Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

To activate the economy in an economic area related to a store in a virtual space where a user has purchased a commodity.SOLUTION: A management server 1 has: a receiving unit 132 that receives, from a purchase requester, a purchase request for purchasing a commodity in a virtual store that is a virtual store in an area in a virtual space; and an output unit 135 that, provided that the receiving unit has received the purchase request, outputs a first instruction for providing a commodity to the purchase requester, a second instruction for making a payment for the commodity from the purchase requester to the virtual store, and a third instruction for applying, to the purchase requester, crypto assets or points that can be used for payment in at least either one of the area or a region in a real space associated with the area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing method for processing information relating to product purchases in a virtual space. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system in which products are displayed in a virtual space, and when a user performs an operation to select a product in the virtual space, the selected product is sold to the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-139842 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There may be many stores in a virtual space. Even if a user has shopped at a specific store in the virtual space, the user may not necessarily shop at that store again among the many stores. When a user purchases a product at a specific store in the virtual space, it is desired to further stimulate the economy of the economic zone related to the store.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to make it possible to revitalize the economy in an economic sphere associated with a store in a virtual space where a user has purchased a product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a reception unit that receives, from a purchase requester, a purchase request to purchase a product at a virtual store in a virtual area having an area or volume generated by dividing a virtual space having an area or volume, a specification unit that specifies an area in a real space associated with the area in the virtual space, which area is indicated by association information pre-stored in a storage unit, and a specification unit that, on condition that the reception unit has received the purchase request, transmits a first instruction to a device associated with the virtual store to provide the product to the purchase requester, and transfers the cost of the product from the purchase requester to the virtual store. and an output unit that notifies a device that manages the payment of a second instruction to make a payment to a store located in the area in the real space identified by the identification unit, and a third instruction to a device that manages the electronic assets to grant to the purchase requester electronic assets that can be used for payment at a plurality of stores located in the area in the real space identified by the identification unit, wherein the type of electronic assets granted when the product is purchased at the virtual store located in a first area in the virtual space is different from the type of electronic assets granted when the product is purchased at the virtual store located in a second area different from the first area in the virtual space.

[0007] The output unit may output the third instruction based on at least one of the product, a price of the product, a purchase date and time of the product, and the virtual store.

[0008] The output unit may output the third instruction on condition that the purchase requester uses a predetermined coupon when purchasing the product.

[0009] The output unit may output the third instruction on condition that the purchase requester has a predetermined relationship with the region or with a store in the region associated with the virtual store.

[0010] The output unit may further output instructions for causing the virtual store to pay a price for the purchase requester's purchase of the product at the virtual store to an operator of the area.

[0011] The association information may indicate that the area is associated with the area on the condition that the area is operated by a local government having jurisdiction over the area or a business within the area.

[0012] The association information may indicate that the area is associated with the region, on the condition that the business operator operating the virtual store and the business operator operating a store within the area are the same or have a specified relationship.

[0013] Payment by the purchase requester in the virtual store and payment by the purchase requester in the real-world store may be performed using common or mutually associated user identification information to identify the purchase requester.

[0014] The electronic assets may be provided by a local government having jurisdiction over the area or by a business operator within the area.

[0015] The electronic assets may be funded by a local government or business that operates the area.

[0016] The output unit may further output instructions for granting the electronic asset to the purchase requester on the condition that the purchase requester purchases a product at a store in the area.

[0017] Payment using the electronic assets may be possible in stores within the region in the real space, but may not be possible in stores outside the region in the real space.

[0018] Payment using the electronic assets may be possible in a store within the area in the virtual space, but may not be possible in a store outside the area in the virtual space.

[0019] The second instruction may be an instruction to transfer the electronic assets corresponding to the price of the goods from an account of the purchase requester to an account of the virtual store. The reception unit may receive the purchase request transmitted from the information terminal in response to the purchase requester operating an image corresponding to the purchase requester in the virtual space displayed on the information terminal. The information processing device may further have an asset processing unit that pays the price indicated by the second instruction from an account associated with the purchase requester to an account associated with the virtual store, and transfers the electronic assets indicated by the third instruction to the account associated with the purchase requester.

