Communication method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12501240-B2
Application number	US-202218273689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A communication apparatus according to the present invention includes: a map display unit configured to output a map image on which another user is associated with a predetermined position so as to display to a target user; a selection accepting unit configured to accept selection of a position by the target user on the map image; and an output unit configured to acquire information sent by the other user associated with the position on the map image selected by the target user, and output to the target user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A communication method comprising:
outputting a map image on which another user is associated with a predetermined position so as to display to a target user; accepting selection of a position by the target user on the map image, accepting a position of an icon movably displayed on the map image as the position selected by the target user, automatically moving the position of the icon of the target user on the map image with a preset behavior, and accepting the moved position of the icon as the position selected by the target user; acquiring information sent by the other user associated with the position on the map image selected by the target user, and outputting to the target user; setting a region for each attribute of the other user within the map image, and associating the other user having the attribute with a predetermined position within the region for the attribute, and automatically moving the position of the icon so as to cruise in the region for each attribute of the other user within the map image, and accepting the moved position of the icon as the position selected by the target user.

2 . The communication method according to claim 1 , comprising:
without displaying information identifying the other user on the map image, outputting the map image so as to display to the target user; and when the position on the map image where the other user is associated is selected by the target user, outputting the information identifying the other user so as to display on the map image.

3 . The communication method according to claim 1 , comprising
when the position on the map image where the other user is associated is selected by the target user and furthermore a communication request to the other user is accepted from the target user, notifying the acceptance of the communication request to the other user from the target user.

4 . The communication method according to claim 3 , comprising
upon accepting the communication request to the other user from the target user, acquiring information sent by the target user, and outputting to the other user.

5 . The communication method according to claim 1 , comprising
acquiring information sent by the target user, and outputting to the other user associated with the position on the map image selected by the target user.

6 . The communication method according to claim 5 , comprising
acquiring the information sent by the other user and the information sent by the target user, and outputting to still another user associated with another position having a preset relation with the position where the other user is associated selected by the target user.

7 . The communication method according to claim 1 , comprising
acquiring the information sent by the other user and, based on the acquired information, displaying information representing information transmission at the position on the map image where the other user is associated.

8 . The communication method according to claim 1 , comprising
acquiring, as the information sent by the other user, one or both of voice information uttered by the other user and text information input by the other user, and outputting to the target user.

9 . The communication method according to claim 1 , further comprising
setting, within the map image, a region of the target user at a center, and the region for each attribute of the other user annularly around the center.

10 . The communication method according to claim 9 , wherein
the setting of the region for each attribute of the other user annularly within the map image is setting such that the region farther from the center is a region for an attribute having a lesser relation to an attribute of the target user.

11 . The communication method according to claim 9 , further comprising automatically moving the position of the icon so as to go around along the annular shape within the region for each attribute of the other user.

12 . A communication apparatus comprising:
at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to: output a map image on which another user is associated with a predetermined position so as to display to a target user; accept selection of a position by the target user on the map image, accept a position of an icon movably displayed on the map image as the position selected by the target user, automatically move the position of the icon of the target user on the map image with a preset behavior, and accept the moved position of the icon as the position selected by the target user; acquire information sent by the other user associated with the position on the map image selected by the target user, and output to the target user; set a region for each attribute of the other user within the map image, and associate the other user having the attribute with a predetermined position within the region for the attribute, and automatically move the position of the icon so as to cruise in the region for each attribute of the other user within the map image, and accept the moved position of the icon as the position selected by the target user.

13 . The communication apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to
acquire information sent by the target user, and output to the other user associated with the position on the map image selected by the target user.

14 . The communication apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to
acquire the information sent by the other user and the information sent by the target user, and output to still another user associated with another position having a preset relation with the position where the other user is associated selected by the target user.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program comprising instructions for causing an information processing apparatus to execute processes to:
output a map image on which another user is associated with a predetermined position so as to display to a target user; accept selection of a position by the target user on the map image, accept a position of an icon movably displayed on the map image as the position selected by the target user, automatically move the position of the icon of the target user on the map image with a preset behavior, and accept the moved position of the icon as the position selected by the target user; acquire information sent by the other user associated with the position on the map image selected by the target user, and output to the target user; set a region for each attribute of the other user within the map image, and associate the other user having the attribute with a predetermined position within the region for the attribute, and automatically move the position of the icon so as to cruise in the region for each attribute of the other user within the map image, and accept the moved position of the icon as the position selected by the target user.

Assignees

• Nec Solution Innovators Ltd

Inventors

• Tachikawa Tsuneo

Classifications

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title

• H04L51/04

  Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] · CPC title

• G06Q10/10

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title

• H04N7/15

  Conference systems · CPC title

• H04W4/12 Primary

  Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements · CPC title