Information processor, method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of further diversifying development of a match with an opponent with whom a user plays a match in a TCG (Trading Card Game).SOLUTION: An information processor manages matching rally information regarding a matching rally, and match information of each user who participates in the matching rally, and stores information on plural decks usable by a user in the matching rally as registered deck information in association with the matching rally information. A control part executes the steps of: determining a match opponent user who plays a match with one user; presenting the one user with information regarding registered deck information of the match opponent user before registering win / loss information of one user and the match opponent user; receiving designation of a deck used for a match from one user from among registered deck information of the one user after presentation by the step of presenting to a user; and updating match information to be managed in response to designation of a deck by each match opponent user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 14

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, a method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] TCGs are known in which users play against each other using real cards. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a card game toy in which a player uses multiple cards with predetermined playing abilities to repeatedly attack and defend against an opponent's cards, and competes for victory by reducing the stamina of the cards to zero. In TCGs, a user collects cards and organizes cards to be used in a battle from among the collected cards. This organization is commonly referred to as "organizing a deck."

[0003] TCG users compete against each other in the real world by bringing decks that they have organized with cards. To promote such TCGs, businesses that provide TCG cards and stores that sell cards sometimes hold tournaments. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-204874 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Various parameters, such as compatibility and card effects, are set for cards organized into a deck. A user considers combinations of multiple cards while taking into account the parameters set for each card. For example, depending on the types of cards incorporated into a deck, there may be decks that are compatible with a specific deck. It is interesting to organize a deck while taking into account the advantages and disadvantages between such cards.

[0006] In a tournament, a user may register a deck in advance and then proceed with the battle between users. This makes it easy for the tournament organizer to grasp the winning rate of the deck when the results of the battles between users are tallied.

[0007] However, when players register one deck in advance and then compete in a tournament, it may be difficult for one player to beat another player's deck due to deck compatibility. In other words, the outcome of the match may be roughly decided once the opponent is determined through matching.

[0008] Therefore, in tournaments where users bring decks they have organized and compete against each other, there is a need for technology that can further diversify the way battles with matched opponents unfold.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide technology that further diversifies the way battles unfold in tournaments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to one embodiment, an information processing device for supporting the management of a TCG (Trading Card Game) tournament is provided. The information processing device is configured to manage tournament information related to the tournament and tournament information of each user participating in the tournament, and to store information on a plurality of decks that users can use in the tournament as registered deck information in association with the tournament information, and a control unit of the information processing device executes the steps of: determining an opponent user who will play against one user; presenting information related to the opponent user's registered deck information to the one user before registering win / loss information between the one user and the opponent user; accepting, from the one user after the presentation in the step of presenting to the user, a designation of a deck to be used in the tournament from the one user's registered deck information; and updating the managed tournament information in response to each user designating a deck. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, in games in which decks are organized and battles are fought, the development of battles can be made even more diverse. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a support system 1 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a situation in which each user is progressing in a TCG match using the support system 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a support system 1. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram of a terminal device 10 constituting a support system 1 of a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a server 20. [Figure 6] 2A to 2C are diagrams showing the data structures of a user information database 281, a matching history database 282, and a battle history database 283 stored in the server 20. [Figure 7]13 is a flowchart showing a process of analyzing a match between users at a terminal and providing a notification to support the progress of the TCG match according to the analysis results. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a situation in which the terminal device 10B notifies the user that an action that does not comply with the rules has been performed during a match. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the terminal device 10 relative to the TCG supplies 30 in order to support the progress of a TCG match. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process in which each user uses a terminal to progress in a TCG match. [Figure 11] 2 is a diagram showing card information 286 and the data structure of a tournament database 287. FIG. [Figure 12] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the data structures of tournament entry information 288, a matching history database 282C, and a battle history database 283C. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation of each device in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a terminal device 10 in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0014] In the following embodiment, a technology is described in which the support system 1 supports the progress of a TCG (Trading Card Game) match when users play a TCG match. Also, a technology is described in which, by supporting the TCG match between users in this way, it is possible to easily manage a match (such as a tournament) in which a large number of users play a TCG match. In order to support the progress of the match in this way, in the following embodiment, it is described how a portable terminal held by the user is used to sense TCG items, thereby identifying events occurring in the TCG match between users, and notifying the user of specified information based on the identified content.

[0015] Specifically, support for the progress of TCG matches includes the following:

[0016] (1) Preparation before a match includes, for example, (i) matching users to play against each other, (ii) informing each user of their opponent and the location where the match will take place, and (iii) notifying the user of the location of the user's terminal that is suitable for sensing TCG equipment (e.g., mats or sheet-like items) on which cards are placed when a match is played using the system.

[0017] (2) During the match, for example, (i) informing users of the positions where cards should be placed in TCG equipment, (ii) informing users of the rules for playing TCG matches, (iii) calculating and notifying users of changes in card parameters when a user places a card and activates an effect such as attacking or being attacked by an opponent's card or increasing a parameter, (iv) informing users of the progress of a TCG match (such as how close each user is to achieving the victory conditions), and (v) notifying users of actions that do not comply with the rules of the TCG (for example, using a card at a time when a specific card cannot be used, using a card that is prohibited by the rules of the match, or registering cards to be used in advance at the match). (vi) notifying a user that a card has been used that has not been applied for registration despite being eligible for registration, (vii) urging a user to follow the rules for playing a TCG match, even if the behavior does not necessarily violate the rules of the TCG (for example, a user may be urged not to place cards in a disorganized manner in positions where cards should be placed in TCG supplies. For example, the positions where cards should be placed are indicated by frames or the like on the TCG supplies. In this case, when the terminal detects by analyzing a captured image of the TCG supplies that the user is ignoring these frames and placing cards, the terminal may notify the user that the behavior will be evaluated if the user follows the rules when playing a TCG match).

