JP7606321B2 - Terminal program, information processing method, terminal - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a terminal program, an information processing method, and a terminal.

Conventionally, there are communication systems for exchanging messages between multiple users. In such communication systems, users can send illustrations called stamps that express their emotions, etc.

JP 2015-37518 A

A first aspect of the present invention is a program executed by a terminal, which displays a chat room on a display unit of the terminal including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal, receives information of a first image transmitted by the second user's terminal via a first server performing a first service by a communication unit of the terminal, displays a first image based on the information of the first image in the chat room, and displays first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service on the display unit based on input by the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room.
A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for a terminal, comprising: displaying a chat room on a display unit of the terminal including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal; receiving information of a first image transmitted by the second user's terminal via a first server performing a first service by a communication unit of the terminal; displaying a first image based on the information of the first image in the chat room; and displaying first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service on the display unit based on input by the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room.
A third aspect of the present invention is a terminal comprising a display unit that displays a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal, and a communication unit that receives information of a first image transmitted by the second user's terminal via a first server that performs a first service, wherein the display unit displays a first image based on the information of the first image in the chat room displayed on the display unit, and displays first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on input by the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is a program executed by a terminal, which displays a chat room on a display unit of the terminal including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal, receives information of a first image sent by the second user's terminal via a first server related to a first application included in the program by a communication unit of the terminal, displays a first image based on the information of the first image in the chat room, and displays first information related to authentication for a second application different from the first application on the display unit based on input by the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is a program executed by a terminal, the program executing which performs the following operations: displaying a chat room on a display unit of the terminal including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal; receiving content transmitted from a different terminal of the second user via a first server performing a first service by a communication unit of the terminal; displaying the content in the chat room; receiving information of a first image transmitted by the terminal of the second user via a second server performing a second service different from the first service by the communication unit of the terminal; and displaying a first image based on the information of the first image in the chat room.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system, and is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a terminal and a server. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to an embodiment. 13A is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of stamp information of a second server, and FIG. 13B is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of user information of a second server. 1A is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of stamp information of a first server, and FIG. 1B is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of user information of a first server. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 4; 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 4; (a) is a screen diagram showing an example of a display when the stamp list of the second server is not displayed, and (b) is a screen diagram showing an example of a display when the stamp list of the second server is displayed. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between devices in a communication system. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 11; 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 11 . 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 5 . 11A to 11C are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on a terminal. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between devices in a communication system. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 16 . 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 16 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 20 is a flowchart showing an operation example (stamp list) of the terminal related to FIG. 19 . 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 19 . 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 19 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 23; 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 23 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 26 . 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 26 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server related to FIG. 29 . 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 29 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between devices in a communication system. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 32; 33 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 32 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a transmitting terminal related to FIG. 35; 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 35 . 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a receiving terminal related to FIG. 35; FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 40 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 39 . 40 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 39 . FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 43 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a terminal that receives a stamp related to FIG. 42 . (a) is a screen diagram showing a display example in which a stamp is displayed on a terminal, (b) is a diagram showing an example of inputting information for a stamp, (c) is a screen diagram showing a display example in which an installation screen for a second messaging application is displayed on a terminal, and (d) is a screen diagram showing a display example in which a login screen for logging in to a second messaging service is displayed on a terminal. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in the communication system. 46 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 45. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between devices in a communication system. 48 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal related to FIG. 47; 48 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server related to FIG. 47 . (a) is a screen diagram showing a display example relating to the purchase of a stamp on a receiving terminal, (b) is a screen diagram showing a display example when downloading a stamp on a receiving terminal, (c) is a screen diagram showing a display example when selecting a destination when giving a stamp as a gift on a receiving terminal, and (d) is a screen diagram showing a display example when giving a stamp as a gift on a receiving terminal. FIG. 2 is a data conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of user data held by the server. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the second server.

<Compliance with legal matters>
It should be noted that the disclosures described herein are subject to compliance with the laws of the country of implementation, such as communications secrecy, as necessary for the implementation of the disclosure.

An embodiment for implementing a display method etc. that allows confirmation of the status of transmission or reception by a terminal according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As disclosed in FIG. 1, in the communication system 1, a second server 10, terminals 20 (terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C), and a first server 40 are connected via a network 30. The second server 10 and the first server 40 provide a service that enables sending and receiving messages between terminals 20 to terminals 20 owned by users via the network 30. Note that the number of terminals 20 connected to the network 30 is not limited.

The network 30 serves to connect one or more terminals 20, one or more second servers 10, and one or more first servers 40. In other words, the network 30 refers to a communication network that provides a connection path so that data can be transmitted and received after the terminal 20 connects to the second server 10, or after the terminal 20 connects to the first server 40, or after the first server 40 connects to the second server 10.

One or more portions of network 30 may or may not be wired or wireless. Network 30 may include, by way of example and without limitation, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular network, integrated service digital networks (ISDN), wireless LAN, long term evolution (LTE), code division multiple access (CDMA), Bluetooth, satellite communications, or the like, or a combination of two or more thereof. Network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

The terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C) may be any information processing terminal capable of implementing the functions described in each embodiment. Examples of the terminal 20 include, but are not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone (feature phone), a computer (such as, but not limited to, a desktop, laptop, tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (such as, but not limited to, a cable or satellite set-top box, digital video recorder, etc.), a handheld computer device (such as, but not limited to, a personal digital assistant (PDA), email client, etc.), a wearable device (such as a glasses-type device or a watch-type device), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The terminal 20 may also be referred to as an information processing terminal.

Because the configurations of terminals 20A, 20B, and 20C are basically the same, the following description will focus on terminal 20. In addition, as necessary, the terminal used by user X will be referred to as terminal 20X, and user information in a specified service associated with user X or terminal 20X will be referred to as user information X. Note that user information is information about a user associated with an account used by the user in a specified service. User information includes, by way of example and without limitation, information associated with a user, such as the user's name, user icon image, user age, user gender, user address, user hobbies and interests, and user identifier, which is input by the user or assigned by a specified service, and may be any one or a combination of these, or may not be the same.

The second server 10 and the first server 40 have a function of providing a predetermined service to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be any device that can realize the functions described in each embodiment. The second server 10 and the first server 40 include, but are not limited to, a server device, a computer (for example, but not limited to, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (for example, but not limited to, a cable or satellite set-top box, a digital video recorder), a handheld computer device (for example, but not limited to, a PDA, an email client, etc.), or other types of computers or communication platforms. The server 10 may also be expressed as an information processing device. If there is no need to distinguish between the second server 10 and the first server 40 and the terminal 20, the second server 10, the first server 40, and the terminal 20 may or may not be expressed as an information processing device.

＜Hardware (HW) configuration＞

The following describes the hardware configuration of each device included in communication system 1 using Figure 1.

(1) Device hardware configuration

The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a memory unit 28, a communication I/F 22 (interface), an input/output unit 23, a display unit 24, and a location information acquisition unit 25. The HW components of the terminal 20 are connected to each other via a bus B, by way of example and not limitation. It is not essential that the HW configuration of the terminal 20 includes all of the components. By way of example and not limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not be configured such that individual components, such as the microphone 232, the camera 234, the location information acquisition unit 25, or multiple components, are removable.

The communication I/F 22 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as the communication between the two servers can be performed. The communication I/F 22 has a function of performing communication with the second server 10 and the first server 40 via the network 30. The communication I/F 22 transmits various data to the server 10 according to instructions from the control unit 21. The communication I/F 22 also receives various data transmitted from the second server 10 and the first server 40, and transmits the data to the control unit 21. The communication I/F 22 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I/F 22 is configured with a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

The input/output unit 23 includes a device for inputting various operations to the terminal 20, and a device for outputting the results of processing performed by the terminal 20. The input/output unit 23 may be an integrated input unit and an output unit, or may be separate input unit and output unit, or may not be.

The input unit is realized by any one or combination of all types of devices that can receive input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 21. Examples of the input unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel 231, a touch display, hardware keys such as a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera 234 (operation input via moving images), and a microphone 232 (operation input by voice).

The output unit is realized by any one or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the results of processing by the control unit 21. Examples of the output unit include, but are not limited to, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker 233 (audio output), a lens (for example, but not limited to, 3D (three dimensions) output or hologram output), a printer, etc.

The display unit 24 is realized by any one of all types of devices or a combination thereof that can display according to the display data written to the frame buffer. Examples of the display unit 24 include, but are not limited to, touch panels, touch displays, monitors (examples, but are not limited to, liquid crystal displays and organic electroluminescence displays (OLEDs)), head mounted displays (HDMs), projection mapping, holograms, devices that can display images, text information, etc. in air (which may or may not be a vacuum). Note that these display units 24 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D.

If the input/output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input/output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be arranged facing each other and have approximately the same size and shape.

The control unit 21 has circuitry that is physically structured to execute functions realized by the code or instructions contained in the program, and is realized, for example and without limitation, by a data processing device built into hardware. As such, the control unit 21 may or may not be described as a control circuit.

The control unit 21 may include, by way of example and not limitation, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

The storage unit 28 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the operation of the terminal 20. The storage unit 28 includes, by way of example and not limitation, various storage media such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). In addition, the storage unit 28 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

The terminal 20 stores the program P in the memory unit 28, and by executing this program P, the control unit 21 executes the processing of each unit included in the control unit 21. In other words, the program P stored in the memory unit 28 causes the terminal 20 to realize each function executed by the control unit 21. Furthermore, this program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

The microphone 232 is used to input audio data. The speaker 233 is used to output audio data. The camera 234 is used to obtain video data.

(2) HW Configuration of Second Server 10
The second server 10 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication I/F 14 (interface), an input/output unit 12, and a display unit 13. The components of the HW of the second server 10 are connected to each other via a bus B, for example and not for limitation. It is not essential that the HW of the second server 10 includes all the components as the configuration of the HW of the second server 10. For example and not for limitation, the HW of the second server 10 may or may not be configured such that the display unit 13 is detachable.

The control unit 11 has circuitry that is physically structured to execute functions realized by the code or instructions contained in the program, and is realized, for example and without limitation, by a data processing device built into the hardware.

The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), but may also be a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, or an FPGA, or may not be such a unit. In this disclosure, the control unit 11 is not limited to these.

The storage unit 15 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the second server 10 to operate. The storage unit 15 is realized by various storage media such as a HDD, SSD, and flash memory. However, in this disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Furthermore, the storage unit 15 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

The communication I/F 14 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be performed either wired or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication can be performed. The communication I/F 14 has a function of performing communication with the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communication I/F 14 transmits various data to the terminal 20 according to instructions from the control unit 11. The communication I/F 14 also receives various data transmitted from the terminal 20 and transmits it to the control unit 11. The communication I/F 14 may also be simply referred to as a communication unit. When the communication I/F 14 is configured with a physically structured circuit, it may also be referred to as a communication circuit.

The input/output unit 12 is realized by a device that inputs various operations to the second server 10. The input/output unit 12 is realized by any of all types of devices or a combination thereof that can accept input from a user and transmit information related to the input to the control unit 11. The input/output unit 12 is typically realized by hardware keys such as a keyboard, or a pointing device such as a mouse. Note that the input/output unit 12 may or may not include, by way of example and not limitation, a touch panel, a camera (operation input via video images), or a microphone (operation input by voice). However, in the present disclosure, the input/output unit 12 is not limited to these.

The display unit 13 is typically realized by a monitor (for example, but not limited to, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display (OLED)). The display unit 13 may or may not be a head mounted display (HDM) or the like. These display units 13 may or may not be capable of displaying display data in 3D. However, in the present disclosure, the display unit 13 is not limited to these.

The second server 10 stores a program P in the memory unit 15, and by executing this program P, the control unit 11 executes the processing of each unit included in the control unit 11. In other words, the program P stored in the memory unit 15 causes the second server 10 to realize each function executed by the control unit 11. This program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

In each embodiment of the present disclosure, the present invention is described as being realized by the CPU of the terminal 20 and/or the second server 10 executing the program P.

The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 and/or the control unit 11 of the second server 10 may or may not realize each process by a CPU having a control circuit, but may also realize each process by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)) or a dedicated circuit. These circuits may be realized by one or more integrated circuits, and the multiple processes shown in each embodiment may or may not be realized by a single integrated circuit. Furthermore, LSIs are sometimes called VLSIs, super LSIs, ultra LSIs, etc., depending on the degree of integration. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

In addition, the program P (which may be, for example and not by way of limitation, a software program, computer program, or program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may or may not be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium is capable of storing the program P in a "non-transitory tangible medium." The program P may or may not be for realizing part of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the program P may or may not be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure in combination with a program P already recorded in the storage medium.

