Communication assistance method, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and communication server for assigning a virtual space

Inventors

ITABASHI, Masato • SARUYA, Masayoshi • WAKAMATSU, Miki • SENJU, Masatoshi

Assignees

Japan Tobacco Inc

Abstract

In a reception step, use information which is transmitted from a user terminal in the case where a flavor suction tool is used, and indicates that the flavor suction tool is used is received. In an allocation step, on the basis of the received use information, a virtual space is allocated to the user terminal. In a transmission step, display information for displaying the virtual space is transmitted to the user terminal. In a distribution step, a message transmitted from the user terminal is distributed to another user terminal allocated to the virtual space.

Core Innovation

A communication assistance method receives use information as a notification that a flavor inhaler is currently in use. The use information includes attribute information of a user using the flavor inhaler and is transmitted by a user terminal when the flavor inhaler is used. The method determines whether status information associated with the user terminal is a log-out status and assigns a virtual space to the user terminal whose status information is the log-out status.

The virtual space is determined from a plurality of virtual spaces on an attribute-by-attribute basis based on the attribute information of the user. The method overwrites the status information with a log-in status and transmits, to the user terminal, display information for displaying the virtual space. The method also delivers, to another user terminal assigned with the virtual space, a message transmitted by the user terminal.

The method overwrites the status information with the log-out status when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a time of receipt of most recent use information. In this way, the virtual space assignment and delivery of messages are coupled with dynamic status information associated with the user terminal and timing based on most recent use information.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes three independent claims, which cover a communication assistance method, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium with a program, and a communication server. Across these claims, the same core flow is repeatedly defined: receive use information from a flavor inhaler, manage log-in/log-out status based on most recent use information, assign a virtual space based on user attribute information, transmit display information, and deliver messages to other user terminals assigned to the same virtual space.

The independent claims collectively define a system in which use information from a flavor inhaler, including user attribute information, drives attribute-by-attribute virtual space assignment, terminal status is overwritten between log-in and log-out based on a predetermined period since most recent use information, display information is transmitted to the user terminal, and messages are delivered to other user terminals assigned to the same virtual space.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found