JPH11252162A - Message communication method and apparatus, and recording medium recording message communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] The present invention appropriately selects an optimum method from two message delivery methods according to the processing content of information processing.
An object of the present invention is to provide a message communication method and apparatus for providing a comfortable service environment and a recording medium on which a message communication program is recorded. SOLUTION: Acquisition means for acquiring predetermined message information from information processing means in response to request information transmitted from a customer terminal via a communication network, and immediate delivery of the request information transmitted from the customer terminal Or, a delivery method determining means for determining whether to perform stored delivery, and when the delivery method determining means determines that immediate delivery, immediately deliver the message information obtained by the information processing means via a communication network, It is provided with a message information delivery means for storing message information obtained by the information processing means when it is determined that the delivery is to be stored and delivered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message communication method and apparatus capable of coping with two message delivery systems, particularly an immediate delivery system and a storage delivery system, and a recording medium storing a message communication program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a customer requests a service provider to apply for a service or make an inquiry, the service provider processes the request and returns the result to the customer on a daily basis. Well done. When the TCP / IP protocol is used for the communication network as a communication method of the message of the request and the result, WWW
(World Wide Web), e-mail, and the like are currently frequently used.

[0003] By the way, focusing on the delivery method of the resulting message, the message communication method can be classified into two types: immediate and storage.

First, the case of immediate distribution will be described with reference to FIG. In the immediate delivery, device 1 sends a request to device 2
, The device 1 waits until receiving the result message returned from the device 2, and the device 1 starts the next operation after receiving the result message from the device 2.

[0005] Next, a description will be given of the case of accumulation distribution with reference to FIG. In the storage delivery, the device 1 sends a request to the device 2
, The device 1 immediately performs the next operation without waiting for a reply message from the device 2. Therefore, the message from the device 2 is stored on another device 3, and the device 1 receives the message from the device 3 when convenient. As described above, in the storage delivery, means and a device (device 3 in FIG. 12) for managing the storage of the message are required.

[0006] Here, a message communication method using WWW will be described. WWW is excellent for instant delivery. Upon receiving a request from a WWW browser on the customer terminal, the WWW server obtains a message stored in advance managed by the server or a result of processing the request by an information processing system requested to be processed by the server in response to the request. Send a message. The WWW browser is in a waiting state until receiving the message. WWW like this
The device 1 described above corresponds to a WWW browser, and the device 2 corresponds to a WWW server and an information processing system.

[0007] Even in the WWW, there is no possibility that the storage delivery cannot be performed using the storage function of the WWW server. However, since the management of unread / read information is performed on the WWW browser side such that the stored message is not notified to the customer terminal even if the message is stored, and whether the stored message has been read or not read, the unread / read information is Insufficient storage management functions, such as inconsistency in storage, making them unsuitable for storage delivery.

[0008] The e-mail is excellent for storing and delivering. When the customer sends a request as a message from a mailer on the customer terminal, the mailer on the customer terminal can immediately perform another process at the stage of sending without waiting for a reply of the result. When the request is processed by the information processing system and the processing result is transmitted as a message to the customer terminal, the message is stored in the mail server. The customer receives the message from the mail server using a mailer. As described above, in the e-mail, the mailer corresponds to the apparatus 1 described above, the information processing system corresponds to the apparatus 2, and the mail server corresponds to the apparatus 3.

[0009] Due to the principle of operation, e-mail always performs storage and delivery. Explaining based on the above example, messages are always stored in the device 3 and are not directly delivered to the device 2. For this reason, immediate distribution is not possible.

[0010] A request or message must be delivered to the specified person without fail, and an unintended sender, such as a message reaching the wrong person, receives and views the request or message. So that there is no
We need a way to test it. For this purpose, it is necessary to perform so-called authentication for confirming the identities of the sender and the receiver of the message. In the case of immediate distribution, it is only necessary that the device 1 and the device 2 can authenticate each other. However, in the case of the stored distribution, the device 3 as well as the device 1 and the device 2 must authenticate each other.

[0011] To explain by e-mail as a typical example of the storage distribution, when a mailer as the device 1 issues a request to the information processing system as the device 2, the device 2 is authenticated and the device 1 is authenticated. When the mailer retrieves the stored message from the mail server that is the device 3, the device 3 authenticates the device 1. It is not guaranteed that the authentication information used in this information processing system and the authentication information used in the mail server are the same. For this reason, it is necessary to always operate with awareness of the correspondence between the two authentication information.