[0020] An information processing method of a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: accepting, from a purchase requester, a purchase request to purchase a product at a virtual store in a virtual area having an area or volume generated by dividing a virtual space; identifying an area in the real space associated with the area in the virtual space, which is indicated by association information pre-stored in a storage unit; transmitting, on condition that the purchase request has been accepted in the accepting step, a first instruction to provide the product to the purchase requester to a device associated with the virtual store; and, on condition that the purchase request has been accepted in the accepting step, transferring the cost of the product from the purchase requester to a device associated with the virtual store. The method includes the steps of: notifying a device that manages the payment of a second instruction for making payment to a store; and, on condition that the purchase request has been accepted in the accepting step, notifying a device that manages the electronic assets of a third instruction for granting to the purchase requester electronic assets that can be used for payment at a plurality of stores located in the area in the real space identified in the identifying step, wherein the type of electronic assets granted when the product is purchased at the virtual store located in a first area in the virtual space is different from the type of electronic assets granted when the product is purchased at the virtual store located in a second area different from the first area in the virtual space. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively stimulate the economy in an economic zone associated with a store in a virtual space where a user purchases a product. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] A schematic diagram to explain how an information processing system manages crypto assets and points. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining association information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a user terminal displaying a virtual space. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between a purchase requester, a virtual store, and a manager. [Figure 7] 1 is a sequence diagram of an exemplary information processing method executed by an information processing system according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] [Outline of Information Processing System S] 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system S according to this embodiment. The information processing system S includes a management server 1 and a user terminal 2. The information processing system S may also include other devices such as servers and terminals.

[0024] The management server 1 (information processing device) is a computer that manages information related to the virtual space, as well as information related to crypto assets and points that can be used for payment. The management server 1 is capable of communicating with the user terminal 2 via a network.

[0025] The virtual space is a virtual space formed on a computer. The virtual space is displayed on the user terminal 2 as a region having an area or volume. The virtual space is divided into, for example, one or more virtual areas. Each virtual area is associated with an operator such as a specific local government or business operator, and is operated by that operator. Within each virtual area, one or more virtual stores are located.

[0026] On the other hand, the actual space in which a user lives is called a real space, and a store located in an area in the real space (e.g., a prefecture or a city, ward, town, or village) is called a real store. A virtual area may be associated with a specific area. In this case, the virtual area is operated, for example, by a local government that has jurisdiction over the area or by a business operator within the area.

[0027] A user can use the user terminal 2 to access the virtual space via a network such as the Internet, and purchase goods at a virtual store using crypto assets, points, or other payment means. Goods sold and bought at a virtual store include, for example, digital data, services, goods, etc. When a user purchases an item at a virtual store, the virtual store may deliver the item to the user's address in the real space. When a product is sold between two users, the individual user selling the product may be treated as a store.

[0028] Crypto assets and points are electronic assets that can be used to pay for products, etc. Crypto assets and points are electronic assets that are different from legal tender (Japanese yen, US dollars, etc.). Crypto assets and points are associated with users who hold the crypto assets and points in a storage device, for example, and are transferred from one user to another when used for payment. Crypto assets and points are issued to users, for example, by a specific local government or business operator. Crypto assets may be electronic assets backed by legal tender, for example, electronic assets that have the same value and guarantee as legal tender. Crypto assets include, for example, stable coins and digital currencies. Points include, for example, municipal points issued by a specific local government and business points issued by a specific business operator.

[0029] Crypto assets and points are, for example, electronic assets managed by a blockchain. Furthermore, crypto assets and points are not limited to being managed by a blockchain, and may be electronic assets managed by a database or the like. Crypto assets and points are managed in asset units, which are predetermined units (e.g., circulating units) used for settlement. Hereinafter, the asset unit of crypto assets will be referred to as coins, and the asset unit of points will be referred to as points, but they may be called other names.

[0030] The user terminal 2 is an information terminal used by a user who is a purchase requester. The purchase requester is, for example, a user who wishes to purchase a product in a virtual store. The user terminal 2 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The user terminal 2 has an operation unit such as a touch panel or a keyboard for receiving operations, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying information. The user terminal 2 is capable of communicating with the management server 1 via a network.

[0031] An overview of the processing executed by the information processing system S according to this embodiment will be described below. The management server 1 transmits display information for displaying information about a virtual store in a virtual space to the user terminal 2 (1). The display information includes store information of one or more virtual stores in each virtual area. The user terminal 2 displays the store information of the virtual store in the virtual area in the virtual space on the display unit.

[0032] The purchase requester specifies a product that he or she wishes to purchase in the virtual store using the user terminal 2. The management server 1 accepts a purchase request to purchase the product in the virtual store from the user terminal 2 used by the purchase requester (2).