[0018] (3) The stage after the match ends includes, for example, (i) matching the user with the next opponent, (ii) evaluating the play of each user during the match to evaluate the user's proficiency (evaluating based on the time it takes for the user to proceed with a turn, the degree of familiarity with the rules, etc.), (iii) recommending an opponent for the user based on the contents of the deck (a combination of cards used in a TCG match) registered by the user and the evaluation results of the user's proficiency, and matching a match with that opponent, and (iv) evaluating whether the user played in accordance with the rules for TCG matches and notifying the user (for example, the terminal evaluates whether the user appropriately placed cards according to frames for placing cards on TCG equipment by analyzing photographed images of the TCG equipment, etc., and notifies the user of the evaluation result, for example, as fair play points, etc.), etc.

[0019] <1 Configuration> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a support system 1 according to the embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a situation in which each user is using the support system 1 to progress in a TCG match.

[0020] State (A) in Fig. 1 shows a situation in which a user prepares for a TCG match using the support system 1. State (B) in Fig. 1 shows a situation in which a user is about to start a TCG match by placing the user's terminal and the user's cards on the TCG equipment.

[0021] State (A) in Fig. 2 shows a state in which a user is progressing through a TCG match while adding cards from the deck to his / her hand. State (B) in Fig. 2 shows a state in which the terminal device 10B notifies the user of the progress of the TCG match. State (C) in Fig. 2 shows a state in which the user has finished the TCG match and the user's terminal notifies the user of the next opponent and the match location.

[0022] <1.1 Composition of 30 TCG products> First, various items used by each user in a TCG match will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in state (A) of Fig. 1, when a first user (user 5A) and a second user (user 5B) start a TCG match, TCG items 30 are placed between user 5A and user 5B. The TCG items 30 are used to place cards used by each user in the TCG match.

[0023] Each user places cards on the TCG equipment and proceeds with the TCG match while adding cards from the deck to their hand. First, the configuration of the TCG equipment 30 will be described. The TCG equipment 30 includes a deck placement section 31A and a deck placement section 31B (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as the "deck placement section 31"), a preparation card placement section 32A and a preparation card placement section 32B (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as the "preparation card placement section 32"), a win / lose condition card placement section 33A and a win / lose condition card placement section 33B (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as the "win / lose condition card placement section 33"), a battle card placement section 34A and a battle card placement section 34B (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as the "battle card placement section 34"), a consumption card placement section 35A and a consumption card placement section 35B (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as the "consumption card placement section 35"), and a two-dimensional code 36.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, in a TCG match, each user advances a battle of cards while replenishing their hand from the deck. In the example of Fig. 2, a first user (user 5A) has a hand 93A (two cards in the example of Fig. 2). A second user (user 5B) has a hand 93B (three cards in the example of Fig. 2).

[0025] The deck placement section 31 is an area for placing the deck of cards organized as a deck by each user. The deck placement section 31A is an area for the user 5A to place the deck. The deck placement section 31B is an area for the user 5B to place the deck.

[0026] As shown in state (B) of FIG. 1, when each user starts a TCG match, first, each user arranges their cards as a deck in the deck arrangement section 31. The deck arrangement section 31 is an area for users to arrange their decks. Each user shuffles the cards that make up the deck and arranges the cards face down in the deck arrangement section 31. User 5A arranges a deck 91A in the deck arrangement section 31A. User 5B arranges a deck 91B in the deck arrangement section 31B.

[0027] The preparation card placement section 32 is an area for placing cards that can be used in a battle with the opponent's cards. Each user exchanges cards placed in the preparation card placement section 32 with cards placed in the battle card placement section 34, and performs corrections of damage amounts according to attack power, stamina, card attributes, and weaknesses between the cards placed in the battle card placement section 34, thereby progressing the battle. As shown in state (B) of FIG. 1, before the start of the TCG battle, no cards are placed in the preparation card placement section 32 and the battle card placement section 34. On the other hand, as shown in state (A) of FIG. 2, when the TCG battle progresses, each user battles cards while placing cards in the preparation card placement section 32 and the battle card placement section 34. Each user places cards to be used in the battle from their hand in the preparation card placement section 32 and the battle card placement section 34, while replenishing their hand from the deck. User 5A places cards in the preparation card placement section 32A. User 5B places cards in the preparation card placement section 32B.

[0028] The win / loss condition card placement section 33 is an area that indicates to what extent each player has fulfilled the win condition. In this embodiment, each player places a predetermined number of cards from the deck face down in the win / loss condition card placement section 33. As shown in state (B) of FIG. 1, user 5A places cards in the win / loss condition card placement section 33A. User 5B places cards in the win / loss condition card placement section 33B.

[0029] The battle card placement section 34 is an area for placing cards that will battle with the opponent's cards. The user 5A places cards in the battle card placement section 34A. The user 5B places cards in the battle card placement section 34B. In this embodiment, the cards placed in the battle card placement section 34A and the cards placed in the battle card placement section 34B basically battle based on the vitality, attack power, the attributes of the characters shown on the cards, the attributes of the weak points, and other parameters set on each card. When the vitality set on a card is lost due to being attacked, etc., the character shown on the card is considered to have fainted and is removed from the battle, and is placed in the consumed card placement section 35 described later.

[0030] The consumed card placement section 35 is an area for placing cards consumed in a TCG match. For example, cards that have lost their stamina after being defeated in a battle, cards that have activated their effects, etc. are placed in the consumed card placement section 35. As shown in state (A) of FIG. 2, user 5A places a card 92A in the consumed card placement section 35A. User 5B places a card 92B in the consumed card placement section 35B.

[0031] The two-dimensional code 36 is information for identifying the location where the match will be played, and is, for example, a two-dimensional code that can be optically read by the camera of the terminal device 10. The two-dimensional code 36 includes information for identifying an arbitrary table when, for example, a plurality of tables are arranged for each user to play against each other in a match event or the like. The two-dimensional code 36 is, for example, a character string representing a URL including information for identifying a table. When the URL indicated in the two-dimensional code 36 is read by the user's terminal and the URL is accessed, the user's identification information held in the user's terminal is transmitted to the access destination device (for example, a server). Then, by comparing the user's identification information with the user's identification information previously associated with the table, it can be determined that the user indicated by the user's identification information has arrived at the correct table and that preparation for the match is possible. For example, the terminal device 10A, which is the terminal of the user 5A, or the terminal device 10B, which is the terminal of the user 5B, photographs the two-dimensional code 36 with a camera, and the information indicated in the two-dimensional code 36 can be read by the terminal device 10A or the terminal device 10B. In addition to the case where the table at which each user will play a match is presented to the user in advance at a match event, the two-dimensional code 36 may be photographed by the camera of each user's terminal device when the users play a TCG match. This allows the table at which the user played and the timing (date and time) of the match to be identified, and the matches between users can be recorded on a server, for example.