[0012]

As described above, in providing a service, a service operation with a customer is indispensable, and automation thereof greatly contributes to efficiency of the operation.
By the way, depending on the content of the response, there is a case where the customer's request can be answered immediately (several seconds), or the result can be notified only after a few Hitachi, so the message is immediately transmitted and displayed as a message delivery method to the customer. It is necessary to prepare both a delivery method of immediate delivery and a storage delivery method of storing a message so that a customer can browse the message at a convenient time.

[0013] However, the WWW is not suitable for storing and distributing because of insufficient storage management functions such as not being notified to a customer terminal even if a message is stored and inconsistency of unread / read information. Mail cannot perform immediate distribution due to its principle. Therefore, there is a problem that the demand cannot be satisfied by only one of the WWW and e-mail systems.

There is also a method of using WWW and e-mail together, but the customer must use both in some cases, and the service manager must manage both types of authentication information and other management information without contradiction. This causes problems in service use and service management. It is necessary to select an appropriate distribution method according to the processing content of the information processing system, but the selection must be performed by the information processing system itself, and there is a problem that the configuration of the information processing system becomes complicated. .

[0015] Further, e-mail requires authentication information for an information processing system and authentication information for a mail server as authentication information, so that there is a problem that authentication information must be double-managed. In the example described above, both the device 2 as the information processing system and the device 3 as the mail server require authentication, and both devices require management of authentication information.

Further, when a customer newly subscribes to a service, it may be necessary to newly secure a storage area and register / change authentication information for the customer not only in the information processing system but also in the mail server. In this case, since the authentication information of the information processing system and the authentication information of the mail server are usually managed separately, it is necessary to take correspondence between the two information. There is a risk that it will interfere with the provision of

That is, depending on the processing contents of the information processing system, both an immediate distribution method and a storage distribution method are required. Therefore, a method of switching between the immediate distribution and the storage distribution based on the processing contents is required. For distribution, there is a problem that management of read / unread information and a storage management function including a storage notification are required, and furthermore, it is necessary to integrate respective authentication information of the information processing system and the mail server.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and corresponds to two message delivery systems, an immediate delivery system and a storage delivery system, and optimizes these two message delivery systems according to the processing content of information processing. The object of the present invention is to provide a message communication method and apparatus, and a recording medium on which a message communication program is recorded, which provides a comfortable service environment by appropriately selecting a suitable method, and enables collective management of authentication information for a service. And

[0019]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a method for connecting a customer terminal to a server and information processing means connected via a communication network. Is a message communication method for distributing a message by using a method of acquiring predetermined message information from information processing means corresponding to request information transmitted from a customer terminal, and immediately delivering or accumulating the message information. A determination is made as to whether or not to perform the distribution. When it is determined that the distribution is immediate, the message information obtained by the information processing means is immediately distributed via the communication network. The gist is to store the received message information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cope with two message delivery systems, that is, an immediate delivery system and a storage delivery system. A comfortable service environment is provided by appropriately selecting the method.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the distribution method is determined by determining at least the content of the request information transmitted from the customer terminal, the time required for the information processing means to process the request information, or the time required for the information processing means. The gist is to refer to one of the contents of the obtained message information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the distribution method is determined by the content of the request information transmitted from the customer terminal, the required time required for the information processing means to process the request information, or obtained by the information processing means. This is performed using a part, one or several contents of the message information.

[0023] Further, the invention according to claim 3 is that, when it is determined that the storage method is to be stored and delivered, a notification of the stored delivery notification is sent to the customer terminal.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the storage delivery is performed after the storage terminal has been notified of the storage delivery notice in advance.

[0025] Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that when message information is newly stored, a new storage notification is sent to the customer terminal.

According to the present invention, a new accumulation notification is sent to the customer terminal only when new message information is accumulated. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the storage terminal from being continuously notified of the storage notification by the message information already stored.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the server comprises:
The gist is that authentication information is input from the customer terminal and the request information is accepted when the authentication information is valid.