[0033] On the condition that a purchase request is received from the user terminal 2, the management server 1 outputs a provision instruction (3) to provide the product to the purchase requester, a payment instruction (4) for the purchase requester to pay the price of the product to the virtual store, and an assignment instruction (5) to assign cryptocurrency or points usable for payment in the economic sphere associated with the virtual store to the purchase requester. The economic sphere associated with the virtual store is, for example, at least one of the virtual area in which the virtual store is located and an area in real space associated with the virtual area. The virtual store provides the product to the purchase requester in accordance with the provision instruction. The user can purchase the product in the economic sphere associated with the virtual store by using the assigned cryptocurrency or points.

[0034] In this way, in response to a purchase requester's purchase of a product at a virtual store in a virtual space, the information processing system S grants the purchase requester cryptocurrency or points that can be used for payment in at least one of the virtual area in which the virtual store is located and the area in real space associated with the virtual area. In this way, the information processing system S encourages the purchase requester to purchase products again in the economic zone associated with the virtual store where the purchase requester purchased the product, thereby revitalizing the economy in that economic zone.

[0035] [Configuration of Information Processing System S] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information processing system S according to this embodiment. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and data flows other than those shown in FIG. 2 may exist. In FIG. 2, each block indicates a configuration in functional units, not a configuration in hardware (device) units. Therefore, the blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0036] The management server 1 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. The management server 1 may be configured by connecting two or more physically separate devices via wired or wireless communication. The management server 1 may also be configured by a cloud, which is a collection of computer resources.

[0037] The communication unit 11 has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal 2 via the network. The communication unit 11 notifies the control unit 13 of data received from the user terminal 2 via the network. The communication unit 11 also transmits data output from the control unit 13 to the user terminal 2 via the network.

[0038] The storage unit 12 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 12 prestores a program executed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 also stores store information of one or more virtual stores in each virtual area in the virtual space. The storage unit 12 also stores association information that associates a virtual area in the virtual space with a region in the real space. The storage unit 12 also stores usable information that indicates crypto assets or points that can be used in each of a plurality of virtual areas in the virtual space and a plurality of regions in the real space. The storage unit 12 may be provided outside the management server 1, in which case data may be exchanged between the storage unit 12 and the control unit 13 via a network.

[0039] The control unit 13 has a display control unit 131, a reception unit 132, an acquisition unit 133, an identification unit 134, an output unit 135, and an asset processing unit 136. The control unit 13 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and functions as the display control unit 131, the reception unit 132, the acquisition unit 133, the identification unit 134, the output unit 135, and the asset processing unit 136 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12. The processes performed by each of the display control unit 131, the reception unit 132, the acquisition unit 133, the identification unit 134, the output unit 135, and the asset processing unit 136 will be described later.

[0040] [Account Description] First, a method in which the information processing system S manages crypto assets and points will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method in which the information processing system S manages crypto assets and points. The management server 1 manages the crypto assets held by each of a plurality of users in a crypto asset account. The crypto asset account of each of the plurality of users is associated with user identification information (user ID (Identification)) for identifying the user. In managing the crypto assets, the management server 1 deposits and withdraws crypto assets from the crypto asset accounts, or transfers crypto assets between multiple crypto asset accounts.

[0041] The management server 1 manages crypto assets using, for example, a blockchain with coins as asset units. The management server 1 stores data (blocks) that associate, for example, a user's user ID with the details of transactions in the user's crypto asset account as a blockchain on one or more storage devices on the network. Each block contains one or more transactions indicating that crypto assets have been transferred between users' crypto asset accounts. Each block in the blockchain contains a hash value generated according to a predetermined rule, and the accuracy of the entire blockchain is guaranteed by checking the consistency of the hash values ​​between blocks.

[0042] The management server 1 is not limited to blockchain, and may, for example, store data associating a user's user ID with the crypto assets managed in the user's crypto asset account as a database on the memory unit 12 possessed by the management server 1.

[0043] The management server 1 manages points held by each of a plurality of users in a point account. The point account of each of the plurality of users is associated with the ID of the user. The management server 1 manages points by adding and deducting points from the point accounts, or transferring points between the plurality of point accounts.

[0044] The management server 1 stores, for example, data associating a user's ID with the content of one or more transactions in the user's point account in a database on the storage unit 12 of the management server 1.

[0045] Payment using crypto assets or points may be possible in a physical store in a specific area in the real world, but not possible in a physical store outside that area in the real world. Also, payment using crypto assets or points may be possible in a store in a specific virtual area in the virtual world, but not possible in a store outside that virtual area in the virtual world. This allows the information processing system S to restrict the use of crypto assets or points granted to users.