[0032] <1.2 Types of cards used in TCG> In the TCG of this embodiment, the types of cards include: (i) character cards that can be used in battle, (ii) action cards (energy cards) that are used in association with character cards, and (iii) effect cards that exert specific effects during battle.

[0033] (i) Character cards include cards that a user can draw from the deck, add to their hand, and then place in the battle card placement area 34 for use in battles (also called "unconditional cards"), and cards that can be used in battles by fulfilling certain conditions (also called "conditional cards").

[0034] (iA) For example, a conditional card can be made to participate in a battle on the condition that an unconditional card related to the conditional card is used. For example, in analogy with character evolution, the unconditional card can be presented to an opponent user by placing it in the TCG item 30, and then a conditional card related to the unconditional card can be placed in the TCG item 30, thereby making it possible for the conditional card to participate in a battle. Such a conditional card is sometimes called an "evolved character" as it is evolved from an unconditional card. In addition, the unconditional card can be called a "seed character" as it can be said to be a character that is the source of the "evolved character" to participate in a battle.

[0035] (iB) For example, a conditional card can be made to participate in a battle by consuming a specific card and moving it to the consumed card placement section 35. Specifically, it may be possible to consume an unconditional card placed in the TCG item 30 as the specific card (by moving it to the consumed card placement section 35) and make the conditional card participate in a battle.

[0036] For example, the conditional card can be made to participate in a battle in exchange for one or more character cards placed by the user on the TCG item 30. For example, when each character card is provided with a parameter (e.g., evolution level) indicating the overall performance of the character in addition to individual parameters such as the attack power of the character shown on the card, the conditional card having an evolution level corresponding to the evolution level value of the character card placed by the user can be made to participate in the battle. For example, when a character of evolution level 1 and a character of evolution level 2 are placed on the TCG item 30, a conditional card of evolution level 3 can be placed on top of the cards of these characters (or in exchange for these character cards).

[0037] In addition, the conditional card may be allowed to participate in a battle in exchange for a plurality of character cards defined by the conditional card. In this case, the conditional card may be allowed to participate in a battle by consuming an auxiliary card, which will be described later and is different from the character card. For example, the effect indicated by the auxiliary card may be set such that a specific conditional card can be allowed to participate in a battle in exchange for a specific unconditional card in the battle card arrangement section 34, the consumption card arrangement section 35, or the like of the TCG item 30.

[0038] (iC) These cards include cards that serve as multiple of the above-mentioned character cards, action power cards, and support cards described below. For example, special cards that can be used as both character cards and support cards may be included. When the user places the special card in a position where a character card should be placed (e.g., the preparation card placement area 32, the battle card placement area 34), the user can use the special card as a character card.

[0039] (ii) The action power card (energy card) is a card that the user draws from the deck and adds to his / her hand, and then associates it with a character card and places it on the TCG product 30, thereby enabling the user to perform a predetermined action indicated on the character card. The operation of associating the action power card with the character card may be performed, for example, during the user's turn. For example, the action power card may be associated with the character card by placing the action power card near the character card placed on the TCG product 30. In addition, the number of times that the action power card can be associated with the character card during a turn may be limited. For example, once during the user's turn, the action power card in the hand may be associated with any of the character cards placed on the TCG product 30. For example, it is assumed that a first attack action and a second attack action are set on the character card. The first attack action may be available when one action power card is associated with the character card, and the second attack action may be available when one action power card is not enough and two action power cards are associated with the character card.

[0040] When a character card is forced to leave the battle due to its stamina being exhausted or the like, the action power card associated with that character card may also be made unusable during that battle.

[0041] (iii) Support cards that assist in a match include card types that a user can use any number of times during a turn as long as they are in the user's hand, and card types that a user can use only one card during a turn. These support cards also include cards that have their effect activated when the user declares that they will use the effect of the support card.

[0042] In addition, the auxiliary cards also include cards that are placed face down in advance in a designated position on the TCG supplies 30 (in this embodiment, the designated position is not shown), and the effect of the auxiliary card is exerted when the user declares the use of the auxiliary card by vocalizing or otherwise.

[0043] <1.3 Overview of TCG battle rules> The TCG items 30 used in a TCG match and the types of cards have been described above. Next, the rules for the TCG match will be described in detail.

[0044] In the TCG shown in this embodiment, as described above, each user performs an attack or defense (battle) based on cards arranged in the battle card arrangement section 34A and the battle card arrangement section 34B to progress the TCG battle. The TCG battle progresses as users take turns to act. For example, when a first user finishes an action for a turn, it becomes the second user's turn. When the second user performs an action for that turn and finishes the action, it becomes the first user's turn.

[0045] Each time a turn comes, each user draws a predetermined number of cards from the deck and adds them to their hand.

[0046] Each user places, from among the cards in his / her hand, candidates for cards (character cards) to be used in attack or defense against the opponent user's cards in the preparation card placement section 32.

[0047] The user 5A can switch between the cards arranged in the preparation card placement unit 32A and the cards arranged in the battle card placement unit 34A during the turn of the user 5A. Also, the user 5B can switch between the cards arranged in the preparation card placement unit 32A and the cards arranged in the battle card placement unit 34A during the turn of the user 5B.

[0048] As described above, the win / lose condition card placement section 33A and the win / lose condition card placement section 33B are areas for notifying each user of the degree of progress toward the conditions for winning the match. Here, the condition for a user to win the match may be, for example, that all cards placed in the win / lose condition card placement section 33A or the win / lose condition card placement section 33B are collected. In other words, the win / lose may be decided when all cards are collected in either the win / lose condition card placement section 33A or the win / lose condition card placement section 33B.