The storage medium may include one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (such as, by way of example and not limitation, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific IC (ASIC)), a hard disk drive (HDD), a hybrid hard drive (HHD), an optical disk, an optical disk drive (ODD), a magneto-optical disk, a magneto-optical drive, a floppy diskette, a floppy disk drive (FDD), a magnetic tape, a solid state drive (SSD), a RAM drive, a secure digital card, or a drive, any other suitable storage medium, or a suitable combination of two or more of these. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, as appropriate. It should be noted that the storage medium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or medium capable of storing the program P. Also, the storage medium may or may not be referred to as a memory.

The second server 10 and/or the terminal 20 can realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment by reading the program P stored in the storage medium and executing the read program P.

The program PDD of the present disclosure may or may not be provided to the second server 10 and/or the terminal 20 via any transmission medium capable of transmitting the program (such as a communication network or broadcast waves). The second server 10 and/or the terminal 20 executes the program P downloaded via the Internet or the like, for example and not by way of limitation, to realize the functions of the multiple functional units shown in each embodiment.

Furthermore, each embodiment of the present disclosure may be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission.

At least a portion of the processing in the second server 10 and/or the terminal 20 may or may not be realized by cloud computing consisting of one or more computers.

At least a part of the processing in the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the second server 10. In this case, at least a part of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the second server 10.

At least a part of the processing in the second server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20. In this case, at least a part of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the second server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20.

Unless explicitly stated, the judgment configuration in the embodiments of the present disclosure is not essential, and a specified process may or may not be executed when the judgment condition is satisfied, or when the judgment condition is not satisfied.

The programs disclosed herein are implemented using, by way of example and not limitation, scripting languages such as ActionScript and JavaScript (registered trademark), object-oriented programming languages such as Objective-C and Java (registered trademark), and markup languages such as HTML5. The hardware configuration of the first server 40 may be similar to that of the second server 10, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

<Embodiment 1>
In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, terminal 20a and terminal 20b communicate messages using a first messaging service provided by a first server 40. At this time, terminal 20a and terminal 20b can use stamps used in a second messaging service provided by a second server 10 different from the first server 40 on the first messaging service. In this way, in the first embodiment, stamps provided by a different messaging service (second messaging service) can be used on one's own messaging service (first messaging service).

In the first embodiment, the first server 40 provides a first service that realizes content exchange between multiple terminals. The second server 10 also provides a second service that realizes content exchange between multiple terminals, but the second service provided by the second server 10 and the first service provided by the first server 40 are different services. The first service provided by the first server 40 and the second service provided by the second server 10 may be any service as long as they both include a messaging service. The service here is a service that provides tangible and intangible utility, satisfaction, and convenience to the user (user) from the service provider. The service may or may not require a fee for the provision of the service from the user (user). The service may be, but is not limited to, a store introduction service, a human resources introduction service, a game application provision service, an electronic commerce service, etc., as examples, but any service includes a messaging service for realizing content exchange between users as described above. Note that the service may or may not be a service that is established by itself as a messaging service. Here, the messaging service will be mainly described for each service. The first service and the second service may or may not be operated by different companies.

In the second service provided by the second server 10, users install the second messaging application provided by the second server 10 on their own terminals to exchange content. The second messaging application is a communication tool for exchanging content between multiple users via the second server 10, and content exchange between users is carried out in a talk room.

Content refers to data exchanged by users via talk rooms on a messaging application, and includes, but is not limited to, character information (text data) entered by the user using his/her own terminal 20, image information including photographs and stamps (for example, photographs of the user's location), various file information such as audio files, video files, and data files, and advertising information.

A talk room is, by way of example and not limitation, a user interface that enables users of a messaging service provided by server 10 to display content sent and received between them on their terminals. A talk room may also be referred to as a chat room.

Stamps are images that can be inserted in a chat room and express a wide variety of emotions and feelings, such as joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, as well as emotion, disappointment, stunnedness, smugness, gratitude, apology, pleading, teasing, and support. Stamps can be used to accurately and concisely convey subtle emotions that are difficult to express in words. Stamps are prepared by the second server 10, so that users can easily convey their own emotions without having to prepare their own illustrations. Note that stamps may be prepared by someone else and registered on the second server 10, rather than by the second server 10, and become available to users.

On the other hand, like the second server 10, the first server 40 also provides a first messaging application that is different from the second messaging application for exchanging content between users. In the first messaging application provided by the first server 40, content exchange between users also takes place in a room similar to a talk room (which may also be called a talk room, but is called a room to distinguish it from the second messaging service). This room may also be called a chat room.

The first server 40 may also provide stamps to users that are different from those of the second server 10 (although some stamps may be the same), and users may use the stamps provided by the first server 40 to communicate with other users.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in such different systems, a user of terminal 20a exchanges content with a user of terminal 20b via a first service provided by the first server 40. At this time, in response to a request from terminal 20a or terminal 20b, the second server 10 allows the stamps provided by the second server 10 to be used on the first service provided by the first server 40. In other words, the stamps provided by the second server 10 are displayed on the room of the first service.

A detailed explanation is provided below. In this embodiment, the messaging service provided by the first server 40 is referred to as the first messaging service, and the messaging service provided by the second server 10 is referred to as the second messaging service, and the respective applications are distinguished as the first messaging app and the second messaging app. In addition, the stamps provided by the first server 40 and the second server 10 are distinguished as the first stamp and the second stamp, respectively.

(1) Functional Configuration of User Terminal As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 includes a message processing unit 211 and a display processing unit 212.

The message processing unit 211 accepts input from the user and/or input of content including a message received by the communication I/F 12 according to a messaging application provided by the messaging service provided by the first server 40 or the second server 10, and instructs the display processing unit 212 to display it. When input from the user is accepted, the message processing unit 211 instructs the communication I/F 22 to send the accepted input content to the first server 40 or the second server 10. The objects processed by the message processing unit 211 here are not limited to text messages entered by the user into the talk room (room), but may also include image information including photos and stamps, audio files, video files, data files, etc. The server with which the message processing unit 211 communicates is the server corresponding to the messaging service being executed on the terminal 20 at that time.

The display processing unit 212 receives input from a user and/or input of content including a message received by the communication I/F 12 according to a messaging application provided by a messaging service provided by the first server 40 or the second server 10, and instructs the display unit 24 to display the input in the display area. When receiving input from a user, the display processing unit 212 instructs the communication I/F 22 to transmit the received input content to the first server 40 or the second server 10. The display processing unit 212 receives and displays each message and content to be displayed in a talk room (room) according to an instruction from the first server 40 or the second server 10.
The functional configuration of the terminal 20 has been described above.

1, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 includes a message processing unit 111. The control unit 11 may also include a determination unit 112 and a notification unit 113.

The message processing unit 111 has a function of managing talk rooms for communication between users who use the messaging service provided by the second server 10. The message processing unit 111 relays the exchange of content including stamps between terminals that receive the messaging service provided by the second server 10. In other words, when a user sends content to a talk room, the message processing unit 111 identifies the talk room and sends the content to other users who belong to the talk room.

The determination unit 112 has a function of determining stamps from the second stamp library held by the second server 10 that can be used by users of the first server 40 on the first messaging service provided by the first server 40.

The notification unit 113 has a function of notifying the first server 40 of stamps in the second stamp library held by the second server 10 that can be used by a user of the first server 40, or a user of the first server 40 who is also a user of the second server 10.

(3) Functional Configuration of the First Server 40 As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 11 of the first server 40 includes a message processing unit 411 and a stamp processing unit 412 .

The message processing unit 411 relays communication between users who use the first messaging service provided by the first server 40. That is, when a user sends content to a room, the message processing unit 411 identifies the room and sends the content to other users who belong to the room.

The stamp processing unit 412 has a function of executing processing related to the second stamp when a user who uses the first messaging service of the first server 40 uses the second stamp provided by the second server 10 on the first messaging service. Details of the processing by the stamp processing unit 412 will be described later, as they vary depending on the manner in which the second server 10 provides the second stamp.

<Data>
FIG. 3A is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of the second stamp library 300 held by the second server 10, that is, stamp information related to stamps that the second server 10 provides to users.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the second stamp library 300 is information in which a stamp list ID 301, a representative ID 302, and stamp data 303 are associated with each other. The second stamp library 300 may also be associated with other information as long as it is information related to stamps, such as the name of the stamp or the name of the creator of the stamp (whether a real name or a handle name).

The stamp list ID 301 is identification information for a stamp group that is assigned to a single stamp group. Stamps are usually provided as a set of multiple stamps rather than as a single stamp. The stamp list ID 301 is identification information for identifying that set from other sets.

The representative ID 302 is identification information that identifies the stamp to be displayed as a representative among the multiple stamps included in the corresponding stamp list ID 301.

Stamp data 303 is information that indicates the actual data of each stamp included in the corresponding stamp list ID 301.

In the example shown in FIG. 3(a), the representative ID 302 of the stamp list indicated by the stamp list ID 301 "L092803" is "L092803-01", and the stamp data 303 includes "L092803-01.jpg, L092803-02.jpg, L092803-03.jpg, ...". This is the configuration of the second stamp library 300.

Next, FIG. 3(b) is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of user information 310 held by the second server 10.

User information 310 shown in FIG. 3(b) is information about each user, and indicates the stamps that the user can use and their usage history. As shown in FIG. 3(b), user information 310 is information that associates a user ID 311, a usable stamp ID 312, and a usage history 313.

The user ID 311 is identification information for uniquely identifying a user on the second server 10.

The usable stamp ID 312 is identification information for identifying stamps that can be used on the second service provided by the second server 10 by the user indicated by the corresponding user ID 311, and is information corresponding to the stamp list ID 301 in the second stamp library 300.

The usage history 313 includes information on the stamp used by the user identified by the corresponding user ID 311, such as the stamp ID (corresponding to one of the stamp data 303 in the second stamp library 300) and the date and time of use.

In the example shown in FIG. 3(b), the usable stamp IDs 312 indicating the stamps usable by the user with the user ID 311 "U0123101" are "L092803, L011123, L020394, ...", and the usage history 313 corresponds to information indicating that the stamp "L092803-06.jpg" was used on "August 30, 2020, 13:01". This is the configuration of the user information 310.

Figure 4 (a) is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of the first stamp library 400 held by the first server 40, i.e., stamp information related to stamps that the first server 40 provides to users.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), the first stamp library 400 is information in which a stamp list ID 401, a representative ID 402, and stamp data 403 are associated with each other. The first stamp library 400 may also be associated with other information as long as it is information related to stamps, such as the name of the stamp or the name of the creator of the stamp (whether a real name or a handle name).

The stamp list ID 401 is identification information for a stamp group that is assigned to a single stamp group. Stamps are usually provided as a set of multiple stamps rather than as a single stamp. The stamp list ID 401 is identification information for identifying that set from other sets.

The representative ID 402 is identification information that identifies the stamp to be displayed as a representative among the multiple stamps included in the corresponding stamp list ID 401.

Stamp data 403 is information that indicates the actual data of each stamp included in the corresponding stamp list ID 401.

In the example shown in FIG. 4(a), the representative ID 402 of the stamp list indicated by the stamp list ID 401 "F012235" is "F012235-01", and the stamp data 403 includes "F012235-01.jpg, F012235-02.jpg, F012235-03.jpg, ...". This is the configuration of the first stamp library 400.

Next, FIG. 4(b) is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data structure of user information 410 held by the first server 40.

User information 410 shown in FIG. 4(b) is information about each user, and indicates the stamps that the user can use and their usage history. As shown in FIG. 4(b), user information 410 is information that associates a user ID 411, a usable stamp ID 412, and a usage history 414.

The user ID 411 is identification information for uniquely identifying a user on the first server 40.

The usable stamp ID 412 is identification information for identifying stamps that can be used on the second service provided by the first server 40 by the user indicated by the corresponding user ID 411, and is information corresponding to the stamp list ID 401 in the second stamp library 300.

The usage history 413 includes, as a usage history when a user indicated by the corresponding user ID 411 used a stamp, information such as a stamp ID indicating the stamp used (corresponding to one of the stamp data 404 in the first stamp library 400) and information on the date and time of use.

In the example shown in FIG. 4(b), the usable stamp IDs 412 indicating the stamps usable by the user with the user ID 411 "UFB02325" are "F12235, F12236, F12237, ...", and the usage history 413 corresponds to information indicating that the stamp "F12236-06.jpg" was used at "8:12 on August 30, 2020." This is the configuration of the user information 410.

<Display list of stamp thumbnail images>
First, a process for enabling the stamps of the second server 10 to be used on a messaging app provided by the first server 40 and executed on the terminal 20 will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 8. Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in a communication system.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, the second server 10 transmits all stamp information in the second stamp library 300 held by it to the first server 40 (step S501). All stamp information here includes thumbnail image information of the stamps and image information of the stamps that will actually be used in the room.

The first server 40 stores the second stamp library 300 received from the second server 10 in the memory unit 45 (step S502).