According to the present invention, it is possible to collectively manage authentication information for a service.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a message communication apparatus for distributing a message between a customer terminal and a server and information processing means connected via a communication network. Acquisition means for acquiring predetermined message information from the information processing means in response to the request information to be transmitted, and determination as to whether to perform immediate distribution or storage and distribution based on the request information transmitted from the customer terminal A delivery method determining means for immediately delivering the message information obtained by the information processing means via the communication network when the delivery method determining means determines that the delivery is immediate; and obtaining the message information by the information processing means when determining the stored delivery. And a message information delivery means for storing the received message information.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to cope with two message delivery systems, that is, an immediate delivery system and a storage delivery system. A comfortable service environment is provided by appropriately selecting the method.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the distribution method determining means according to the sixth aspect includes at least a content of request information transmitted from the customer terminal and a time required for processing the request information by the information processing means. Alternatively, the gist is that the distribution method is determined with reference to one of the contents of the message information obtained by the information processing means.

According to the present invention, the distribution method judging means determines the contents of the request information transmitted from the customer terminal, the time required for processing the request information by the information processing means, or the information processing method. This is performed using a part, one or several contents of the message information obtained by the means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when the distribution method judging means according to the sixth or seventh aspect determines that the storage distribution is to be performed, a notification of the storage distribution notice is given to the customer terminal. Is the gist.

According to the present invention, the storage delivery is performed after the storage terminal has been notified of the storage delivery notice in advance to the customer terminal.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the message information is newly stored, the message information delivery means according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects provides the following.
The gist is that a new accumulation notification is sent to the customer terminal.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a new storage notification is sent to the customer terminal only when new message information is stored. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the storage terminal from being continuously notified of the storage notification by the message information already stored.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a customer terminal used by a customer, a service provider and a server and an information processing system managed by the service provider, and a communication network for transmitting communication between the customer terminal and the server. A first means for inputting customer authentication information on a customer terminal, and a second means for inputting message information browsing request information and processing request information to an information processing system on the customer terminal. Third means for transmitting the authentication information obtained by the first means and the request information obtained by the second means from the customer terminal to the server via the communication network; A fourth means for receiving the authentication information and the request information transmitted from the server on the server; storing message information on the server; Fifth means for managing by information items such as message ID, message sending date and time, message title, message sender and receiver names and identifiers, and message status such as whether or not message information has already been read by the receiver. And a sixth means for managing the customer's authentication information on the server, performing authentication based on the authentication information obtained by the fourth means, and obtaining the customer's identifier; and Manage,
The use right is confirmed from the request information obtained by the fourth means and the customer ID obtained by the sixth means, and if confirmed, the request information is analyzed, and according to the analysis,
The request information is stored as message information by the fifth means, the message information managed by the fifth means is read, changed, and deleted, or the request information and the customer identifier are transferred to the information processing system. Means for acquiring message information as a result of the processing, request information and authentication information obtained by the fourth means on the server, processing time required for the information processing system, The message information obtained by the seventh means, the judgment is made by using part or all of these items, and the eighth means for judging whether to perform the immediate delivery or the accumulation delivery is provided. The message information obtained by the means is sent to the client via the communication network for immediate delivery according to the determination of the delivery method by the eighth means. In the case of stored distribution, ninth means for storing using the fifth means, and storage and distribution to the client via the communication network when it is determined by the eighth means that the stored distribution is to be performed on the server. 10th to give notice
Means on the server or on the client,
Eleventh means for detecting that new message information has been accumulated by the fifth means and notifying the customer terminal of the new accumulation, and message information transmitted from the server by the ninth means on the customer terminal. Twelfth means for receiving a storage delivery notice, and a new storage notification,
The gist of the present invention is to provide a customer terminal having a thirteenth means for displaying message information, a storage / delivery notice, and a new storage notice obtained by the twelfth means.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the immediate delivery is performed by combining the authentication information input by the first means (input of authentication information) with the processing request information input by the second means (input of request information). The third means (transmission of request information) transmits to the server via the communication network, and the server receives the authentication information and the processing request information using the fourth means (reception of request information),
After the authentication by the sixth means (customer authentication), the request information is processed by the seventh means (request execution) to obtain the message information, and the message information is obtained by the ninth means (delivery of the message information). ) To the customer terminal via the communication network, the customer terminal receives the message information using the twelfth means (reception of the message information and the notification), and receives the message information using the thirteenth means (display of the message information and the notification). ).

In the storage delivery, the authentication information input by the first means and the processing request information input by the second means are transmitted to the server by the third means via the communication network, and the server transmits the authentication information by the fourth means. The authentication information and the processing request information are received by using the means, and after the authentication is performed by the sixth means, the request information is processed by the seventh means to obtain the message information, and the message information is obtained by the ninth means. This is realized by storing and managing the message information stored by the fifth means.