[0046] [Association information description] Next, a description will be given of the association information stored in the storage unit 12. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the association information. The association information is information indicating that a virtual area in a virtual space is associated with a region in a real space.

[0047] In the example of Fig. 4, a virtual area in a virtual space is associated with a region in a real space. The association information indicates that the virtual area is associated with the region by, for example, indicating that the virtual area is operated by a local government that has jurisdiction over the region in the real space, or that the virtual area is operated by a business in the region in the real space. In this case, the local government that has jurisdiction over the region or the business in the region is, for example, an entity that provides the source of cryptocurrency or points.

[0048] Operating a virtual area includes, for example, holding the rights to the virtual area, being granted business rights by a person who holds the rights to the virtual area, being a business operator that operates all the stores located in the virtual area, etc. The association information may be recorded on the blockchain as a non-fungible token (NFT). One virtual area may be associated with multiple regions. Also, multiple virtual areas may be associated with one region.

[0049] In addition, the association information may indicate that the virtual area and the region are associated by, for example, indicating that the business operator operating the virtual store in the virtual area and the business operator operating the physical store in the region are the same or have a specified relationship (partnership, control, etc.).

[0050] The association information is not limited to the specific relationship described above, and may indicate that the virtual area and the region are associated with each other by a predetermined relationship. For example, when the virtual space is associated with the real space in advance by the virtual space simulating the real space, the association information may indicate that the virtual area and the region are associated with each other by the virtual area (coordinates, etc.) and the region (city, ward, town, village, etc.) being in a predetermined positional relationship.

[0051] [Purchase process explanation] The configuration for the information processing system S to execute a process for allowing a purchase requester to purchase a product from a virtual store will be described below. In the management server 1, the display control unit 131 acquires store information of one or more virtual stores in each virtual area in the virtual area, which is pre-stored in the storage unit 12. The store information includes, for example, the coordinates in the virtual space where the virtual store is located, and information such as the contents and prices of products sold by the virtual store. For example, if the coordinates in the virtual space where a virtual store is located are included in a specific virtual area, the virtual store is located within that virtual area.

[0052] The display control unit 131 transmits display information including the acquired store information to the user terminal 2, thereby displaying the store information of the virtual store within a virtual area on the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 displays, on the display unit, the store information of the virtual store within a virtual area on the virtual space, according to the display information received from the management server 1.

[0053] 5 is a schematic diagram of the user terminal 2 displaying a virtual space. The purchase requester specifies a virtual store by operating an image (avatar, icon, etc.) corresponding to the purchase requester in the virtual space using the operation unit. The user terminal 2 displays the contents and prices of products sold by the virtual store specified by the purchase requester, based on the store information included in the display information received from the management server 1.

[0054] The user terminal 2 accepts the designation of the product that the purchase requester wishes to purchase at the virtual store designated by the purchaser and the payment method (cryptocurrency, points, legal currency, etc.) to be used to purchase the product. In response to a predetermined operation performed by the purchase requester, the user terminal 2 transmits a purchase request to the management server 1 to purchase the designated product at the designated virtual store. The purchase request is information indicating, for example, the user ID of the purchase requester, store identification information (store ID) for identifying the virtual store, the product designated by the purchase requester, and the payment method designated by the purchase requester.

[0055] In the management server 1, the reception unit 132 receives a purchase request from the user terminal 2. The acquisition unit 133 acquires association information and usable information pre-stored in the storage unit 12. The association information is information indicating that a virtual area in the virtual space is associated with a region in the real space, as exemplified in Fig. 4. The usable information is information indicating crypto assets or points that can be used in each of a plurality of virtual areas in the virtual space and a plurality of regions in the real space.

[0056] The identification unit 134 identifies crypto assets or points that can be used for payment in an economic sphere related to the virtual store, which are to be granted to the purchase requester by the output unit 135 described below, based on the association information and usable information acquired by the acquisition unit 133. The economic sphere related to the virtual store is, for example, at least one of the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located or a region in real space associated with the virtual area. The identification unit 134 may identify crypto assets or points that can be used for payment in only one of the virtual area or the region.

[0057] The identification unit 134, for example, identifies, from the usability information, crypto assets or points that can be used for payment in the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, when the association information indicates that the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located is operated by a local government that has jurisdiction over the specified area or by a business operator in the specified area, the identification unit 134 identifies the area as being associated with the virtual area. Furthermore, for example, when the association information indicates that the business operator that operates the virtual store in the virtual area indicated by the purchase request and the business operator that operates the physical store in the specified area are the same or have a specified relationship, the identification unit 134 identifies the area as being associated with the virtual area.