Meanwhile, the terminal 20 uses the first messaging service provided by the first server 40 to display a room for exchanging content with users of other terminals 20. At this time, the terminal 20 receives a request from the user to display a second stamp list of the second server 10 in order to use stamps from the second server 10. The second stamp list is information that includes stamp groups registered in the second stamp library and multiple stamps contained in each stamp group. The terminal 20 then requests the second stamp list from the first server 40 (step S504).

When the first server 40 receives a request for the second stamp list from the terminal 20, it transmits the second stamp list to the terminal 20 based on the second stamp library stored in the memory unit 45 (step S505).

The terminal 20 receives the second stamp list sent from the first server 40 and displays it on the first messaging application of the first server 40 (step S506).

Next, the operation of the terminal 20 for realizing the exchange shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal 20 when the first messaging application provided by the first server 40 is being executed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the input/output unit 23 of the terminal 20 receives a display request for stamps provided by the second server 10 from the user (step S601). The stamp display request here is for displaying a screen for selecting stamps in order to use the stamps of the second server 10. As a non-limiting example, the terminal 20 may receive the stamp display request by touching an icon for using stamps provided on the first messaging application. Alternatively, as a non-limiting example, the terminal 20 may receive the stamp display request by providing a button for displaying a menu for performing various inputs and settings related to the messaging service on the first messaging application, and touching the button to select a menu for displaying stamps. The input/output unit 23 transmits the input content to the control unit 21.

The message processing unit 213 of the control unit 21 sends a request for a list of second stamps of the second server 10 to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 22 (step S602). The request for a list of second stamps is a request for thumbnail images of the second stamps included in each stamp group in order to display a list of thumbnail images of the second stamps of the second server 10.

The control unit 21 waits until it receives the list of second stamps transmitted from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 22 (NO in step S603). When the control unit 21 receives the list of second stamps of the second server 10 transmitted from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 22 (YES in step S603), it causes the display unit 24 to display the list of second stamps of the second server 10 on the first messaging app. That is, the terminal 20 displays a list of thumbnail images of the second stamps of the second server 10 on the display unit 24 (step S604).

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 5.

As shown in FIG. 7, the communication I/F 44 of the first server 40 receives all stamp information of the second server 10, i.e., the second stamp library, transmitted from the second server 10 (step S701). The communication I/F 44 transmits the received second stamp library to the control unit 41.

The control unit 41 stores the received second stamp library in the memory unit 45 (step S702).

When the communication I/F 44 receives a request for a second stamp list of the second server 10 from a terminal 20 that uses the first messaging service (YES in step S703), it transmits display information for displaying the second stamp list to the terminal 20 that transmitted the second stamp list request based on the second stamp library of the second server 10 stored in the memory unit 45 (step S704), and returns to the processing of step S703.

If the communication I/F 44 has not received a request for a second stamp list of the second server 10 from the terminal 20 that uses the first messaging service (NO in step S703), it waits.

Note that the process performed by the second server 10 simply involves sending all information about the second stamp to the first server 40, so a detailed explanation using a flowchart will be omitted.

As described above, by having the second server 10 transmit and store all information about the second stamp of the second server 10 in advance to the first server 40, it is possible to enable the second stamp to be used on the first messaging service provided by the first server 40.

<Display example>
FIG. 8A is a display example of a room of the first messaging application provided by the first server 40 before the second stamp list is displayed, and is an example of a screen showing a state in which the stamp list provided by the first server 40 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8A, when an input is made to use a stamp, normally, only a list (thumbnail images) of stamps provided by the first server is displayed. That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, below the display area 810 of the room, a representative stamp of a stamp group that can distinguish the stamp group provided by the first service is displayed in an area 811, and below that, an area 812 for displaying the stamps included in the stamp group is provided. The area 811 displays the representative stamp of each stamp group, and by selecting any of the representative stamps displayed in the area 811, a thumbnail image (not limited, but an example of a first related image) of the stamp corresponding to the selected representative stamp is displayed in the area 812. In order to make it clear that these thumbnail images of stamps are for the first service, the example shown in FIG. 8A shows an example in which they are displayed in association with the tab of the first service (not limited, but an example of first information). In the mode shown in FIG. 8A, the user then inputs a display request for stamps of the second service via a menu or the like.

Figure 8 (b) is an example of a screen showing a state where a list of thumbnail images of the second stamp is displayed on the first messaging application. That is, it is an example of a screen displayed on the terminal 20 when the processing of step S604 in Figure 6 is performed, and the display mode shown in Figure 8 (a) changes to the display mode shown in Figure 8 (b). As shown in Figure 8 (b), a representative stamp of the second stamp of the second server 10 is displayed in area 822. Then, by selecting one of the representative stamps displayed in area 822, a stamp group corresponding to the selected representative stamp (a thumbnail image group of the second stamp (an example of a second related image, not limited)) is displayed in area 823. As shown in Figure 8 (b), each stamp is displayed in association with a tab of the second service (an example of second information, not limited) so that it is identifiable that the stamps displayed in areas 822 and 823 are stamps provided by the second server 10. Here, an example is shown in which a tab indicates which messaging service each stamp originates from, but this may take any form as long as it is information that can distinguish between each service and the stamps that can be used with each service, and may or may not be expressed as a logo or icon indicating the first service or the second service. Also, the service name may or may not be displayed in the corner of each stamp so that it is possible to distinguish which service each stamp belongs to. Also, what is displayed is not limited to the name of each service, and may or may not be identification information for an app provided by each service.

In FIG. 8, in order to clearly show that a list of stamps of a second service different from the first service can be displayed, an example is shown in which an area for displaying thumbnail images of stamps is provided below an input area for inputting text into a room in a room, but the list of thumbnail images of stamps of the first service and the second service may be displayed as pop-ups that can be viewed in separate windows. Here, the list of thumbnail images of stamps of the second service is displayed by making a display request for a list of stamps of the second service from the terminal 20, but this may be displayed as a trigger that the user of the terminal 20, while executing the first messaging app, further executes the second messaging app and logs in to the second messaging service. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9 is used for explanation. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of exchanges between the devices when the terminal 20 logs in to the second messaging service on the first messaging service and displays a list of stamps of the second service in the first messaging app. As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal 20 starts the second messaging app while executing the first messaging app (step S901). The terminal 20 is capable of simultaneously executing multiple applications in parallel, and while the first messaging app is being executed, the second messaging app can be launched to log in to the second messaging service. That is, the terminal 20 transmits login information (a combination of a login ID (user ID) and a password, as an example and not a limitation) for the user of the terminal 20 to log in to the second messaging service to the second server 10 (step S902). When the second server 10 receives the user's login, it authenticates the received login information (step S903). Here, it is assumed that the authentication is successful and the user of the terminal 20 can log in. The second server 10 transmits information indicating that the login has been successful to the terminal 20, and also transmits information to be displayed by the second messaging app (step S904). Meanwhile, the second server 10 also transmits information indicating that the user of the terminal 20 has successfully logged in to the second messaging service to the first server 40 (step S905). Based on the received information, the first server 40 identifies the user who has successfully logged in, and transmits information for displaying a list of thumbnail images of the second stamps of the second messaging service to the terminal 20 of the identified user (step S906). The terminal 20 then displays a list of the received thumbnail images (step S907). Note that in step S904, the second server 10 transmits information indicating that the user of the terminal 20 has successfully logged in to the second messaging service to the first server 40, but the same process can be achieved by not performing this process and transmitting information indicating that the user of the terminal 20 has successfully logged in to the second messaging service from the terminal 20 to the first server 40 after the process of step S903.

Alternatively, upon logging in to the second messaging service, the terminal 20 may display information indicating that the second stamp of the second messaging service is available on the first messaging app. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal 20, which is an example of the operation when displaying information indicating that the second stamp of the second messaging service is available on the first messaging app. As shown in FIG. 10, the display processing unit 212 of the terminal 20 displays a room by the first messaging app on the display unit 24 (step S1001). The input/output unit 23 of the terminal 20 accepts an input for logging in to the second messaging service from the user of the terminal 20 (step S1002). This login may be performed by selecting login to the second messaging service from the first messaging app during execution of the first messaging app (during display of the room) using a menu of the first messaging app or the like, or an icon or button for logging in to the second messaging service may be displayed in advance on the first messaging app, and the user may log in by touching the displayed icon or button. The display processing unit 212 of the terminal 20 displays on the display unit 24 an input form for accepting input of login information for logging in to the second messaging service on the first messaging app (step S1003). The terminal 20 transmits the login information input to the input form to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S1004). The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 receives information indicating that the login to the second messaging service has been successful from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (YES in step S1005). If the information indicating that the login has been successful has not been received, the control unit 21 waits (NO in step S1005). The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 determines whether or not the second stamp of the second messaging service is displayed in a usable state on the room of the first messaging app (step S1006). If the second stamp of the second messaging service is not displayed in a usable state (YES in step S1006), information indicating that the second stamp is usable is displayed on the first messaging app (step S1007). If the second stamp is already displayed in a usable state (NO in step S1006), the process ends. This makes it possible to prompt the user of the terminal 20 to enter a menu entry for using the second stamp. Note that while in FIG. 10 the login information is transmitted from the terminal 20 to the second server 10, it may also be transmitted to the second server 10 via the first server 40.

<Stamp usage process>
11 to 14, a process for actually using the second stamp of the second server 10 on the first messaging service will be described.

Figure 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the interaction between devices when using a stamp. The process shown in Figure 11 is performed after the process shown in Figure 5 is executed.

As shown in FIG. 11, the first terminal 20a accepts a selection input of a stamp that the user wants to use from the list of second stamps displayed in the room between the first terminal 20a and the second terminal 20b (step S1101). The first terminal 20a then transmits the stamp ID of the selected stamp to the first server 40 (step S1102).

When the first server 40 receives the stamp ID from the first terminal 20a, it identifies the stamp to be used from the second stamp library (step S1103). Then, the first server 40 transmits image information of the identified stamp to the first terminal 20a that requested the stamp and to the second terminal 20b of another user who belongs to the room from which the first terminal 20a requested the stamp (step S1104).

When the first terminal 20a receives the requested stamp image information from the first server 40, it displays it in the room (step S1105). Through this process, for example, the received stamp image (not limited to this, an example of the first image) is displayed in the display area 810 of FIG. 8. Note that in step S1104, the first server 40 also transmits the stamp image information to the first terminal 20a that used the stamp, but if the first terminal 20a has stored the image information of the used stamp in the storage unit 28, it does not have to be transmitted, and in that case, the first terminal 20a may display the stamp image information read from the storage unit 28 in the room.

Meanwhile, the second terminal 20b of a user who belongs to the room in which the user of the first terminal 20a used the stamp also receives the image information of the stamp from the first server 40. The second terminal 20b then displays the received stamp in the room between the second terminal 20b and the first terminal 20a (step S1106).

Figure 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first terminal 20a to realize the exchange shown in Figure 11.

As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 21 of the first terminal 20a displays a room between the first messaging app and the second terminal 20b on the display unit 24 in accordance with an input from the user to the input/output unit 23 (step S1201). Then, the user displays a list of second stamps of the second server 10 on the first terminal 20a.

The input/output unit 23 of the first terminal 20a accepts from the user a designation of a stamp to be used from the list of second stamps (step S1202). The input/output unit 23 transmits information indicating the stamp selected by the user to the control unit 21.

The control unit 21 transmits the stamp ID of the selected stamp received from the input/output unit 23 and the room ID that identifies the room to be used to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 22 (step S1203).

When the control unit 21 receives image information of the stamp specified by the second server 10 from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 22 (YES in step S1204), it displays the received image information of the stamp on the room being displayed on the display unit 24 (step S1205), and ends the process. Note that the control unit 21 waits until it receives image information of the specified stamp (NO in step S1204). Note that, as explained in step S1104, there are cases where the image information of the stamp is not transmitted from the first server 40 to the first terminal 20a. In this case, the process of step S1204 is not executed, and in step S1205, the image of the stamp stored in the memory unit 28 of the terminal 20 is displayed on the room.

Figure 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 11.

13, the communication I/F 44 of the first server 40 receives from the terminal 20 a room ID in which the terminal 20 is exchanging content, a user ID indicating the user of the terminal 20, and a stamp ID of a stamp selected by the user of the terminal 20 (step S1301). The communication I/F 44 transmits the received room ID, user ID, and stamp ID to the control unit 41.

The stamp processing unit 412 of the control unit 41 identifies the image information of the stamp corresponding to the received stamp ID from the second stamp library previously received and stored in the memory unit 45 from the second server 10 (step S1302).

The stamp processing unit 412 transmits the image information of the identified stamp and the user ID indicating the user who used the stamp to the terminal 20 of the user associated with the room ID from which the image information of the identified stamp was received via the communication I/F 44 (step S1303), and ends the process.