To select an appropriate distribution method is to determine an appropriate distribution method by the eighth means (judgment of distribution method),
The ninth means is realized by distributing message information according to the distribution method.

When the delivery method is determined to be storage delivery by the eighth means, the storage delivery notice is notified by the tenth means (storage delivery notice). This is realized by transmitting the notification to the customer terminal via the communication network, receiving the notification using the twelfth means, and displaying the notification using the thirteenth means.

The new accumulation notification for notifying that the data has been newly accumulated is detected by the eleventh means (new accumulation notification), and the new accumulation notice is transmitted to the customer terminal via the communication network. Then, the customer terminal receives the notification by using the twelfth means, and displays the notification by the thirteenth means.

The collective management of authentication information is realized by managing all the authentication information by the fifth means (accumulation management of message information). That is, since both the authentication for the processing request and the authentication for the browsing request are performed by the fifth means, the two authentications can be associated and unified.

Based on these functions, both the instant delivery method and the stored delivery method are provided and integrated, and an appropriate method is selected for the delivery methods according to the processing contents of the information processing system, and the authentication information for the service is obtained. It is possible to realize a message notification method and device that can perform collective management.

[0045] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the server according to any one of the sixth to ninth aspects, the customer terminal has an authentication information input means, and the customer terminal has an authentication information input means. The gist is to accept the request information when the input authentication information is valid.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to collectively manage authentication information for a service.

The recording medium according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention is transmitted from the customer terminal when a message is distributed between the server and the information processing means connected to the customer terminal via a communication network. A predetermined message information is obtained from the information processing means in response to the request information, and a determination is made as to whether the message information is to be immediately delivered or stored and delivered. Means that the message information obtained by the means is immediately delivered via a communication network, and a message communication program for causing a computer to execute a process of storing the message information obtained by the information processing means when it is determined to be stored and delivered. Make a summary.

In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the message communication program is recorded as a recording medium, the distribution of the message communication program can be enhanced by using the recording medium.

The recording medium according to the present invention is transmitted from the customer terminal when a message is delivered between the server and the information processing means connected to the customer terminal via a communication network. Receiving the request information and the authentication information, accepting the request information when the authentication information is valid, obtaining predetermined message information corresponding to the request information from the information processing means, and immediately distributing the message information A determination as to whether or not to perform a storage delivery, whereby when it is determined that the delivery is immediate, the message information obtained by the information processing means is immediately delivered via a communication network, and when the delivery is determined to be delivery, the information processing is performed. The gist is to record a message communication program for causing a computer to execute a process of storing the message information obtained by the means.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the message communication program is recorded as a recording medium, the distribution of the message communication program can be enhanced by using the recording medium.

[0051]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration according to an embodiment of a question answering system which is a message communication system to which a message communication method capable of performing both instant delivery and accumulation delivery of a message of the present invention is applied. .

The message communication system according to the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1, a customer terminal 10 and a server 30 connected to the customer terminal 10 via a communication network 20.
And an information processing system 40 connected to the server 30
Composed of

The customer terminal 10 includes an input unit 11 including first and second means, a customer terminal transmitting unit 12 including third means, and a storage detecting unit 13 including eleventh means. , A customer terminal receiving unit 14 including a twelfth unit, and a display unit 15 including a thirteenth unit.

The server 30 includes a request information receiving unit 31 including a fourth unit, an authentication unit 32 including a sixth unit,
A storage / delivery notice unit 33 including a tenth unit, a distribution method determination unit 34 including an eighth unit, a request execution unit 35 including a seventh unit, and a message information distribution unit 36 including a ninth unit. And message information storage unit 3 including fifth means
7.

The question answering system shown in FIG. 1 accepts a question, such as a method of using a service or a contract method, for a customer's service provider via the communication network 20 as request information, and automatically answers the question. Alternatively, it is created manually and a response is returned as message information via the communication network 20. The system stores and stores the results of past questions and answers as cases, and when a question from a customer corresponds to a stored case, automatically creates an answer based on the case. If not, the question is forwarded to the operator, who creates the answer manually. The answer created in this way is sent to the customer.