[0059] The determination unit 134 may determine whether or not a virtual area in the virtual space is associated with a region in the real space using other criteria, not limited to the specific criteria shown here. For example, the determination unit 134 determines, in the usable value information, crypto assets or points that can be used for payment in a region in the real space associated with the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located.

[0060] On condition that the reception unit 132 has received a purchase request from the user terminal 2, the output unit 135 outputs a provision instruction (first instruction) to provide the product to the purchase requester, a price payment instruction (second instruction) to have the purchase requester pay the price of the product to the virtual store, and an assignment instruction (third instruction) to assign cryptocurrency or points usable for settlement in the economic sphere related to the virtual store to the purchase requester. In addition to the provision instruction, price payment instruction, and assignment instruction, the output unit 135 may also output a consideration payment instruction (fourth instruction) to have the virtual store pay the consideration for the purchase of the product in the virtual store to the operator of the virtual area.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between a purchase requester, a virtual store, and an operator. The provision instruction is, for example, information indicating a product specified by the purchase requester and the user ID of the purchase requester. If the product is an item, the provision instruction may indicate information (such as an address) inputted in the user terminal 2 for sending the product to the purchase requester. The output unit 135 transmits the provision instruction to, for example, an information terminal associated with the virtual store. In accordance with the provision instruction outputted by the output unit 135, the virtual store transmits a product which is digital data to the purchase requester, provides a product which is a service to the purchase requester, or sends a product which is an item to the purchase requester.

[0062] The price payment instruction is, for example, information indicating the amount of the payment method specified by the purchase requester, which corresponds to the price of the product specified by the purchase requester, the user ID of the purchase requester, and the user ID of the virtual store (the business operating the virtual store). The output unit 135, for example, notifies the price payment instruction to the asset processing unit 136. In accordance with the price payment instruction output by the output unit 135, the asset processing unit 136 transfers assets (cryptocurrency, points, legal tender, etc.) of the payment method specified by the purchase requester from the account of the purchase requester to the account of the virtual store.

[0063] If the payment method specified by the purchase requester is cryptocurrency, the asset processing unit 136, for example, adds a transaction to the blockchain indicating that one or more coins corresponding to the price of the product will be transferred from the purchase requester's cryptocurrency account to the virtual store's cryptocurrency account.

[0064] The grant instruction is, for example, information indicating the cryptocurrency or points usable for payment in the economic zone related to the virtual store identified by the identification unit 134, the amount of the cryptocurrency or points, and the user ID of the purchase requester. The output unit 135 calculates the amount of cryptocurrency or points to be granted to the purchase requester from the price of the product specified by the purchase requester using a predetermined calculation formula, for example, and outputs a grant instruction indicating the calculated amount of cryptocurrency or points. For example, the output unit 135 increases the amount of cryptocurrency or points to be granted to the purchase requester as the price of the product increases.

[0065] The output unit 135 may output the grant instruction based on at least one of the product specified by the purchase requester, the price of the product, the purchase date and time of the product, and the virtual store specified by the purchase requester. The output unit 135 outputs the grant instruction on the condition that the product specified by the purchase requester is a predetermined product that has been preset as a target for which cryptocurrency or points are to be granted, for example. The output unit 135 also outputs the grant instruction on the condition that the price of the product specified by the purchase requester is within a predetermined range (e.g., a predetermined value or more) that has been preset as a target for which cryptocurrency or points are to be granted.

[0066] Furthermore, the output unit 135 outputs the grant instruction on condition that, for example, the purchase date and time of the product specified by the purchase requester is within a predetermined period (such as within a campaign period) that has been set in advance as a target for granting cryptocurrency or points. The purchase date and time may be included in the purchase request sent by the user terminal 2, or may be the date and time when the reception unit 132 receives the purchase request. Furthermore, the output unit 135 outputs the grant instruction on condition, for example, that the virtual store specified by the purchase requester is a predetermined store that has been set in advance as a target for granting cryptocurrency or points. This allows the management server 1 to flexibly adjust the conditions for granting cryptocurrency or points to the purchase requester.

