JP2002014931A - Multi-user system, information processor therefor and method for managing user - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize an opposite party among users. SOLUTION: The information control means 230 of terminal equipment 200 transmits user information of a self-device from a transmission means 210. The user information managing means 160 of an information processor 100 stores obtained user information into a user information storage means 170 and manages it. When a reception means 110 receives a message from arbitrary terminal equipment in the case of a chat system, a message processing means 130 transmits the obtained message to all other terminal equipment connected through a transmission means 120. When the connection of some terminal equipment 200 is detected, a user information management means 160 extracts user information of the other terminal equipment which is connected at present, generates card information and transmits it through a card information transmission means 150. The terminal equipment 200 receives card information by a reception means 220 and display it on a display means 240 in accordance with the information control means 230.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-user system, an information processing apparatus thereof, and a user management method.
In particular, the present invention relates to a multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network, an information processing apparatus thereof, and a user management method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of network systems, communication methods using a multi-user system for exchanging messages between a plurality of client terminal devices via a network have become widespread. One of the message exchanges by a multi-user system using such a network is a chat system.

[0003] In a chat system, a chat server as a host computer and a plurality of client terminal devices are connected via a network. When the chat server receives a message from the terminal device, the message is immediately transmitted to another terminal device. By doing so, the system establishes communication between users. FIG.
It is a block diagram of a chat system. Each user A1, A
2. Terminal devices 410, 420, 430 owned by A3
Is connected to the database 51 via the communication network 600.
Connect to the chat server 500 having 0. For example, when the user A1 sends a message to the chat server 500 while the terminal devices 410, 420, and 430 are connected to the chat server 500 via the communication network 600, the chat server 500 stores the message content in the database 510. And the terminal device 42
0, 430.

[0004] In this way, a user who has participated in the chat system can have a real-time "conversation" with characters with another user at a remote place. Generally, in a chat system, the content of a statement and the name of the speaker are displayed on a terminal device in association with each other, so that the user can have a conversation while checking the other party.

[0005]

However, in the conventional multi-user system, there is a problem that it is difficult for users to confirm each other.

[0006] For example, in the case of a chat system, the name of the speaker is displayed together with the content of the comment, but information on the other party could not be obtained in addition to the name of the speaker.
For this reason, it is necessary to determine whether or not the other party is an acquaintance of the other party by the name of the other party. Also, it cannot be confirmed whether the other party knows himself. As described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm the other party as compared with a conversation in which face-to-face is actually performed.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-user system capable of confirming a partner between users, an information processing apparatus thereof, and a user management method.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network. A message processing unit that receives a message and distributes the obtained message to another predetermined terminal device, a user information obtaining unit that obtains user information regarding a user of the terminal device, and manages the obtained user information. User information management means for generating business card information for introducing a user of an arbitrary terminal device from the user information and controlling transmission thereof; and business card information of an arbitrary terminal device when the terminal device is connected or as necessary. Business card information sending means for sending the user information, and user information storage means for storing the user information. Information processing apparatus, transmitting means for transmitting the message and the user information at the time of user registration to the information processing apparatus or as necessary, and receiving for receiving the distributed message and business card information of any terminal device Means, and a terminal device comprising: a display unit for displaying the message and the user information. A multi-user system is provided.

In the multi-user system having such a configuration, the message processing means of the information processing device distributes a message received from the terminal device to a predetermined terminal device, and processes message exchange between the terminal devices. The user information acquisition means acquires user information about the user of the terminal device, which is transmitted from each terminal device as necessary, such as at the time of user registration. The user information management means organizes the acquired user information and stores it in the user information storage means, and appropriately manages the user information by adding or updating information as necessary. Also, business card information for introducing a user of a predetermined terminal device is generated from the user information managed as necessary, and transmitted from the business card information sending means. On the other hand, in the terminal device, the message of the predetermined terminal device distributed by the information processing device is received by the receiving means, and the message is displayed by the display means. Further, a message of the user of the own device is transmitted to the information processing device by the transmitting unit. Further, the transmitting unit transmits the user information of the own device, acquires the business card information of an arbitrary terminal device by the receiving unit, and displays the information by the display unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus for a multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network, the method comprising receiving a message transmitted from the terminal device. A message processing unit for delivering the obtained message to another predetermined terminal device, a user information obtaining unit for obtaining user information on a user of the terminal device, and managing the obtained user information and the user information. User information management means for generating and controlling transmission of business card information for introducing a user of an arbitrary terminal device, and transmitting business card information of an arbitrary terminal device to the terminal device when the terminal device is connected or as necessary. Business card information sending means; and user information storage means for storing the user information. The information processing apparatus according to claim, is provided.