In the case of such a question answering system, the process of automatically creating an answer from accumulated cases is completed at high speed within a few seconds, and the process of manually creating an answer by an operator is short. It takes several minutes to process even if the process is completed, and several days if the process is long. Therefore, it is desirable to send the question and answer in an easy-to-understand immediate delivery when it finishes in a few seconds like automatic, and when the process takes a long time like manual, the customer can send another question immediately after sending the question. It is good to communicate by storage delivery which can be seen at a convenient time when the work is started and the answer is returned.

First, an example of processing in the case of immediate distribution will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. here,
A processing request from the customer terminal 10 to the information processing system 40 is processed by the server 30 via the communication network 2020, and as a result, message information is distributed to the customer. Delivery or
It is performed by either of the accumulation delivery.

The authentication information and the processing request information input on the customer terminal 10 by the customer via the first means and the second means in step S11 are transmitted via the communication network 20 by the third means in step S13. Transmitted to the server 30. The server 30 receives the information by the fourth means (step S15), authenticates the authentication information by the sixth means, and obtains a customer identifier (step S17).

The processing here is described assuming a method of sending a login name and password input by a customer to the server 30, such as Basic authentication of WWW. Other authentication methods, such as authentication using zero-knowledge proof and authentication using a challenge-and-response method, are also available.
The processing can be performed in the same manner as the processing in the present embodiment.

Next, in step S21, the request information is interpreted using the seventh means to determine the processing. That is, the customer identifier obtained by the sixth means is interpreted and the processing request information obtained by the fourth means is interpreted, and firstly, the usage right is checked as to whether the customer can execute the processing request. If the usage right is confirmed and it is determined that the execution is possible, the process according to the request information is executed next. Further, in step S23, the identifier and the request information are transferred to the information processing system 40, and as a result, message information is obtained. In this processing example, the customer identifier and the processing request information are transferred to the information processing system 40, the processing is requested, and the message information as the processing result is obtained.

The distribution method in the eighth means is determined in parallel with the seventh means (step S19).

Subsequently, in step S25, the eighth means determines whether or not the delivery system is to be delivered immediately based on the request information, the customer's authenticator, the required processing time of the information processing system 40, etc.
Decide to store and deliver. For example, it is determined that a processing request for displaying a standard FAQ is always to be immediately delivered, or to be stored and delivered when the required processing time becomes 30 seconds or more. Further, the distribution method may be determined from the request information or the message information. For example, it is determined that instant notification is always made for certain message information. Note that, in this processing example, it has been described that the distribution determination is also performed on the message information by the eighth means. The message information obtained by the seventh means is distributed by the ninth means according to the distribution method determined by the eighth means (step S27). In the immediate delivery, the message information is immediately sent to the customer terminal 10 via the communication network 20.
Sent. The message information transmitted by the ninth means is received on the customer terminal 10 by the twelfth means (step S29). The message information received by the twelfth means is displayed to the customer by the thirteenth means (step S31). Upon displaying this message information, the customer terminal 10 is released from the standby state, and can transmit another request to the system again.

Next, an example of the processing in the case of the storage distribution will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Input of authentication information and processing request information by the customer (step S4
1 (step S11 in the case of immediate delivery) to execution of the seventh means (step S55 (step S11 in the case of immediate delivery)
The process up to 23) is the same as in the case of the immediate delivery, and a detailed description will be omitted. However, in the case of storage delivery,
When the distribution method is determined by the eighth means in parallel with the seventh means, for example, a determination is made that accumulation and distribution are to be performed when a required processing time elapses for 30 seconds or more. If it is determined in step S49 to perform the storage distribution,
The storage delivery notice is notified (step S51). The notification of the storage delivery notice will be described later in detail. Note that the determination may be made based on the content of the request information or the message information as in the case of the immediate delivery. For example, certain message information is always stored and delivered.

The message information obtained by the seventh means is distributed by the ninth means in accordance with the distribution method determined by the eighth means. In the storage delivery, the message information is stored by the fifth means (step S61).

Next, an example of a process of giving a notice of a storage and delivery notice will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This notification of the storage delivery notice is sent in step S in FIG.
This is performed when it is determined at 49 that the storage and delivery are to be performed by the eighth means. The notification of the storage delivery notice is made by the tenth means. The details of the tenth means are as follows.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, at step S71.
, It is determined whether or not the notice of the storage / delivery notice has already been given. In the example shown in FIG. 4, if the notification has already been performed, the notification is not performed again. This is because in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the eighth means may be executed several times by one processing request, and it may be judged several times that the distribution is stored and delivered. That's why.