[0049] For example, each user places a predetermined number of cards from the deck in the win / lose condition card placement section 33A or the win / lose condition card placement section 33B prior to a TCG match. That is, the user 5A removes a predetermined number of cards from the deck and places them in the win / lose condition card placement section 33A. The user 5B removes a predetermined number of cards from the deck and places them in the win / lose condition card placement section 33B. The character card placed in the battle card placement section 34A by the user 5A and the character card placed in the battle card placement section 34B by the user 5b are made to battle each other, and when the exit condition set for the character card is satisfied (for example, when the vitality value set for the character card is subtracted based on the attack power set for the opponent's character card and runs out), the character of the character card is considered to have fainted and is moved to the consumption card placement section 35 (also called "trash").

[0050] As a result, the user who has won the battle and dismissed the opponent's character card adds the cards placed in the win / loss condition card placement section 33A or the win / loss condition card placement section 33B to his / her hand. For example, when the user 5B dismisses the cards placed in the battle card placement section 34A by attacking the character card of the user 5A in his / her turn, he / she takes a predetermined number of cards from the cards placed in the win / loss condition card placement section 33B and adds them to his / her hand. On the other hand, when the user 5A dismisses the cards placed in the battle card placement section 34B by attacking the character card of the user 5B in his / her turn, he / she takes a predetermined number of cards from the cards placed in the win / loss condition card placement section 33A and adds them to his / her hand. These operations may be repeated, and when the user 5B collects all the cards placed in the win / loss condition card placement section 33B, or when the user 5A collects all the cards placed in the win / loss condition card placement section 33A, the user who has collected all the cards may be determined to be the user who won the TCG battle. Alternatively, the winning condition of the match may be that a user loses if there is no character card in either the battle card placement unit 34 or the preparation card placement unit 32. Alternatively, the winning condition of the match may be that a user loses if he or she is unable to draw a deck from the deck placement unit 31 during his or her turn.

[0051] <1.4 Overview of the system supporting TCG matches> As shown in state (B) of Fig. 1, when user 5A and user 5B start a TCG match, a communication connection is established between terminal device 10A, which is the terminal of user 5A, and terminal device 10B, which is the terminal of user 5B, thereby associating the terminals with each other. As shown in the figure, terminal device 10A is placed outside the TCG equipment 30. Terminal device 10A is placed so that the camera of terminal device 10A can sense the entire range in which cards are placed on the TCG equipment 30.

[0052] <1.4.1 How to identify user behavior> (i) Identifying user behavior through image analysis The terminal device 10A analyzes the image captured by the camera of the terminal device 10A to identify the finger or hand movements of each user, the user's line of sight, and the cards placed on the TCG supplies 30. The terminal device 10A performs voice recognition on the contents of the utterances of each user and extracts a predetermined action in the TCG match. In this way, the terminal device 10A determines information related to the progress of the TCG, such as, for example, that the user 5A and the user 5B have performed an operation to place a card on the TCG supplies 30, identifies the contents of the operation (such as activating the effect of a card), and recognizes the contents of the utterances of the user 5A or the user 5B by voice recognition to determine that each user has activated the effect of a card.

[0053] Specifically, the terminal device 10A is equipped with, for example, a depth camera that can detect distance. Based on the captured image, the terminal device 10A recognizes the surface of a table or the like on which the TCG items 30 are placed. Through image analysis of the captured image, the terminal device 10A identifies the TCG items 30 placed on a table or the like and recognizes them as planar objects. Through image analysis, the terminal device 10A identifies the ranges of the deck card placement area 31, preparation card placement area 32, win / lose condition card placement area 33, battle card placement area 34, and consumption card placement area 35 that constitute the TCG items 30.

[0054] (ii) Detecting whether a card is placed in each area of ​​the TCG equipment 30 The terminal device 10A detects cards used in the TCG by image analysis of the captured image. The terminal device 10A identifies each card used in the TCG match (identifies which character card it is, etc.) based on the card design or an identification code embedded in the card and a card database. Since the card design is usually different for each card, the terminal device 10A can detect which card is being used based on the card design included in the captured image. In addition, for example, when the back side of the card is different for each card (for example, when an identification code is attached to the back side of the card), the terminal device 10A detects which card it is based on the back side of the card included in the captured image. Note that, as described later, when each user registers information on cards used in the TCG match as a deck, the terminal device 10A detects which cards are placed on the TCG equipment 30 from among the cards registered in these decks. In a situation where many types of cards can be used in the TCG match, the accuracy of card detection can be further improved by registering the contents of each user's deck in advance in this way and performing the above detection from among the cards that constitute the deck.

[0055] (iii) Detecting the card specified by the user When the captured image includes the user's body, the terminal device 10A detects a specific motion, action, or posture. For example, when the TCG item 30 detects the user's body in the captured image, it sets skeletal information (bones) based on the detection of points that make up the body. For example, when the terminal device 10A detects the range of the user's hand in the captured image, it identifies the positions of the fingertips, the finger joints, and the wrist, and sets skeletal information that connects them. In this way, the terminal device 10A detects that the user is moving his or her hand to touch a card placed on the TCG item 30, that the user is pointing at a card placed on the TCG item 30, etc.

[0056] <1.4.2 Contents to be determined> The terminal device 10A determining information regarding the progress of the TCG includes, for example, (1) determining information regarding the progress of the match and (2) determining that an action has been taken that does not comply with the rules of the TCG, as follows:

[0057] (1) Identifying information regarding the progress of a match (1-1) Identifying user actions related to preparation for battle (i) Replenishing and Consumption of Hand Cards The terminal device 10A detects that the user's hand has touched the deck placement section 31 and that the user has taken a card from the deck and is holding it. As a result, the terminal device 10A detects that a card has been taken from the user's deck and manages the number of cards in each user's deck. In addition, when a user places a card in the consumed card placement section 35 (when a card is moved to the trash), the terminal device 10A manages the number of cards placed in the consumed card placement section 35 by each user (cards consumed in a match) by identifying that a card has been placed in the consumed card placement section 35 and the type of the placed card. The information managed by the terminal device 10A may be notified to the user during a TCG match. For example, the terminal device 10B displays on a display the number of cards in each user's deck, the number of cards consumed during a match, etc., in response to an input operation from each user.

[0058] Furthermore, the terminal device 10A photographs the cards in each user's hand (for example, the backs of the cards) to determine the contents of the cards in each user's hand (i.e., which cards in the deck each user is holding as their hand).

