Matching system, recording medium, and server

Abstract

The present invention relates to a matching system, a recording medium, and a server. The matching system of the present invention includes: a first reception mechanism; an allocation mechanism; a management mechanism; an action control mechanism; and a display control mechanism; and executes an action that enables the matching of a battle game to be established between first-type avatars that are matching targets of the battle game, and does not give the execution permission of an action that enables the matching of a battle game to be established between a first-type avatar disposed in the virtual space and a second-type avatar that is not a matching target in the battle game. Instead, the execution right of an action to expel any first-type avatar disposed in the virtual space from the virtual space is given. When the expulsion action is performed by the action control mechanism, the management mechanism suspends the configuration of the first-type avatar to be expelled into the virtual space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a matching system, a recording medium, and a server, and more particularly to an electronic game for realizing online multiplayer battles. Background Art

[0002] There is a system that enables communication between users via avatars in a virtual space by configuring the avatars corresponding to the users in a movable form (Patent Document 1).

[0003] [Background Art Document]

[0004] [Patent Document]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-088878 Summary of the Invention

[0006] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] However, in the system of Patent Document 1, since communication can be performed in a non-face-to-face form, there may be users who do not follow the rules or do not observe etiquette.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a matching system, a recording medium, and a server that realize communication with improved comfort.

[0009] [Technical Means for Solving the Problems]

[0010] The matching system of the present invention is a matching system that provides a matching service for communication and battle games via avatars configured in a virtual space. The matching system includes: a first reception mechanism that receives a connection from an information communication terminal of a user of the service; an allocation mechanism that allocates a first type of avatar, which is a matching object for a battle game, to the user of the connected information communication terminal; a management mechanism that arranges the first type of avatar allocated to the user by the allocation mechanism and a second type of avatar that is not a matching object in the battle game in the virtual space, enables the avatar to move in the virtual space, and manages the state of the avatar; an action control mechanism that controls the actions of the second type of avatar in the virtual space; and a display control mechanism that causes the display mechanism of the connected information communication terminal to display the virtual space in a form that can recognize the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar based on the state information of the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar managed by the management mechanism. And for the first type of avatar, the execution permission of an action that makes the matching of the battle game established between the first type of avatar and other first type of avatars configured in the virtual space is given. For the second type of avatar, instead of giving the execution permission of an action that makes the matching of the battle game established between the first type of avatar and the first type of avatar configured in the virtual space, the execution right of an action to expel any first type of avatar configured in the virtual space from the virtual space is given. When the expulsion action is performed by the action control mechanism, the management mechanism suspends the arrangement of the first type of avatar to be expelled in the virtual space.

[0011] [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, communication with improved comfort can be achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a matching system according to an embodiment and a variation example of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a server 100 according to an embodiment and a variation example of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of a user terminal 200 according to an embodiment and a variation example of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 It is a diagram illustrating a user interface displayed when selecting a room in a matching service according to an embodiment and a variation example of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5(a) 、 5(b) It is a diagram for explaining the display of a room presented in the use of a matching service according to an embodiment and a variation example of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6(a) , 6(b) is a diagram for explaining the state of a user avatar that becomes a matching object in a matching service for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 7(a) , 7(b) is a diagram for illustrating a user interface displayed for confirmation of intention with an opponent user in a matching service for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 8(a) , 8(b) is another diagram for explaining the display of a room presented in the use of a matching service for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 9(a) , 9(b) is a diagram for illustrating the display of the result of a battle game conducted in an external service in a matching service for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 10(a) , 10(b) is a diagram for illustrating the display caused by the actions of an operating avatar in a matching service for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 11 is a flowchart for illustrating a provision process executed in server 100 for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 12 is a flowchart for illustrating a matching process executed in server 100 for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 13 is a diagram for illustrating a user interface displayed on a manager terminal in a matching service for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 14(a) , 14(b) , 14(c), 14(d) are diagrams for illustrating the data configurations of various information used in a matching system for illustrating embodiments and variations of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0027] [Embodiment 1]

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments do not limit the invention in the claims, and furthermore, the combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not all required for the invention. Two or more of the multiple features described in the embodiments can also be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same or similar components are given the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0029] The following description of an embodiment illustrates an example of applying the present invention to a system that is an example of a matching system. In this system, a server that accepts connections from user terminals provides a service for implementing matching via a virtual space for a two-player battle game provided in an external service. However, the present invention can be applied to a system implemented by any device configuration that can perform matching via a virtual space for a battle game provided in an external service.

[0030] In addition, in this specification, the "user" described refers to a user who uses the service (matching service) provided by the server in this matching system, and the "player" described refers to a user who plays a battle game using the "external service" or a user who has been determined to play a battle game.

[0031] 《Configuration of the Matching System》

[0032] Figure 1 FIG. is a diagram showing the configuration of the matching system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the matching system, the server 100 and a plurality of user terminals 200 can be communicatively connected via the network 300. The server 100 provides a matching service that matches the users of the connected user terminals 200 as players for a battle game implemented by an external service.

[0033] In this embodiment, the external service is described as a service that supports performing a battle game between players at a distance and does not have a matching function of a free matching method, which is to draw a corresponding number of players for matching when providing the service. For example, the external service may also be a service for implementing a trading card game (TCG). In this trading card game, players required for the battle game can access a room (connection point) generated by a player acting as a host using the user terminal 200, and can use the video chat function based on the camera and microphone of the user terminal 200 to share the status of game items deployed in the environment (real world) where the players are located while playing the game.

[0034] However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. The external service only needs to be a service that provides a battle game via the network 300 among the user terminals 200 of a plurality of registered players. Of course, it may also be a service for implementing other types of battle games. In addition, the external service is not limited to a service that does not have a matching function of a free matching method, as long as it includes a custom matching method as a form of the matching function, which is to match the users of the user terminals 200 connected to a specified connection point as players.

[0035] A user of the matching service can browse a virtual space (hereinafter referred to as a room) of the matching service configured with an avatar corresponding to the user by connecting the used user terminal 200 to the server 100, which will be described in detail below. The user operates to move the avatar configured in the room, communicates with other users (such as text chat) via the avatar, and then can match with a battle opponent for a battle game provided by an external service.

[0036] In addition, the external service sets a function to accept spectators for the ongoing battle game. The user of the matching system can grasp the avatar in the room that is in a battle state and can watch the battle game conducted by the user corresponding to the avatar.

[0037] In addition, the matching system of this embodiment is configured to be able to perform matching in a battle game for multiple game titles. Battle games for multiple game titles can be provided by different external services, or multiple game titles can be provided by one external service. To improve the matching efficiency, rooms are independently set for each game title, and the avatar corresponding to the user is configured in the room of the game title that requires a battle. In addition, to ensure the matching opportunities in each room, an upper limit number is set for the number of avatars configured in the room, and for game titles with a large number of users, it is set to be able to select multiple rooms, which will be described in detail below.

[0038] 〈Functional Configuration of Server 100〉

[0039] Refer to Figure 2 the block diagram to describe the functional configuration of the server 100 of this embodiment.

[0040] The control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU (central processing unit), and controls the operations of each block of the server 100. Specifically, the control unit 101, for example, reads the operation programs of each block recorded in the recording medium 102, expands and executes the operation programs in the memory 103, and controls the operations of each block.

[0041] The recording medium 102 is, for example, a recording device such as a non-volatile memory or an HDD (hard disk drive) that can permanently store data. In addition to storing the operation programs of each block of the server 100, the recording medium 102 also stores information such as parameters required for the operations of each block. The memory 103 is, for example, a storage device such as a volatile memory for temporary storage of data. The memory 103 is not only used as an expansion area for the operation programs of each block but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output during the operations of each block.

[0042] The user DB 104 is a database that manages the information (user information) of users in the matching service of the matching system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14(a) for example, the user information may also be configured to include: identification information 1402, which is associated with the user ID 1401 that specifies a unique user and can identify the corresponding user such as an email address; avatar appearance information 1403, which specifies the appearance of the avatar corresponding to the user; profile information 1404, which represents the profile set for the user; and battle record information 1405, which represents the battle record of the battle game played by the user in an external service. In the matching system of the present embodiment, when each user starts to connect the user terminal 200 to be used, that is, when initially using the matching service, user registration is performed (the identification information of the user is associated with the user ID 1401), and the user information of the user is added to the user DB 104. In addition, at the time of connection after the next time, the service is provided by using the user information by inputting the identification information of the user.

[0043] The corresponding service DB 105 is a database that manages the information (external service information) of the external services that are matching targets in the matching system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14(b) for example, the external service information may also be configured to include: the number of players required 1412, which is associated with the service ID 1411 that specifies a unique external service and represents the number of players required for the battle game provided in the external service; and access information 1413, which represents the access point of the external service used when registering the information of the matched players (requesting to generate a connection point for the battle game). The external service information for the collaborative external services is preconfigured and added to the corresponding service DB 105.

[0044] The status management DB 106 manages the status management information of the status of the virtual space provided with the matching function in the matching system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14(c) for example, the status management information may also be configured to include: the service ID 1422, which is associated with the room ID 1421 that specifies a unique room and specifies the external service that provides the battle game for matching in the room; and the configured avatar information 1423, which represents the status of each avatar configured in the room.

[0045] Here, the configured avatar information 1423 for one avatar, as shown in FIG. 14(d) for example, may also be configured to include: the user ID 1432 of the user, which is associated with the avatar ID 1431 that uniquely designates the avatar in the room and corresponds to the avatar; the configured position 1433 of the avatar in the room; the object flag 1434, indicating whether the avatar is a matching object for a battle game (matching waiting state); the in-battle flag 1435, indicating whether the avatar (or the user corresponding to the avatar) is currently executing a battle game in an external service corresponding to the room (in battle); and the watching-in-battle flag 1436, indicating whether other avatars in the room are currently watching the executing battle game. The object flag 1434, the in-battle flag 1435, and the watching-in-battle flag 1436 may also be logical information.

[0046] The configured avatar information 1423 is updated according to the operations performed by the user on the user terminal 200 during the period when the corresponding user's avatar is configured in the room, or is updated by periodically obtaining the status. In addition, the avatar whose status is managed by the configured avatar information 1423 is not limited to the avatar corresponding to the user (user avatar), but also includes the avatar configured for the operator of the matching service (operator avatar), which will be described in detail below. In this embodiment, the operator avatar is described as a so-called NPC (Non-Player Character), and this avatar is not associated with the user, that is, its actions are not controlled by operations performed on the user terminal 200. In addition, the user ID 1432 of the configured avatar information 1423 of the operator avatar uses null (null value), or an ID that is not provided to the user.

[0047] The speculation unit 107 speculates, for a user of the matching service, whether the user is in a state where they hope to play a battle game based on the state transition of the avatar corresponding to the user in the room. The speculation performed by the speculation unit 107 is described below. In the matching system of this embodiment, the structure is as follows: after the player appropriately confirms the state, it is supported until the battle game is established. In this way, even for a user who is relatively passive in communication between users, it is easy to play the battle game.

[0048] The action control unit 108 controls the actions of the operator avatars configured in each room. As described above, the operator avatar is not an avatar whose actions are controlled by operations performed on the user terminal 200. Therefore, the action control unit 108 performs this control based on the status of the configured avatar in the room.

[0049] The matching unit 109 matches users corresponding to the avatars in a room that are in the matching waiting state and are of a specified number (the number of players required for a battle game of an external service). In addition, the matching unit 109 registers the user information of the matched avatars in order to set a connection point for a new battle game in the external service corresponding to the room. That is, in the matching system of the present embodiment, the matching unit 109 has the function of acting on behalf of the procedures when a user directly uses an external service to play a battle game (including the registration procedures related to determining a battle opponent and setting a connection point).

[0050] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface of the server 100 for communicating with other devices. The communication unit 110 connects to an external device via the network 300 by a specified communication method, whether wired or wireless, to perform data transmission and reception.

[0051] <Function Configuration of User Terminal 200>

[0052] Next, the function configuration of the user terminal 200 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3 the block diagram. In addition, in the present embodiment, the user terminal 200 is described as a smart phone, which is equipped with a camera and a microphone to play a TCG battle game among players at a long distance in the above form. However, it is easily understood that the user terminal 200 in the implementation of the present invention is not limited to a smart phone. That is, the device used as the user terminal 200 only needs to be a device having the necessary configuration specified for a battle game realized via an information communication function and an external service, and is not limited to a device having all the necessary configurations in the initial configuration such as a smart phone. In addition, in the description of the function configuration of the user terminal 200, for the configuration that realizes the same function as the configuration of the server 100, in order to distinguish it from the configuration of the server 100, the prefix "utilization" is attached to indicate this configuration.

[0053] The utilization control unit 201 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operations of the respective blocks of the user terminal 200. Specifically, the utilization control unit 201, for example, reads the operation programs of the respective blocks recorded in the utilization recording medium 202 and the programs related to the support application programs, expands the programs in the utilization memory 203, and executes them to control the operations of the respective blocks.

[0054] The recording medium 202 is a recording device such as a non-volatile memory or an HDD that can permanently store data. The recording medium 202 stores, in addition to the operation programs of the respective blocks included in the user terminal 200, information such as parameters required for the operation of the respective blocks, programs for browsing application programs, and the like. The memory 203 is a storage device such as a volatile memory that is temporarily used for data storage. The memory 203 is used not only as an expansion area for the operation programs of the respective blocks but also as a storage area for temporarily storing data output during the operation of the respective blocks.

[0055] The camera 204 is an imaging device unit having an imaging element such as a CCD (charge coupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor, and is used to obtain information on a full set of game physical items deployed by a player using the user terminal 200 when playing a battle game using an external service. The camera 204 operates in such a manner as to intermittently capture images at a predetermined timing during the play of the battle game, and sequentially outputs the captured images. Detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0056] The microphone 205 is a conversion unit that converts detected sound into an electrical signal, and is used to obtain declarations made by a player using the user terminal 200 when operating game physical items when playing a battle game using an external service. The microphone 205 operates in the same manner as the camera 204, that is, during the play of the battle game, sound detection is intermittently performed at a predetermined timing, and during the sound detection, sequentially converted sound signals are output.

[0057] The notification control unit 206 is responsible for controlling the notification of various information to the user of the user terminal 200. In the user terminal 200 of the present embodiment, the following mechanism is described as a mechanism for notifying various information to the user. The mechanism includes: a display 210 that displays a screen (a game screen, another OS (operating system) menu screen, etc.); and a speaker 220 that outputs sound; however, the information notification mechanism is not limited to these, and of course, these configurations can be replaced or additional configurations can be added. The display 210 is a display device included in the user terminal 200 such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the display content is controlled by the notification control unit 206. In the present embodiment, the display 210 is described as a display device built into the user terminal 200, but of course, it can also be a display device that is detachably connected to the outside of the user terminal 200.

[0058] The operation input unit 207 is, for example, a user interface of the user terminal 200 such as a touch panel or buttons. When the operation input unit 207 detects an operation input by the user, it outputs a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the utilization control unit 201.

[0059] The utilization communication unit 208 is a communication interface of the user terminal 200 for communicating with other devices. Whether wired or wireless, the utilization communication unit 208 is connected to an external device via the network 300 by a prescribed communication method to perform data transmission and reception.

[0060] "Summary of the Matching Service"

[0061] Hereinafter, a summary of the matching service provided by the matching system configured as described above will be described.

[0062] The matching service of the present embodiment is provided to the user via a browsing application (hereinafter referred to as a browser) executed on the user terminal 200. That is, the user can receive the provision of the matching service via the browser screen displayed on the display 210 by using the browser to cause the user terminal 200 to access a website set for the matching service (hereinafter referred to as a provision website). More specifically, the user can use external service information by registering as a user on the provision website and performing procedures related to service login. Here, user registration includes inputting a profile publicly displayed to other users (inputting text or selecting a corresponding item from items preset for a person introduction), which includes a nickname used by the user in the matching service. After service login, the server 100 migrates to a state of maintaining a communication connection with the corresponding user terminal 200, and performs processes such as sending information required for display in the user terminal 200, controlling corresponding to operations performed on the user terminal 200, and updating various information.

[0063] 〈Determination of Room〉

[0064] When a user (hereinafter referred to as a utilization starter) completes the procedures related to service login, first, a room in which the user avatar of the utilization starter is to be arranged is determined. The room is determined by the utilization starter selecting a game title for which matching (or viewing) is desired, and selecting a room to be utilized (entered) from among a plurality of rooms set for the selected game title. The former selection is performed as follows: a list of various game titles that can be played by using an external service registered in the corresponding service DB 105 is displayed on the browser, and the utilization starter performs a selection operation for any one of them. In addition, the latter selection is performed, for example, Figure 4 as shown in the following manner: a list of a plurality of rooms set for the selected game title is displayed on the browser, and the utilization starter performs a selection operation for any one of them.

[0065] At this time, as described above, there is an upper limit set for the number of avatars that can be configured in one room (the number of users who can use the matching service via this room, that is, the number of people entering the room). The control unit 101 accepts the latter selection and determines whether it is possible to enter the room. Only when it is possible to enter the room, control is performed to configure the user avatar of the user who starts using into the corresponding room.

[0066] In addition, in order to make it easier for the user who starts using to select a room, a notification indicating whether the upper limit has been reached may be attached to each of the multiple rooms displayed during the latter selection. For example, this notification can be displayed in text as "(number of people entering the room) / (upper limit number)", the entry rate (percentage) of the room, or an image representing the entry rate of the room can be displayed. The room that has reached the upper limit is notified by being displayed in a non-selectable form. Alternatively, the information sent to the user terminal 200 can be controlled so that rooms that cannot be entered are not displayed on the browser, thereby improving the convenience when the user who starts using selects a room.

[0067] After determining the room, the user avatar corresponding to the user who starts using is configured into the determined room. On the browser of the user terminal 200, the field (the space where the avatar can move) in the room shown in Fig. 5(a) is displayed. More specifically, the control unit 101 adds the configured avatar information 1423 of the user who starts using to the status management information of the determined room, whereby the room in the form in which the user avatar of the user who starts using is configured can be confirmed on the user terminals 200 of this user who starts using and other users who use the same room.

[0068] In addition, in order to enhance the interest of players in the matching service, display control is performed in the following manner. That is, on the browser of each user terminal 200, not the entire room is displayed as shown in Fig. 5(a), but only a partial area of the room is displayed as shown in Fig. 5(b). As shown in the figure, the area of the room to be displayed can also be determined according to the position of the user avatar corresponding to each user terminal 200 in the room (for example, centered on the position of this avatar). This display control can be achieved by making the display information sent from the server 100 to the user terminal 200 different, or by causing the control unit 206 in the user terminal 200 to make the display content different.

[0069] 〈Configuring the Avatar〉

[0070] Next, the types of avatars configured in the room will be described in detail, including the actions that can be performed in the room for which the avatar is assigned execution permissions. As described above, in the matching system of this embodiment, two types of avatars are configured in each room, namely, the user avatar as the first type of avatar of the present invention and the operation avatar as the second type of avatar. When the user avatar and the operation avatar are displayed on the browser when the room is shown, they are displayed in a recognizable form.

[0071] (User Avatar)

[0072] The user avatar is an avatar corresponding to the user of the user terminal 200 that is currently connected to the server 100. The user avatar is configured to be able to change (move) its position in the room according to the movement operations performed on the user terminal 200 of the corresponding user. For example, the appearance of the user avatar can also be determined and registered in the user information when logging in to the service for the first time after user registration, and when it is placed in the room during subsequent service use, the appearance will be reproduced by referring to this information.

[0073] Here, the appearance of the user avatar is composed of a combination of elements such as the face, profile, hairstyle, body shape, clothing, etc. The user can form the desired appearance by selecting multiple parts set for each element. In other words, the types of combinations that can be selected as the appearance of the user avatar will depend on the number of parts set for each element, and any one of the pre-specified multiple appearances is assigned to the user avatar. In addition, in order to facilitate the setting related to the user's appearance, a lottery process can also be performed by the control unit 101, and the appearance formed by randomly combining the parts drawn for each element is presented to the user as a candidate. In this case, when the user likes the candidate appearance, the user can determine that the appearance of the user avatar to be used is the combination of this candidate by performing an operation related to confirmation. In addition, it can also be configured to perform the lottery process of the candidate appearance multiple times. For example, multiple candidates obtained through multiple lottery processes are saved, and the appearance liked by the user is selected from these candidates. In addition, an editing function can also be provided to the user so that the user can determine the final appearance of the user avatar. This editing function is a part where the user can change at least a part of the elements based on the candidate appearance.

[0074] The user avatar is not only given the permission to execute movement actions in the room, but also the permission to send messages and execute actions related to forming a match. That is, on the user terminal 200, the user can perform operations related to moving in the room on the user avatar corresponding to himself / herself and placed in the room, and can also perform input operations for messages sent to a specified user or all users in the room, and various operations related to forming a match such as making the user avatar transfer to a state of accepting a battle with other users, applying for a battle with other users, and receiving a battle application from other users. The purpose of the matching service in this embodiment is to form a multiplayer battle game in an external service, so the avatars that become the matching objects are limited to the user avatars placed in the room.

[0075] Here, actions related to establishing a match for granting execution authority to a user avatar and the matching process performed in the server 100 based on such actions will be described. Additionally, hereinafter, for the sake of easier understanding of the invention, the following description will be given. That is, in an external service corresponding to a room, a battle game in which a game is played is implemented by two players (one-on-one), and two users are matched as players through the matching process.

[0076] In the matching service of this embodiment, on the occasion of configuring at least one user avatar at a specified position on the outer periphery of a table disposed in a room, the matching process for the battle game is started. As shown in FIG. 6(a), two chairs 602 are disposed on the outer periphery of the table 601. When the user avatar is configured at the position of the chair 602 as a result of a movement operation, the state of the user avatar is managed as a matching object.

[0077] When a user avatar to be matched (hereinafter referred to as a waiting avatar) is configured on one table, as shown in FIG. 6(b), another user can apply for a battle against the user of the waiting avatar by configuring the user avatar being used (hereinafter referred to as an application avatar) at the position of the other chair 602 of the table. That is, as shown in the figure, when the application avatar and the waiting avatar are in a state where they are disposed at positions facing each other across the table, which is the first form of the present invention, a battle can be applied for. Similar to the waiting avatar, when the application avatar is configured at the position of the chair 602 where the waiting avatar is not disposed as a result of a movement operation, the state of the application avatar is managed as a matching object.

[0078] When the state of the application avatar becomes a matching object, a notification 701 is displayed on the user terminal 200 of the user of the application avatar. As shown in FIG. 7(a), the notification 701 includes the profile and battle results of the user of the waiting avatar and a confirmation of the intention to apply for a battle against the user of the waiting avatar. Thereafter, when the user of the application avatar selects the item for applying for a battle in the notification 701, a notification 702 is displayed on the user terminal 200 of the user of the waiting avatar. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the notification 702 includes the profile and battle results of the user of the application avatar and a confirmation of the intention to accept the battle application. Then, when the user of the waiting avatar selects the item for accepting the battle in the notification 702, it is regarded that the users of the waiting avatar and the application avatar agree to play the game, and these users are matched as players of the battle game (the match is established).

[0079] After the match is established, players are registered with an external service based on the user information of the two established users (established users), and the established users start using the external service. More specifically, by sending the information of the established users and a request to generate a connection point for the battle game from Server 100 to the server of the external service, a new connection point for the battle game is generated in the external service, and the information of the connection point is sent back to Server 100. The information of the connection point is stored in Memory 103 in association with the information of Table 601 in the specified room, for example. Moreover, the sent information of the connection point is transmitted to the user terminal 200 of the established user together with a transfer command, and an operation to transfer the connection point to the external service is performed on the browser of the received user terminal 200. Thus, even if the established user does not directly perform registration procedures, etc. with the external service, the established user can start a battle game with another established user matched in the matching service.

[0080] In the present embodiment, the login state of the matching service is maintained even during the transfer to the external service (during the period of receiving the provision of the battle game in the external service) so that it is easy to return to the matching service after each established user finishes the battle. More specifically, for example, on the user terminal 200 of the established user, when the information of the connection point of the external service is received, the connection is made to the connection point by opening another tab (or another window) on the browser, and the tab is mainly displayed (selected as the displayed tab, or the other window is displayed in the front), thereby realizing a temporary transfer from the matching service to the external service. At this time, since there is also a tab of the matching service during the transfer, each established user can confirm the status of the room in the matching service and the game screen of the battle game in the external service at the same time.

[0081] In addition, in the present embodiment, as a form of transfer to the external service, it is described that user information needs to be sent when requesting the generation of a connection point for the battle game, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the external service. For example, it can also be configured such that user information such as the player name is provided to the external service when connecting to the connection point from the user terminal 200 instead of requiring the information of the established user when requesting the generation of the connection point.

[0082] After the match is established, the status of the user avatars corresponding to the two established users is changed from the status of being a matching object to the status of being in a battle for management. Here, the status of being in a battle does not strictly require that the established user is playing the battle game, and it can also be set that the established user has transferred to the external service.

[0083] In addition, when the match is successful and the status of the user avatars corresponding to the two successful users is "in battle", it is displayed that a battle game is in progress between the successful users, that is, the successful users are transferring to an external service, so that all users in the room can be aware of this situation. In this embodiment, for one table 601, when the user avatars configured on two chairs 602 are in battle, the table 601 is attached with a performance indicating battle for corresponding display. This performance may vary according to the external service corresponding to the room. For example, when the battle game provided in the external service is a TCG, as shown in Fig. 8(a), options for cards may also be configured on the table 601.

[0084] In addition, for one table 601, during the period when the user avatar is in the state of being a match target or in battle, the user avatars (waiting avatar and application avatar) configured at the position of the chair 602 are controlled not to be movable. More specifically, for the waiting avatar, the control is as follows: as long as no operation aimed at aborting the waiting is performed from the time of being configured at the position of the chair 602 until the application for battle, as long as no operation aimed at rejecting the application and aborting the waiting is performed from the time of applying for battle until the match is confirmed to be successful, and as long as the battle game in the external service has not ended after the match is successful, even if an operation related to moving the waiting avatar is performed, the waiting avatar will not move from the position of the chair 602. In addition, for the application avatar, the control is as follows: as long as no operation for canceling the application is performed from the time of being configured at the position of the chair 602 until the application for battle, as long as the application is not rejected from the time of applying for battle until the match is determined to be successful, and as long as the battle game in the external service has not ended after the match is successful, even if an operation related to moving the application avatar is performed, the application avatar will not move from the position of the chair 602.

[0085] In addition, the following control is performed in the room, that is, other user avatars are excluded from entering the position of the user avatar that has become immovable (the position of the chair 602). In other words, for one table 601, the number of user avatars that can be match targets is limited to two. Thereby, it is possible to avoid repeatedly performing processes related to confirming the intention of matching for one table 601, and it is possible to eliminate the display mismatch in the user-to-user room.

[0086] In addition, for an established matching battle game, it is configured to accept viewing by other users (users who are not in the battle, hereinafter referred to as viewing users). The viewing is accepted through the following notification, which is displayed based on the following operations on the user terminal 200 of the viewing user and includes a confirmation of the intention to view the ongoing battle game. The operation is to select a table (a table with a performance during the battle) on which the user avatar in the battle state is configured. Moreover, on the condition that the item for viewing has been selected in this notification, it is determined to view the battle game using an external service on the selected table.

[0087] After determining to view, the information of the connection point of the battle game being played on the target table is transmitted to the user terminal 200 of the viewing user together with a transfer command. On the browser of the user terminal 200 that has received this, an action of transferring the connection point to the external service is performed. Here, regarding the information of the connection point transmitted to the user terminal 200 of the viewing user, for example, if it is in the form of two players with the same connection point for the external service and the earlier connection is sorted, it is the same as the information transmitted to the user terminal 200 of the established user. If it is in the form where the external service sets different connection points for players and viewers, the information of the latter connection point is provided. Thus, even if the established user does not obtain the information of the connection point of the battle game being executed, they can be transferred to the external service via the room as a viewer, making it easy to view the ongoing battle game.

[0088] During viewing, similar to during the battle, the login state of the matching service is maintained during the transfer to the external service (during the period of viewing the battle game on the external service), so that it is easy to resume the matching service after each established user ends the battle or the viewing user ends the viewing. More specifically, for example, when the user terminal 200 of the viewing user receives the information of the connection point of the external service, it connects to this connection point by opening another tab of the browser and mainly displays this tab, thereby achieving a temporary transfer from the matching service to the external service. At this time, since there is a tab of the matching service during the transfer, the viewing user can simultaneously confirm the status of the room in the matching service and the viewing screen of the battle game in the external service.

[0089] In addition, after determining to view, the status of the user avatar corresponding to the viewing user is managed as being in the viewing state. Here, the viewing state is the same as the battle state, and it is not strictly conditional on the battle game that starts playing after viewing. It can be conditional on the viewing user having been transferred to the external service.

[0090] In addition, when the state of the user avatar corresponding to the spectator user is in the middle of watching a game, the display form of the user avatar in the room is changed to the state of watching a game as the second form of the present invention for display, so that all users in the room can grasp this situation. Here, the display form of the user avatar in the state of watching a game only needs to be the following form. For example, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the user avatar is arranged near the table 601 (801) to be watched, and a third party can grasp which table is being watched. In addition, when the spectator user is connected to an external service and is in the middle of watching a game, as described above, it is assumed that the label of the external service is mainly confirmed. Therefore, it is preferably set to a state where connection cannot be made from other user avatars. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 8(b), the user avatar in the state of watching a game is not the appearance assigned to the user avatar, but is changed to a form such as a single color that cannot be recognized as which user avatar, so as to become the following state: the confirmation operation of the profile cannot be performed on the user avatar, or the utilization operation of the communication function specifying the user avatar cannot be performed.

[0091] In addition, when there are many spectator users for the battle game being played on one table 601, it is sometimes difficult to arrange the user avatars in the state of watching a game of the number of spectator users near the table 601. Therefore, the number of user avatars arranged in the state of watching a game may not be the same as the number of spectator users. Preferably, the number of user avatars arranged in the state of watching a game can be proportional to the number of spectator users.

[0092] In addition, in the present embodiment, it is described that watching a game can be accepted by operating to select the table 601, and user avatars in the middle of a game are arranged on the table 601, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. It may also be configured such that, for example, watching a game can be accepted according to an operation of selecting a user avatar in the middle of a game (the user avatar corresponding to the established user).

[0093] When the battle game between the established users transferred to the external service ends, the use of the external service ends, and the established users return to the matching service. The fact that the use of the external service has ended can be grasped by providing information to this effect from the user terminal 200 of at least any one of the established users to the server 100, or can also be completed by directly providing information to this effect from the external service to the server 100. In the matching system of the present embodiment, it is described that when the battle game performed in the external service ends, the result of the battle game is provided from the server of the external service to the server 100, and the end of the use of the external service is grasped by receiving the result.

[0094] When receiving the result of a battle game conducted among established users, the in-battle state of the user avatar corresponding to the established user is released, and processing is performed to make the user avatar movable within the room. In addition, the battle record information 1405 of the user information of the established users is updated according to the result, and the user terminals 200 of the respective established users are notified of victory or defeat corresponding to the result. The victory or defeat notification is made with different contents for the winning and losing sides. For example, the content of FIG. 9(a) is notified to the winning side, and the content of FIG. 9(b) is notified to the losing side.

[0095] (Operator Avatar)

[0096] On the other hand, the operator avatar is not an avatar assigned to any arbitrary user, but is a configured avatar of the operator of the matching system, and is configured and movable within the room as an object for implementing various functions related to service provision. That is, in the matching service provided via the matching system of the present embodiment, for example, at least a part of the functions performed by the operator of the matching system, such as excluding (expelling) inappropriate users, are performed by the configured avatar configured in the room, and are presented to each user via the display room.

[0097] In addition, for the appearance of the operator avatar, in order to make it known that the operator avatar is not an avatar corresponding to any user, as shown by 501 in FIG. 5(a), it is composed of parts that cannot be selected as the appearance of the user avatar, and is displayed in a form recognizable by the user. In addition, at least one operator avatar is configured in each room managed by the server 100.

[0098] In a conventional communication system using a virtual space, for example, when there is an inappropriate user who uses the service in a method different from the original service purpose and annoys other users, other users report the behavior of the user, and then after some time, the operator makes a judgment based on the action log of the corresponding user, and then performs the process of stopping (expelling) the corresponding user account. That is, even if there is an inappropriate user, it still takes time until the use of the user is stopped, and it is possible to weaken the interest of users who appropriately use the service in the service, resulting in a decrease in users.

[0099] In contrast, the matching system of the present embodiment is configured such that, as a function of the operator avatar, it detects a part of inappropriate behaviors that can be mechanically judged as good or bad, performs the process of making the corresponding user exit the room (expelling the user avatar from the room), and also notifies the other users in the room of this intention. In the matching system of the present embodiment, the actions of the operator avatar in the room are controlled by the action control unit 108. The action control unit 108 detects the user who performs the corresponding behavior based on a preset detection rule for the expulsion target, and performs the process of expelling the user avatar of the user from the room (expulsion process).

[0100] The actions that can be subject to expulsion may include the act of sending messages containing a specified language (content that is unpleasant to others, such as slander) to other users or the entire room, and the act of being in a state of neglect while logged in to the service. Here, the former act is detected by the action control unit 108 determining whether the message text sent by the user contains pre-set NG (no good) keywords. In addition, the latter act is detected by the action control unit 108 determining whether a specified period has elapsed in a state where the user avatar is configured in the room but not using an external service, not moving in the room, or only repeating monotonous movements. In addition, the action control unit 108 can also determine whether to target a user for expulsion based on the number of reports received from other users for each user.

[0101] Moreover, when the action control unit 108 detects a user who has performed an action subject to expulsion, it executes an expulsion process to expel the user avatar from the room, that is, delete the corresponding status management information and prevent the user avatar from being configured in the room, and also stop displaying the room on the user's browser. At this time, the server 100 provides the necessary information to the user terminal 200 of the user targeted for expulsion so that the user terminal 200 displays a notification indicating the intention to be exited and the reason, as shown in Fig. 10(a) for example. In addition, the expulsion process also includes, for example, the following process, which uses the notification display provided at the bottom of the display in Fig. 5(b) to cause the user terminals 200 of other users in the room to display a notification of the intention to expel, thereby suppressing improper use and enabling users to be aware that the operator is exercising the room management function.

[0102] In addition, the action control unit 108 performs action control in such a way that the operation avatar moves in the room during the provision of the matching service. This control is used to prevent the operation avatar from being recognized as a simple NPC configured in the room (recognized as being operated by the operator's manager), and to control the operation avatar to move irregularly within the entire room as the movable range. Or, in the form where the above expulsion process is executed with the condition of detecting the act subject to expulsion multiple times as the execution condition of the expulsion process, when the number of detections does not reach the execution number, the operation avatar is moved to a position around the corresponding user avatar (in addition, a warning is also given). By moving the operation avatar in the room, improper use can be further suppressed.

[0103] In addition, the operation avatar only realizes the function of the matching system that provides appropriate services in each room, so it is not given the execution permission for the following actions and is controlled to be in a state where it is not a matching object. The action is to establish a match to play a battle game with other users. That is, the operation avatar is controlled so that no user in the room can apply for a battle with the operation avatar.

[0104] In addition, the operation avatar is given the execution authority for the following action, which is to induce the user to play a battle game.

[0105] In the matching service of the present embodiment, in the form of matching with the condition that the user spontaneously makes the user avatar in a specified state, especially considering the following situation: users who are not yet used to playing the game soon after starting the game, etc., will hesitate about the situation of becoming a state that meets the matching conditions through the user. Therefore, the speculation unit 107 designates as the induction target the user avatar in the user avatars in the battle that is speculated to be hesitating about playing the battle game. Then, as shown in FIG. 10(b), the action control unit 108 notifies the user terminal 200 of the user of the intention to invite them to the battle game as the guidance of the operation avatar. Here, for the user avatar of the induction target, for example, the following user avatars can be specified as the corresponding user avatars: the user avatar that has moved in the room within a specified period but has not sent a response message to the message directly sent from other user avatars (a message sent to a part of the users, not to the whole room), or the number of times the user avatar plays the battle game is lower than the threshold, and the number of times of browsing the profiles of other user avatars within a specified period is higher than the threshold.

[0106] Then, the action control unit 108 moves the user avatar of the induction target to the position of the chair 602 where no user avatar is configured and migrates it to the state of the matching target. At this time, in order to easily execute the battle game, the action control unit 108 can also perform the following processing: for example, referring to information such as the battle history and battle rate to determine other users who match the user of the user avatar of the induction target, and moving the other users to the position of the chair 602 of the battle opponent.

[0107] "Provision processing"

[0108] For the provision processing of providing the matching service to the user of one connected user terminal 200 in the server 100 of the present embodiment having the above configuration, Figure 11 the flowchart of is used to illustrate the specific processing. The processing corresponding to the flowchart can be realized by the control unit 101 reading out, for example, the corresponding processing program stored in the recording medium 102, expanding it in the memory 103, and executing it.

[0109] In addition, in the following description of the present provision processing, for easy understanding, the user who is the object of the provision processing is called the "object user", the user terminal 200 used by the object user is called the "object terminal", the user avatar corresponding to the object user is called the "object avatar", and the room where the object user uses the service is called the "object room".

[0110] In addition, the present provision process is described as follows: for example, an object terminal is connected to the server 100, service login processing for an object user is executed, and the present provision process is started when one room (object room) is selected. At this time, configuration avatar information 1423 constituting the object avatar is formed and appended to the status management information of the corresponding room. In addition, the present provision process is repeatedly executed until a specified end condition is satisfied. Each time, display information based on the status management information of the object room is formed and sent to the object terminal, and is presented to the object user via the browser displayed on the object terminal in the area specified by the object avatar in the object room.

[0111] In S1101, the control unit 101 updates the status management information of the object room according to operations (change of configuration position, change of status of various flags) performed on other user avatars in the object room.

[0112] In S1102, the control unit 101 determines whether the object avatar is in a state that matches the object. This step can be determined only according to the object flag 1434 included in the configuration avatar information 1423 of the object avatar. When the control unit 101 determines that the object avatar is in a state that matches the object, it moves to process S1114. When the control unit 101 determines that the object avatar is not in a state that matches the object, it moves to process S1103.

[0113] In S1103, if an operation related to changing the configuration position is performed on the object avatar, the control unit 101 updates the status management information of the object room according to the content of the operation. More specifically, the control unit 101 updates the configuration position 1433 included in the configuration avatar information 1423 of the object avatar according to the content of the performed movement operation.

[0114] In S1104, the control unit 101 determines whether the configuration position of the object avatar is the position of the chair 602 arranged in the object room. When the control unit 101 determines that the configuration position of the object avatar is the position of the chair 602, it changes the object flag 1434 included in the configuration avatar information 1423 of the object avatar to True (true) and sets it to a state that matches the object, and returns the process to S1101. In addition, when the control unit 101 determines that the configuration position of the object avatar is not the position of the chair 602, it moves the process to S1105.

[0115] In S1105, the control unit 101 determines whether an operation related to a viewing request for a battle game has been performed on the table 601 where a user avatar for which a match is established is arranged. More specifically, the control unit 101 determines whether the object user has performed an operation related to a viewing request for the table 601 arranged in the object room, where two user avatars are arranged at the positions of the chairs 602 and the battle flags 1435 of these user avatars are all True. When the control unit 101 determines that an operation related to a viewing request for a battle game has been performed, it proceeds to process S1106, and when it determines that an operation related to a viewing request for a battle game has not been performed, it proceeds to process S1108.

[0116] In S1106, the control unit 101 executes various processes for causing the object user to transfer to an external service as a viewer. More specifically, the control unit 101 controls in the following manner: changes the viewing flag 1436 included in the arranged avatar information 1423 of the object avatar to True, and invalidates the operation of changing the arranged position of the changed object avatar. In addition, the control unit 101 transmits the information of the connection point stored in the table 601 for which the viewing is requested to the object terminal together with a transfer command.

[0117] In addition, in the description of the providing process of the present embodiment, for ease of understanding of the invention, it is described that during the transfer to the external service, the display related to the matching service on the browser (tab) of the object terminal remains in the state immediately before the transfer, and the display control of other user avatars and the table 601 during the transfer is not performed. That is, in the case of this step, the display of the corresponding tab on the object terminal is maintained in a display representing the state of the object room when the object avatar is arranged in the viewing state. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto, and during the transfer to the external service, the display control may also be performed according to changes in the state management information generated in the object room.

[0118] In S1107, the control unit 101 determines whether the object user has recovered from the external service. The determination in this step can be made based on whether the result information of the battle game executed on the corresponding table 601 is received. When the control unit 101 determines that the object user has recovered from the external service, it changes the viewing flag 1436 included in the arranged avatar information 1423 of the object avatar to False (false) and sets it to the movable state, and returns to process S1101. In addition, when the control unit 101 determines that the object user has not recovered from the external service, it repeats the process of this step.

[0119] On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in S1105 that no operation related to the requested spectator battle game has been performed, in S1108, the action control unit 108, under the control of the control unit 101, makes various determinations related to the target user based on the action history of the target avatar. The determinations made in this step are, as described above, the following determinations, that is, determining whether the target user meets the expulsion target, and making a determination based on the speculation of the speculation unit 107, which speculates whether the target user is hesitant to play the battle game.

[0120] In S1109, the control unit 101 determines whether the target user meets the expulsion target based on the determination result of S1108. When the control unit 101 determines that the target user meets the expulsion target, it moves to process S1110, and when it determines that the target user does not meet the expulsion target, it moves to process S1111.

[0121] In S1110, the action control unit 108, under the control of the control unit 101, executes the expulsion process of the target user. As described above, the expulsion process includes deleting the configured avatar information 1423 of the target avatar from the status management information, sending display information related to notifying the intention of exiting the target avatar from the target room to the target terminal, and notifying the entire target room that the expulsion has been performed. As described above, the notification of the expulsion process is performed as an action of the operation avatar. After the expulsion process of the action control unit 108 ends, the control unit 101 completes this provision process, thereby forcibly ending the use of the service by the target user in the target room.

[0122] On the other hand, in the case where it is determined in S1109 that the target user does not meet the expulsion target, the control unit 101 determines in S1111 whether it is speculated that the target user is hesitant to play the battle game based on the determination result of S1108. When the control unit 101 determines that the target user is hesitant to play the battle game, it moves to process S1112, and when it does not speculate that the target user is hesitant to play the battle game, it moves to process S1113.

[0123] In S1112, the action control unit 108, under the control of the control unit 101, executes the process of inducing the target user to play the battle game. The process of inducing includes the process of sending display information related to notifying the intention of inviting to the battle game to the battle terminal, the process of changing the configured position 1433 of the configured avatar information 1423 of the target avatar to the position of any chair 602 in the target room, and the process of changing the target flag 1434 to True to make the target avatar in a matching object state. After the process of inducing by the control unit 101 ends, it returns to process S1101.

[0124] In addition, in S1113, the control unit 101 determines whether to end providing the service in the target room to the target user. This determination in this step is made based on whether a process related to exiting the target room is performed on the target terminal, that is, whether an exit request is received from the target terminal. When the control unit 101 determines to end providing the service in the target room, it completes this providing process. When it determines not to end providing the service in the target room, it returns to process S1101.

[0125] On the other hand, when it is determined in S1102 that the target is in the state of being an matched target, the control unit 101 executes a matching process in S1114.

[0126] 〈Matching Process〉

[0127] Here, refer to Figure 12 A detailed description of the matching process performed in this step is given.

[0128] In S1201, the control unit 101 determines whether another user avatar (waiting avatar) has been configured at the position of another chair 602 of the table 601 corresponding to the configuration position of the target avatar. That is, the control unit 101 determines whether the target avatar matches the applied avatar. When the control unit 101 determines that the waiting avatar has been configured at the position of another chair 602 of the table 601 corresponding to the configuration position of the target avatar, it moves the process to S1202. When it determines that the waiting avatar has not been configured at the position of another chair 602 of the table 601 corresponding to the configuration position of the target avatar, it moves the process to S1205.