In the information processing apparatus having such a configuration, the message processing means distributes the message received from the terminal device to a predetermined terminal device, and processes message exchange between the terminal devices. The user information acquisition means acquires user information relating to the user of each terminal device as needed. The user information management means organizes the acquired user information and stores it in the user information storage means, and appropriately manages the user information by adding or updating information as necessary. Also, business card information for introducing a user of a predetermined terminal device is generated from the user information managed as necessary, and transmitted from the business card information sending means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user management method for a multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network. Information is acquired in advance, the acquired user information is classified and stored, and the user information is managed, a message transmitted from the terminal device is received, and the message is transmitted to a predetermined terminal device. The message is stored according to the user information, and when any terminal device is connected, or as necessary, the user is introduced from the user information of another terminal device to be connected or the terminal device that is the source of the stored message. Generates business card information and sends out the generated business card information relating to the user of the predetermined terminal device. User management method characterized by comprising the step, is provided.

[0013] In the user management method of such a procedure, in controlling the message exchange between the terminal devices connected to the network, the user information regarding the user of the terminal device performing the message exchange is acquired in advance. The acquired user information is stored and managed as a classified database. When a message is transmitted from a certain terminal device, this message is delivered to a predetermined terminal device, and the message is stored as necessary. When any terminal device is connected via the network, or
For example, when there is a request from a terminal device, business card information that introduces these users is generated from user information of another terminal device to be connected or user information of a terminal device that has transmitted a message to be distributed. Send business card information.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the multi-user system according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of terminal devices and an information processing device that processes message exchange between the terminal devices are connected via a communication network. First, an information processing device and a terminal device constituting such a multi-user system will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device and a terminal device constituting a multi-user system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The information processing apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a receiving unit 110 for receiving data from the terminal device 200, a transmitting unit 120 for transmitting data to the terminal device 200, and a message processing for processing a message received from the terminal device 200. Means 130, user information obtaining means 140 for obtaining user information, business card information sending means 1 for sending business card information
50, user information management means 16 for managing user information
0 and user information storage means 17 for storing user information
0.

The receiving means 110 is connected to a transmitting means 210 of an arbitrary terminal device 200 via a communication network (not shown), receives data transmitted by the terminal device 200, and receives a message processing means 130 and a user. Send to information acquisition means 140.

The transmitting means 120 is connected to the receiving means 220 of any terminal device 200 via the communication network, and the message processing means 130 and the business card information transmitting means 1
The message and the business card information transmitted by 50 are transmitted.

The message processing means 130 includes the receiving means 1
The message acquired in step 10 is distributed by the transmission means 120 to a predetermined terminal device. For example, when a message is exchanged between connected terminal devices in real time as in a chat system, the received message is transmitted to all the connected terminal devices. If the setting has been made to transmit to a specific terminal device, the message is transmitted to the terminal device at the setting destination. further,
The acquired message can be saved as needed. In the case of a bulletin board or the like, the stored message is transmitted upon request from the terminal device.

The user information acquiring means 140 is provided with the receiving means 1
The user information about the user of the terminal device 200 input via the terminal 10 is acquired and transmitted to the user information management means 160. The user information includes, for example, a user ID, a name, an e-mail address, a password, a keyword representing the user such as a hobby or a preference, business card information of another user acquired by the user, and the like.