[0059] (ii) Preparation for a battle between character cards The terminal device 10A specifies that a card has been placed in the battle card placement unit 34 or the preparation card placement unit 32 of the TCG supplies 30, that the placed card is a character card, and which character card has been placed in the battle card placement unit 34 or the preparation card placement unit 32. As a result, the terminal device 10A updates the information on the character cards placed in the battle card placement unit 34 or the preparation card placement unit 32 by each player.

[0060] (iii) Association of Action Power Card When the terminal device 10A detects that a user places a card near the character card and that the placed card is an action power card, it updates the information on the number of action power cards associated with the character of the character card. The action power card may be placed on the TCG item 30 so as to overlap the character card. That is, the terminal device 10A detects that the card is an action power card based on the design of the action power card, even if the entire area of ​​the action power card is not included in the captured image.

[0061] (iv) Evolution of Character Card The terminal device 10A detects that a conditional card among the character cards has become available for use in a battle (evolution). The terminal device 10A specifies that the card placed in the battle card placement unit 34 or the preparation card placement unit 32 is an unconditional card (seed character) among the character cards. When the terminal device 10A specifies that the card placed by the user on the TCG item 30 in association with the unconditional card is a conditional card (evolution character), it updates the information of the character card used by the user from the character of the unconditional card to the character of the conditional card. At this time, the terminal device 10A may also update the data by passing on the number of action power cards (energy cards) associated with the character of the unconditional card and parameter changes of the character of the unconditional card (such as the amount of damage received from the character of the opposing user) to the character of the conditional card.

[0062] As a method of placing a conditional card in association with an unconditional card, for example, the conditional card may be placed on top of the unconditional card. The terminal device 10A detects a card to be newly placed in an area where an unconditional card is placed on the TCG item 30, and if the card is a conditional card, determines that the conditional card has become usable in battle instead of the unconditional card (the seed character has evolved into an evolved character).

[0063] (1-2) Distinguishing actions during battle For example, the terminal device 10A identifies the card placed in the battle card placement section 34A, thereby identifying the character card that the user 5A will use in the battle. The terminal device 10A identifies what action the character card placed in the battle card placement section 34A has taken (for example, if the character card has multiple attack means, which attack means has been used) by performing voice recognition on the contents of the user 5A's utterance and detecting that the user 5A has designated the card to be placed in the battle card placement section 34A with a finger or the like. As a result, the parameters of the character card are calculated based on the parameters of the character card, such as its attack power and stamina.

[0064] (1-3) Determining whether an auxiliary card has been used The terminal device 10A detects that the user has used an auxiliary card by performing voice recognition on the contents of the user's speech and by the user designating an auxiliary card placed on the TCG supplies 30. For example, when a user picks up an auxiliary card, presents it to an opponent user, and declares that he or she will use the auxiliary card, the terminal device 10A detects the use of the auxiliary card. The terminal device 10A performs processing such as correcting the parameters of each character card according to the effect of the auxiliary card.

[0065] (1-4) Determining whether the victory conditions have been met The terminal device 10A determines which user has won by identifying the number of cards placed in the win / lose condition card placement section 33. As described above, each time a user wins a battle and exhausts the vitality value of a character card placed in the opponent's battle card placement section 34, the user can obtain a card to be placed in the win / lose condition card placement section 33. Therefore, the terminal device 10A determines which user has won by detecting that there are no more cards to be placed in the win / lose condition card placement section 33.

[0066] As described above, the terminal device 10A determines information regarding the progress of the battle, and the terminal device 10A records the actions taken by each user for each turn. The terminal device 10A records information about each user, such as the number of cards in the deck, characters that can participate in the battle (character cards placed in the preparation card placement section 32 or the battle card placement section 34), parameters of each character that increase or decrease due to attacks of each character, the effects of the support cards being exerted, and the total number of cards placed in the win / lose condition card placement section 33.

[0067] (2) Identifying actions that do not comply with the rules of the TCG The terminal device 10A can determine whether or not the user's action complies with the rules by determining the action performed by the user as described above.

[0068] (2-1) Incompatibility with the number of cards that can be used: For example, the terminal device 10A holds a history of cards used by the user during a turn in which the user can act, and determines that the upper limit on the number of cards that can be used during a turn is violated. For example, when two auxiliary cards of a type that limits the number of cards that can be used during a turn to one are used during a turn, the terminal device 10A determines that this is an action that does not comply with the rules.

[0069] (2-2) Incompatibility of Usable Actions: (i) The terminal device 10A determines whether each user is performing an action after satisfying the conditions for making the character on the character card perform the specific action. For example, assume that a plurality of attack actions are set on a character card, and the number of action power cards required to perform each attack action is set. The TCG item 30 has character cards and action power cards associated with the character cards. The terminal device 10A determines that the action does not comply with the rules when there are not enough action power cards required to perform an attack action specified by the user among the attack actions set on the character card.

[0070] (ii) The terminal device 10A determines whether or not a conditional card among character cards is being used after the conditions for using the conditional card in a battle are met. In other words, when the terminal device 10A determines that the conditional card is being used in a battle even though the conditions for using the conditional card in a battle are not met, the terminal device 10A notifies the user of a warning or the like.

[0071] As described above, some conditional cards can be made to participate in a battle by consuming a specific card and moving the card to the consumed card placement section 35. When such a conditional card participates in a battle, the terminal device 10 detects that the specific card has been consumed (moved to the consumed card placement section 35). When the user is attempting to have a conditional card participate in a battle but the specific card has not been moved to the consumed card placement section 35, the terminal device 10A determines that this is an act that does not comply with the rules. In this case, the terminal device 10A notifies the user to move the specific card to the consumed card placement section 35 as a rule for having a conditional card participate in a battle.

[0072] As described above, conditional cards also include specific cards that are placed on the TCG supplies 30 and then can be used in a battle without consuming the specific cards (i.e., without moving them to the consumed card placement section 35). The terminal device 10A determines that the user is trying to use a conditional card in a battle and is consuming the specific cards (i.e., moving them to the consumed card placement section 35) even though there is no need to consume the specific cards. In this case, the terminal device 10A notifies the user that, as a rule for using a conditional card in a battle, there is no need to move the specific cards to the consumed card placement section 35.