If the notification has not been made yet, the flow advances to step S73 to create a storage / delivery notice, and the communication network 20
To the customer terminal 10. The customer terminal 10 receives the storage / delivery advance notice transmitted by the tenth means by the twelfth means (step S75), and displays the storage / delivery notice by the thirteenth means to the customer (step S77). . The customer terminal 10 is released from the standby state upon displaying the notice of the storage / delivery notice, and can transmit another request to the system again.

At this time, the immediate delivery and the stored delivery may be performed simultaneously. That is, it is also possible to simultaneously store and deliver the message information that has been immediately delivered.

Next, an example of a process for performing a new accumulation notification will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This new accumulation notification is performed when a message is newly accumulated by the ninth means and the fifth means. First, step S8
In step 1, new storage confirmation request information for confirming whether new storage has occurred is created on the customer terminal 10 using the eleventh means. In step S83, the request information created in step S81 and the authentication information obtained by the second means are transmitted to the server 30 via the communication network 20 by the third means.

The server 30 receives the request information by the fourth means (Step S85). Authentication is performed using the sixth means, and a customer identifier is obtained (step S87). When this request information is interpreted by the seventh means in step S89, it can be seen that it is a new accumulation confirmation.
Proceeding to step 91, the fifth means is used to check whether there is newly stored message information related to the customer identifier.

If there is message information, the flow advances to step S93 to create a new accumulation notice, and the new accumulation notice is transmitted to the customer terminal 10 via the communication network 20 by the ninth means. The notification transmitted by the ninth means is received on the customer terminal 10 by the twelfth means (step S9).
5). The notification received by the twelfth means corresponds to step S9.
At 7, the information is displayed to the customer by the thirteenth means. If it is determined in step S91 that there is no newly stored message information, the process ends.

In this example, the new storage confirmation is started from the customer terminal 10. However, the server 30 may start the new storage confirmation.

Next, an example of processing for browsing the stored message information will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S101, the customer operates the customer terminal 10 by the first means and the second means.
The authentication information and the browsing request information input above are used in step S1.
At 03, it is transmitted to the server 30 via the communication network 20 by the third means. The server 30 receives the information by the fourth means (Step S105). Subsequently, authentication is performed from the authentication information by the sixth means, and an identifier of the customer is obtained (step S107). Further, using the seventh means,
Message information is obtained (step S109).

The details of the processing of the seventh means in step S109 will be described below. First, the customer's identifier obtained by the sixth means and the processing request information obtained by the fourth means are interpreted, and first, the right of use is checked as to whether the customer can execute this processing request. The usage right is confirmed, and if it is determined that the execution is possible, a process according to the request information is executed (step S109). Here, the message information accumulated by the fifth means is obtained based on the customer identifier and the browsing request information (step S111).

Next, the message information obtained by the seventh means is transmitted to the customer terminal 10 via the communication network 20 by the ninth means in step S113. The message information transmitted by the ninth means is received on the customer terminal 10 by the twelfth means (step S
115), the message information received by the twelfth means is displayed to the customer by the thirteenth means (step S11).
7).

Next, an example of message information storage management performed by the fifth means will be described more specifically. FIG. 7 is an example of a message reception information table used in storage management of message information. The message reception information table shown in FIG. 7 manages a list of message information and processing request information received by each customer and service provider. The information items include a recipient ID, a message ID, a state, a storage date, and a browse date. Information on whether a message has been read or unread is described in an information item called status.

FIG. 8 is an example of a message transmission information table used in the storage management of message information. The message transmission information table shown in FIG. 8 manages a list of message information transmitted by each customer and service provider and processing request information. The information items include a message ID, a parent message ID, a sender ID, a creation date, and a title. When a message or a processing request is associated with a message returned in response to the message, a series of flows can be grasped and managed. This is what is called a thread. A thread is implemented using a message ID and a parent message ID. The parent message ID indicates the message ID of the message that is the source of the reply or the processing request.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the message M00
03 has the message M0002, and the message M0002 has the message M0001 as a parent message ID.
This indicates that a thread 0002 → message M0003 has been created. Since the message reception information table shown in FIG. 7 and the message transmission information table shown in FIG. 8 are separately managed, the amount of information to be stored and managed when the same message information is transmitted to a plurality of customers is reduced. be able to. This is because it is not necessary to have information such as a parent message ID, a sender ID, a creation date and a title for each recipient.

