COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE DEVICE, COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20130117265A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Mizuguchi, Hironori, Kusui, Dai
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A communication assistance device (10) includes a communication level determination unit (11) and a topic recommendation unit (16) so as to determine a level of a relationship between users who communicate with each other and provide communication assistance using the result of the determination. The communication level determination unit (11) determines the level (communication level) of the relationship between the users based on similarity between the users obtained from preference information showing preferences of the users, and on user action records showing records of actions taken by a certain user toward a partner user with whom the certain user communicates out of the users. The topic recommendation unit (16) selects, from among a group of topics prepared in advance, a topic that can be transmitted to the partner user based on the determined level of the relationship between the users and on preferences of the certain user and the partner user.

Claims

1. A communication assistance device comprising:

a communication level determination unit that determines a level of a relationship between users based on similarity between the users and on user action records, the similarity between the users being obtained from preference information showing preferences of the users, and the user action records showing records of actions taken by a certain user toward a partner user with whom the certain user communicates out of the users; and

a topic recommendation unit that selects, from among a group of topics that have been prepared in advance, a topic that can be transmitted to the partner user based on the level of the relationship between the users determined by the communication level determination unit and on preferences of the certain user and the partner user.

2. The communication assistance device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication level determination unit determines whether the relationship between the users is at a stranger level, at an intermediate level between strangers and friends, or at a friend level.

3. The communication assistance device according to claim 2, wherein

the intermediate level includes at least one of:

a stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at which the certain user is similar to the partner user in preferences but is not interested in the partner user; and

a candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences, at which the certain user is similar to the partner user in preferences and is interested in the partner user, and

when determining that the relationship between the users is at the intermediate level, the communication level determination unit determines whether the relationship between the users is at the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name or at the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences.

4. The communication assistance device according to claim 3, wherein

the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name and the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences are each classified into:

an existence awareness level at which the existence of the partner user is acknowledged; and

an information exchange level at which information is exchanged with the partner user, and

when determining that the relationship between the users is at the intermediate level, the communication level determination unit determines whether the relationship between the users is at the existence awareness level of the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at the information exchange level of the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at the existence awareness level of the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences, or at the information exchange level of the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences.

5. The communication assistance device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication level determination unit

identifies, from the user action records, details of actions that have been taken by the certain user toward the partner user and the number of times the actions have been taken in a preset time period,

calculates a degree of interest that the certain user takes in the partner user based on the identified details of the actions and the identified number of times the actions have been taken, and

judges whether the relationship between the users is in an advancing state, in a stalled state, or in a receding state based on the similarity between the users and the degree of interest taken in the partner user, and determines the level of the relationship between the users using a result of the judgment.

6. The communication assistance device according to claim 1, wherein

the communication level determination unit

judges that the relationship between the users is in the advancing state when the similarity between the users is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value set therefor and the degree of interest taken in the partner user is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value set therefor, and

judges that the relationship between the users is in the receding state when the similarity between the users is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value set therefor or when the degree of interest taken in the partner user is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value set therefor.

7. The communication assistance device according to claim 1, wherein

the topic recommendation unit

calculates degrees of preference for each topic included among the group of topics on a per-user basis,

selects, as the topic that can be transmitted to the partner user, a topic for which only the partner user exhibits a degree of preference equal to or greater than a set value, or a topic for which both the certain user and the partner user exhibit a degree of preference equal to or greater than the set value, based on the level of the relationship between the users determined by the communication level determination unit and on the degrees of preference calculated on the per-user basis,

determines a recommendation target user to whom the selected topic is to be recommended out of the certain user and the partner user based on information transmissibility of the certain user and the partner user or on contribution that the certain user and the partner user make to each other, and

further determines the number of topics to be recommended to the recommendation target user in accordance with the level of the relationship between the users.