[0073] (2-3) Non-compliance with battle progression procedures: (i) When procedures for actions that each user can take during a turn are set, the terminal device 10A detects that an action has been taken that does not follow the procedures. For example, each user obtains a predetermined number of cards from the deck at the start of a turn and then performs other actions. In this case, when the terminal device 10A detects that an action such as making a character card placed in the battle card placement unit 34 perform an attack or using an auxiliary card has been performed without detecting that cards from the deck in the deck placement unit 31 have been obtained after the start of the user's turn, the terminal device 10A determines that the action does not comply with the rules.

[0074] (ii) The terminal device 10A detects that an operation related to the victory condition of each user has been performed inappropriately. For example, when the character of the card placed in the battle card placement unit 34 is not a normal character but a special character, and the special character runs out of vitality in the battle and leaves the stage, the number of cards taken by the user from the victory / loss condition card placement unit 33 is greater than that of the normal character. In this case, the terminal device 10A identifies whether the character that leaves the stage in the character card battle is a normal character or a special character, and then detects that the number of cards taken from the victory / loss condition card placement unit 33 is not appropriate, thereby determining that the action is inconsistent with the rules. For example, the terminal device 10A identifies that the character that leaves the stage in the battle is a special character, and detects that the number of cards placed in the victory / loss condition card placement unit 33 remains at the amount of change that would occur if a normal character left the stage, thereby determining that the action is inconsistent with the rules.

[0075] <1.5 Method of notifying users of information to support TCG battles> As described above, the terminal device 10A detects the content of the TCG match between users and actions that do not conform to the rules. The terminal device 10B communicates with the terminal device 10A to notify the user of the content that the terminal device 10A has determined based on the result of the image analysis.

[0076] As shown in state (B) of FIG. 1, the terminal device 10B displays the progress of the battle on the operation reception unit 130 (touch screen) in the progress display unit 132A. The terminal device 10B notifies the user of, for example, the information on the vitality of each character engaged in a battle and the number of action power cards (energy cards) associated with each character as the progress of the battle. These parameters are calculated based on the results of the identification of actions (such as an attack instruction) performed by the user by the terminal device 10A during the battle (such as subtracting the vitality value of the attacked character according to the attack power). The terminal device 10B displays, on the turn progress button 132B, a button for receiving an input operation for each user to progress the turn. When the terminal device 10B receives an input operation on the turn progress button 132B from the user, it transmits a signal indicating that the turn of the user has ended to the terminal device 10A.

[0077] When the terminal device 10A detects the end of a match between users, it transmits that information to the server and terminal device 10B, which will be described later. The terminal device 10B receives information on the outcome of the match from the terminal device 10A or the server. When a TCG match is played at a tournament or competition, the server, which will be described later, matches users for a match and determines the location (such as a table at a venue) where the match will be played. The terminal device 10A or the terminal device 10B communicates with the server and obtains, for each user, information on the next opponent and information on the location of the match.

[0078] As shown in state (C) of FIG. 2, the terminal device 10B displays, in the operation reception unit 130, information on the outcome of the match, information on the next opponent (such as a rating value indicating the opponent's strength), and information on the match location on the match information display unit 132C. The terminal device 10B displays, in the map display unit 132D, a map to the location where the user will next play a match. The map display unit 132D displays, for example, information on a travel route from the user's current location within the match venue to the table where the match will take place.

[0079] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to notify each user of information that supports users in playing against each other in a TCG while supporting the management of a tournament or the like.

[0080] <1.6 Overall system configuration> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the support system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 3, the support system 1 includes a terminal device 10A and a terminal device 10B (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "terminal device 10") used by users who play the TCG match, a terminal device 11 used by a user on the operator side who manages the TCG match, and a server 20. The terminal device 10 and the server 20 are connected for communication via a network 80. In addition, in this embodiment, each device (terminal device, server, etc.) can also be understood as an information processing device. That is, a collection of each device can be understood as one "information processing device", and the support system 1 may be formed as a collection of multiple devices. The method of allocating multiple functions required to realize the support system 1 according to this embodiment to one or multiple hardware devices can be appropriately determined in consideration of the processing capacity of each hardware device and / or the specifications required for the support system 1.

[0082] The terminal device 10 is a device operated by each user. The terminal device 10 is realized by a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet compatible with a mobile communication system. In addition, the terminal device 10 may be, for example, a stationary PC (Personal Computer) or a laptop PC. As shown as the terminal device 10B in FIG. 3, the terminal device 10 includes a communication IF (Interface) 12, an input / output IF 13, a memory 15, a storage 16, and a processor 19. The server 20 includes a communication IF 22, an input / output IF 23, a memory 25, a storage 26, and a processor 29.

[0083] The terminal device 10 is communicatively connected to the server 20 via a network 80. The terminal device 10 is connected to the network 80 by communicating with communication devices such as a wireless base station 81 conforming to a communication standard such as LTE and a wireless LAN router 82 conforming to a wireless LAN standard such as IEEE802.11.

[0084] The communication IF 12 is an interface for inputting and outputting signals so that the terminal device 10 can communicate with an external device. The input / output IF 13 functions as an interface with an input device (e.g., a touch panel, a touch pad, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, etc.) for receiving an input operation from a user, and an output device (a display, a speaker, etc.) for presenting information to a user. The memory 15 is for temporarily storing a program and data processed by the program, etc., and is a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). The storage 16 is a storage device for saving data, and is, for example, a flash memory or a HDD (Hard Disc Drive). The processor 19 is hardware for executing an instruction set described in a program, and is composed of an arithmetic unit, a register, a peripheral circuit, etc.

[0085] The terminal device 11 is a device operated by the organizer of the TCG battle. The organizer uploads, for example, information about the battle to the server 20. The information about the battle includes the date and time when the battle is held, the location of the battle (for example, a store or an exhibition hall), the rules of the battle (for example, whether or not newly released cards for TCG battles will be included in the deck, whether or not the use of specific cards is permitted, etc.), and the conditions for users who can participate (for example, winning a high ranking in a specific battle, etc.). The organizer inputs this information about the battle and uploads it to the server 20 together with map data and the like.