As for the second terminal 20b, it simply receives image information of the stamp of the second server 10 from the first server 40 and displays it in the room between the first terminal 20a in association with the user who used the stamp, so a description using a flowchart will be omitted.

Effects of First Embodiment
As shown in the above embodiment 1, the second stamp of the second server 10 is sent in advance from the second server 10 to the first server 40 and stored by the first server 40, so that the first server 40 can allow users who use the first messaging service to use the second stamp of the second server 10 on the first messaging service that it provides.
Furthermore, when the first server 40 receives information designating a second stamp on a room of the first messaging service from the terminal 20, the first server 40 transmits image information of the second stamp to the terminal 20 related to the room. Then, the terminal 20 displays the received second stamp image on the room.
This allows the terminal 20 to use stamps of a different service (second service) on a messaging service (first messaging service) different from the messaging service (second messaging service) that provides the stamps. This makes it possible to increase the variety of stamps available on the first messaging service, thereby improving the user's convenience in using the first messaging service.

In addition, the terminal 20 can display a list of thumbnail images of the second stamps of the second messaging service by making a request for a list of the second stamps of the second messaging service, allowing the user to check the second stamps that are available at a glance and to select the second stamp that the user wishes to use from the thumbnail images of the second stamps displayed in the list.

The terminal 20 also displays a list of stamps for each of the first messaging service and the second messaging service in a distinguishable display manner in association with information indicating each service. The user can then select a stamp for the second messaging service from among the services displayed individually, and the terminal 20 can display the selected stamp in the room. By displaying a thumbnail image of the stamp in association with information indicating the service, the user can uniquely recognize which service provides the stamp.

Furthermore, when the terminal 20 logs in to the second messaging service, the terminal 20 may display information indicating that the second stamp of the second messaging service is available on the first messaging service. This allows the user to recognize that, while using the first messaging service, the second stamp of a different second messaging service is available on the first messaging service.

The display of the list of thumbnail images of the second stamps in the second messaging service may be triggered by the user logging in to the second messaging service using the terminal 20. This login may also be possible from the first messaging app. This allows the user to use the second stamps without having to input a request for a list of second stamps using the terminal 20.

The terminal 20 can receive the second stamp from the first server 40 by sending a second stamp list request from the terminal 20 to the first server 40, and can use the second stamp of the second messaging service on the first messaging service.

The first messaging service and the second messaging service may be services that allow users to exchange content. This can promote communication between users who enjoy the services.

The first messaging service and the second messaging service may be operated by different companies. That is, stamps may be shared between different companies.

In addition, the first messaging service is executed by a first messaging app, and the second messaging service is executed by a second messaging app, and both apps are different applications. That is, the first messaging app is an application different from the second messaging app, but can use the second stamp available in the second messaging app.

<First Modification of First Embodiment>
In the above-described first embodiment, an example has been described in which the first server 40 can use all stamps of the second server 10 without any restrictions. In the present modified example 1, an example will be described in which the first server 40 is allowed to use only some of the stamps of the second server 10, rather than all of them.

In the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5 of the above-mentioned first embodiment, the second server 10 is supposed to transmit all of its second stamp library to the first server 40, but in this first modified example, an example will be described in which the second server 10 transmits only a portion of the second stamp library.

Figure 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 in this modification example 1 during processing in step S501 of Figure 5.

As shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether a predetermined timing for transmitting the second stamp to the first server 40 has arrived (step S1401). The predetermined timing can be set arbitrarily by the operator of the second server 10, and may or may not be determined by agreement with the operator of the first server 40. In addition, the predetermined timing may be, by way of example and not limitation, a predetermined timing within a predetermined period (by way of example and not limitation, a day, a week, or a month), a timing when a certain period has passed since the last time the second stamp was sent, or any other random timing.

If the predetermined timing has not arrived (NO in step S1401), the control unit 11 waits. On the other hand, if the predetermined timing has arrived (YES in step S1401), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 determines the second stamp to be transmitted to the first server 40 (step S1402). As an example and not a limitation, the determination unit 112 may or may not determine the second stamp in the second stamp library according to an instruction from the operator of the second server 10. Alternatively, as an example and not a limitation, the determination unit 112 may or may not determine the second stamp to be transmitted according to a predetermined algorithm. Also, when the second stamp to be transmitted is determined according to a predetermined schedule, the determination unit 112 may or may not determine the second stamp to be transmitted according to the schedule.

The notification unit 113 of the control unit 11 transmits the second stamp determined by the determination unit 112 to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S1403).

In this way, the first server 40 can use some of the second stamps, rather than all of them.

The sequence diagram in FIG. 5 shows a case where the processing of step S501 is performed once, but if the flowchart in FIG. 14 is followed, the processing of step S501 will occur at a predetermined timing, and the first server 40 will store the second stamp sent each time in the memory unit 45 and delete the second stamp that was previously held from the memory unit 45.

In the process of FIG. 14, the second server 10 periodically transmits some of the second stamps to the first server 40. However, this may be configured such that the first server 40 requests second stamps that can be used in the first messaging service from the second server 10, and the second server 10 determines the second stamps that can be used and transmits them to the first server 40.

<Display example>
15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating examples of displaying the second stamp in the modified example 1. Fig. 15A shows an example in which the second server 10 transmits all stamp information to the first server 40.

As shown in FIG. 15(a), if the first server 40 can use all of the second stamps of the second server 10, when a request to use a stamp of the second server 10 is received on the user's terminal 20, each representative stamp of the second stamp library is displayed in area 822 in correspondence with the second service tab 821, and the stamp group included in the selected representative stamp is displayed in area 823.

In contrast, in this variant 1, the second server 10 transmits only some of the stamp information to the first server 40.

As an example, but not limited to, in the example of FIG. 15(b), as shown in area 822, the number of representative stamps displayed is smaller than that shown in FIG. 15(a), so it can be understood that the number of second stamps of the second server 10 that the first server 40 can use is reduced. To be more specific, if FIG. 15(a) is an example in which all second stamps that can be used in the second messaging service can be used, it can be understood from FIG. 15(a) that the stamp group shown by "2-1" to "2-5" can be used as shown in area 822, and eight stamps including stamps 8231 and 8232 can be used in area 823. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 15(b), the second server 10 may or may not limit the stamps that the first server 40 can use by reducing the number of stamp groups that the first server 40 can use. When looking at the area 822 in FIG. 15(b), it can be seen that the stamp groups 8221 and 8222 are no longer displayed, as compared with the case shown in FIG. 15(a), and therefore the usable stamps are limited. In the example of FIG. 15(c), the first server 40 may or may not limit the usable stamps by reducing the number of stamps in the stamp group as shown in the area 823. In FIG. 15(c), it can be seen that the stamps 8231 and 8232 are no longer displayed, as compared with the state shown in FIG. 15(a), and therefore these stamps cannot be used, and therefore the usable stamps are limited. In addition, the method of limiting the usable stamps may be a combination of FIG. 15(b) and FIG. 15(c). In addition, although an example of simply reducing the number has been shown here, it may also be possible to limit the color variations of stamps usable in the first messaging service, while various color variations are available in the second messaging service. In addition, some stamps have effects that behave like short videos, and the effects may be displayed on the second messaging service but not on the first messaging service, thereby restricting the use of the second stamps on the first messaging service.

In addition, in this case, the second stamp once sent can be used any number of times or for any number of days until the next specified timing arrives, but the second server 10 may set the number of times or number of days that the user of the first messaging service can use the second stamp on the first messaging service, and in that case, if the number of times or number of days that the second stamp can be used is exceeded, the second stamp that has been sent may be automatically deleted from the memory unit 45 of the first server 40 or may be encrypted.

For example, in the case of the number of times, when the second server 10 transmits the second stamp to the first server 40, the second server 10 transmits the second stamp to the first server 40 in association with the upper limit number of times of use of the stamp. The first server 40 counts the number of times each second stamp is used for each user. Then, when the counted number of times reaches the associated upper limit number of times of use, the control unit 41 of the first server 40 may be configured not to transmit the stamp image to the terminal 20 thereafter even if a stamp ID requesting use of the stamp is received from the terminal 20. Also, when the stamp cannot be used, information indicating that the upper limit of use has been reached may be transmitted to the terminal 20 that requested use of the stamp, and the terminal 20 may receive the information and display information indicating that the stamp cannot be used. This number of times of use may be set for each user or for each server.

In the case of a number of days, when the second server 10 transmits the second stamp to the first server 40, the second server 10 may transmit, together with the second stamp, a program that causes the second stamp to be deleted from memory or encrypted when the set number of days has elapsed.

<Effects of Modification 1>
By limiting the second stamps that the second server 10 transmits to the first server 40 in advance, it is possible to encourage users who use the first messaging service to become interested in other stamps provided by the second server 10, and to promote use of the second messaging service. In addition, since the first server 40 can switch between stamps of the second server 10 that can be used at a predetermined timing, it is possible to allow users who use the first messaging service to try out a variety of second stamps.

The second server 10 may also set the number of times or number of days that stamps provided to the first messaging service of the first server 40 can be used, and in that case, may set it so that the second stamps become unusable when the number of times or number of days is exceeded. This prevents users of the first messaging service from using stamps infinitely, and also promotes use of the second messaging service by users who wish to use stamps.

The second stamp provided by the second server 10 to the first messaging service may be expressed differently when used on the second messaging service; specifically, the number available may be limited, the color variations may be limited, or the display effects may be limited. This makes it possible to attract users who are dissatisfied with the expression of the second stamp on the first messaging service to the second messaging service.

<Modification 2 of First Embodiment>
In the above-mentioned modified example 1, the second server 10 restricts the second stamps that the first server 40 can use on the first messaging service by restricting the second stamps that the second server 10 passes to the first server 40. In the present modified example 2, an example in which the first server 40 restricts the second stamps that the first server 40 can use by using another method will be described. Specifically, the second server 10 transmits information on all second stamps to the first server 40, but transmits the information in an encrypted state. Then, the second server 10 transmits a decryption key for decrypting the usable stamps to the first server 40, thereby restricting the second stamps that the first server 40 can use. This will be described in detail below.

Figure 16 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between the first server 40 and the second server 10 in this modification example 2.

As shown in FIG. 16, the second server 10 transmits all encrypted stamp information (encrypted second stamp library) to the first server 40 (step S1601).

The first server 40 stores the received second stamp library in an encrypted state in the memory unit 45 (step S1602).

The first server 40 transmits the SNSID to the second server 10 at a predetermined timing to request a decryption key for decrypting a part of the encrypted second stamp library (step S1603). The predetermined timing can be set arbitrarily by the operator of the first server 40, and may or may not be determined by an agreement with the operator of the second server 10. The predetermined timing may be, for example and without limitation, a predetermined timing within a predetermined period (for example and without limitation, a day, a week, or a month), a timing when a certain period has passed since the previous second stamp was sent, or a random timing. The SNSID is identification information capable of uniquely identifying each server providing a messaging service, such as the first server 40 or the second server 10.

When the second server 10 receives the SNSID of the first server 40 requesting the decryption key for the second stamp, it generates a decryption key (decryption key) corresponding to the SNSID (step S1604). The second server 10 transmits the generated decryption key to the first server 40 (step S1605).

The first server 40 uses the received decryption key to decrypt the corresponding stamp (step S1606). This allows the first server 40 to use the decrypted stamp (a part of the second stamp).

Figure 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 16.

The control unit 11 of the second server 10 transmits all encrypted stamp information (encrypted second stamp library) to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S1701).

When the control unit 11 of the second server 10 receives the SNSID of the first server 40 from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (YES in step S1702), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 determines stamps that can be used by the first server 40 based on the received SNSID (step S1703). The stamps determined here are basically a portion of all the second stamps, but may be all of them.

Based on the stamps determined by the determination unit 112, the notification unit 114 generates a release key (decryption key) for releasing those stamps (step S1704). Here, the release key is for enabling the first server 40 to use a part or all of the second stamp, and is for decrypting the second stamp that has been encrypted and stored in the storage unit 45 of the first server 40. Here, the release key does not have to be a decryption key for decryption, as long as it is information that enables the first server 40 to use the second stamp, and may or may not be a password, for example and without limitation. The notification unit 114 transmits the generated release key to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14.

If the control unit 11 of the second server 10 has not received the SNSID of the first server 40 from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (NO in step S1702), it waits.

On the other hand, FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 to realize the exchange shown in FIG. 16.

As shown in FIG. 18, the communication I/F 14 of the first server 40 receives all encrypted stamp information from the second server 10 (step S1801). The communication I/F 14 transmits the received encrypted second stamp library to the control unit 41. The control unit 41 then stores the second stamp library in an encrypted state in the memory unit 45 (step S1802).