[0067] The output unit 135 may output a grant instruction on the condition that the purchase requester has used a specified coupon when purchasing the product. The coupon is, for example, a coupon for receiving cryptocurrency or points, and is granted in advance to a purchase requester who meets specified conditions (for example, having a specified contract, having previously made a payment at a specified store, having previously purchased a specified product, etc.). The coupon may have a set number of times that it can be used. When purchasing a product, the purchase requester specifies whether or not to use the coupon on the user terminal 2. This allows the management server 1 to switch whether or not to grant cryptocurrency or points to the purchase requester according to the purchase requester's intention.

[0068] The output unit 135 may output the grant instruction on the condition that the purchase requester has a predetermined relationship with the area associated with the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located, or with the actual store associated with the virtual store. The output unit 135 outputs the grant instruction on the condition that, for example, the purchase requester is a resident of the area associated with the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located. In this case, the output unit 135 determines whether the purchase requester is a resident of the area based on, for example, whether an address previously associated with the user ID of the purchase requester is within the area. This allows the management server 1 to switch whether to grant crypto assets or points to the purchase requester depending on the relationship between the purchase requester and the area associated with the virtual area.

[0069] Furthermore, the output unit 135 outputs the grant instruction on the condition that, for example, the purchase requester has registered as a member at a physical store previously associated with the virtual store indicated by the purchase request or has previously made a payment at the physical store. In this case, the output unit 135 determines, for example, based on the member registration information or payment information associated with the user ID of the purchase requester, whether or not the purchase requester has registered as a member at a physical store or has previously made a payment at the physical store. This allows the management server 1 to switch whether or not to grant crypto assets or points to the purchase requester depending on the relationship between the purchase requester and the physical store associated with the virtual store.

[0070] The output unit 135, for example, notifies the asset processing unit 136 of the grant instruction. When granting cryptocurrency to the purchase requester, the asset processing unit 136 transfers the cryptocurrency from a specified resource account in which the cryptocurrency's original funds are stored to the purchase requester's cryptocurrency account in accordance with the grant instruction output by the output unit 135. The asset processing unit 136, for example, adds to the blockchain a transaction indicating that one or more coins corresponding to the amount to be granted to the purchase requester are transferred from the resource account to the purchase requester's cryptocurrency account.

[0071] When granting points to a purchase requester, the asset processing unit 136 transfers the points from a predetermined resource account in which the resource of the points is stored to the point account of the purchase requester in accordance with the granting instruction output by the output unit 135. The asset processing unit 136 adds data to the database, for example, indicating that one or more points corresponding to the amount to be granted to the purchase requester are to be transferred from the resource account to the point account of the purchase requester.

[0072] The cryptocurrency or points stored in the resource account may be provided by, for example, a local government or business that operates the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located. The cryptocurrency or points stored in the resource account may be provided by, for example, a local government that has jurisdiction over the area associated with the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located, or a business within that area.

[0073] This allows the management server 1 to grant the purchase requester crypto assets or points that can be used for payment in the economic sphere related to the virtual store where the purchase requester purchased the product, thereby encouraging the purchase requester to repurchase products in that economic sphere.

[0074] Furthermore, the output unit 135 may further output a grant instruction to grant the purchase requester cryptocurrency or points usable for payment in at least one of the virtual area or the area, on the condition that the purchase requester has purchased a product in a physical store in the area associated with the virtual area. In this way, even if the purchase requester purchases a product in a real-space area associated with a virtual area, the management server 1 can grant the purchase requester cryptocurrency or points usable for payment in the economic sphere related to the virtual store in the virtual area, thereby encouraging the purchase requester to purchase products again in the economic sphere.

[0075] The consideration payment instruction is, for example, information indicating the consideration paid by the virtual store to the operator of the virtual area, the user ID of the virtual store, and the user ID of the operator of the virtual area. The consideration is, for example, a specified cryptocurrency or legal tender such as Japanese yen. The output unit 135 calculates the consideration from the price of the product specified by the purchase requester using, for example, a specified calculation formula, and outputs a consideration payment instruction indicating the calculated consideration. For example, the output unit 135 increases the consideration paid by the virtual store to the operator of the virtual area as the price of the product increases.

[0076] When the consideration is a crypto asset, the output unit 135, for example, notifies the asset processing unit 136 of a consideration payment instruction. The asset processing unit 136 transfers the crypto asset from the crypto asset account of the virtual store to the crypto asset account of the operator of the virtual space in accordance with the consideration payment instruction output by the output unit 135. The asset processing unit 136, for example, adds to the blockchain a transaction indicating that one or more coins corresponding to the consideration are to be transferred from the crypto asset account of the virtual store to the crypto asset account of the operator of the virtual space.