[0086] In addition, as a competition, there is (i) a competition in which a plurality of tables are prepared for users to play against each other, and the competition proceeds after each user is assigned a table. For example, when a league match or tournament is held, the competition may proceed while the administrator manages which users are to play against each other. In addition, there is (ii) a competition in which the administrator prepares tables for playing against each other, but the administrator proceeds without designating the tables for each user to play against each other. For example, there may be a case where users at the venue of the competition play against each other face to face, and a user who has won a certain number of games is selected. The terminal device 11 accepts a designation from the administrator as to which format the competition should be run in (i.e., whether the competition should be run by designating tables for each user to play against each other, or without designating tables, or both). The terminal device 11 transmits the competition information received from the user to the server 20.

[0087] The server 20 manages information about each user. The server 20 performs matching between users to support TCG matches between users. The server 20 communicates with the terminal device 10 via a network 80, and holds the content of the TCG match determined by the terminal device 10A as a match history.

[0088] The communication IF 22 is an interface for inputting and outputting signals so that the server 20 can communicate with an external device. The input / output IF 23 functions as an interface with an input device for receiving input operations from a user and an output device for presenting information to a user. The memory 25 is for temporarily storing programs and data processed by the programs, etc., and is a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). The storage 26 is a storage device for saving data, such as a flash memory or a HDD (Hard Disc Drive). The processor 29 is hardware for executing an instruction set described in a program, and is composed of an arithmetic unit, a register, a peripheral circuit, etc.

[0089] <1.7 Configuration of the terminal device 10> FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the terminal device 10 constituting the support system 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal device 10 includes a plurality of antennas (antenna 111, antenna 112), wireless communication units (first wireless communication unit 121, second wireless communication unit 122) corresponding to the respective antennas, an operation reception unit 130 (including a touch-sensitive device 131 and a display 132), a voice processing unit 140, a microphone 141, a speaker 142, a position information sensor 150, a camera 160, a storage unit 180, and a control unit 190. The terminal device 10 also has functions and configurations (for example, a battery for holding power, a power supply circuit for controlling the supply of power from the battery to each circuit, etc.) that are not particularly shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, each block included in the terminal device 10 is electrically connected by a bus or the like.

[0090] The antenna 111 emits a signal generated by the terminal device 10 as a radio wave. The antenna 111 also receives a radio wave from space and provides the received signal to the first wireless communication unit 121.

[0091] The antenna 112 radiates a signal generated by the terminal device 10 as a radio wave. The antenna 112 also receives the radio wave from space and provides the received signal to the second radio communication unit 122.

[0092] The first wireless communication unit 121 performs modulation and demodulation processing for transmitting and receiving signals via the antenna 111 so that the terminal device 10 can communicate with other wireless devices. The second wireless communication unit 122 performs modulation and demodulation processing for transmitting and receiving signals via the antenna 112 so that the terminal device 10 can communicate with other wireless devices. The first wireless communication unit 121 and the second wireless communication unit 122 are communication modules including a tuner, a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) calculation circuit, a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) calculation circuit, a high-frequency circuit, and the like. The first wireless communication unit 121 and the second wireless communication unit 122 perform modulation and demodulation and frequency conversion of wireless signals transmitted and received by the terminal device 10, and provide the received signals to the control unit 190.

[0093] The operation reception unit 130 has a mechanism for receiving an input operation by a user. Specifically, the operation reception unit 130 is configured as a touch screen, and includes a touch-sensitive device 131 and a display 132. The touch-sensitive device 131 receives an input operation by a user of the terminal device 10. The touch-sensitive device 131 detects a touch position of the user on the touch panel by using, for example, a capacitive touch panel. The touch-sensitive device 131 outputs a signal indicating the touch position of the user detected by the touch panel to the control unit 190 as an input operation.

[0094] Display 132 displays data such as images, videos, and text under the control of control unit 190. Display 132 is realized by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

[0095] The audio processing unit 140 modulates and demodulates an audio signal. The audio processing unit 140 modulates a signal provided from the microphone 141 and provides the modulated signal to the control unit 190. The audio processing unit 140 also provides the audio signal to the speaker 142. The audio processing unit 140 is realized by, for example, a processor for audio processing. The microphone 141 accepts audio input and provides an audio signal corresponding to the audio input to the audio processing unit 140. The speaker 142 converts the audio signal provided from the audio processing unit 140 into audio and outputs the audio to the outside of the terminal device 10.

[0096] The position information sensor 150 is a sensor that detects the position of the terminal device 10, and is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module. The GPS module is a receiving device used in a satellite positioning system. In the satellite positioning system, signals are received from at least three or four satellites, and the current position of the terminal device 10 equipped with the GPS module is detected based on the received signals. The position detected by the GPS module can be used, for example, when storing in memory the position information of the terminal device 10 when the terminal device 10 performs a predetermined notification process based on the detection result of the sensor device 50. For example, the position where the user is located at the TCG competition venue can be acquired by the position information sensor 150.

[0097] The camera 160 is a device that receives light with a light receiving element and outputs the received light as a captured image. The camera 160 is, for example, a depth camera that can detect the distance from the camera 160 to a subject being photographed.

[0098] The storage unit 180 is configured, for example, with a flash memory or the like, and stores data and programs used by the terminal device 10. In one aspect, the storage unit 180 stores user information 181, tournament entry information 182, and venue map information 183.

[0099] User information 181 is information about a user who will play a TCG match. The user information includes information for identifying the user, information about the deck registered by the user for the match (information for identifying the deck and information about the cards that make up the deck), the language setting used by the user, and information about the user's participation history in matches, tournaments, etc.

[0100] The competition entry information 182 is information about a competition to which the user of the terminal device 10 has entered. The competition entry information 182 includes, for example, information for identifying the competition, information about the date and time of the competition, and the like.

[0101] The venue map information 183 is information on a map of a venue where a TCG match, such as a tournament, takes place. The venue map information 183 includes information for identifying tables that are placed in the venue and where the TCG match takes place, and information on the positions where the tables are placed.