FIG. 9 is an example of a message storage content information table used in storage management of message information. The message content information table shown in FIG. 9 describes actual message contents. When an image or a moving image is included in a message, one message is often formed by a plurality of files. Therefore, the sub-message I
D is prepared and made possible. Further, a MIME code is prepared in the information item to indicate the types of the plurality of files, that is, the sub-messages.

FIG. 10 is an example of a customer information table used for storing and managing message information. This FIG.
The customer information table shown in FIG.
In order to convert D to an actual name, a correspondence between an ID and a name is described.

The fifth means is realized by these information tables described above. As described above, in the present embodiment, one system can perform immediate, storage, and both communication.

Next, another embodiment will be described. Here, an example in which the message communication method of the present invention is applied to a service usage status / charge report system will be described. This service usage / charge report system has a function to automatically reply to the service usage / charge report for any inquiry period from the customer, and a function for the service operation system to periodically report on the first day of each month. There is.

That is, in this service use status / charge report system, the output result when the information processing system 40 automatically answers the service use status / charge report in response to a request from the customer needs to be immediately delivered. Yes, such as a periodic report, a result (report) output by the information processing system 40 irrespective of a request from a customer can be stored and distributed because there is no time urgency.

As described above, in the service use status / charge report system to which the present invention is applied, a result report is immediately returned in response to an inquiry from a customer, and a periodic report report is returned in response to a periodic report. And accumulate
You can select an appropriate communication method according to the report format.

As described above, both of the delivery methods of the immediate delivery and the storage delivery are provided and integrated, and an appropriate method can be selected for the delivery methods according to the processing contents of the information processing system 40. By enabling the separation of information from the authentication information of the operating system and the collective management of the authentication information, the operability of the customer terminal 10 can be improved, the service management can be made more efficient, and the information processing system 40 can be simplified. There are advantages.

Such a message communication method is realized by a message communication program, and the program is provided by being recorded on a recording medium.

[0089]

As described above, the present invention corresponds to the two message delivery systems of the immediate delivery system and the storage delivery system, and an optimum system is selected from these two message delivery systems in accordance with the processing content of the information processing. Since the selection is made as appropriate, it is possible to provide a comfortable service environment, and to achieve effects such as enabling batch management of authentication information for services.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a message communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for immediate delivery.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for storage delivery;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for performing a storage delivery advance notice.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for performing a new accumulation notification.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure for browsing stored message information.

FIG. 7 is an example of a message reception information table used in storage management of message information.

FIG. 8 is an example of a message transmission information table used in storage management of message information.

FIG. 9 is an example of a message storage content information table used in storage management of message information.

FIG. 10 is an example of a customer information table used in message information storage management.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating immediate distribution.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating stored distribution.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Customer terminal 11 Input part 12 Customer terminal transmission part 13 Storage detection part 14 Customer terminal reception part 15 Display part 20 Communication network 30 Server 31 Request information reception part 32 Authentication part 33 Accumulation distribution notice notice part 34 Distribution method judgment part 35 Request execution Unit 36 message information distribution unit 37 message information storage unit 40 information processing system