The user information management means 160 sorts and arranges the user information input from the user information acquisition means 140,
For example, it is stored and managed in the user information storage unit 170 for each user ID. In addition, when the terminal device 200 is connected, at the time of a request from the terminal device, or the like, a predetermined item is read from the user information of an arbitrary terminal device stored in the user information storage unit 170 as necessary, and the user is identified. The business card information to be introduced is generated and sent to the business card information sending means 150 to instruct the business card information sending. The business card information to be transmitted is information that allows the other party to confirm the user, that is, an electronic business card.

The business card information transmitting means 150 transmits the business card information by the transmitting means 120 according to the user information managing means 160. The transmission timing of the business card information can be performed in accordance with the transmission timing of the message processing means 130.

The user information storage means 170 is a storage device for storing the sorted and arranged user information as a database. It can be read and written from the user information management means 160.

The terminal device 200 according to the present invention includes a transmitting unit 210 for transmitting data to the information processing device 100, a receiving unit 220 for receiving data from the information processing device 100,
It comprises information control means 230 for controlling data to be transmitted and received, display means 240 for displaying data, and input means 250 for inputting user instructions.

The transmitting means 210 connects to the receiving means 110 of the information processing apparatus 100 via a communication network. According to the information control means 230, the message and the user information are transmitted.

The receiving means 220 connects to the transmitting means 120 of the information processing apparatus 100 via a communication network. It receives a message of another terminal device and business card information transmitted from the information processing device 100, and
Send to

The information control means 230 comprises a CPU, a storage device and the like, and controls the entire terminal device 200. The message or business card information of another terminal device input from the receiving means 220 is stored in the storage means in accordance with a predetermined procedure or sent to the display means 240 for display. Further, it receives a user's instruction input via the input means 250 and performs a predetermined process based on the instruction.

Display means 240, according to information control means 230, displays a message or business card information of another terminal device as a CR.
It is displayed on a display device such as T or a liquid crystal display. The input unit 250 is a peripheral input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and sends an instruction input by a user and information such as user information and a message to the information control unit 230.

The operation of the multi-user system having such a configuration will be described. First, the information processing apparatus 100
The user information of the terminal device 200 is collected. The information control means 230 of the terminal device 200 transmits the user information of its own device from the transmission means 210. The user information acquisition unit 140 of the information processing device 100 acquires the user information received by the reception unit 110 and sends the user information to the user information management unit 160. The user information management means 160 stores and manages the acquired user information in the user information storage means 170.

The message processing means 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 acquires the message sent from the terminal device via the receiving means 110, and performs a predetermined process. For example, in the case of a chat system, the receiving unit 1
When 10 receives a message from any terminal device,
The message processing unit 130 transmits the acquired message to all the other terminal devices connected via the transmission unit 120. The terminal device 200 acquires the transmitted outgoing message of the other terminal device by the receiving unit 220 and displays the message on the display unit 240 under the control of the information control unit 230. When responding to this message, an instruction is given from the input means 250. The information control unit 230 transmits the instruction or message input from the input unit 250 to the information processing device 100 via the transmission unit 210. In the information processing apparatus 100, a message delivery process to another terminal device is performed again. In this way, conversation between the terminal devices is performed.

Further, the information processing device 100 transmits business card information of an arbitrary terminal device as required, for example, when it is detected that a certain terminal device 200 has been connected or when a request from the terminal device 200 is received. . For example, in a chat system, if there is information on a user of another terminal device to be connected, the conversation proceeds smoothly. In such a case, the user information management unit 160 generates the business card information by extracting the user information of the other terminal device currently connected, and transmits the business card information via the business card information transmission unit 150. If the terminal device 200 is connected, the message is transmitted at the same timing as the message transmission of the message processing means 130.

The terminal device 200 receives the message and the business card information by the receiving means 220 and displays it on the display means 240 according to the information control means 230. The user can confirm the partner user based on the business card information displayed on the display means 240.

Next, a user management method and user information and business card information in the user system according to the present invention will be described. The information processing apparatus 100 collects user information at the time of user registration or the like. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a user registration processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the user registration process is started in response to a user request or the like (S10), user registration information is transmitted from the terminal device that performs user registration, and is acquired (S1).
1). In the user registration information, a user's name, password, e-mail address, keywords indicating the user's hobbies, preferences, characteristics, and the like are set. Once these have been accepted, a unique user ID for this user
And the user ID is notified (S12), and the user registration is completed (S13). Hereinafter, the information on the user is managed by the user ID.