The control unit 41 of the first server 40 determines whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived for sending the SNSID to the second server 10 to request the release key for the second stamp (step S1803). The predetermined timing can be set arbitrarily by the operator of the first server 40, and may or may not be determined by an agreement with the operator of the second server 10. In addition, the predetermined timing may be, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a predetermined timing within a predetermined period (by way of example and not by way of limitation, a day, a week, or a month), a timing when a certain period of time has passed since the second stamp was last sent, or any other random timing.

If the specified timing has not arrived (NO in step S1803), the control unit 41 waits. On the other hand, if the specified timing has arrived (YES in step S1803), the stamp processing unit 412 of the control unit 41 sends the SNSID of the first server 40 to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (step S1804).

The control unit 41 determines whether or not a decryption key has been received from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (step S1805). If the control unit 41 has received a decryption key for decrypting the second stamp (YES in step S1805), it uses the received decryption key to decrypt some of all the stamps in the second server 10 (step S1806) and returns to the processing of step S1803. If the control unit 41 has not received a decryption key from the second server 10 (NO in step S1805), it waits until it receives a decryption key.

<Effects of Modification 2>
The second server 10 encrypts the second stamp to be transmitted to the first server 40 and transmits a release key capable of releasing a part of the encrypted second stamp, i.e., releases the usage restriction of the second stamp, so that users who use the first messaging service can be interested in other stamps provided by the second server 10 and promote the use of the second messaging service. In addition, by changing the second stamp to be released using the release key, the stamps of the second server 10 that can be used by the first server 40 can be switched at a predetermined timing, so that users who use the first messaging service can try out various second stamps. In addition, since the information transmitted by the second server 10 at a predetermined timing is the release key, the amount of data transmitted can be reduced compared to the case of transmitting information on usable stamps as in the first modification.

<Modification 3 of First Embodiment>
In the above-mentioned first embodiment and first and second variations, an example has been described in which a user of the terminal 20 on the first messaging service can use the second stamp of the second server 10 regardless of whether or not the user is using the second messaging service of the second server 10. In the present third variation, a variation that changes the stamps that can be used in a case in which the user of the terminal 20 on the first messaging service is also using the second messaging service will be described.

Figure 19 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the interaction between the devices in variant example 3.

In the process shown in FIG. 19, the process up to step S503 is the same as the sequence shown in FIG. 5, so a description of the process is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 19, when the terminal 20 receives a request from the user to display a list of second stamps, the terminal 20 transmits the user ID of the user of the terminal 20 in the second messaging service provided by the second server 10 and a request for the list of second stamps to the first server 40 (step S1904).

When the first server 40 receives from the terminal 20 a request for a list of second stamps and the user ID of the user of the terminal 20 on the second server 10, it sends to the second server 10 the received user ID and a request for information on stamps available to the user identified by the user ID in order to inquire about stamps available to the user of the terminal 20 (stamps S1905).

When the second server 10 receives the user ID in the second messaging service from the first server 40, it identifies an available stamp ID associated with the user ID in the user information 310 (step S1906). The second server 10 transmits the stamp ID to the first server 40 as information on the identified stamp (step S1907).

Based on the stamp ID received from the second server 10, the first server 40 transmits to the terminal 20 information on a list of stamps that can be used by the user of the terminal 20 (step S1908).

Then, terminal 20 displays a list of stamps corresponding to the user of terminal 20 (step S1909).

Figure 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of terminal 20 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 19. The example of operation shown in Figure 20 differs from the operation of the terminal shown in Figure 6 in steps S2002 and S602.

In step S2002, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 sends to the first server 40 a request for a list of the second stamps of the second server 10, as well as the user ID used when the terminal 20 uses the second messaging service of the second server 10 (step S2002).

In response to this, a list of second stamps sent from the first server 40 is displayed (step S604). Although the processing content itself is similar to the processing of step S604 shown in FIG. 6, the list of second stamps displayed on the terminal 20 as a result is specific to the user of the terminal 20.

Figure 21 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 19.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 21 is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 up to the processing step S702, so the explanation up to that point will be omitted.

In step S2103, if the control unit 41 receives the user ID of the second server 10 and a request for a second stamp list of the second server 10 from the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (YES in step S2103), the stamp processing unit 412 sends a request for stamp IDs usable by the user corresponding to the user ID to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 together with the received user ID (step S2104).

When the control unit 41 receives a stamp ID of a stamp usable by the user of the terminal 20 from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (YES in step S2105), it generates list information of second stamps usable by the user of the terminal 20 based on the received stamp ID and on the second stamp library stored in the storage unit 45. Then, it transmits display information for displaying the generated list of second stamps to the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2106), and returns to the processing of step S2103. The control unit 41 waits until it receives a stamp ID of a stamp usable by the user of the terminal from the second server 10 (NO in step S2103).

Figure 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 19.

As shown in FIG. 22, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether the user ID and the second stamp list request have been received from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S2201). If not received (NO in step S2201), the control unit 11 waits. If received (YES in step S2201), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 identifies the stamp corresponding to the user ID using the user information 310 (step S2202).

The control unit 11 transmits the stamp ID indicating the identified stamp to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S2203), and returns to the processing of step S2201.

In this way, the terminal 20 can utilize the stamps that the user uses when using the second messaging service on the first messaging service.

<Effects of Modification 3>
According to the third modification, when the user of the terminal 20 uses the first messaging service of the first server 40, the user can use the second stamp in the same manner as in an environment in which the user uses the second messaging service of the second server 10. Specifically, the terminal 20 transmits a list request for second stamps (not limited to this, but an example of a first request) and a user ID to the first server 40. The first server 40 then transmits to the second server 10 the user ID of the terminal 20 and a request for information on second stamps available to the user indicated by the user ID (not limited to this, but an example of a second request), and obtains information on available stamps. The first server 40 can then transmit information on available second stamps to the terminal 20.

<Fourth Modification of First Embodiment>
In the above-mentioned modified example 3, an example is described in which stamps of the second server 10 that can be used on the first messaging service are identified and made available depending on the user of the terminal 20. In the present modified example 4, an example is described in which stamps that can be made available are changed depending on the first server 40, not the user of the terminal 20. That is, in a case in which there are multiple different messaging services (first servers 40), an example is described in which stamps made available by the first server 40 are made different. Also, in the present modified example 4, the first server 40 does not receive the second stamp library from the second server 10.

Figure 23 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices in variant example 4.

The interaction shown in FIG. 23 is the same as the interaction shown in FIG. 5 up to the processing of step S504, so we will not explain the processing up to that point.

As shown in FIG. 23, when the first server 40 receives a request for the second stamp list from the terminal 20, it sends the SNSID of the first server 40 to indicate use of the first server 40 on the first messaging service, and the stamp list request to the second server 10 (step S2305).

When the second server 10 receives the SNSID of the first server 40 and the request for the second stamp list from the first server 40, it identifies stamps available on the first messaging service of the first server 40 based on the SNSID (step S2306). Then, the second server 10 transmits a stamp list image to be displayed as a stamp list to the first server 40 based on the identified stamps (step S2307).

When the first server 40 receives the second stamp list from the second server 10, it transmits it to the terminal 20 (step S2308).

Then, the terminal 20 receives the second stamp list sent from the first server 40 and displays it on the first messaging app (step S2309).

Figure 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 23.

As shown in FIG. 24, the control unit 41 determines whether or not a second stamp list request has been received from the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2401). If a second stamp list request has not been received (NO in step S2401), the control unit 41 waits.

If a second stamp list request has been received from the terminal 20 (YES in step S2401), since the first server 40 does not hold the second stamp library of the second server 10, the control unit 41 sends the SNS ID and a stamp list request to request a stamp list to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2402).

Then, the control unit 41 waits until display information of the stamp list is received from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (NO in step S2403). When display information for displaying the stamp list of available second stamps is received from the second server 10 (YES in step S2403), the control unit 41 transmits the received display information of the stamp list to the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2404), and the process returns to step S2401. As a result, the terminal 20 displays the list of available stamps of the second server 10 on the first messaging app. On the terminal 20, the second stamp of the second server 10 can be used in the room of the first messaging app by touching the stamp to be used from the displayed stamp list.

Figure 25 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 23.

The process shown in FIG. 25 is almost the same as the process shown in FIG. 22, but whereas the process shown in FIG. 22 identifies a stamp ID corresponding to a user ID, the process shown in FIG. 25 identifies a stamp ID based on the SNS ID of the first server 40.

As shown in FIG. 25, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether the SNSID and the second stamp list request have been received from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S2501). If not received (NO in step S2501), the control unit 11 waits. If received (YES in step S2501), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 identifies the stamp corresponding to the SNSID (step S2502). Although not shown, the determination unit 112 may store SNS information in the same way as the user information 310, and identify the stamp corresponding to the SNSID by associating and storing usable stamp IDs for each messaging service.

The control unit 11 transmits the stamp ID indicating the identified stamp to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S2503), and returns to the processing of step S2501.

In this way, the terminal 20 can utilize the stamps that the user uses when using the second messaging service on the first messaging service.

Figure 26 is a sequence diagram showing the process following the sequence diagram shown in Figure 23, and is an example of the interaction between devices when the second stamp is used on the first messaging service.

As shown in FIG. 26, the user of the terminal 20 accepts the designation of a stamp to be used from the list of second stamps displayed on the terminal 20 (step S2601). The terminal 20 transmits the stamp ID of the designated stamp to the first server 40 (step S2602).

When the first server 40 receives the stamp ID of the stamp provided by the second server 10 from the terminal 20, it transmits the stamp ID to the second server 10 (step S2603).

When the second server 10 receives the stamp ID from the first server 40, it identifies the stamp image of the stamp that corresponds to the stamp ID (step S2604). Then, the second server 10 transmits the identified stamp image to the first server 40 (step S2605).

When the first server 40 receives the stamp image from the second server 10, it transmits it as is to the terminal 20 (step S2606).

Then, the terminal 20 displays the received stamp image in the room of the first messaging app (step S2607).

Note that although FIG. 26 does not show the other terminals 20 to which the terminal 20 has sent the stamp, the first server 40 also sends image information of the stamp to the terminals of other users included in the room in which the user of the terminal 20 accepted the stamp designation in step S2601.

Figure 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 26.

As shown in FIG. 27, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the stamp ID of the second server 10 has been received from the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2701). If the stamp ID has not been received (NO in step S2701), the control unit 41 waits.

If the stamp ID of the second server 10 has been received from the terminal 20 (YES in step S2701), the control unit 41 of the first server 40 transmits the stamp ID and a request for image information of the stamp corresponding to the stamp ID to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2702).

Then, the control unit 41 waits until a stamp image corresponding to the stamp ID is received from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 (NO in step S2703). If a stamp image is received from the second server 10 (YES in step S2703), the control unit 41 transmits the received stamp image to the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (step S2704), and returns to the processing of step S2701.

Figure 28 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 26.

As shown in FIG. 28, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether the stamp ID of the stamp provided by the second server 10 has been received from the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S2801). If not received (NO in step S2801), the control unit 11 waits. If received (YES in step S2801), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 identifies the stamp corresponding to the stamp ID (step S2802).

The control unit 11 transmits a stamp image showing the identified stamp to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S2803), and returns to the processing of step S2801.

The operation of the terminal 20 is the same as the process shown in FIG. 12, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

<Effects of Modification 4>
The second server 10 receives the SNSID (not limited to, but an example of second identification information) of the first server 40, and provides a second stamp corresponding to the received SNSID. The second server 10 can encourage users to use various or preferred messaging services by changing the second stamps that users can use on the messaging service for each messaging service, and can also promote use by many users of the second messaging service of the second server 10, which can use all second stamps. Furthermore, the second server 10 can realize the use of the second stamps on the first messaging service without passing the second stamp library, which is information on stamps held by the second server 10, to the first server 40.

<Fifth Modification of First Embodiment>
In the above-mentioned modified example 4, an example was described in which the first server 40 does not hold a second stamp library, and displays a list of stamps that the user of the terminal 20 can use on the first messaging service based on the SNSID. The present modified example 5 is almost the same as modified example 4, but differs in that the information transmitted from the first server 40 to the second server 10 to identify the stamp list is not the SNSID, but the user ID of the user of the terminal 20 on the second server 10. This will be explained below.

Figure 29 is a sequence diagram showing the interactions between the devices related to variant 5.

The terminal 20 sends a request for the second stamp list and the user ID of the user of the terminal 20 in the second messaging service of the second server 10 to the first server 40 (step S2904).

When the first server 40 receives from the terminal 20 the user ID in the second messaging service of the user of the terminal 20 and the stamp list request, the first server 40 transmits the received user ID and stamp list request to the second server 10 (step S2905).

When the second server 10 receives the user ID used on the second server 10 and the request for the second stamp list from the first server 40, it identifies stamps available on the first messaging service of the first server 40 based on the received user ID (step S2906). Then, the second server 10 transmits a display image to be displayed as a stamp list to the first server 40 based on the identified stamps (step S2907).

