US 2008/0189367 A1 · User-to-user communication method, program, and apparatus

Abstract

A user-to-user communication system allows users to chat with each other by sending messages via a computer. The computer also includes a chatbot with which the users can chat; that chatbot generates response messages automatically. The computer keeps a history of messages sent by the users, infers users' interests from the content of the messages they send, matches users with similar interests, and presents the matched users as suitable chat partners. In inferring users' interests, the computer also considers message sent to the chatbot, so that a user can be matched with suitable partners even before the user has accumulated an extensive history of communication with other users.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of facilitating exchanges of messages between users using user terminals interconnected by a network to which a computing apparatus is also connected, the computing apparatus including an automatic response unit for generating automatic response messages in response to the messages sent by the users, the method comprising:

storing a message history of the messages sent by the users, including at least messages sent by the users to the automatic response unit, in a message history table in a storage unit in the computing apparatus;
identifying users with similar interests from the message history stored in the message history table, taking the messages sent by the users to the automatic response unit into account;
and
presenting information enabling the users identified as having similar interests to exchange further messages with each other.

1 more element

An apparatus for facilitating exchanges of messages between users using user terminals, comprising:

a storage unit for storing a message history table;
an automatic response unit for generating automatic response messages in response to the messages sent by the users;
a history keeping unit for storing the messages sent by the users, including at least the messages sent by the users to the automatic response unit, in the message history table;
an identification unit for identifying users having similar interests from the message history stored in the message history table, taking the messages sent by the users to the automatic response unit into account;
and
a presentation unit for presenting information enabling the users identified as having similar interests to exchange further messages with each other.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

User-to-user communication method, program, and apparatus

Life of this patent

User-to-user communication method, program, and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19