The user information includes, in addition to the above-mentioned user registration information, information on a partner who has acquired the business card information, a partner user holding his / her own business card, and the like. The user information stored in the user information storage will be described. FIG.
1 is a configuration diagram of user information of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user information is stored in association with the user ID. The user information includes user registration information acquired at the time of user registration, an acquired business card information list acquired by the own device, and a partner acquired business card information list indicating a partner who acquired the business card information of the own device.

The user registration information includes a user name, a password, a mail address, a keyword representing the user, and the like collected at the time of user registration. The acquired business card information list is an ID list of a business card information transmitting user who is a source of the business card information acquired by the terminal device of the predetermined user identified by the user ID. Thereby, it is possible to specify the user who is the source of the business card information acquired by each terminal device. The list can be obtained by each terminal device storing the business card every time the card is acquired to create a list, and the information processing device can collect and obtain the list. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus can be obtained by storing the user ID of the transmission destination and the transmission source when the business card information of a predetermined user is transmitted to the terminal device of an arbitrary user, and analyzing the information.

The partner-acquired business card information list is an ID list of users holding business card information of a predetermined user identified by the user ID. Regarding a certain terminal device, the user ID of the terminal device acquiring the business card information of the own device corresponds to the user ID of the user holding the business card information. Thereby, each terminal device can specify the user of the terminal device that has acquired the business card information of the own device.
The list can be calculated, for example, by collecting the acquired business card information list described above and based on the collected information. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus can be obtained by storing the user ID of the transmission destination and the transmission source when the business card information of a predetermined user is transmitted to the terminal device of an arbitrary user, and analyzing the information.

Next, the message transmission process and the business card information transmission process will be described. The user can exchange messages in real time with other connected users in real time, and can read messages written by unconnected users. Further, it is possible to acquire the business card information of another connected user or the business card information of the user who wrote the message, and confirm the partner user. Such acquisition of the business card information can be arbitrarily acquired, but the case where the business card information is transmitted when the user connects to the information processing apparatus and logs in will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a login process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The user starts the client software of the terminal device, connects to the information processing device, and starts a login process (S20). The information processing device requests a user ID and a password from the terminal device that has requested connection (S21). A user ID and a password are sent from the terminal device. The obtained user ID and password are collated with those stored in the user information (S22).
The collation result is checked (S23), and if they do not match, the login is rejected and the login process is terminated (S2).
6). If they match, login is permitted, the client is authenticated, and business card information of a user of another user who is currently connected or a user who has left a message is generated from the user information. The format of the business card information will be described. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an example of business card information transmitted by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. .., N (n is an arbitrary integer), business card information of user 1 created from respective user information, business card information of user 2,. n business card information. The business card information of each user includes the ID and name of the partner user, a partner business card list flag indicating whether the partner user holds the business card information, and an acquisition business card list flag indicating whether the partner card has acquired the business card information of the partner user. , And keyword information of the partner user. The user information of the partner user is searched based on the partner user ID, and the name of the partner user and keywords 1 and 2 are extracted from the user registration information. Also, it checks whether or not the ID of the partner user exists in the acquired business card information list, and if so, sets the acquired business card list flag to true. Further, it is checked whether the ID of the partner user exists in the partner business card information list, and if so, the partner business card list flag is set to true, and business card information for each user is generated.

Returning to FIG. When the business card information is generated, the contents of a series of messages left by other users including the unconnected user are transmitted together with the business card information (S25), and the login process is terminated (S26).

The business card information is used not only for login,
According to the instruction of the user or the client software, the business card information of the user who has given the instruction can be transmitted to the designated partner. Further, when the user requests the business card information of the partner specified by the user, the requested business card information can be transmitted to the request destination.