When the first server 40 receives the display image of the second stamp list from the second server 10, it transmits it to the terminal 20 (step S2908).

Then, the terminal 20 receives the display image of the second stamp list sent from the first server 40 and displays it on the first messaging app (step S2909).

Figure 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the first server 40 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 29. The process shown in Figure 30 is the same as the process up to step S2103 shown in Figure 21, so a description of that part will be omitted.

In step S2103, when the user ID of the second server (user ID of terminal 20) and the second stamp list request are received (YES in step S2103), the control unit 41 sends a request for a list of available stamps to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 44 together with the user ID in the second messaging service of the user of terminal 20 (step S3004).

The control unit 41 waits until a display image of the stamp list is received from the second server 10 via the communication unit I/F 44 (NO in step S3005). When a display image of the stamp list is received from the second server 10 (YES in step S3005), the control unit 41 transmits a display image of the second stamp list of the second server 10 to the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 44 (step S3006).

Figure 31 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 29. The process shown in Figure 31 is almost identical to the process shown in Figure 22, but differs from Figure 22 in the process of step S3103.

In step S3103, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 generates a display image of a stamp list for displaying the identified stamps as a list, and transmits the image to the first server 40 via the communication I/F 14 (step S3103).

<Effects of Modification 5>
According to the fifth modification, similarly to the fourth modification, the second server 10 can realize the use of the second stamp on the first messaging service without passing the second stamp library as information on the stamps held by the second server 10 to the first server 40. That is, the first server 40 relays a stamp list request of the second server 10 to be used from the terminal 20 to the second server 10, and relays a stamp list image from the second server 10 to the terminal 20, thereby allowing the terminal 20 to use the second stamp of the second server 10. In addition, at this time, the user ID of the user on the second server 10 is transmitted to the second server 10, so that the second stamps available for each user can be switched. Therefore, a user who also uses the second messaging service can use the second stamp on the first messaging service in the same way as the second messaging service.

<Sixth Modification of First Embodiment>
So far, an example has been described in which the terminal 20 acquires the stamp of the second server 10 from the first server 40 or via the first server 40. In this modified example, a method will be described in which the terminal 20 acquires the stamp directly from the second server 10. Furthermore, the first server 40 does not store the second stamp library of the second server 10.

In addition, in this variant example 6, when the first messaging app receives from the second server 10 a second stamp image to be displayed in a room, the room ID of the destination of use, and the user ID of the user who used the second stamp image, the first messaging app has a function of displaying the received second stamp image in the room of the first messaging service in the room indicated by the room ID specified as the destination of use, in association with the icon of the user corresponding to the user ID.

Figure 32 is a sequence diagram showing the interactions between the devices according to variant example 6. In Figure 32, the first server 40 is shown to indicate that the communication does not go through the first server 40, but the first server 40 is not related to this process.

As shown in FIG. 32, the terminal 20 sends a request for the second stamp list and an SNS ID indicating the first messaging service of the first server 40 to the second server 10 (step S3204).

When the second server 10 receives the request for the second stamp list and the SNSID from the terminal 20 (step S3206), it identifies second stamps available on the messaging service corresponding to the SNSID based on the received SNSID. The second server 10 then transmits display information for displaying the stamp list to the terminal 20 based on the identified stamps (step S3207).

The terminal 20 receives the display information for displaying the stamp list sent from the second server 10, and displays the received display information on the first messaging app (step S3208).

Figure 33 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal 20 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 32. The process shown in Figure 33 differs from the process shown in Figure 6 in steps S3302 and S3303.

As shown in FIG. 33, when the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 receives a request to display stamps of the second server 10 on the first messaging app (step S601), the control unit 21 transmits a second stamp list request to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22, requesting the SNS ID of the first server 40 and information for displaying a list of second stamps of the second server 10 (step S3302).

The control unit 21 determines whether display information for displaying the second stamp list has been received from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S3303). If display information has not been received (NO in step S3303), the control unit 21 waits.

If display information for displaying the second stamp list has been received (YES in step S3303), the list of available second stamps on the second server 10 is displayed on the first messaging app (step S604), and the process ends.

Figure 34 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 32.

As shown in FIG. 34, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether the SNSID of the first messaging service of the first server 40 and a second stamp list request have been received from the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 14 (step S3401). If not received (NO in step S3401), the control unit 11 waits. If received (YES in step S3401), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 identifies the stamp that corresponds to the received SNSID (step S3402).

The control unit 11 transmits a list of stamps corresponding to the identified stamps to the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 14 (step S3403), and returns to the processing of step S3401.

In this way, the terminal 20 can receive information directly from the second server 10 on the first messaging service, thereby displaying a list of stamps that the user can use when using the second messaging service.

Figure 35 is a sequence diagram showing an example of interactions between devices when a stamp is actually used on terminal 20, and is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing following the sequence diagram shown in Figure 32. Here, terminal 20a is the terminal that uses the second stamp of the second server 10 in the room, and terminal 20b is the terminal that receives the second stamp in the room.

As shown in FIG. 35, the terminal 20a accepts the designation of a stamp to be used from the stamp list displayed on the second server 10 (step S3501). The terminal 20a transmits the stamp ID of the designated stamp, the user ID, and, as communication destination information, the room ID of the first messaging service that is open on the terminal 20a, to the second server 10 (step S3502).

The second server 10 identifies a stamp image based on the received stamp ID (step S3503). The second server 10 transmits the identified stamp image to the terminal 20a corresponding to the user ID and to another terminal 20b belonging to the room with the room ID indicated in the communication destination information (step S3504).

When the terminal 20a receives the stamp image from the second server 10, it displays the received stamp image in the room that specified the stamp of the first messaging service (step S3505). Note that in this case, in step S3504, the first server 40 transmits image information of the stamp to the terminal 20a that used the stamp, but if the terminal 20a stores image information of the stamp used in the storage unit 28, it is not necessary to transmit the image information. In that case, the terminal 20a may display the image information of the stamp read from the storage unit 28 in the room.

Furthermore, when the terminal 20b receives the stamp image, the room ID of the first messaging service, and the user ID from the second server 10, it displays the received stamp image in the room specified by the room ID, in association with the icon of the user indicated by the received user ID (step S3506).

Figure 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of terminal 20a that uses the stamp to realize the exchange shown in Figure 35.

As shown in FIG. 36, the control unit 21 of the first terminal 20a displays a room between the first messaging app terminal 20b on the display unit 24 in accordance with an input from the user to the input/output unit 23 (step S1201). Then, the user displays a list of second stamps of the second server 10 on the first terminal 20a.

The input/output unit 23 of the first terminal 20a accepts from the user a designation of a stamp to be used from the list of second stamps (step S1202). The input/output unit 23 transmits information indicating the stamp selected by the user to the control unit 21.

The control unit 21 transmits the stamp ID of the selected stamp received from the input/output unit 23 and the room ID that identifies the room to be used to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S3603).

When the control unit 21 receives image information of a stamp from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (YES in step S3604), it displays the received image information of the stamp in the room being displayed on the display unit 24 (step S3605), and ends the process. Note that the control unit 21 waits until it receives image information of the specified stamp (NO in step S3604).

Figure 37 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 35.

As shown in FIG. 37, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether the stamp ID, room ID, and user ID have been received from the terminal 20a via the communication I/F 14 (step S3701). If they have not been received (NO in step S3701), the control unit 11 waits. If they have been received (YES in step S3701), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 identifies the stamp that corresponds to the stamp ID (step S3702).

The control unit 11 identifies the terminal 20b of a user participating in the room indicated by the room ID (step S3703). As a non-limiting example, the control unit 11 may or may not identify the terminal of a user participating in the room indicated by the room ID by transmitting the room ID to the first server 40. Alternatively, as a non-limiting example, if the received room ID is associated with information on the terminal of a user exchanging content in the room indicated by the room ID, the control unit 11 may identify the terminal from information on the associated user's terminal.

The control unit 11 transmits a stamp image showing the identified stamp to the terminal 20a indicated by the user ID via the communication I/F 14 (step S3704).

The control unit 11 also transmits a stamp image showing the identified stamp, together with the received room ID and user ID, to the identified other user's terminal 20b via the communication I/F 14 (step S3705), and returns to the processing of step S3701. Note that here, the control unit 11 does not include a display instruction by the first messaging app in the information to be transmitted to the other terminal 20b, since the first messaging app can be identified from the room ID, but instruction information for displaying by the first messaging app may or may not be included. Note that the display instruction here refers to information that the second server 10 transmits to the other terminal 20b, indicating that the application that should display the transmitted stamp image is the first messaging app.

Figure 38 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the shelf 20b that receives the stamp to realize the exchange shown in Figure 35.

As shown in FIG. 38, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20b determines whether or not a stamp image, a room ID, and a user ID have been received from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S3801). If they have not been received (NO in step S3801), the control unit 21 waits.

If a stamp image, room ID, and user ID have been received from the second server 10 (YES in step S3801), the received stamp image is displayed in association with the icon of the user indicated by the user ID in the room identified from the received room ID (step S3802), and the process ends. Note that the information received in step S3801 may include a display instruction by the first messaging app, and the stamp image may be displayed in the room of the first messaging app based on this display instruction and the room ID. Note that the display instruction here refers to information that the second server 10 sends to the other terminal 20b as described above, indicating that the application that should display the sent stamp image is the first messaging app.

<Effects of Modification 6>
According to this variant example 6, each terminal 20 using the first messaging service can use the second stamp of the second messaging service on the second server 10 without going through the first server 40.

<Seventh Modification of First Embodiment>
In the above-mentioned modification 6, an example was described in which stamps of the second server 10 that can be used by the terminal 20 depend on the SNS ID of the first messaging service used by the terminal 20. In the present modification 7, unlike modification 6, an example will be described in which the stamps depend on the user of the terminal 20. That is, the difference is that the terminal 20a that uses the stamps transmits a user ID to the second server 10, instead of an SNS ID.

Figure 39 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the interaction between devices showing a method for displaying a stamp list in variant example 7.

As shown in FIG. 39, the terminal 20 sends a request for the second stamp list and the user ID of the terminal 20 in the second messaging service of the second server 10 to the second server 10 (step S3904).

When the second server 10 receives the request for the second stamp list and the user ID from the terminal 20 (step S3906), it identifies second stamps available on the first messaging service that correspond to the user ID based on the received user ID. The second server 10 then transmits display information for displaying the stamp list to the terminal 20 based on the identified stamps (step S3907).

The terminal 20 receives the display information for displaying the stamp list sent from the second server 10, and displays the received display information on the first messaging app (step S3908).

Figure 40 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the terminal 20 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 39. The process shown in Figure 40 differs from the process shown in Figure 33 in the process of step S4002.

As shown in FIG. 40, when the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 receives a request to display stamps of the second server 10 on the first messaging app (step S601), the control unit 21 transmits a second stamp list request to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22, requesting the user ID of the first server 40 and information for displaying a list of second stamps of the second server 10 (step S4002).

The control unit 21 determines whether display information for displaying the second stamp list has been received from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S3303). If display information has not been received (NO in step S3303), the control unit 21 waits.

If display information for displaying the second stamp list has been received (YES in step S3303), the list of available second stamps on the second server 10 is displayed on the first messaging app (step S604), and the process ends.

Figure 41 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 39.

As shown in FIG. 41, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether it has received the user ID of the first messaging service of the first server 40 and a second stamp list request from the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 14 (step S4101). If it has not been received (NO in step S4101), it waits. If it has been received (YES in step S4101), the determination unit 112 of the control unit 11 identifies the stamp that corresponds to the received user ID (step S4102).

The control unit 11 sends a list of stamps corresponding to the identified stamps to the terminal 20 via the communication I/F 14 (step S4103), and returns to the processing of step S4101.

In this way, the terminal 20 can display, on the first messaging service, a list of stamps that the user can use when using the second messaging service.

The above-mentioned first embodiment and various modified examples can be combined as appropriate. As a non-limiting example, the control unit 21 may or may not specify, as stamps that the user can use on the first messaging service, only stamps that match the stamps of the second server 10 that the user of the first server 40 is permitted to use and the stamps that the user himself is permitted to use on the second messaging service.

<Embodiment 2>
In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, an example in which the stamp of the second server 10 can be used on the messaging service of the first server 40 has been described. In the present embodiment 2, a process in the case where the terminal 20 receives a stamp of the second server 10 from another terminal 20 on the messaging service of the first server 40 will be described. That is, a process of the terminal 20 after receiving and displaying a stamp on the second terminal 20b of the above-mentioned embodiment 1 in FIG. 11 will be described. That is, a process of the terminal 20b in the case where, when the second stamp 4401 is displayed on the room of the first messaging app as shown in FIG. 44(a), the user touches the second stamp 4401 with interest as shown in FIG. 44(b) will be described. In this case, the terminal 20b prompts the user of the terminal 20b to install the second messaging app or to purchase the stamp depending on whether the user of the terminal 20b uses the second messaging service or whether the user owns the displayed stamp. A specific description will be given below.

