Conversation method, device, program and computer-readable recording medium on which conversation program is recorded

A conversation device utilized for a computer and performing conversation between the computer and a user who operates it, the conversation device comprises:

• a topic net storing means for storing a topic net linking a plurality of topics;
• a conversation information storing means for storing conversation information including at least one system message that is a message from the computer, at least one user message that is a message from the user and that corresponds to the system message, and a correspondence between a position in the topic net and the system message and/or the user message;
• a messaging means for creating potential context patterns based upon a position in the topic net of a first marker indicating a current topic in the conversation, selecting at least one context pattern from the created context patterns, and selecting a system message based upon the selected context pattern and outputting it
• an option outputting means for selecting at least one user message based upon the position in the topic net correspondent to the selected system message, and outputting the selecting user message;
• a selection accepting means for accepting selection of any one of the selected user message;
• a decision making means for deciding the first marker's next position in the topic net;
• an iterating means for causing said messaging means, said option outputting means, said selection means and said decision making means to execute their functions repeatedly.

A program for making a computer function as:

• a topic net storing means for storing a topic net linking a plurality of topics;
• a conversation information storing means for storing conversation information including at least one system message that is a message from the computer, at least one user message that is a message from the user and that corresponds to the system message, and a correspondence between a position in the topic net and the system message and/or the user message;
• a messaging means for creating potential context patterns based upon a position in the topic net of a first marker indicating a current topic in the conversation, selecting at least one context pattern from the created context patterns, and selecting a system message based upon the selected context pattern and outputting it
• an option outputting means for selecting at least one user message based upon the position in the topic net correspondent to the selected system message, and outputting the selecting user message;
• a selection accepting means for accepting selection of any one of the selected user message;
• a decision making means for deciding the first marker's next position in the topic net;
• an iterating means for causing said messaging means, said option outputting means, said selection means and said decision making means to execute their functions repeatedly.

A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a conversation program executing conversation between a computer and a user who operates it, the conversation program executes:

• a topic net storing step of storing a topic net linking a plurality of topics;
• a conversation information storing step of storing conversation information including at least one system message that is a message from the computer, at least one user message that is a message from the user and that corresponds to the system message, and a correspondence between a position in the topic net and the system message and/or the user message;
• a messaging step including
• a sub-step of creating potential context patterns based upon a position in the topic net of a first marker indicating a current topic in the conversation,
• a sub-step of selecting at least one context pattern from the created context patterns, and
• a sub-step of selecting a system message based upon the selected context pattern and outputting it;
• an option outputting step including
• a sub-step of selecting at least one user message based upon the position in the topic net correspondent to the selected system message, and
• a sub-step of outputting the selected user message,
• a selection accepting step of accepting selection of any one of the selected user messages;
• a decision making step of deciding the first marker's next position in the topic net;
• and
• an iterating step of iterating said messaging step, said option outputting step, said selection step and said decision making step.