The terminal device that has acquired the business card information of another user displays a list of the currently connected users on the display means based on the business card information. If necessary, the business card information of a user who is not currently connected but has left a message or the business card information of an arbitrary user is also referred to. FIG. 6 is an example of a user list display of the terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Based on the user's business card information described above, the user's name, the state of holding the business card information, and the common keyword are displayed. “Friend” displays a circle when the partner user has acquired the business card information of the user, that is, when the partner business card list flag is true. "With business card" displays a circle when the user has acquired the business card information of the partner user, that is, when the acquired business card list flag is true. Also,
These may be displayed by changing the color of the name of the true partner user.

The user can see at a glance whether or not the partner has his / her own business card information from the list display. A partner user who owns his / her business card information must have spoken before, and thus is easy to select as a partner to talk to. In addition, since the user list information indicates whether or not the other party is his or her friend, the user is not mistaken for a stranger with the same name. Furthermore, since the hobby of the other party can be understood, it is easy to select the speaking party. In addition, even a person who has a conversation for the first time can talk mainly on the topic, which is convenient.

In the above description, the case where the other party is confirmed by the user list has been described. However, business card information can be used for displaying a message. For example, when the partner user is a “friend” who has acquired his / her business card information, the display color of the message may be changed, a mark may be added, or the like. In the three-dimensional virtual space, the brightness of the avatar representing the other user is increased,
You may make it clear that it is a "friend." In addition, a message of a user whose predetermined keyword matches a hobby or a preference included in the business card information may be displayed as distinguished from a message of another user.

The above processing functions can be realized by a computer. In this case, the processing contents of the functions that the multi-user system and the information processing apparatus should have are described in a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by executing this program on a computer, the above processing is realized on the computer. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device and a semiconductor memory. When distributing to the market, CD-ROM (Compa
ct Disc Read Only Memory) or Floppy (registered trademark)
The program may be stored and distributed on a portable recording medium such as a disk, or stored in a storage device of a computer connected via a network, and transferred to another computer via the network. When the program is executed by the computer, the program is stored in a hard disk device or the like in the computer, and is loaded into the main memory and executed.

[0044]

As described above, in the multi-user system of the present invention, the information device acquires the user information of the terminal device from each terminal device, and introduces the user from the acquired user information as necessary. Is generated and transmitted to another terminal device. In addition, a message transmitted from the terminal device is delivered to another predetermined terminal device. Each terminal device receives the distributed message and the business card information, displays the message, and transmits a response message as necessary.

As described above, since the user can acquire the business card information on the partner user together with the message, the user can confirm the partner based on the acquired business card information.

Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention acquires user information on the user of each terminal device, and stores and manages this information. Further, it generates business card information for introducing a user from arbitrary user information and sends it to each terminal device as necessary.

As described above, since the user information relating to the user of the terminal device is acquired and managed, the business card information of any terminal device can be transmitted to the terminal device when necessary. As a result, the user can confirm the partner user based on the business card information.

Further, in the user management method of the present invention, user information relating to the user of the terminal device that exchanges messages is obtained in advance, and stored and managed as a database. In addition to controlling message exchange, when any terminal device is connected via the network or when there is a request, the user information of the other terminal device to be connected, or the source that transmitted the message to be delivered The business card information of the partner user generated from the user information of the terminal device is transmitted.

As described above, when necessary, the business card information of the user of the terminal device connected to the multi-user system or the business card information of the user of the transmission source user of the delivery message is transmitted to the terminal device connected to the multi-user system performing the message exchange processing. Submit information. For this reason, it is possible to confirm a partner who is exchanging messages or a user who is a message source based on the acquired business card information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing device and a terminal device constituting a multi-user system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a user registration processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of user information of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a login process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an example of business card information transmitted by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an example of a user list display of the terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a chat system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 information processing device, 110 receiving means, 120 transmitting means, 130 message processing means, 140 user information acquiring means, 150 business card information sending means, 160 user information managing means, 170 ... User information storage means, 20
0: terminal device, 210: transmitting means, 220: receiving means,
230 ... information control means, 240 ... display means, 250 ... input means