8. The communication assistance device according to claim 1, wherein

in a case where an external device recommends actions to each user and each user takes the recommended actions,

the communication level determination unit

identifies, from the user action records, details of actions that have been taken by the certain user toward the partner user in a preset time period, the number of times the actions have been taken, details of the recommended actions taken by the certain user, and the number of times the recommended actions have been taken,

calculates a degree of interest that the certain user takes in the partner user based on the identified details of the actions, the identified number of times the actions have been taken, the identified details of the recommended actions, and the identified number of times the recommended actions have been taken, and

judges whether the relationship between the users is in an advancing state, in a stalled state, or in a receding state based on the similarity between the users and the degree of interest taken in the partner user, and determines the level of the relationship between the users using a result of the judgment.

9. A communication assistance method comprising:

a communication level determination step of determining a level of a relationship between users based on similarity between the users and on user action records, the similarity between the users being obtained from preference information showing preferences of the users, and the user action records showing records of actions taken by a certain user toward a partner user with whom the certain user communicates out of the users; and

a topic recommendation step of selecting, from among a group of topics that have been prepared in advance, a topic that can be transmitted to the partner user based on the level of the relationship between the users determined in the communication level determination step and on preferences of the certain user and the partner user.

10. The communication assistance method according to claim 9, wherein

the communication level determination step determines whether the relationship between the users is at a stranger level, at an intermediate level between strangers and friends, or at a friend level.

11. The communication assistance method according to claim 10, wherein

the intermediate level includes at least one of:

a stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at which the certain user is similar to the partner user in preferences but is not interested in the partner user; and

a candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences, at which the certain user is similar to the partner user in preferences and is interested in the partner user, and

when determining that the relationship between the users is at the intermediate level, the communication level determination step determines whether the relationship between the users is at the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name or at the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences.

12. The communication assistance method according to claim 11, wherein

the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name and the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences are each classified into:

an existence awareness level at which the existence of the partner user is acknowledged; and

an information exchange level at which information is exchanged with the partner user, and

when determining that the relationship between the users is at the intermediate level, the communication level determination step determines whether the relationship between the users is at the existence awareness level of the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at the information exchange level of the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at the existence awareness level of the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences, or at the information exchange level of the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences.

13. The communication assistance method according to claim 9, wherein

the communication level determination step

identifies, from the user action records, details of actions that have been taken by the certain user toward the partner user and the number of times the actions have been taken in a preset time period,

calculates a degree of interest that the certain user takes in the partner user based on the identified details of the actions and the identified number of times the actions have been taken, and

judges whether the relationship between the users is in an advancing state, in a stalled state, or in a receding state based on the similarity between the users and the degree of interest taken in the partner user, and determines the level of the relationship between the users using a result of the judgment.

14. The communication assistance method according to claim 9, wherein

the communication level determination step

judges that the relationship between the users is in the advancing state when the similarity between the users is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value set therefor and the degree of interest taken in the partner user is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value set therefor, and

judges that the relationship between the users is in the receding state when the similarity between the users is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value set therefor or when the degree of interest taken in the partner user is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value set therefor.

15. The communication assistance method according to claim 9, wherein

the topic recommendation step

calculates degrees of preference for each topic included among the group of topics on a per-user basis, and selects, as the topic that can be transmitted to the partner user, a topic for which only the partner user exhibits a degree of preference equal to or greater than a set value, or a topic for which both the certain user and the partner user exhibit a degree of preference equal to or greater than the set value, based on the level of the relationship between the users determined by the communication level determination step and on the degrees of preference calculated on the per-user basis,

determines a recommendation target user to whom the selected topic is to be recommended out of the certain user and the partner user based on information transmissibility of the certain user and the partner user or on contribution that the certain user and the partner user make to each other, and

further determines the number of topics to be recommended to the recommendation target user in accordance with the level of the relationship between the users.

16. The communication assistance method according to claim 9, wherein

in a case where an external device recommends actions to each user and each user takes the recommended actions,

the communication level determination step

identifies, from the user action records, details of actions that have been taken by the certain user toward the partner user in a preset time period, the number of times the actions have been taken, details of the recommended actions taken by the certain user, and the number of times the recommended actions have been taken,

calculates a degree of interest that the certain user takes in the partner user based on the identified details of the actions, the identified number of times the actions have been taken, the identified details of the recommended actions, and the identified number of times the recommended actions have been taken, and

judges whether the relationship between the users is in an advancing state, in a stalled state, or in a receding state based on the similarity between the users and the degree of interest taken in the partner user, and determines the level of the relationship between the users using a result of the judgment.

17. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein a program including instructions for causing a computer to execute:

a communication level determination step of determining a level of a relationship between users based on similarity between the users and on user action records, the similarity between the users being obtained from preference information showing preferences of the users, and the user action records showing records of actions taken by a certain user toward a partner user with whom the certain user communicates out of the users; and

a topic recommendation step of selecting, from among a group of topics that have been prepared in advance, a topic that can be transmitted to the partner user based on the level of the relationship between the users determined in the communication level determination step and on preferences of the certain user and the partner user.

18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein

the communication level determination step determines whether the relationship between the users is at a stranger level, at an intermediate level between strangers and friends, or at a friend level.

19. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 18, wherein

the intermediate level includes at least one of:

a stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at which the certain user is similar to the partner user in preferences but is not interested in the partner user; and

a candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences, at which the certain user is similar to the partner user in preferences and is interested in the partner user, and

when determining that the relationship between the users is at the intermediate level, the communication level determination step determines whether the relationship between the users is at the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name or at the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences.

20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein

the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name and the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences are each classified into:

an existence awareness level at which the existence of the partner user is acknowledged; and

an information exchange level at which information is exchanged with the partner user, and

when determining that the relationship between the users is at the intermediate level, the communication level determination step determines whether the relationship between the users is at the existence awareness level of the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at the information exchange level of the stranger level with similar preferences and no knowledge of name, at the existence awareness level of the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences, or at the information exchange level of the candidate-for-friend level with similar preferences.

21. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein

the communication level determination step

identifies, from the user action records, details of actions that have been taken by the certain user toward the partner user and the number of times the actions have been taken in a preset time period,

calculates a degree of interest that the certain user takes in the partner user based on the identified details of the actions and the identified number of times the actions have been taken, and

judges whether the relationship between the users is in an advancing state, in a stalled state, or in a receding state based on the similarity between the users and the degree of interest taken in the partner user, and determines the level of the relationship between the users using a result of the judgment.

22. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein

the communication level determination step

judges that the relationship between the users is in the advancing state when the similarity between the users is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value set therefor and the degree of interest taken in the partner user is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value set therefor, and

judges that the relationship between the users is in the receding state when the similarity between the users is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value set therefor or when the degree of interest taken in the partner user is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined value set therefor.

23. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein

the topic recommendation step

calculates degrees of preference for each topic included among the group of topics on a per-user basis, and selects, as the topic that can be transmitted to the partner user, a topic for which only the partner user exhibits a degree of preference equal to or greater than a set value, or a topic for which both the certain user and the partner user exhibit a degree of preference equal to or greater than the set value, based on the level of the relationship between the users determined by the communication level determination step and on the degrees of preference calculated on the per-user basis,

determines a recommendation target user to whom the selected topic is to be recommended out of the certain user and the partner user based on information transmissibility of the certain user and the partner user or on contribution that the certain user and the partner user make to each other, and

further determines the number of topics to be recommended to the recommendation target user in accordance with the level of the relationship between the users.

24. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein

in a case where an external device recommends actions to each user and each user takes the recommended actions,

the communication level determination step

identifies, from the user action records, details of actions that have been taken by the certain user toward the partner user in a preset time period, the number of times the actions have been taken, details of the recommended actions taken by the certain user, and the number of times the recommended actions have been taken,

calculates a degree of interest that the certain user takes in the partner user based on the identified details of the actions, the identified number of times the actions have been taken, the identified details of the recommended actions, and the identified number of times the recommended actions have been taken, and

judges whether the relationship between the users is in an advancing state, in a stalled state, or in a receding state based on the similarity between the users and the degree of interest taken in the partner user, and determines the level of the relationship between the users using a result of the judgment.