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A message communication method for delivering a message between a customer terminal and a server and information processing means connected via a communication network, wherein the message communication method corresponds to request information transmitted from the customer terminal. The predetermined message information is obtained from the information processing means, and a determination is made as to whether the message information is to be immediately delivered or to be stored and delivered. A message communication method, wherein message information is immediately delivered via a communication network, and when it is determined to be stored delivery, the message information obtained by the information processing means is stored. 2. A method for determining the distribution method, the method comprising: determining at least the content of request information transmitted from a customer terminal; the time required for processing the request information by an information processing unit; or the content of message information obtained by the information processing unit. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein the message communication method is performed by referring to one of the following. 3. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that storage delivery is to be performed for the delivery method, a notification of a storage delivery notification is sent to the customer terminal. 4. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein when the message information is newly stored, a new storage notification is sent to the customer terminal. 5. The server according to claim 1, wherein authentication information is input from the customer terminal, and the server receives the request information when the authentication information is valid. The message communication method described. 6. A message communication device for delivering a message between a customer terminal and a server and information processing means connected via a communication network, the message communication device corresponding to request information transmitted from the customer terminal. Obtaining means for obtaining predetermined message information from the information processing means by means of the information processing means; delivery method determining means for determining whether to perform immediate delivery or storage delivery based on the request information transmitted from the customer terminal; The message information obtained by the information processing means is immediately delivered via a communication network when the method determination means determines that the message is to be immediately delivered, and the message information obtained by the information processing means is stored when the message is determined to be the stored delivery. A message communication device comprising: an information delivery unit. 7. The distribution method determining means determines at least the content of the request information transmitted from the customer terminal, the time required for processing the request information by the information processing means, or the content of the message information obtained by the information processing means. 7. The message communication device according to claim 6, wherein the distribution method is determined with reference to one of the following. 8. The message communication device according to claim 6, wherein when the distribution method judging means judges that the accumulation distribution is to be performed, a notice of the accumulation distribution is notified to the customer terminal. 9. The message according to claim 6, wherein the message information delivery means notifies the customer terminal of a new accumulation when the message information is newly accumulated. Communication device. 10. The server, wherein the customer terminal has an input unit for authentication information, and receives the request information when the authentication information input via the input unit is valid. The message communication device according to any one of claims 6 to 9. 11. A message communication device for delivering a message between a customer terminal used by a customer and a server and information processing means managed by a service provider connected via a communication network, the message communication device comprising: First means for inputting customer authentication information on a terminal; second means for inputting message information browsing request information and processing request information to an information processing system on a customer terminal; Third means for transmitting the authentication information obtained by the second means and the request information obtained by the second means from the customer terminal to the server via the communication network; and transmitting the authentication information and the request information transmitted from the customer terminal by the third means. Fourth means for receiving at the server, storing message information on the server, and storing the information at least as a message ID, a message sending date and time,
Fifth means for managing by the information items such as the title of the message, the name and identifier of the source and destination of the message, and the status of the message as to whether or not the message information has been read by the destination; A sixth means for managing authentication information and authenticating based on the authentication information obtained by the fourth means to obtain a customer identifier, and a request on the server for managing the use right of the customer and obtained by the fourth means. The use right is confirmed from the information and the customer ID obtained by the sixth means, the request information is analyzed when the confirmation is obtained, and the request information is stored as message information by the fifth means according to the analysis. Reading, changing, or deleting the message information managed by the fifth means, or sending the request information and the customer's information to the information processing system. A seventh means for transferring and processing the information of the different child, and obtaining message information as a result of the processing; request information and authentication information obtained by the fourth means on the server; Processing time, 7th
Eighth means for determining whether to perform immediate delivery or storage delivery by making a determination using message information obtained by the means of the above, part or all of these items, and a seventh means on the server According to the determination of the distribution method by the eighth means,
For immediate delivery, send it to the client via the communication network,
In the case of the storage delivery, a ninth means for storing by using the fifth means, and a storage delivery notice notification to the client via the communication network when it is determined that the storage delivery is to be performed by the eighth means on the server. A tenth means for detecting that new message information is accumulated by the fifth means on the server or the client, and notifying the customer terminal of the new accumulation; A twelfth means for receiving message information, a storage delivery notice, and a new storage notification transmitted from the server by the ninth means on the terminal, and the message information and storage obtained by the twelfth means on the customer terminal. And a thirteenth means for displaying a delivery notice and a new accumulation notice. 12. When delivering a message between a customer terminal and a server and information processing means connected via a communication network, a predetermined information is sent from the information processing means in response to request information transmitted from the customer terminal. Get the message information of and immediately deliver this message information,
A determination is made as to whether or not to perform the storage delivery. When it is determined that the delivery is immediate, the message information obtained by the information processing means is immediately delivered via the communication network. A recording medium on which a message communication program for causing a computer to execute a process of storing the obtained message information is recorded. 13. When a message is delivered between a customer terminal and a server and information processing means connected via a communication network, request information and authentication information transmitted from the customer terminal are received, and When the authentication information is valid, the request information is received, predetermined message information corresponding to the request information is obtained from the information processing means, and a determination is made as to whether to immediately deliver or store and deliver the message information. A process of immediately delivering the message information obtained by the information processing means via the communication network when it is determined that the delivery is immediate, and storing the message information obtained by the information processing means when the delivery is determined to be the delivery Recording medium storing a message communication program for causing a computer to execute the program.