Figure 42 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between the first terminal 20a, the second terminal 20b, and the first server 40.

Figure 42 shows an example of processing following the sequence diagram shown in Figure 11, with the addition of processing from step S4207 onwards. In other words, processing on the terminal that received the stamp is added, and this processing is not limited to that following Figure 11, and may be, as an example and not a limitation, processing following Figure 35.

The second terminal 20b displays the received stamp in the room with the first terminal 20a (step S1106). The second terminal 20b accepts input from the user regarding the received stamp (step S4207). Then, if the user is registered for the second service, the second terminal 20b displays a login screen for the second service (step S4208). Note that in step S1104 shown in FIG. 42, the first server 40 transmits image information of the stamp to the first terminal 20a that used the stamp. However, if the first terminal 20a stores image information of the used stamp in the storage unit 28, the image information does not need to be transmitted. In that case, the first terminal 20a may display the image information of the stamp read from the storage unit 28 in the room.

Figure 43 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second terminal 20b to realize the exchange shown in Figure 42.

As shown in FIG. 43, the control unit 21 judges whether or not a touch input to a displayed stamp is received via the input/output unit 23 (step S4301). If a touch input to a stamp is received (YES in step S4301), the control unit 21 judges whether or not a user of the second terminal 20b is registered with the second messaging service of the second server 10 (step S4302). Registering with a service means that a user has registered his/her own information in order to use the service, and at least means that a user identifier for using the service and a password for using the service are associated on the server providing the service. This judgment may be made, as an example and not a limitation, based on whether or not a second messaging app provided by the second server 10 is installed on the second terminal 20b. If a touch input to a stamp is not received (NO in step S4301), the process ends.

If the user of the second terminal 20b has not registered with the second messaging service of the second server 10 (YES in step S4302), the control unit 21 displays an installation guide for the second messaging app provided by the second server 10 (or another download server) on the display unit 24 (step S4303). If the user of the second terminal 20b has registered with the second messaging service (NO in step S4302), the process proceeds to step S4305.

The control unit 21 determines whether or not the second messaging app has been installed (step S4304). If the second messaging app has been installed (YES in step S4304), the control unit 21 displays a login screen for the second messaging service on the display unit 24 (step S4305) and ends the process. If the second messaging app has not been installed (NO in step S4304), the control unit 21 ends the process.

Using FIG. 44, a display example on the terminal 20 will be described in association with the processes shown in FIG. 42 and FIG. 43. As shown in FIG. 44(a), the second terminal 20b displays the second stamp 4401 of the second messaging service used by the first terminal 20a on the display unit 24 (corresponding to step S1106 in FIG. 42). As shown in FIG. 44(b), the user of the second terminal 20b touches the second stamp 4401 displayed with his/her finger 4402 (corresponding to YES in step S4301 in FIG. 43). This is not limited to input by a finger, but may be input by a pointing tool such as a stylus, or may be various inputs to the input/output unit 23 as described above.

If this input is received and the second messaging app is not installed on the second terminal 20b, a screen for guiding the installation of the second messaging app is displayed as shown in FIG. 44(c) (corresponding to step S4303 in FIG. 43). As shown in FIG. 44(c), the screen for guiding the installation of the second messaging app displays an "Install" button for installing the second messaging app. When the "Install" button is touched, the second messaging app is installed on the terminal 20. Then, if the second messaging app is installed or if the second messaging app was originally installed on the second terminal 20b, a login screen for the second messaging service is displayed as shown in FIG. 44(d) (corresponding to step S4305). As shown in the figure, the login screen displays a field for inputting an email address as a user ID, a field for inputting a password, and a login button for executing login.

Using the sequence diagram shown in Figure 45, we will explain the interaction between the second terminal 20b and the second server 10 after the login screen is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 45, the second terminal 20b displays a login screen for the second messaging service (step S4501). The second terminal 20b accepts login information input from the user (step S4502). The second terminal 20b transmits the accepted login information and the stamp ID touched by the user in step S4301 of FIG. 43 to the second server 10 (step S4503).

The second server 10 authenticates the received login information (step S4504). Here, it is assumed that the authentication is successful. Then, the second server 10 transmits information related to the stamp ID (step S4505). Here, the information related to the stamp ID transmitted by the second server 10 is a list of stamps (a list of thumbnail images of the stamps) if the user of the second terminal 20b holds the stamp indicated by the stamp ID (the stamp ID is associated with the user in the user information 310). If the user of the second terminal 20b does not hold the stamp indicated by the stamp ID, the information related to the stamp ID becomes display information on the stamp purchase screen.

The second terminal 20b displays information about the stamp received from the second server 10 (step S4506).

Figure 46 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second terminal 20b to realize the exchange shown in Figure 45.

As shown in FIG. 46, the display processing unit 212 of the second terminal 20b displays a login screen for the second messaging service on the display unit 24 (step S4205). The control unit 21 determines whether or not input of login information has been accepted via the input/output unit 23 (step S4601). If input of login information has not been accepted (NO in step S4601), the process ends. Here, the login information may include a user ID for uniquely identifying the user and a password. The user ID may also be an email address.

When login information input from the user is accepted (YES in step S4601), the control unit 21 transmits the accepted login information to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S4602). The control unit 21 determines whether the user has logged in (step S4603). The control unit 21 waits until the user logs in (NO in step S4603).

If the user successfully logs in (YES in step S4603) but does not hold the touched stamp (YES in step S4604), the control unit 21 of the second terminal 20b displays the purchase screen for the touched stamp sent from the second server 10 (step S4605). If the user holds the touched stamp (NO in step S4604), the control unit 21 displays a list of stamps including the touched stamp on the display unit 24 (step S4606) and ends the process. Note that the authentication process in the login of the second server 10 may be the same as a general authentication process, and as an example, but not limited to, the login information including the identification information and password of the user of the second terminal 20b sent from the second terminal 20b is received, and authentication is performed depending on whether or not the combination of the user's identification information and password indicated by the received login information is stored in the storage unit 15 of the second server 10. If the combination of the identification information and password of the received login information is stored in the storage unit 15 of the second server 10, authentication is successful and login is possible. If the combination of the identification information and password in the received login information is not stored in the memory unit 15 of the second server 10, authentication will fail and login will be impossible.

Next, an example of processing after the stamp purchase screen is displayed on the second terminal 20b (processing of step S4605) will be described. FIG. 47 is a sequence diagram showing an example of an exchange between the second terminal 20b and the second server 10 after the stamp purchase screen is displayed on the second terminal 20b.

As shown in FIG. 47, the second terminal 20b displays a purchase screen for the stamp touched in step S4207 (or YES in S4301) (step S4701). The second terminal 20 accepts the purchase of the stamp from the user (step S4702). The second terminal 20b transmits stamp purchase information to the second server 10 (step S4703). The stamp purchase information includes a stamp ID that can identify the purchased stamp, and information about the user who can use the stamp. Here, it is assumed that the user information of the second terminal 20b is included.

The second server 10 associates the stamp ID with information about users who can use the purchased stamp (step S4704). Then, the second server 10 transmits a list of thumbnail images of the purchased stamps to the second terminal 20b (step S4705).

The second terminal 20b displays a list of the purchased stamps (step S4706).

Figure 48 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second terminal 20b for realizing the exchange shown in Figure 47. As shown in Figure 48, the control unit 21 of the second terminal 20b causes the display unit 24 to display a stamp purchase screen (step S4801). The control unit 21 determines whether or not a stamp purchase input has been received from the user via the input/output unit 23 (step S4802). If a stamp purchase input has not been received (NO in step S4802), the process ends.

When a stamp purchase input is received from the user (YES in step S4802), the control unit 21 judges whether the purchase is for itself based on the input from the user to the input/output unit 23 (step S4803). If the purchase is for the user himself (YES in step S4803), the control unit 21 transmits stamp purchase information including the user's user ID to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S4804). Then, the control unit 21 waits until it receives a list of thumbnail images of the purchased stamps via the communication I/F 22 (NO in step S4805). When it receives a list of thumbnail images of the stamps transmitted from the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (YES in step S4805), the control unit 21 causes the display unit 24 to display the list of thumbnail images of the received stamps (step S4806), and ends the process.

On the other hand, in step S4803, if a stamp is purchased for another user rather than for the user himself/herself (NO in step S4803), the stamp purchase information including the user ID of the other user specified by the user is sent via the input/output unit 23 to the second server 10 via the communication I/F 22 (step S4807), and the process is terminated.

Figure 49 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10 to realize the exchange shown in Figure 47.

As shown in FIG. 49, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 determines whether or not stamp purchase information has been received via the communication I/F 14 (step S4901). If not received (NO in step S4901), the control unit 11 waits.

When stamp purchase information has been received (YES in step S4901), the control unit 11 associates the purchased stamp with the user ID and stores it in the user information 310 (step S4902). Then, a list of thumbnail images of the purchased stamps is sent via the communication I/F 14 to the terminal 20 of the user corresponding to the user ID for which the stamp was purchased (step S4903), and the process returns to step S4901.

Figure 50 shows an example of a screen displayed during the process shown in Figure 48. Figure 50 (a) is a screen diagram showing an example of a stamp purchase screen, and is an example of a screen displayed by the processing of steps S4701 and S4801. As shown in Figure 50 (a), the stamp purchase screen displays a "Purchase" button for purchasing a stamp for oneself, and a "Gift" button for gifting a stamp to another user.

When the "Purchase" button shown in FIG. 50(a) is touched, the stamp is purchased for the user of the terminal 20, and a download screen for downloading a list of stamps is displayed on the terminal 20 as shown in FIG. 50(b). After this, the terminal 20 can use the stamps purchased from the second server 10. On the other hand, when the "Present" button shown in FIG. 50(a) is touched, a user list screen for selecting a user to whom the stamp is to be given as a present is displayed as shown in FIG. 50(c). Here, the displayed user list may display users who are friends (set as communication partners) in the second messaging service of the second server 10, or users who are friends in the first messaging service of the first server 40, or both users may be displayed. In addition, the list of users displayed at this time may be displayed in order according to the frequency of past interactions with the user, or it may not be. In other words, users with a higher frequency of interactions may be displayed at the top. Then, when one or more users are selected from the displayed user list and sent, a screen indicating that the stamp has been given as a present to the selected users is displayed as shown in FIG. 50(d).

The above is an explanation of an example of the operation of the terminal 20 when an input is made in response to the received and displayed stamp at the terminal that was executing an exchange via the first messaging service and received the second stamp from the second server 10.

<Effects of the Second Embodiment>
According to the terminal 20 of embodiment 2, when a second stamp of a second messaging service is displayed in a room on a first messaging service, and input is accepted for the displayed second stamp, if the user of the terminal 20 is using the second messaging service, a login screen for logging in to the second messaging service may be displayed.
This allows the user of the terminal 20 to be directed to the second messaging service.

Furthermore, when the terminal 20 logs in to the second messaging service, if the input second stamp is available on the second messaging service, the terminal 20 may display a list of the corresponding stamps, and if the input second stamp is not available, the terminal 20 may guide the user to a download screen (purchase screen) for enabling the second stamp to be available.
This allows the terminal 20 to make the second stamp that the user touched available to the user on the first messaging service.

Also, as a non-limiting example, when the terminal 20 purchases (downloads) the second stamp displayed on the displayed download screen (purchase screen), the terminal 20 may transmit the information to the second server 10. This allows the second server 10 to register the user of the terminal 20 and the purchased second stamp in the user information 310 in association with each other.
This allows the user to use the second stamp thereafter with both the first messaging service and the second messaging service that he or she has purchased (downloaded).

In addition, when terminal 20 receives input for the second stamp, if the user of terminal 20 is not using the second messaging service, terminal 20 may display a download screen for the second messaging application of the second messaging service.
This can encourage the user of the terminal 20 to use the second messaging service.

Furthermore, when the second messaging application is installed on the terminal 20, the second stamp may be displayed in a usable state on the first messaging application.
This allows the user of the terminal 20 to use the second stamp on the first messaging service, triggered by installation of the second messaging application.

<Embodiment 3>
In the above-mentioned first embodiment, examples of a method for determining stamps that can be used on the messaging service of the first server 40 from among the stamps of the second server 10, such as a method determined by an operator of the second server 10 or a method determined by a schedule, are described. In the present embodiment 3, other examples of the determination method will be described.