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network, wherein the multi-user system receives a message transmitted from the terminal device and transmits the acquired message to another predetermined terminal. Message processing means for delivering to a device, user information acquiring means for acquiring user information relating to a user of the terminal device, business card information for managing the acquired user information and introducing a user of an arbitrary terminal device from the user information User information management means for generating and controlling the transmission thereof, business card information transmission means for transmitting business card information of any terminal device to the terminal device when the terminal device is connected or as necessary,
An information processing device comprising: a user information storage unit that stores the user information; a transmission unit that transmits the message and the user information at the time of user registration to the information processing device or as necessary; And a display device for displaying the message and the business card information of an arbitrary terminal device, and a display device for displaying the message and the business card information of the terminal device. 2. The multi-user system according to claim 1, wherein the user information is information capable of identifying a user including an identification code (ID) assigned to each user and a name of the user. 3. The multi-user system according to claim 2, wherein the user information further includes keyword information indicating a hobby, a preference, or a characteristic of the user. 4. The multi-user system according to claim 2, wherein the user information further includes an obtained business card information list indicating business card information of another user obtained by the user. 5. The user information management unit of the information processing device acquires an acquired business card information list that specifies a user of a terminal device that is a source of business card information acquired by each terminal device by the user information acquisition unit. Based on the obtained business card information list for each of the terminal devices, generate a partner acquired business card information list for specifying a user of the terminal device that has acquired the business card information of each of the terminal devices for each of the terminal devices; 2. The multi-user system according to claim 1, wherein the acquired business card information list and the partner acquired business card information list are stored as user information. 6. The user information management means of the information processing device searches for user information of a terminal device connected to the information processing device, and searches for user information other than any terminal device connected to the information processing device. 2. The multi-user system according to claim 1, wherein business card information regarding a user of the terminal device is generated, and the business card information sending unit transmits business card information regarding a user of the other terminal device to the arbitrary terminal device. 3. . 7. The user information management unit of the information processing device searches for user information of a terminal device storing a message, and generates business card information regarding a user of the terminal device that is the source of the message. 2. The business card information transmitting unit transmits business card information relating to a user of a terminal device that is the source of the message to the terminal device of the message transmission destination in accordance with the message transmission of the message processing unit. A multi-user system as described. 8. The display means of the terminal device, based on the obtained business card information, displays a display relating to the arbitrary user including a message display of an arbitrary user so as to be distinguishable from that of another user. The multi-user system according to claim 1, wherein: 9. The display unit of the terminal device includes displaying a message of a user in the acquired business card information list based on an acquired business card information list that specifies a user of the terminal device that is a source of the acquired business card information. The multi-user system according to claim 1, wherein the display relating to the user is displayed so as to be distinguishable from that of another user. 10. The display device of the terminal device, wherein the user of the terminal device, which is the source of the message, acquires the business card information of the user of the own terminal device based on the partner acquired business card information list. The multi-user system according to claim 5, wherein the message is displayed so as to be distinguishable from a message transmitted from another user. 11. An information processing apparatus for a multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network, wherein the information processing device receives a message transmitted from the terminal device and transmits the acquired message to another terminal. Message processing means for delivering to a predetermined terminal device, user information obtaining means for obtaining user information relating to a user of the terminal device, and managing the obtained user information and determining a user of an arbitrary terminal device from the user information. A user information management unit that generates business card information to be introduced and controls transmission of the business card information; a business card information transmission unit that transmits business card information of an arbitrary terminal device to the terminal device when the terminal device is connected or as necessary; An information processing apparatus comprising: a user information storage unit that stores information. 12. A user management method for a multi-user system for controlling message exchange between a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network, the method comprising: acquiring in advance user information on a user of a terminal device performing the message exchange; The acquired user information is sorted and stored, the user information is managed, the message transmitted from the terminal device is received, the message is transmitted to a predetermined terminal device, and the message is stored as necessary. , If any terminal device is connected or if necessary,
A method of generating business card information for introducing a user from user information of another terminal device to be connected or a terminal device that is a source of the stored message, and transmitting the generated business card information relating to the user of the predetermined terminal device. A user management method comprising: