Storage medium, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and game system

Abstract

The program of the present application causes a computer to function as an information acquisition unit that acquires transmission information from a plurality of terminals for each prescribed period, the transmission information including operation-related information respectively generated at the plurality of terminals within the prescribed period according to user operations, an information management unit that saves transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among the plurality of transmission information acquired for each prescribed period, and a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information to a terminal that has requested information acquisition.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a storage medium, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a game system. BACKGROUND

[0002] As communication between a plurality of client terminals connected via a network, P2P (Peer to Peer) communication is sometimes performed. For example, in the case of an online battle-type game system, game terminals (client terminals) of players who battle a game are connected to each other by P2P, and information of a battle process is sequentially transmitted from the game terminals to a server.

[0003] Further, in Patent Literature 1, a management server is disclosed which has a processor and is capable of communicating with a first game device that generates progress data related to progress of a game and result data related to a result of the game, and a second game device that watches the game.

[0004] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT LITERATURE

[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-154467 SUMMARY

[0007] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] Game images displayed on a plurality of client terminals (hereinafter, referred to as terminals) that perform P2P communication are usually displayed only on the terminals that perform P2P communication via a network, but there are requests such as viewing (watching) game images in other terminals (user terminals that do not play a game) other than the terminals that perform P2P communication. In such a case, one of the terminals that perform P2P communication sends information of a battle process or the like to a server as a representative, and the server sends information necessary for displaying game images to other terminals. However, if the terminal as a representative cannot perform communication, it is not possible to view game images on other terminals.

[0009] The present application has been achieved in view of the above-described problems, and aims to enable continuous viewing of game images displayed by a plurality of terminals connected via a network on other terminals as well.

[0010] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0011] The program according to the present application is for causing a computer to function as an information acquisition unit that acquires transmission information containing operation-related information generated at each of a plurality of terminals within a prescribed period according to a user operation, from the plurality of terminals for each prescribed period, an information management unit that saves transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired for each prescribed period, and a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information to a terminal that has requested information acquisition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a game system.

[0013] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a server.

[0014] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a game machine.

[0015] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the general appearance of a game controller.

[0016] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of operation-related information.

[0017] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of operation-related information contained in transmission information transmitted from a game machine to a first server.

[0018] Figure 7 FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of a game machine.

[0019] Figure 8 FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of a first server.

[0020] Figure 9 FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a first server of a first embodiment from reception of transmission information from a game machine to saving thereof.

[0021] Figure 10 FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing information management corresponding to a prescribed rule in the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 11 FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a first server of a second embodiment from reception of transmission information from a game machine to saving thereof.

[0023] Figure 12 FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing information management corresponding to a prescribed rule in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] In the present embodiment, as an example of communication via a server between client terminals connected via a network, an online match type game system can be cited. In the online match type game system, game machines (client terminals) of players who match each other play a game, and the game machines transmit information of a match process to other game machines via a network. In the game system in the present embodiment, the information of the match process is transmitted via a server (TURN server). In the case of the present embodiment, a plurality of game machines that match online transmit operation-related information each generated thereby as the information of the match process via the server. The operation-related information is information that includes operation information generated in a game controller possessed by the game machine. The game controller possesses various buttons and operation levers (joysticks) and the like as operation members, and generates operation information corresponding to operations performed by a user on these operation members. The operation-related information is information that includes, in addition to the operation information generated by the game controller, frame number information that respectively indicates a frame period as a prescribed period as one unit of game processing, identification information of the game machine, and the like.

[0026] [1. Outline of the game system of the first embodiment]

[0027] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the outline structure of the game system according to the first embodiment.

[0028] The game system according to the present embodiment is constituted, for example, by the first server 10, the second server 30, game machines 50A, 50B, 50C of users (participants) who match each other via the network 20 (online match), and a game machine 50D of a user (spectator) who spectates (views) the online match displayed by the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C.

[0029] The first server 10 is an example of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is a game server that performs saving of match data and the like in an online match game via a network, and management of information related to spectating, and the like. In the case of the present embodiment, the match data saved by the first server 10 can cite transmission information including the operation-related information described later transmitted from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C of participants in the online match. The second server 30 is a relay server (TURN server) for performing communication of information between the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C connected via a network.

[0030] The game machines 50A, 50B, 50C transmit operation-related information including operation information generated by the game controllers connected thereto in the frame period to the second server 30 as a TURN server. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 6, the game machine 50A transmits operation-related information OP1 including operation information generated by the game controller connected thereto in the frame period to the second server 30, the game machine 50B transmits operation-related information OP2 including operation information generated by the game controller connected thereto in the frame period to the second server 30, and the game machine 50C transmits operation-related information OP3 including operation information generated by the game controller connected thereto in the frame period to the second server 30. Thus, the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C of the game system of the present embodiment each transmit operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 including operation information generated by the game controller connected thereto in the frame period to the second server 30. Figure 1

[0031] The second server 30 as a TURN server transmits operation-related information OP23 including operation-related information OP2 from the game machine 50B and operation-related information OP3 from the game machine 50C to the game machine 50A. Similarly, the second server 30 transmits operation-related information OP13 including operation-related information OP1 from the game machine 50A and operation-related information OP3 from the game machine 50C to the game machine 50B, and transmits operation-related information OP12 including operation-related information OP1 from the game machine 50A and operation-related information OP2 from the game machine 50B to the game machine 50C.

[0032] The game machine 50A transmits transmission information including operation-related information OP123 composed of operation-related information OP1 and operation-related information OP23 accepted from the second server 30 to the first server 10. Similarly, the game machine 50B transmits transmission information including operation-related information OP123 composed of operation-related information OP2 and operation-related information OP13 accepted from the second server 30 to the first server 10. The game machine 50C transmits transmission information including operation-related information OP123 composed of operation-related information OP3 and operation-related information OP12 accepted from the second server 30 to the first server 10. That is, the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C of the game system of the present embodiment each transmit transmission information including operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 generated by the game machine 50A, 50B, 50C to the first server 10 in each frame period as a prescribed period.

[0033] ​The first server 10 acquires the transmission information transmitted from each game machine 50A, 50B, 50C every frame period. That is, the first server 10 acquires the operation-related information OP123 (i.e., operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3) every frame period by acquiring the transmission information from each game machine 50A, 50B, 50C.

[0034] The first server 10 performs information management such as saving the transmission information corresponding to the prescribed rule from among the plurality of transmission information transmitted and acquired from each game machine 50A, 50B, 50C every frame period. In the present embodiment, as the information management corresponding to the prescribed rule, the first server 10 saves the first acquired transmission information from among the plurality of transmission information acquired from each game machine 50A, 50B, 50C every frame period, and does not save the transmission information from the second onward or discards after temporary saving.

[0035] Also, in a case where the game machine 50D of the spectator who watches (views) the online battle displayed by the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C transmits a request to acquire the game information of the online battle, the first server 10 performs transmission control such as transmitting the transmission information saved as described above, i.e., the operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3, to the game machine 50D that requested to acquire the game information.

[0036] [2. Outline structure of the first server]

[0037] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the first server 10.

[0038] The first server 10 has a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a communication section 14, and a storage device 15.

[0039] The CPU 11 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 12 to the RAM 13 and executes various processes. The ROM 12 stores the control program (OS or the like) required for the first server 10 to operate. Instead of the ROM 12, a flash memory (NVRAM) can be used. The RAM 13 is used as the main memory, work area, buffer, and the like of the CPU 11, and as a temporary storage area. The communication section 14 performs communication processing with each game machine 50A, 50B, 50C and the game machine 50D and other external devices via the network 20. The storage device 15 stores the program related to the online battle-type game, the user identification information of the user of the operation game machine 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D, and the like, various information of each user required for other games. In addition, a part of the information thereof can be stored in a database or the like not shown.

[0040] [3. Outline structure of the second server]

[0041] The second server 30 as a relay server is basically the same structure as that of the first server 10 shown in FIG. 1, and thus the description will be continued. Figure 2 Figure 2 In the case of the second server 30, the ROM 12 stores a control program (OS or the like) required for the second server 30 to operate. The CPU 11 reads out the control program stored in the ROM 12 to the RAM 13 and performs various processes. The RAM 13 is the same as that of the first server 10, and the description will be omitted. The communication section 14 of the second server 30 performs communication processing with each game machine 50A, 50B, 50C and other external devices via the network 20. The storage device 15 stores programs and other information required for communication with the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C and other communication as described above.

[0042] [4. Outline structure of game machine]

[0043] Figure 3 is a diagram showing a structure example of any one of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C participating in the online battle-type game. Further, in the present embodiment, since the game machine 50D spectating the online battle has substantially the same structure as the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C performing the online battle, the illustration of the structure of the game machine 50D will be omitted. In addition, in the following description, in the case where the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D are not distinguished, only the game machine 50 is marked.

[0044] The game machine 50 is constituted by, for example, a home-use game machine, a portable communication device such as a smart phone, a portable game dedicated device, a personal computer, a tablet, or the like.

[0045] The game machine 50 is provided with a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a communication section 54, a storage device 55, an operation section 56, and a display section 57.

[0046] The CPU 51 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 52 to the RAM 53 and performs various processes. The ROM 52 stores a control program (OS or the like) required for the game machine 50 to operate. Instead of the ROM 52, a flash memory (NVRAM) can be used. The RAM 53 serves as a main memory of the CPU 51, a work area, and the like. The communication section 54 performs communication processing with the first server 10 and the second server 30 and other external devices via the network 20. The operation section 56 accepts various operations of a user, and for example, a game controller attached to a home-use game machine and a touch panel mounted on the display section 57 correspond to the operation section 56. The display section 57 displays various information such as a screen of a game on a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The storage device 55 mainly stores a game program related to a game and various data related to a game, and the like. ​

[0047] Further, the functions and processes of the game machine 50 are realized by the CPU 51 reading out and executing a program stored in the ROM 52 or the storage device 55. Alternatively, the CPU 51 can read out a program stored in a removable storage medium such as an SD card, instead of a program stored in the ROM 52 or the like. Further, a unit for supplying a program to a computer can be a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing a program, and a transmission medium such as the Internet transmitting a program.

[0048] [5. Outline configuration of game controller]

[0049] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of an outline appearance of the game controller 40 connected to the game machine 50. Further, Figure 4 The game controller 40 of

[0050] The game controller 40 is connected to the game machine 50 by wire or wirelessly. The game controller 40 is configured to have a plurality of operation members. The plurality of operation members include various operation members such as an up button, a down button, a right button, a left button, a left stick (LS stick), a right stick (RS stick), an A button (□ button), a B button (△ button), an X button (× button), a Y button (○ button), an Ll button, an L2 button, an Rl button, an R2 button, and the like. The functions of these operation members are generally widely known, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.

[0051] If these operation members are operated by a user, the game controller 40 generates operation information corresponding to the user operation and transmits the operation information to the game machine 50. For example, in the game controller 40, the state of each operation member is scanned every predetermined period (every frame period), and operation information indicating the scanning result is transmitted to the game machine 50.

[0052] [6. Outline of operation-related information]

[0053] Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of operation-related information including operation information generated by the game controller 40 when each operation member is operated and frame number information indicating a frame period generated by the game machine 50. Figure 5"Up" to "Left Joystick" of the upper stage of the drawing corresponds to each operation member of the upper button to the left stick (LS stick) of the game controller 40, and the numerals of the lower stage of the drawing represent each digit of the operation information generated by the operation of the corresponding operation member. For example, the operation information of the upper button to the R2 button is represented by 1 bit, and the operation information of the right stick (RS stick) and the left stick (LS stick) is represented by 16 bits, respectively. In addition, the frame number is represented by 16 bits. Thus, the operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 generated in the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C, respectively, becomes information of 60 bits each. In addition, the operation-related information OP23, OP13, OP12 transmitted from the second server 30 to the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C becomes information of 120 bits each.

[0054] Figure 6 is a drawing showing each operation-related information and frame number information included in the transmission information transmitted from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C to the first server 10. Figure 6 "Up" to "Frame Number" of the drawing corresponds to each operation member of the upper button to the frame number of the game controller 40, Figure 5 is the same as that of the example of Figure 6 "C1" of the drawing indicates the operation-related information and frame number information in the game machine 50A, "C2" indicates the operation-related information and frame number information in the game machine 50B, and "C3" indicates the operation-related information and frame number information in the game machine 50C. Thus, the operation-related information OP123 transmitted from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C to the first server 10 as described above becomes information of 180 bits each.

[0055] [7. Functional structure of game machine that performs online match]

[0056] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the game machine 50 that performs online match. In the game machine 50 that performs online match, Figure 3 The CPU 51 shown in the drawing reads out a program stored in the ROM 52 or the storage device 55 and executes the program, whereby the functions of the game control section 510, the operation information acquisition section 511, the operation-related information generation section 512, and the communication control section 513 are realized.

[0057] In the game machine 50 shown in Figure 7 , the game control section 510 performs various processes and controls for online match game.

[0058] The operation information acquisition section 511 acquires operation information when each operation member of the game controller 40 is operated by the user, on a per frame period basis.

[0059] The operation-related information generating section 512 generates operation-related information including operation information generated by the game controller 40, frame number information indicating a frame period that is one unit of game processing, and identification information of the game machine 50, and the like.

[0060] The communication control section 513 performs various processes and controls related to the communication of the operation-related information with the second server 30 as described above and the communication of the transmission information with the first server 10 as described above.

[0061] [8. Functional structure of the first server and flow of processes]

[0062] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional structure of the first server 10. In the first server 10, Figure 2 The CPU 11 shown in the drawing reads out a program stored in the ROM 12 or the storage device 15 and executes the program, whereby the functions of the information acquisition section 110, the information management section 111, the information storage section 112, and the transmission control section 113 are realized.

[0063] The information acquisition section 110 acquires transmission information from the terminals of the plurality of game machines 50A, 50B, 50C on a per-frame basis, the transmission information including operation-related information OP123 generated in each of the plurality of game machines 50A, 50B, 50C in a frame period (a prescribed period) in accordance with the operation of the game controller 40 by a user.

[0064] The information management section 111 saves (causes the information storage section 112 to save) the first transmission information among a plurality of transmission information transmitted from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C on a per-frame basis in accordance with a prescribed rule, that is, a rule of saving the first transmission information and not saving the transmission information from the second onward. The information storage section 112 at this time causes the first transmission information to be stored in the storage device 15, for example. Figure 2

[0065] The transmission control section 113 transmits the transmission information (the first received transmission information) saved in the information storage section 112 to the game machine 50D that has made a request for acquisition of information in the case where such a request is received. In the case of the present embodiment, the game machine 50D of the spectator transmits a request for transmission of information for an online spectator battle game to the first server 10, and the transmission control section 113 transmits the transmission information in accordance with the request to the game machine 50D. Further, in the case where there are a plurality of game machines 50D that have made a request for acquisition of information, the transmission control section 113 transmits the saved transmission information to these plurality of game machines 50D.

[0066] In addition, Figure 9 ​is a flowchart showing a flow of processes of the first server 10 receiving and saving the transmission information from the participant game machines 50A, 50B, 50C until the step S101.

[0067] Hereinafter, the functional structure of the Figure 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of the Figure 7 .

[0068] As the process of the step S101, the information acquisition section 110 of the first server 10 determines whether or not the transmission information including the aforementioned operation-related information OP123 is received from the participant game machines 50A, 50B, 50C, and in the case where it is determined that the transmission information is not received, the determination process of the step S101 is repeated. On the other hand, in the case where it is determined that the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 is received, the information acquisition section 110 causes the process to proceed to the step S102.

[0069] If the step S102 is reached, the information management section 111 acquires the frame number information from the operation-related information OP123 included in the transmission information temporarily saved in the reception buffer area set in the RAM 13 of the Figure 2 .

[0070] Next, in the step S103, the information management section 111 determines whether or not the frame number of the operation-related information OP123 included in the transmission information received in the step S101 is the same as the frame number of the operation-related information OP123 included in the transmission information temporarily saved in the reception buffer. That is, the information management section 111 confirms whether or not the operation-related information OP123 of the same frame number as the operation-related information OP123 received in the step S101 is already saved in the reception buffer.

[0071] In the case where it is confirmed that the operation-related information OP123 of the same frame number as the operation-related information OP123 received in the step S101 is already saved in the reception buffer, the information management section 111 causes the process to return to the step S101 after the control information storage section 112 does not save the transmission information received in this step S101.

[0072] On the other hand, in the case where the operation-related information OP123 of the same frame number as the operation-related information OP123 received in the step S101 is not already saved in the reception buffer, the information management section 111 causes the process to return to the step S101 after saving (the control information storage section 112 saves) the transmission information received in the step S101 in the step S104.

[0073] That is, as the information management corresponding to the prescribed rule, the information management section 111 in the first server 10 saves the first acquired transmission information among the transmission information acquired every frame period in step S101, and does not save the transmission information from the second onward.

[0074] Figure 10 is a diagram schematically showing the information management processing corresponding to the prescribed rule.

[0075] Figure 10 The game machines 50A, 50B, 50C shown transmit transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 (information composed of operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3) of the frame number Fl having the same value as the frame number of each frame to the first server 10. However, in the case of the example of Figure 10 In the case of the example, the first server 10 first receives transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 from the game machine 50A, then second receives transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 from the game machine 50B, and thereafter, third receives transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 from the game machine 50C. In this case, the first server 10 saves the first received transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 from the game machine 50A, and does not save the transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 from the game machines 50B and 50C received from the second onward. Also, in the case where a request for game information is issued from the game machine 50D of the spectator, the first server 10 transmits the first received and saved transmission information containing operation-related information OP123 from the game machine 50A to the game machine 50D.

[0076] As described above, in the first embodiment, the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 in which the frame number is the same value is transmitted from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C that perform the online match to the first server 10, and the first server 10 saves the first received transmission information among the received transmission information. That is, in the case of the first embodiment, even if the game machine 50A, for example, among the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C cannot perform the communication, the first server 10 can acquire the transmission information from the game machine 50B, and even if the game machine 50B, for example, also cannot perform the communication, the first server 10 can acquire the transmission information from the game machine 50C. Thus, even if any one of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C cannot perform the communication, the first server 10 can acquire and save the operation-related information OP123 that can represent the match process of the online match game in the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C. Thus, according to the first embodiment, even if any one of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C cannot perform the communication, the game machine 50D of the spectator can be transmitted the operation-related information OP123 that can reproduce the match result in the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C. Also, in the game machine 50D, the game processing is performed based on the acquired operation-related information OP123, the game image for the spectator is generated, and displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like of the display section 57. As a result, the user (spectator) of the game machine 50D can watch the match content based on the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C. That is, according to the present embodiment, the image displayed by the client terminal (game machine that performs the online match) connected via the network can be normally viewed in the other client terminal (game machine of the spectator).

[0077] [9. Second Embodiment]

[0078] In the first embodiment described above, as the information management corresponding to the prescribed rule, the example in which the first acquired transmission information among the plurality of transmission information acquired for each frame period is saved is cited, but in the second embodiment, the example of the information management corresponding to the prescribed rule based on the hash information will be described. The game system and the configuration of each server and each game machine in the second embodiment are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and thus the drawings thereof are omitted. In the following description, the portions different from the first embodiment will be described.

[0079] In the case of the second embodiment, the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C that perform the online match perform communication of the operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 to which the hash information generated by each of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C is assigned, via the second server 30, as with the first embodiment described above. Also, the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C transmit transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 composed of the operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 to which the hash information is respectively assigned, to the first server 10.

[0080] The functional structure of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C in the case of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in the first embodiment described above, and the operation-related information to which the hash information is assigned is generated in the operation-related information generation section 512. The functions other than this are the same as described above. Figure 7 The functional structure of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C in the case of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in the first embodiment described above, and the operation-related information to which the hash information is assigned is generated in the operation-related information generation section 512. The functions other than this are the same as described above.

[0081] In the case of the present embodiment, the first server 10 performs, as the information management corresponding to the prescribed rule, for example, the following processing: saving the transmission information including the same hash information among the plurality of transmission information transmitted and received from the plurality of game machines 50A, 50B, 50C for each frame period, and not saving the transmission information including different hash information.

[0082] The functional structure of the first server 10 in the case of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in the first embodiment described above, and, in the information management section 111, for example, the following information management is performed: saving the transmission information including the same hash information among the plurality of transmission information received, and not saving the transmission information including different hash information. The functions other than this are the same as described above, and, for example, in the case where there are a plurality of transmission information including the same hash information, the first received transmission information among these transmission information can be saved, and the transmission information received from the second onward can be not saved. Figure 8 The functional structure of the first server 10 in the case of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in the first embodiment described above, and, in the information management section 111, for example, the following information management is performed: saving the transmission information including the same hash information among the plurality of transmission information received, and not saving the transmission information including different hash information. The functions other than this are the same as described above, and, for example, in the case where there are a plurality of transmission information including the same hash information, the first received transmission information among these transmission information can be saved, and the transmission information received from the second onward can be not saved.

[0083] Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing of the first server 10 in the second embodiment.

[0084] The information acquisition section 110 of the first server 10 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 is received from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C of the participants, as with step S101 of the first embodiment described above, in step S111. In the case where it is determined that the transmission information is not received, the determination processing of step S111 is repeated. On the other hand, the information acquisition section 110 causes the processing to proceed to step S112 in the case where it is determined that the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 is received. Figure 9 The information acquisition section 110 of the first server 10 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 is received from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C of the participants, as with step S101 of the first embodiment described above, in step S111. In the case where it is determined that the transmission information is not received, the determination processing of step S111 is repeated. On the other hand, the information acquisition section 110 causes the processing to proceed to step S112 in the case where it is determined that the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 is received.

[0085] If step S112 is reached, the information management section 111 determines whether the hash information of the operation-related information OP123 included in the transmission information received in step S111 is the same information. The information management section 111, upon confirming that the hash information of the operation-related information OP123 received in step S111 is the same information, causes the processing to proceed to step S113, saves the transmission information received in step S111, and then returns the processing to step S111.

[0086] On the other hand, in a case where there is different information in the hash information of the operation-related information OP123 received in step S111, the information management section 111 does not save (causes the information storage section 112 not to save) the transmission information received in step S111 in step S112, and returns the processing to step S111.

[0087] That is, in the case of the present embodiment, as the information management corresponding to the prescribed rule, the first server 10 saves only the transmission information whose hash information included in the operation-related information acquired in step S111 for each frame period is the same information, and does not save the transmission information other than this.

[0088] Figure 12 is a diagram schematically showing the information management processing corresponding to the prescribed rule using hash information.

[0089] Figure 12 The game machines 50A, 50B, 50C shown transmit transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 (information composed of the operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3) of the frame number F1 whose frame number is the same value to the first server 10. However, in the case of the example of Figure 12 In the case of the example of, the hash information of the operation-related information OP123 assigned to the transmission information from the game machine 50A is all the same hash information HV10, except that the hash information of the operation-related information OP123 assigned to the transmission information from the game machine 50B is composed of the hash information HV7 and HV8. Also, except that the hash information of the operation-related information OP123 assigned to the transmission information from the game machine 50C is composed of the hash information HV13 and HV14.

[0090] Accordingly, the first server 10 saves the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 to which the same hash information HV10 is assigned, and does not save the transmission information other than this. Also, in a case where an information request for viewing is issued from the game machine 50D of the viewer, the first server 10 transmits the transmission information including the operation-related information OP123 from the game machine 50A, which is saved as described above, to the game machine 50D.

[0091] [10. Example of information management according to the number of identical hash information]

[0092] In the foregoing example, the case where the first server 10 does not hold the transmission information including the operation-related information to which different hash information is assigned is exemplified, but as another other example of information management corresponding to the prescribed rule, the operation-related information of the side where the number of identical hash information of the plurality of operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 included in the transmission information is greater can be held.

[0093] The example is continued Figure 12 In the example, the first server 10 cannot receive the transmission information from the game machine 50A due to a bad communication condition or the like, and acquires the transmission information from the game machine 50B and the game machine 50C.

[0094] In this case, the first server 10 holds the operation-related information OP1 and OP3 of the operation-related information OP123 included in the transmission information from the game machine 50B to which identical hash information HV8 is assigned, and does not hold the operation-related information OP2 to which different hash information HV7 is assigned. Similarly, the first server 10 holds the operation-related information OP3 and OP2 of the operation-related information OP123 included in the transmission information from the game machine 50C to which identical hash information HV13 is assigned, and does not hold the operation-related information OP1 to which different hash information HV14 is assigned.

[0095] Further, in the case of the example, there are two operation-related information OP3 of identical frame numbers. The information management section 111 can hold the two operation-related information OP3, but for example, the operation-related information OP3 received earlier can be held and the operation-related information OP3 received later can be not held.

[0096] Also, in the case where the game machine 50D of the spectator issues an information request for spectating the battle to the first server 10, the transmission control section 113 transmits the operation-related information OP1, OP2, OP3 of identical frame numbers to the game machine 50D according to the operation-related information held as described above.

[0097] In the second embodiment, the first server 10 saves the transmission information containing the operation-related information to which the same hash information is assigned, from the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C that perform the online match. Thus, according to the second embodiment, for example, in the case where any one of the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C performs illegal processing, the information resulting from the illegal processing can be excluded, and the game machine 50D of the spectator can be transmitted with the information that has not been subjected to the illegal processing, so that the game machine 50D can view the accurate content of the match based on the respective game machines 50A, 50B, 50C. That is, according to the second embodiment, the video based on the client terminals (game machines that perform the online match) connected via the network can be normally viewed in the other client terminals (game machines of the spectator).

[0098] [11. Modification]

[0099] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the present application. For example, the first server 10 and the second server 30 can be constituted by one server. In addition, the game machines 50 of the participants of the online match are not limited to three, and can be two or more than four. In addition, the game machines 50 that participate in the match can communicate with each other. The game machines 50 that participate in the match can also communicate based on so-called P2P (Peer to Peer). In this case, the TURN server as the second server 30 can be omitted. In addition, the game machine 50D of the spectator of the online match is not limited to one, and can be two or more. In the above-described embodiments, the prescribed period is set to the frame period as a unit of game processing, but a period other than the frame period can be used. In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the hash information contains information such as checksum, CRC, MD5, SHA, and the like. In the present embodiment, the completion can also be made by data comparison without using the hash information.

[0100] In Figure 6 , the frame numbers are prepared for C1, C2, and C3, respectively, but one is sufficient.

[0101] In Figure 5 , the description is made in a form in which the own data is omitted, for example, "the operation-related information OP23, OP13, OP12 transmitted from the second server 30 to the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C becomes information of 120 bits each", but can be set to information of 160 bits each in a form in which the own data is included. By including the own data, the same data is transmitted regardless of the connected terminal, so that the transmission processing of the second server can be generalized.

[0102] In the case of the above-described embodiments, the operation-related information is described as including information generated by the operation of the operation pieces of the game controller by the user, but information processed from the operation information of the game controller, such as information generated by the game machines 50A, 50B, 50C respectively performing game processing based on the operation information, can also be operation-related information. The game system roughly has the following forms: a first form in which the game machines generate and display images by performing game processing; a second form in which a server generates images by performing game processing, and the game machines display the images; and a third form in which one game machine A displays images by performing game processing, and another game machine B only generates and displays images. In the case of the first form, the destination of the information transmitted by the game machines is other game machines. Further, the first form has the following forms: a form in which the game machines transmit operation information generated by the game controllers to other game machines as the destination every predetermined period (frame period); and a form in which the game machines transmit information processed from the operation information of the game controllers to other game machines as the destination when necessary. In the case of the second form, the destination of the information transmitted by the game machines is the game server. Further, the second form has the following forms: a form in which the game machines transmit operation information generated by the game controllers to the server every predetermined period (frame period), and the server transmits information (coordinates) for rendering to the game machines; and a form in which the game machines transmit information processed from the operation information of the game controllers to the server when necessary, and the server transmits streaming video to the game machines. In the case of the third form, the destination of the information transmitted by the game machine A is the game machine B, and the destination of the information transmitted by the game machine B is the game machine A, and the game machine on the transmitting side transmits information processed from the operation information of the game controllers to the game machine on the destination side when necessary. Further, in the case of the third form, the game machine on the transmitting side transmits information (coordinates) for rendering to the game machine on the destination side. In the first form and the third form in which the destination of the information transmitted by the game machines is other game machines among the above-described forms, information transmitted and received between the game machines is included in the category of the operation-related information, and thus the above-described embodiments can be applied.

[0103] [12. Postscript]

[0104] According to the above description, for example, the present application can be understood as follows. (1)

[0106] The program according to one embodiment of the present application causes a computer to function as three units, namely, an information acquisition unit (110) that acquires transmission information including operation-related information generated at each of a plurality of terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) in each predetermined period according to user operations, an information management unit (111) that saves transmission information corresponding to a predetermined rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired in each of the predetermined periods, and a transmission control unit (113) that transmits the saved transmission information to a terminal (50D) that has requested information acquisition. (6)

[0108] The information processing method according to one embodiment of the present application is executed by an information processing apparatus, and includes an information acquisition step (110) of acquiring transmission information including operation-related information generated at each of a plurality of terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) in each predetermined period according to user operations, an information management step (111) of saving transmission information corresponding to a predetermined rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired in each of the predetermined periods, and a transmission control step (113) of transmitting the saved transmission information to a terminal (50D) that has requested information acquisition. (7)

[0110] The information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present application includes an information acquisition unit (110) that acquires transmission information including operation-related information generated at each of a plurality of terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) in each predetermined period according to user operations, an information management unit (111) that saves transmission information corresponding to a predetermined rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired in each of the predetermined periods, and a transmission control unit (113) that transmits the saved transmission information to a terminal that has requested information acquisition. (8)

[0112] The game system according to one embodiment of the present application includes an information acquisition unit (110) that acquires transmission information including operation-related information generated at each of a plurality of terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) in each predetermined period according to user operations, an information management unit (111) that saves transmission information corresponding to a predetermined rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired in each of the predetermined periods, and a transmission control unit (113) that transmits the saved transmission information to a terminal that has requested information acquisition.

[0113] According to the invention described in (1), (6), (7), or (8) above, even if any of the plurality of terminals cannot communicate or performs illegal processing, the operation-related information generated by the plurality of terminals connected via the network can be transmitted to the other terminals, and thus the images displayed by the terminals connected via the network can be normally viewed in the other terminals. (2)

[0115] In one embodiment of the present application, in the above-described (1), the information management unit (110) saves the first acquired transmission information among the plurality of transmission information acquired from the plurality of terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) for each of the prescribed periods according to the prescribed rule, and does not save the transmission information from the second onward.

[0116] According to the invention described in (2) above, even if any of the plurality of terminals connected via the network cannot communicate, the operation-related information generated by the terminals can be transmitted to the other terminals, and thus the images displayed by the terminals connected via the network can be normally viewed in the other terminals. (3)

[0118] In one embodiment of the present application, in the above-described (1), the operation-related information generated by the terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) includes hash information generated in the terminals, and the information management unit (110) saves the transmission information including only the same hash information among the plurality of transmission information acquired from the plurality of terminals for each of the prescribed periods according to the prescribed rule, and does not save the transmission information including different hash information.

[0119] According to the invention described in (3) above, even if any of the plurality of terminals connected via the network performs illegal processing, the operation-related information from the terminal that does not perform illegal processing can be transmitted to the other terminals, and thus the images displayed by the terminals connected via the network can be normally viewed in the other terminals. (4)

[0121] In one embodiment of the present application, in the above-described (1), the operation-related information generated by the terminals (50A, 50B, 50C) includes hash information generated in the terminals, and the information management unit (110) saves the operation-related information of the side in which the number of the same hash information is larger than the number of different hash information among the transmission information acquired from the plurality of terminals for each of the prescribed periods according to the prescribed rule, and does not save the operation-related information of the side in which the number of the same hash information is smaller than the number of different hash information.

[0122] According to the invention described in (4) above, even if any of the plurality of terminals connected via the network has been illegally processed, operation-related information from a terminal that has not been illegally processed can be transmitted to other terminals, so that the images displayed by the terminals connected via the network can be normally viewed in the other terminals. (5)

[0124] In one embodiment of the present application, in any of the embodiments described in (1) to (4) above, the terminal (50A, 50B, 50C, 50D) is a game terminal, the information acquisition unit (110) acquires the transmission information from a game terminal (50A, 50B, 50C) that is engaged in a match with another game terminal, and the transmission control unit (113) transmits the saved transmission information in accordance with a request for transmission of the information from the terminal (50D) that is not engaged in the match.

[0125] According to the invention described in (5) above, even if the representative game machine cannot communicate or has been illegally processed by any of the game machines engaged in the match, operation-related information generated by a plurality of game machines engaged in online matches via a network can be transmitted to a game machine of a spectator, so that a process of causing a game in progress to be performed in accordance with the operation-related information can be executed on the game machine of the spectator, the image of the game in progress can be continuously displayed, and the spectator can view the game in progress.

[0126] Explanation of symbols

[0127] 10: first server; 20: network; 30: second server; 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D: game machine; 11, 51: CPU; 12, 52: ROM; 13, 53: RAM; 14, 54: communication unit; 15, 55: storage device; 16, 56: operation unit; 57: display unit; 40: game controller; 110: information acquisition unit; 111: information management unit; 112: information storage unit; 113: transmission control unit; 510: game control unit; 511: operation information acquisition unit; 512: operation-related information generation unit; 513: communication control unit.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as: an information acquisition unit that acquires transmission information from each of a plurality of first terminals per each prescribed period, the transmission information including operation-related information respectively generated in all terminals engaged in an online match, as operation-related information respectively generated in the prescribed period according to user operations at each of the plurality of first terminals engaged in the online match; an information management unit that saves transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired from each of the plurality of first terminals per each of the prescribed periods; and a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information to a second terminal that has requested information acquisition, the first terminals being game machines, the acquisition of the transmission information including each of the plurality of first terminals transmitting operation-related information of one of the plurality of first terminals and another first terminal to the information acquisition unit, the operation-related information including information generated by a game controller provided to the game machine, the second terminal being a game machine of a spectator who watches the online match.

2. The computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit saves a first acquired transmission information among a plurality of the transmission information acquired from the plurality of first terminals per each of the prescribed periods according to the prescribed rule, and does not save transmission information from the second onward.

3. The computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to claim 1, wherein the operation-related information generated by the first terminal includes hash information generated in the first terminal, and the information management unit saves transmission information including only the same hash information among a plurality of the transmission information acquired from the plurality of first terminals per each of the prescribed periods according to the prescribed rule, and does not save transmission information including different hash information.

4. The computer-readable storage medium storing a program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the transmission information from a first terminal engaged in a match with another first terminal, and the transmission control unit transmits the saved transmission information according to a request for transmission of the information from the second terminal not engaged in the match.

5. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as: an information acquisition unit that acquires transmission information from a plurality of first terminals per each prescribed period, the transmission information including operation-related information respectively generated in each of the plurality of first terminals in the prescribed period according to user operations; an information management unit that saves transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired per each of the prescribed periods; and a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information to a second terminal that has requested information acquisition, the operation-related information generated by the first terminals includes hash information generated in the first terminals, the information management unit, in a case where different hash information exists in the transmission information acquired from the plurality of first terminals for each of the prescribed periods, saves the operation-related information of the side with a larger number of identical hash information, and does not save the operation-related information of the side with a smaller number of identical hash information, in accordance with a prescribed rule, the first terminals are game machines, the acquisition of the transmission information includes each of the plurality of first terminals transmitting operation-related information of one of the plurality of first terminals and other first terminals to the information acquisition unit, the operation-related information includes information generated by a game controller provided to the game machine, the second terminals are game machines of spectators who spectate online matches.

6. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus, the information processing method characterized by comprising: the information processing method has: an information acquisition step of acquiring transmission information from each of a plurality of first terminals for each prescribed period, the transmission information including operation-related information respectively generated in all terminals that participate in an online match, as operation-related information respectively generated in each of the plurality of first terminals that participate in the online match in accordance with user operations within the prescribed period; an information management step of saving transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired from each of the plurality of first terminals for each of the prescribed periods; and a transmission control step of transmitting the saved transmission information to a second terminal that has requested information acquisition, the first terminals are game machines, the acquisition of the transmission information includes each of the plurality of first terminals transmitting operation-related information of one of the plurality of first terminals and other first terminals to the information processing apparatus, the operation-related information includes information generated by a game controller provided to the game machine, the second terminals are game machines of spectators who spectate online matches.

7. An information processing apparatus, characterized by comprising: has: an information acquisition unit that acquires transmission information from each of a plurality of first terminals for each prescribed period, the transmission information including operation-related information respectively generated in all terminals that participate in an online match, as operation-related information respectively generated in each of the plurality of first terminals that participate in the online match in accordance with user operations within the prescribed period; an information management unit that saves transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired from each of the plurality of first terminals for each of the prescribed periods; and a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information to a second terminal that has requested information acquisition, the first terminals are game machines, The acquiring of the transmission information includes each of the plurality of first terminals transmitting operation-related information of one of the plurality of first terminals and the other first terminals to the information acquisition unit, The operation-related information includes information generated by a game controller provided to the game machine, The second terminal is a game machine of a spectator who watches the online match.

8. A gaming system, characterized in that has: an information acquisition unit that acquires transmission information from each of a plurality of first terminals for each prescribed period, the transmission information including operation-related information respectively generated in all terminals that are engaged in an online match, as operation-related information respectively generated in each of the plurality of first terminals engaged in the online match within the prescribed period according to user operation; an information management unit that saves transmission information corresponding to a prescribed rule among a plurality of the transmission information acquired from each of the plurality of first terminals for each of the prescribed periods; and a transmission control unit that transmits the saved transmission information to a second terminal that has requested information acquisition, The first terminal is a game machine, The acquiring of the transmission information includes each of the plurality of first terminals transmitting operation-related information of one of the plurality of first terminals and the other first terminals to the information acquisition unit, The operation-related information includes information generated by a game controller provided to the game machine, The second terminal is a game machine of a spectator who watches the online match.

Images