In the above embodiment 1, an example was described in which the second stamp of the second server 10 that can be used by a user who uses the first messaging service is different depending on the user ID or SNS ID. Here, an example is described in which the stamps that can be used are changed depending on the user's score. The score here is a user's evaluation used by the second server 10 to determine the second stamp that can be used on the first messaging service. The score may or may not be calculated based on the usage status of the second messaging service of the second server 10. The score may or may not be calculated based on the usage status of the first messaging service of the first server 40. The score may or may not be calculated based on both the usage status of the first messaging service of the first server 40 and the messaging service of the second server 10. The usage status here may or may not be the usage status of the stamp used on the messaging service (as an example, not limited to, the number of times of use or the frequency of use). As described above, the score is calculated based on how much the second server 10 uses the second messaging service or the second stamp, and therefore may or may not be called a trust score, since it represents the degree of trust that the second server 10 gives to the user.

Figure 51 is an example of information that the second server 10 stores in the memory unit 15 for this process. Figure 51 is a conceptual data diagram showing an example of the data configuration of user information 5100. User information 5100 is information that shows the usage history of a user who uses the first messaging service and the second messaging service.

As shown in FIG. 51, user information 5100 is information in which a user ID 5101 is associated with a usage history 5102.

The user ID 5101 is identification information for uniquely identifying each user in the second messaging service. The user ID 5101 may or may not be shared with the user ID in the first messaging service. In addition, if the user does not use the second messaging service, the user ID of the first messaging service may be registered as the user ID 5101.

The usage history 5102 is information related to stamps used by a user identified by the corresponding user ID 5101. The usage history 5102 is information in which a usage date and time 5121, a service 5122, and a stamp ID 5123 are associated with each other.

The usage date and time 5121 is information indicating the date and time when the corresponding stamp ID 5123 was used.

Service 5122 is information indicating the messaging service that the user was using when the corresponding stamp ID 5123 was used.

The stamp ID 5123 is identification information that can uniquely identify the stamp used by the user indicated by the corresponding user ID 5101 at the corresponding usage date and time 5121.

By having the user information 5100, the second server 10 can recognize which user used which stamp, when, and with which messaging service, and can use this information to calculate the score.

Figure 52 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second server 10, illustrating a method for determining stamps that can be used by a user who uses the first messaging service when the second server 10 receives a request to use a stamp on the second server 10 from the user.

As shown in FIG. 52, when the control unit 21 of the second server 10 receives user information via the communication I/F 22 (YES in step S5201), it updates the user information 5100 stored in the storage unit 28 based on the received user information (step S5202). Here, the received user information includes the user ID, the SNS ID of the messaging service as information capable of identifying the messaging service being used, and the stamp ID as information capable of identifying the stamp used. If a unique stamp ID is assigned to each messaging service, it will also be possible to identify which messaging service is being used, in which case the SNS ID can be omitted.

If the control unit 21 has not received user information (NO in step S5201), it determines whether or not a request for a stamp list has been received (step S5203). This request for a stamp list may be sent from the first server 40 or from the terminal 20, and includes a user ID that can identify the user of the terminal 20.

When a request for a stamp list is received (YES in step S5203), the control unit 21 obtains the usage history of the user corresponding to the user ID from the user information 5100 (step S5203).

Then, based on the user's usage history, a score is calculated for the user to determine the second stamp of the second server 10 that can be used on the first messaging service (step S5205). There may be various methods for the control unit 21 to calculate the score, but basically, the score is calculated so that the user who uses the second messaging service and the second stamp will receive a higher score than the user who uses the first messaging service and the first or second stamp. As a non-limiting example, the user who uses the first stamp on the first messaging service receives 1 point, the user who uses the second stamp on the first messaging service receives 2 points, and the user who uses the second stamp on the second messaging service receives 3 points. The total points for stamp usage based on the usage history over a predetermined period (for example, the most recent month, and not for limitation) are calculated as the user's score.

Then, the control unit 21 generates a list of stamps that the user of the terminal 20 can use on the first messaging service according to the calculated score (step S5206). As a non-limiting example of stamps that can be used based on the calculated score, the control unit 21 may set multiple thresholds for the calculated score in stages, and determine the stamps that can be used so that the number of stamps that can be used increases each time the score exceeds the threshold. As a non-limiting example, of all stamps that the user indicated by the user ID can use on the second messaging service, if the score exceeds the first threshold, 20% can be used, if the score exceeds the second threshold (second threshold>first threshold), 40% can be used, and if the score exceeds the third threshold (third threshold>second threshold), 60% can be used. The stamps that can be used here may be random, may be determined by a predetermined algorithm, or may be determined for each stamp group. At this time, if the first server 40 holds information on the second stamp, a list of stamp IDs is generated, and if the first server 40 does not hold information on the second stamp, image information for display is generated.

Then, the control unit 21 transmits the generated stamp list to the device (first server 40 or terminal 20) that sent the stamp list request via the communication I/F 22 (step S5207), and ends the process.

The process shown in FIG. 52 may or may not be executed each time a request to use a stamp is made by the user on the first messaging service. If it is not executed each time, it may be executed only once in a predetermined period (by way of example and not limitation, once an hour, once a day, once a week, or once a month). In addition, the process shown in FIG. 52 may calculate the user's score in advance at a predetermined timing (by way of example and not limitation, at 5:00 a.m. every morning) rather than when an inquiry is made by the user, and prepare stamp information to be sent when a stamp is requested.

Note that in this embodiment 3, an example is shown in which the score is calculated based on the stamp usage history and whether the stamp was used in the first messaging service or the second messaging service, but the method of calculating the score is not limited to this.

The score may or may not be calculated based on the usage time (login time) of the first messaging service and the second messaging service. As a non-limiting example, the score may be calculated so that the greater the total usage time of the first messaging service and the second messaging service within a predetermined period (one month as an example, not a limitation), the higher the score. In addition, when the second messaging service is used, the control unit 11 of the second server 10 may or may not weight the total usage time of the second messaging service. By weighting, as a non-limiting example, the score may be calculated so that when the stamp of the second server 10 is used when the second messaging service of the second server 10 is used, the score is higher than when the stamp of the second server 10 is used when the first messaging service of the first server 40 is used. In this way, if the second messaging service is used frequently and stamps are used, the range of use of the second stamp when the first messaging service is used can be widened, and the usage rate of the second messaging service can be improved. Furthermore, the control unit 21 may calculate the score only based on the usage history of the second server 10. In other words, the more the usage history of the second server 10, the higher the user's usage rate of the second server 10, and as a result, the greater the contribution to the second server. Therefore, such a user can be rewarded by providing more stamps that can be used in other messaging services.

The score may or may not be the total usage time itself. Also, for the total time, a correspondence table for calculating the score may or may not be stored in the memory unit 15 of the second server 10 to calculate the score. Here, the correspondence table may be a table in which the score increases for each predetermined time, and as a non-limiting example, it may be a table in which the score can be determined based on the total usage time, such that 0-5 hours is 1 point, 6-10 hours is 2 points, 11-20 hours is 4 points, and so on. Also, the usage time may be the count of the time the user is logged in to the messaging service.

The control unit 11 may then determine which stamps the user can use based on the calculated score.

<Effects of the Third Embodiment>
According to the third embodiment, when the second server 10 transmits a list of second stamps in response to a request from a user, the second server 10 can change the range of use of the second stamps of the second server 10 that can be used in the first messaging service in accordance with the user's usage status of the second messaging service and the first messaging service. That is, the range of second stamps that can be used in the first messaging service can be changed for each user. Therefore, when a user feels inconvenienced due to a difference in the range of use of second stamps between the user and his/her friends, the use of second stamps can be promoted.

The second server 10 may also calculate a score for a user of the terminal 20 based on the user's history of use of the second messaging service, and use the calculated score to determine the stamps that the user can use on the first messaging service.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Communication system 10 Second server 11 Control unit 111 Message processing unit 112 Determination unit 113 Notification unit 12 Input/output unit 13 Display unit 14 Communication I/F (communication unit)
15 Storage unit 20 Terminal 21 Control unit 211 Message processing unit 212 Display processing unit 22 Communication I/F
23 Input/Output Unit 231 Touch Panel 232 Microphone 233 Speaker 234 Camera 24 Display Unit (Display)
25 Location information acquisition unit 28 Storage unit 40 Second server 41 Control unit 411 Message processing unit 412 Stamp processing unit 42 Input/output unit 43 Display unit 44 Communication I/F (communication unit)
45 Storage unit 30 Network

Claims (17)

A program executed by a terminal,
displaying a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal on a display unit of the terminal;
receiving information of a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service, by a communication unit of the terminal;
displaying a first image in the chat room based on information about the first image;
displaying, on the display unit, first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room ;
The terminal executes, based on input by the first user regarding the first information, a process related to making the first image available in the chat room displayed on the display unit, by a control unit of the terminal . The program according to claim 1 ,
If the information regarding the first image is not associated with the first user in the second service, the terminal executes a process by the control unit to associate the first user with the information regarding the first image and store it in a memory unit of a second server of the second service. The program according to claim 2 ,
Based on the first user and information of the first image being associated with each other and stored in the memory unit of the second server, the terminal executes a process related to making the first image available in the chat room displayed on the display unit through a control unit of the terminal. The program according to claim 2 or 3 ,
The information of the first image is made available for the second service based on the first user and the information of the first image being associated with each other and stored in the memory unit of the second server. A program executed by a terminal,
displaying a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal on a display unit of the terminal;
receiving information of a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service, by a communication unit of the terminal;
displaying a first image in the chat room based on information about the first image;
displaying, on the display unit, first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
If an application related to the second service has not been downloaded to the terminal, displaying second information related to downloading the application on a display unit based on an input of the first user with respect to the first image displayed in the chat room;
The application is downloaded to the terminal based on input by the first user regarding the second information, and based on the application being downloaded to the terminal, a control unit of the terminal performs processing related to making the first image available in the chat room displayed on the display unit, which is executed by the terminal. A program executed by a terminal,
displaying a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal on a display unit of the terminal;
receiving information of a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service, by a communication unit of the terminal;
displaying a first image in the chat room based on information about the first image;
displaying, on the display unit, first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
information of the first image is available to the first user on the second service;
The information of the first image is set differently depending on whether the information is used by the first user in the first service provided by the first server or in the second service provided by the second server. A program executed by a terminal,
displaying a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal on a display unit of the terminal;
receiving information of a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service, by a communication unit of the terminal;
displaying a first image in the chat room based on information about the first image;
displaying, on the display unit, first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
The information of the first image is included in image information available in the first service provided by the first server. The program according to claim 7,
When the first user uses the information of the first image in the first service provided by the first server, the number of times the image can be used or the number of days the image can be used is set. The program according to claim 7,
Among the image information, information of images available in the first service provided by the first server is determined based on user information, which is information of the first user in the first service provided by the first server. The program according to claim 7,
Among the image information, information of images available in the first service provided by the first server is determined based on user information, which is information of the first user, in the second service provided by the second server. The program according to claim 9 or 10 ,
The user information includes a credit score of the first user. A program executed by a terminal,
displaying a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal on a display unit of the terminal;
receiving information of a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service, by a communication unit of the terminal;
displaying a first image in the chat room based on information about the first image;
displaying, on the display unit, first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
The first image includes a stamp available in the chat room. A terminal,
a display unit that displays a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal;
a communication unit that receives information about a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service ;
the display unit displays a first image based on information of the first image in the chat room displayed on the display unit, and displays first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room ;
The display device further includes a control unit that performs processing related to making the first image available in the chat room displayed on the display unit based on an input by the first user to the first information. A terminal,
a display unit that displays a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal;
a communication unit that receives information about a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service;
The display unit is
displaying a first image based on information of the first image in the chat room displayed on the display unit, and displaying first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
If an application related to the second service has not been downloaded to the terminal, displaying second information related to downloading the application based on an input of the first user with respect to the first image displayed in the chat room;
The application is downloaded to the terminal based on input by the first user regarding the second information, and a control unit is provided that performs processing related to making the first image available in the chat room displayed on the display unit based on the application being downloaded to the terminal. A terminal,
a display unit that displays a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal;
a communication unit that receives information about a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service;
the display unit displays a first image based on information of the first image in the chat room displayed on the display unit, and displays first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
information of the first image is available to the first user on the second service;
The information of the first image is set differently depending on whether the information is used by the first user in the first service provided by the first server or in the second service provided by the second server. A terminal,
a display unit that displays a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal;
a communication unit that receives information about a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service;
the display unit displays a first image based on information of the first image in the chat room displayed on the display unit, and displays first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
The information of the first image is included in image information available in the first service provided by the first server. A terminal,
a display unit that displays a chat room including a first user of the terminal and a second user of a terminal different from the terminal;
a communication unit that receives information about a first image transmitted by a terminal of the second user via a first server that performs a first service;
the display unit displays a first image based on information of the first image in the chat room displayed on the display unit, and displays first information regarding authentication related to a second service different from the first service based on an input of the first user for the first image displayed in the chat room;
The first image includes a stamp available in the chat room.

Images