[0129] In S1202, the control unit 101 determines whether to apply for a battle to the user of the waiting avatar. Specifically, the control unit 101 sends display information formed based on the profile information 1404 and the battle record information 1405 of the user of the waiting avatar to the target terminal, so as to display a notification for confirming whether to apply for a battle to the user of the waiting avatar on the target terminal. Then, the control unit 101 makes this determination based on the information of the operation performed on this notification. When the control unit 101 determines to apply for a battle to the user of the waiting avatar, it moves to process S1203. When it determines not to apply for a battle to the user of the waiting avatar, it moves to process S1208.

[0130] In S1203, the control unit 101 determines whether the user waiting for an avatar accepts the battle application. Specifically, the control unit 101 sends the display information formed based on the profile information 1404 and the battle record information 1405 of the target user to the user terminal 200 of the user waiting for an avatar, so as to cause a notification for confirming whether to accept the battle application from the target user to be displayed on the user terminal 200. Then, the control unit 101 makes a determination in this step based on the information of the operation performed on this notification. When the control unit 101 determines that the user waiting for an avatar accepts the battle application, the matching is established and the process moves to S1204. When the control unit 101 determines that the user waiting for an avatar does not accept the battle application, the process moves to S1208.

[0131] In S1204, under the control of the control unit 101, the matching unit 109 completes this matching process by performing the following process, which is to match two established users (one of them is the target user) and transfer them to an external service. Specifically, the matching unit 109 changes the target flag 1434 to False and the in-battle flag 1435 to True for the configured avatar information 1423 of the user avatars corresponding to the two established users (one of them is the target avatar). In addition, the matching unit 109 forms information related to the registered players based on the user information of the established users, and sends it to the external service together with the generation request of the connection point, and receives the information of the connection point of the new battle game from the external service. Then, the matching unit 109 sends the received connection point information to the user terminals 200 of the established users (one of them is the target terminal) together with the transfer command, so as to cause the user terminal 200 to transfer to the external service. At this time, the matching unit 109 associates the received connection point information with the following information and stores it in the memory 103, and this information is to identify the table 601 that is the object of the matching process.

[0132] On the other hand, when it is determined in S1201 that the waiting avatar has not been configured, that is, when the user avatar is a waiting avatar, the control unit 101 determines in S1205 whether a battle has been applied to the target user. In other words, in this step, outside the periphery of the table 601 where the target avatar is configured, any user avatar (the applying avatar) is configured on the chair 602 at the position opposite to the target avatar, and the control unit 101 determines whether the user of the applying avatar has applied for a battle to the target user. When the control unit 101 determines that a battle has been applied to the target user, the process moves to S1206. When the control unit 101 determines that a battle has not been applied to the target user, the process moves to S1207.

[0133] In S1206, the control unit 101 determines whether the target user accepts the battle application. Specifically, the control unit 101 sends display information composed of the profile information 1404 and the battle record information 1405 of the user who applied for the avatar to the target terminal, so that a notification of whether the intention to accept the battle application from the user who applied for the avatar is accepted is displayed on the target terminal. Then, the control unit 101 makes a judgment in this step based on the information of the operation performed on the notification. If the control unit 101 determines that the target user accepts the battle application, it moves to processing S1204. If it determines that the target user does not accept the battle application, it moves to processing S1207.

[0134] In S1207, the control unit 101 determines whether to cancel the state of the target avatar as a matching target. The determination in this step is made based on whether an operation to terminate the waiting for matching is performed on the target terminal. If the control unit 101 determines that the state of the target avatar as a matching target is canceled, the process moves to S1208. If the control unit 101 determines that the state of the target avatar as a matching target is not canceled, the process returns to S1205.

[0135] In S1208, the control unit 101 performs a process of releasing the state of the target avatar as a matching target, and completes the matching process. Specifically, the control unit 101 changes the target flag 1434 included in the configuration avatar information 1423 of the target avatar to False, and changes the state to which the target avatar can move in the target room. At this time, the control unit 101 controls in the following manner: the configuration position of the target avatar is changed to a position different from the position of the previously configured chair 602, and other user avatars can move to the position of the chair 602.

[0136] After the matching process is completed, the control unit 101 determines whether the target user has been transferred to an external service in S1115 of the provision process. Specifically, the control unit 101 makes the determination in this step based on the in-battle flag 1435 of the target avatar. If the control unit 101 determines that the target user has been transferred to an external service, it moves to process S1116. If it determines that the target user has not been transferred to an external service, it returns to process S1101.

[0137] In S1116, the control unit 101 determines whether the target user has been restored from the external service to the matching service. For example, the determination in this step can be made based on whether the result information of the battle game played in the external service is received. If the control unit 101 determines that the target user has been restored to the matching service, it moves to processing S1117. If it determines that the target user has not been restored to the matching service (is being transferred to the matching service), it repeats the processing of this step.

[0138] In S1117, the control unit 101 performs processing related to the result display of the battle game. Specifically, the control unit 101 updates the record information 1405 of the target user based on the received result information of the battle game. Then, the control unit 101 sends display information related to the result display to the target terminal, and the result display is performed on the target terminal based on the received result information of the battle game. In addition, the control unit 101 controls in the following manner: changes the target flag 1434 of the battle avatar to False, and enables the battle avatar to move in the target room. After the control unit 101 finishes the processing of the result display, it returns to processing S1101.

[0139] Thus, according to the matching system of the present embodiment, an optimal matching can be achieved for an external service that implements multi-player battles.

[0140] [Embodiment 2]

[0141] In the above-described Embodiment 1, the form of controlling the operation avatar by the action control unit 108 provided in the server 100 has been described, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the form of managing each room in the matching service in a manned form, a user interface related to the action control of the operation avatar may be provided to the manager. That is, similar to the user avatar, the action of the operation avatar is controlled according to the operation performed on the information communication terminal of the manager (hereinafter referred to as the manager terminal) connected to the server 100.

[0142] Here, the manager terminal may have the same functional configuration as the user terminal 200, or may have a functional configuration excluding, for example, the functions of the camera 204 and the microphone 205. According to the service login as a manager via the browser, the manager operates the operation avatar to give it the execution authority for a part of the operation functions. More specifically, display information based on the room status management information is sent from the server 100 to the manager terminal, and the battle room is displayed via the browser displayed on the manager terminal. In order to make it easier for the manager to grasp the situation, the display on the manager terminal may also be different from the display on the user terminal 200, and all areas of the entire room are prompted regardless of the position of the operation avatar.

[0143] The user interface provided to the manager, in addition to performing the movement operation of the operation avatar in the room, for example Figure 13 also includes receiving instructions such as inducing the selected user avatar to play a battle game and expelling the user avatar. For Figure 13For the functions of the user interface shown, in order to assist the manager in grasping the situation, the following functions can also be set: Based on the speculation result of the speculation unit 107 and the determination result of improper use by the action control unit 108, a corresponding user avatar is recommended to the manager.

[0144] By configuring the matching system as described above, in an online battle event or the like implemented with a specified schedule, for example, a user interface can be provided to the manager to flexibly and smoothly operate the matching service.

[0145] [Variant Example]

[0146] In the above-described embodiment, the following form has been described: A state in which a user avatar is made a matching target on the condition that it is configured at a specified position (the position of the chair 602) in the room, and matching is performed on the basis of agreement to play a game among users. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it can also be set to the following form: A user avatar configured at any position in the room can apply for a battle. In the case of agreeing to the matching, the user avatar of the user is configured at the position of the chair 602 of the same table 601, and the user avatar is transferred to an external service.

