a user to perform a predetermined operation (for example, clicking or tapping) on an icon image41of another user with which the user desire to hold the private conversation. In this case, the user terminal10of the user of the operated icon image41may be notified that there is a private conversation start request by the conversation control device20. The user of the operated icon image41may input whether to accept or reject the private conversation start request to the user terminal10. The private conversation may be started in response to an input indicating that the private conversation start request is accepted. When a private conversation is already held, another user may be able to participate in the private conversation.

In the example illustrated inFIG.13, a user of an icon image41_3and a user of an icon image41_4hold a private conversation. The icon images41_3and41_4of the users who hold a private conversation may be displayed in a mode other than that of icon images41(for example, an icon image41_1and an icon image41_2) of users who do not hold a private conversation. For example, as illustrated inFIG.13, an outer frame of the icon image41_3of the user holding a private conversation may be displayed in the same shape as an outer frame of the icon image41_4of the partner of the private conversation. The icon images41_3and41_4of the users who hold a private conversation may be displayed to stick to each other. By displaying the icon images41_3and41_4of the users who hold a private conversation in this way, a user can easily determine what users hold a private conversation.

In a private conversation, a user who has participated in the private conversation or a user who is going to hold a private conversation can set a secret mode. Regarding a private conversation in which a secret mode is set, another user cannot participate in the private conversation. When a secret mode is set in a private conversation, icon images41of users who hold the private conversation may be displayed in a mode other than that of icon images41of users who hold a usual private conversation. For example, when a secret mode is set in a private conversation, a specific image (for example, an image of a key shape) may be added to icon images41of users who participate in the private conversation.

FIG.14is a diagram illustrating an example of an image which is displayed on a private conversation screen. In the example illustrated inFIG.14, an example of a private conversation screen associated with a private conversation of two users in the state illustrated inFIG.13is illustrated. A private conversation screen is a screen indicating a state of a corresponding private conversation. On the private conversation screen, icon images41of users who participate in the private conversation may be displayed. In the example illustrated inFIG.14, an icon image41_3and an icon image41_4are displayed. This private conversation screen may be displayed on only the user terminals10of users who participate in the private conversation. By displaying the private conversation screen in this way, a user can easily determine with what user the user holds a private conversation.

FIG.15is a diagram illustrating an example of a virtual space. A virtual space is a virtual space in which conference rooms are arranged or icon images41of users are arranged. In a virtual space, each user can move or install a conference room. All virtual spaces do not need to be displayed on a user terminal10. Only the same place in the virtual space does not need to be displayed on the user terminals10of all users. That is, only an arbitrary space in the virtual space may be displayed on the user terminal10of each user. The sizes of areas of the displayed spaces may be different. For example, in the example illustrated inFIG.15, an area60_1which is displayed on a user terminal10of a first user, an area60_2which is displayed on a user terminal10of a second user, and an area60_3which is displayed on a user terminal10of a third user are displayed at different positions. The area60_1and the area60_2have the same size, and the area60_1and the area60_3have different sizes. The screen of the area60_1displayed on the user terminal10of the first user is illustrated inFIG.13, and the conference room area image31and the shared area311are displayed as a conference room area image31_1and a shared area311_1. InFIG.15, a conference room area image31_2and a conference room area image31_3in addition to the conference room area image31_1are illustrated. A shared area311_2included in the conference room area image31_2indicates that the conference room indicated by the conference room area image has foods as a main theme and three users participate in the conference room. A shared area311_3included in the conference room area image31_3indicates that the conference room indicated by the conference room area image has games as a main theme and no user participates in the conference room yet.

FIGS.16and17are diagrams illustrating examples of an image which is displayed on the display13of the user terminal10. An image of the area60_2which is displayed on the user terminal10of the second user is illustrated inFIG.16. A screen of the area60_3which is displayed on the user terminal10of the third user is illustrated inFIG.17. Since screens of different areas can be displayed on the user terminals of the users in this way, it is possible to display an area which each user desires to ascertain in a desired size and to enable each user to easily determine a situation of a conversation at an arbitrary position in the virtual space. Each user may change a screen such that a different conference room area image31is displayed in a state in which the user participates in a certain conference room. In this case, a user may be able to easily move from a certain conference room to another conference room by performing an operation for entering another conference room area image31.

With the conversation system100having the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to more easily select a desired conversation or conference out of a plurality of conversations or conferences. Specifically, a desired conversation or conference is selected as follows. By performing a predetermined operation on an icon image41of a partner who a user desires to hold a conversation (for example, a private conversation) or a conference room area image31of a conference room in which the user desires to participate on a screen in which positions or a plurality of icon images41or conference room area images31are displayed, the user can easily select a desired conversation or conference. Accordingly, for example, in comparison with a case in which an URL for a WEB conference and a conference room are set in a one-to-one correspondence manner in advance as in the related art, a user can easily select a desired conversation or conference room and participate in the selected conversation or conference room.

A user can select a partner of a conversation (for example, a private conversation) by seeing icon images41. Accordingly, the user can start a conversation with information of a certain level on a partner of the conversation. Icon images41of users who participate in the conference room are displayed in the conference room area image31. Accordingly, when a user participates in a conference room, the user can participate in the conference room with information of a certain level on other users participating in the conference room.

While an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in details with reference to the drawings, a specific configuration thereof is not limited to the embodiment and includes designs without departing from the gist of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used, for example, for an online conversation.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100Conversation system10User terminal20Conversation control device11Communicator12Operator13Display14Voice input15Voice output16Storage161User information storage17Controller171Display controller172Conference controller173Conversation controller21Communicator22Storage221User information storage222Conference room information storage23Controller231User controller232Conference room controller233Display information generator234Conversation controller31Conference room area image311Shared area41Icon image42User state image51Operation area image511Conference room installation button512Conference room information image513User information display area514User state setting image91Outside area