[0077] When the consideration is a legal currency, the output unit 135 notifies, for example, a bank server of a bank that handles legal currency of a consideration payment instruction. The bank server transfers the consideration from the bank account of the virtual store to the bank account of the operator of the virtual area in accordance with the consideration payment instruction output by the output unit 135.

[0078] This allows the management server 1 to provide compensation to the operator of the virtual area in response to the purchase requester's purchase of a product at the virtual store, thereby increasing the operator's motivation to operate the virtual area.

[0079] It is desirable that the payment by the purchase requester in the virtual store and the payment by the purchase requester in the real store are performed using a common or mutually associated user ID for identifying the purchase requester. In this case, the payment in the real store is performed using the user ID used for the payment in the virtual store or a user ID associated with that user ID, and the payment in the virtual store is performed using the user ID used for the payment in the real store or a user ID associated with that user ID. In other words, the purchase requester can purchase products in the virtual store using a user ID in the virtual space, and can also purchase products in the real store using that user ID in the real space. This allows the purchase requester to easily purchase products without having to manage user IDs separately in the virtual space and the real space.

[0080] [Sequence of information processing method] 7 is a sequence diagram of an exemplary information processing method executed by the information processing system S according to this embodiment. In response to a predetermined operation performed by a purchase requester in the virtual space, the user terminal 2 transmits a purchase request to the management server 1 for purchasing a specified product in a specified virtual store (S11).

[0081] In the management server 1, the reception unit 132 receives a purchase request from the user terminal 2. The acquisition unit 133 acquires the association information and the availability information pre-stored in the storage unit 12 (S12).

[0082] Based on the association information and usability information acquired by the acquisition unit 133, the identification unit 134 identifies the crypto asset or points that the output unit 135 will grant to the purchase requester and that can be used for payment in an economic zone related to the virtual store (S13). The economic zone related to the virtual store is, for example, at least one of the virtual area in which the virtual store indicated by the purchase request is located or a region in real space associated with the virtual area. The identification unit 134 may identify the crypto asset or points that can be used for payment in only one of the virtual area or the region.

[0083] The output unit 135 outputs a provision instruction to provide the product to the purchase requester on condition that the reception unit 132 has received a purchase request from the user terminal 2 (S14). The output unit 135 transmits the provision instruction to, for example, an information terminal associated with the virtual store. In accordance with the provision instruction output by the output unit 135, the virtual store transmits the product, which is digital data, to the purchase requester, provides the product, which is a service, to the purchase requester, or sends the product, which is an item, to the purchase requester.

[0084] The output unit 135 also outputs a payment instruction for the purchase requester to pay the price of the product to the virtual store (S15). The output unit 135, for example, notifies the payment instruction to the asset processing unit 136. In accordance with the payment instruction output by the output unit 135, the asset processing unit 136 transfers assets of the payment means specified by the purchase requester from the purchase requester's account to the virtual store's account.

[0085] Furthermore, the output unit 135 outputs an assignment instruction to assign crypto assets or points usable for settlement in the economic zone related to the virtual store to the purchase requester (S16). The output unit 135, for example, notifies the asset processing unit 136 of the assignment instruction. When assigning crypto assets to the purchase requester, the asset processing unit 136 transfers the crypto assets from a specified resource account in which the crypto assets' raw materials are stored to the crypto assets account of the purchase requester in accordance with the assignment instruction output by the output unit 135. When assigning points to the purchase requester, the asset processing unit 136 transfers the points from a specified resource account in which the points' raw materials are stored to the point account of the purchase requester in accordance with the assignment instruction output by the output unit 135.

[0086] The output unit 135 also outputs a consideration payment instruction for the virtual store to pay the consideration for the purchase requester's purchase of the product at the virtual store to the operator of the virtual area (S17). If the consideration is cryptocurrency, the output unit 135, for example, notifies the asset processing unit 136 of the consideration payment instruction. The asset processing unit 136 transfers the cryptocurrency from the cryptocurrency account of the virtual store to the cryptocurrency account of the operator of the virtual area in accordance with the consideration payment instruction output by the output unit 135. If the consideration is legal tender, the output unit 135, for example, notifies the bank server of a bank that handles legal tender of the consideration payment instruction. The bank server transfers the consideration from the bank account of the virtual store to the bank account of the operator of the virtual area in accordance with the consideration payment instruction output by the output unit 135.