[0147] [Other Embodiments]

[0148] The present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the spirit and scope of the present invention without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, the matching system of the present invention can also be implemented by a program that causes one or more computers to function as each device of the matching system. This program is provided / published by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium or through an electrical communication line.

[0149] [Explanation of Reference Numerals]

[0150] 100: Server

[0151] 101: Control Unit

[0152] 102: Recording Medium

[0153] 103: Memory

[0154] 104: User DB

[0155] 105: Corresponding Service DB

[0156] 106: Status Management DB

[0157] 107: Speculation Unit

[0158] 108: Action Control Unit

[0159] 109: Matching Unit

[0160] 110: Communication unit

[0161] 200: User terminal

[0162] 201: Usage control unit

[0163] 202: Usage recording medium

[0164] 203: Usage memory

[0165] 204: Camera

[0166] 205: Microphone

[0167] 206: Presentation control unit

[0168] 210: Display

[0169] 220: Speaker

[0170] 207: Operation input unit

[0171] 208: Usage communication unit

[0172] 300: Network.

Claims

1. A matching system that provides a matching service for communication and battle games via avatars configured in a virtual space, and includes: A first reception agency that receives connections from information communication terminals of users of the matching service; An allocation agency that allocates a first type of avatar, which is a matching object for the battle game, to the users of the connected information communication terminals; A management agency that configures the first type of avatar allocated to a user by the allocation agency and a second type of avatar that is not a matching object in the battle game in the virtual space, enables the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar to move in the virtual space, and manages the states of the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar; An action control agency that controls the actions of the second type of avatar in the virtual space; And A display control agency that causes the display agency of the connected information communication terminal to display the virtual space in a form that can identify the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar based on the state information of the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar managed by the management agency; and For the first type of avatar, an execution permission for a matching establishment action that establishes a match for the battle game between the first type of avatar and other first type of avatars configured in the virtual space is given, For the second type of avatar, an execution permission for a matching establishment action that establishes a match for the battle game between the first type of avatar and the second type of avatar configured in the virtual space is not given. Instead, an execution permission for an expulsion action that expels any first type of avatar configured in the virtual space from the virtual space is given, When the expulsion action is performed by the action control agency, the management agency suspends the configuration of the first type of avatar that is the expulsion target in the virtual space.

2. The matching system according to claim 1, wherein the display control agency controls the information communication terminal of the first type of avatar that is the expulsion target, so that the display agency of the information communication terminal displays a notice of the intention of being expelled.

3. The matching system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein When a match for the battle game is established among a specified number of the first type of avatars, the management agency manages the states of the specified number of the first type of avatars as being in a battle, Furthermore, an execution permission for an induction action is given to the second type of avatar, and the induction action is to induce the first type of avatar configured in the virtual space into the match for the battle game, When the action control agency executes the induction action, it selects the first type of avatar that is not in a battle state as the induction target, When the induction action is performed by the action control agency, the management agency causes the first type of avatar that is the induction target to migrate to a state where a matching establishment action that establishes a match for the battle game between the first type of avatar and other first type of avatars is started.

4. The matching system according to claim 3, wherein the matching establishment action of the battle game starts on the condition that the avatar of the first type is configured at a specified position in the virtual space, when the management agency performs the induction action through the action control agency, the avatar of the first type of the induction target is changed to a state where it is configured at the specified position.

5. The matching system according to claim 3, further comprising a specifying agency that specifies, from among the avatars of the first type that are not in the battle state, the avatar of the first type of a user who is presumed to be hesitating to play the battle game, and the action control agency selects the avatar of the first type specified by the specifying agency as the avatar of the first type of the induction target.

6. The matching system according to claim 5, wherein execution permissions for moving and sending messages within the virtual space are further granted to the avatar of the first type according to operations performed on the information communication terminal of the avatar of the first type, the specifying agency does not specify, from among the avatars of the first type that are not in the battle state, an avatar of the first type that, although having moved within the virtual space for a specified period, has not sent a message indicating an intention to respond to a message sent by another avatar of the first type.

7. The matching system according to claim 3, further comprising: a second receiving agency that further receives a connection from the information communication terminal of the manager of the matching service; and an agency that assigns an avatar of the second type to the manager; and the action control agency controls the actions of the avatar of the second type according to operations performed on the information communication terminal of the manager.

8. The matching system according to claim 7, further comprising a proposing agency that proposes to the information communication terminal of the manager an avatar of the first type that should be expelled from the virtual space.

9. The matching system according to claim 7, further comprising a proposing agency that proposes to the information communication terminal of the manager an avatar of the first type that should be selected as the induction target.

10. The matching system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the management agency sets a plurality of the virtual spaces for providing the matching service, and at least one avatar of the second type is respectively configured in each of the plurality of virtual spaces.

11. A recording medium that records a program that causes a computer providing a matching service for communication and battle games via avatars configured in a virtual space to perform the following processing: receiving a connection from the information communication terminal of a user of the matching service; assigning an avatar of the first type, which is a matching object for the battle game, to the user of the connected information communication terminal; Configure the avatar of the first type assigned to the user and the avatar of the second type that is not a matching object in the battle game in the virtual space, enable the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type to move in the virtual space, and manage the states of the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type; Control the actions of the avatar of the second type in the virtual space; and Based on the status information of the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type managed, cause the display mechanism of the information communication terminal in the connection to display the virtual space in a form that can recognize the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type; and Grant the execution permission of the matching action that makes the match of the battle game established between the avatar of the first type and other avatars of the first type configured in the virtual space to the avatar of the first type, Do not grant the execution permission of the matching action that makes the match of the battle game established between the avatar of the second type and the avatar of the first type configured in the virtual space to the avatar of the second type. Instead, grant the execution permission of the expulsion action to expel any avatar of the first type configured in the virtual space from the virtual space, In the case of performing the expulsion action, suspend the configuration of the avatar of the first type to be expelled as the expulsion target in the virtual space.

12. An information communication terminal that connects to the matching system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 as a user, and includes: A display mechanism; An operation input mechanism that accepts operations related to the actions of the avatar of the first type.

13. An information communication terminal that connects to the matching system according to any one of claims 7 to 9 as a manager, and includes: A display mechanism; and An operation input mechanism that accepts operations related to the actions of the avatar of the second type.

14. A server that provides communication and battle game matching services via avatars configured in a virtual space, and includes: A first acceptance mechanism that accepts the connection of the information communication terminal of the user of the matching service; An assignment mechanism that assigns an avatar of the first type that is a matching object of the battle game to the user of the information communication terminal in the connection; A management mechanism that configures the avatar of the first type assigned to the user by the assignment mechanism and the avatar of the second type that is not a matching object in the battle game in the virtual space, enables the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type to move in the virtual space, and manages the states of the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type; An action control mechanism that controls the actions of the avatar of the second type in the virtual space; and A display control mechanism that causes the display mechanism of the information communication terminal in the connection to display the virtual space in a form that can recognize the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type according to the status information of the avatar of the first type and the avatar of the second type managed by the management mechanism; and For the avatar of the first type, the execution authority of the matching action that enables the matching of the battle game among other avatars of the first type configured in the virtual space is granted. For the avatar of the second type, the execution authority of the matching action that enables the matching of the battle game among the avatars of the first type configured in the virtual space is not granted. Instead, the execution authority of the expulsion action for expelling any avatar of the first type configured in the virtual space from the virtual space is granted. When the management agency conducts the expulsion action through the action control agency, the management agency suspends the configuration of the avatar of the first type to be expelled in the virtual space.

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