[0087] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the information processing system S of this embodiment, in response to a purchase requester's purchase of a product at a virtual store in a virtual space, the management server 1 grants the purchase requester cryptocurrency or points that can be used for payment in at least one of the virtual area in which the virtual store is located and the area in real space associated with the virtual area. In this way, the information processing system S encourages the purchase requester to purchase products again in the economic zone associated with the virtual store where the purchase requester purchased the product, thereby revitalizing the economy in that economic zone.

[0088] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote industry, innovation and infrastructure."

[0089] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] S Information Processing System 1 Management Server 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control section 131 Display control unit 132 Reception 133 Acquisition Department 134 Specific part 135 Output section 136 Asset Management Department 2. User terminal

Claims

1. a reception unit that receives, from a purchase requester, a purchase request to purchase a product at a virtual store in a virtual area having an area or volume generated by dividing a virtual space having an area or volume; an identification unit that identifies a region in a real space that is associated with the region in the virtual space, the region being indicated by association information that is pre-stored in a storage unit; an output unit which, on condition that the reception unit has received the purchase request, sends a first instruction to a device associated with the virtual store to provide the product to the purchase requester, notifies a device which transfers the payment of a second instruction to have the purchase requester pay the price of the product to the virtual store, and notifies a device which transfers the electronic assets of a third instruction to grant the purchase requester electronic assets which can be used for settlement at a plurality of stores located in the area in the real space identified by the identification unit; having a type of the electronic asset granted when the product is purchased in the virtual store located in a first area in the virtual space and a type of the electronic asset granted when the product is purchased in the virtual store located in a second area different from the first area in the virtual space are different from each other; Information processing device.

2. the output unit outputs the third instruction based on at least one of the product, a price of the product, a purchase date and time of the product, and the virtual store. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the output unit outputs the third instruction on the condition that the purchase requester has used a predetermined coupon when purchasing the product.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the output unit outputs the third instruction on the condition that the purchase requester has a predetermined relationship with the region or a store in the region associated with the virtual store.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The output unit further outputs an instruction for causing the virtual store to pay a price for the purchase of the product by the purchase requester at the virtual store to an operator of the area.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The association information indicates that the area is associated with the area on the condition that the area is operated by a local government having jurisdiction over the area or a business within the area.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The association information indicates that the region is associated with the area on the condition that an operator of the virtual store and an operator of a store in the region are the same or have a predetermined relationship with each other.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The payment by the purchase requester in the virtual store and the payment by the purchase requester in the real store are performed using common or mutually associated user identification information for identifying the purchase requester.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The source of the electronic assets is provided by a local government having jurisdiction over the area or a business operator within the area; 3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The electronic assets are provided by the local government or business operator that operates the area.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

11. the output unit further outputs an instruction to grant the electronic asset to the purchase requester on the condition that the purchase requester purchases a product at a store in the area.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The payment using the electronic assets can be executed at a store within the region in the real space, and cannot be executed at a store outside the region in the real space.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

13. The settlement using the electronic assets can be performed at a store within the area in the virtual space, and cannot be performed at a store outside the area in the virtual space.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

14. the second instruction is an instruction to transfer the electronic assets corresponding to the price of the product from the account of the purchase requester to an account of the virtual store; 3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

15. the reception unit receives the purchase request transmitted from the information terminal in response to the purchase requester operating an image corresponding to the purchase requester in the virtual space displayed on the information terminal; 3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

16. and an asset processing unit that pays the amount indicated by the second instruction from an account associated with the purchase requester to an account associated with the virtual store, and grants the electronic asset indicated by the third instruction to the account associated with the purchase requester.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

17. The processor executes receiving, from a purchase requester, a purchase request for purchasing a commodity at a virtual store in a virtual area having an area or volume generated by dividing a virtual space; Identifying a region in a real space associated with the region in the virtual space, the region being indicated by association information stored in advance in a storage unit; transmitting, on condition that the purchase request has been accepted in the accepting step, a first instruction to provide the product to the purchase requester to a device associated with the virtual store; a step of notifying a device that transfers the payment of a second instruction for the purchase requester to pay the price of the product to the virtual store, on condition that the purchase request has been accepted in the accepting step; a step of notifying a device that transfers the electronic assets of a third instruction for granting to the purchase requester electronic assets that can be used for payment at a plurality of stores located in the area in the real space identified in the identifying step, on condition that the purchase request has been accepted in the accepting step; having a type of the electronic asset granted when the product is purchased in the virtual store located in a first area in the virtual space and a type of the electronic asset granted when the product is purchased in the virtual store located in a second area different from the first area in the virtual space are different from each other; Information processing methods.

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