[0102] The control unit 190 reads a program stored in the storage unit 180 and executes instructions included in the program to control the operation of the terminal device 10. The control unit 190 is, for example, an application processor. The control unit 190 operates according to the program to fulfill the functions of an input operation reception unit 191, a transmission / reception unit 192, a data processing unit 193, and a notification control unit 194.

[0103] The input operation reception unit 191 performs a process of receiving a user's input operation on an input device such as the touch-sensitive device 131. The input operation reception unit 191 determines the type of operation, such as whether the user's operation is a flick operation, a tap operation, or a drag (swipe) operation, based on information on the coordinates where the user touches the touch-sensitive device 131 with a finger or the like.

[0104] The transmission / reception unit 192 performs processing for the terminal device 10 to transmit and receive data to and from an external device such as the server 20 in accordance with a communication protocol.

[0105] The data processing unit 193 performs a process of performing calculations on data received as input by the terminal device 10 according to a program, and outputs the calculation results to a memory or the like. For example, the data processing unit 193 performs a process of associating the terminal device 10 with terminals of other users. The data processing unit 193 determines the progress of a TCG match by analyzing the sensing results (captured images) of the camera 160. The data processing unit 193 determines the content of a notification for notifying the user of information regarding the progress of the match.

[0106] The notification control unit 194 performs processing for displaying a display image on the display 132, processing for outputting sound to the speaker 142, and processing for causing the camera 160 to generate vibrations.

[0107] <1.8 Functional configuration of server 20> 5 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the server 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the server 20 fulfills the functions of a communication unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a control unit 203.

[0108] The communication unit 201 performs processing for the server 20 to communicate with external devices.

[0109] The storage unit 202 stores data and programs used by the server 20. The storage unit 202 stores a user information database 281, a matching history database 282, a battle history database 283, and battle venue map information 284.

[0110] The user information database 281 is a database for holding information on each user who will play a TCG match, as will be described in detail later.

[0111] The matching history database 282 is a database showing the history of matching between users for battles performed by the server 20. Details will be described later.

[0112] The battle history database 283 is a database for holding the history of the battle content of the TCG. The battle history database 283 holds the results of analyzing the user's action content in the process in which the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B support the progress of the TCG battle. Therefore, for example, the terminal device 10 etc. can reproduce the actions performed by each user as a replay based on the history of the battle content held in the battle history database 283 by acquiring the information of the battle history database 283. Details will be described later.

[0113] The battle venue map information 284 is information on a map of a venue where a TCG battle such as a tournament takes place. The venue map information 183 includes information for identifying tables that are placed in the venue and where the TCG battle takes place, and information on the positions where the tables are placed. The server 20 transmits the battle venue map information 284 in response to a request from the terminal device 10.

[0114] The control unit 203 exerts functions shown as various modules by the processor of the server 20 performing processes according to the programs.

[0115] The operation content acquisition module 2041 acquires the user's operation content when the server 20 accepts input of information such as participation in a tournament from the terminal device 10.

[0116] The reception control module 2042 controls the process in which the server 20 receives a signal from an external device in accordance with a communication protocol.

[0117] The transmission control module 2043 controls the process in which the server 20 transmits a signal to an external device in accordance with a communication protocol.

[0118] The matching module 2044 matches users to play against each other in the TCG.

[0119] The matching module 2044 may match users to play against each other based on, for example, information on the battle history of each user stored in the battle history database 283. Since the information on the battle history of each user records information on the wins and losses of each user, it is possible to calculate an evaluation value indicating the degree of proficiency in TCG battles for each user. A method for calculating such an evaluation value may be based on a rating (for example, Elo rating).

[0120] The matching module 2044 may also match users based on the time required for each user to progress a turn based on the battle history database 283. If a user takes the entire time limit to progress a turn, the user may not be accustomed to battles. On the other hand, if the user takes a short time to progress a turn or if the user performs multiple actions without interruption during a turn (for example, using multiple cards one after another), the user may be accustomed to battles. Therefore, the matching module 2044 can match users who are accustomed to battles with each other based on the battle history database 283, or match users who are not accustomed to battles with each other.

[0121] Furthermore, the matching module 2044 matches users by referring to the history of actions that each user performed during a match that do not conform to the rules, based on the match history database 283. A user who performs actions that do not conform to the rules may not be familiar with the match rules. On the other hand, a user who rarely performs actions that do not conform to the rules may be familiar with the match rules. Therefore, the matching module 2044 can match users who are familiar with the match rules with each other, or users who are not familiar with matches with each other.

[0122] Furthermore, when the matching module 2044 matches participants in a competition, the matching may be performed based on the location of the table where each participant is playing. When determining the next opponent for a user who has finished playing at a table, users who are close to each other in table locations are matched, and the user is notified of the new table location for the match, which shortens the user's travel time and therefore the time until the start of the match.

[0123] The battle behavior analysis module 2045 analyzes the behavioral tendencies of each user based on the history of battles that each user has progressed in, which is stored in the battle history database 283. For example, by analyzing the tendencies of each user's deck, compatibility (win rate) with the opponent's deck, and the like, it is possible to provide the user with information that can be used as a reference when constructing a deck.

[0124] <2 Data Structure> FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the data structures of the user information database 281, the matching history database 282, and the battle history database 283 stored in the server 20. As shown in FIG.

[0125] As shown in Figure 6, each record in user information database 281 includes, for each piece of information identifying a user, an item "registered deck identification information (ID)", an item "registered deck contents", an item "language setting", and an item "battle participation history".

[0126] The item "Registered deck identification information (ID)" is information used to identify each deck registered by a user.

[0127] The item "Registered Deck Contents" is information that indicates the contents of the cards that the user will register in the deck.

[0128] The item "Language setting" is information indicating the setting of the language used by the user.

[0129] The item "Tournament Participation History" is information indicating the user's record of entering and participating in tournaments. In this embodiment, when participating in a tournament, the deck to be used in the battle is notified to the tournament organizers before the start of the battle. The item "Tournament Participation History" includes information on the deck that the user registered by operating the terminal device 10 of each user for each tournament in which the user participated.

[0130] Each record of the matching history database 282 includes an item "matching identification information (ID)", an item "matching date and time", an item "target user", and an item "match type information".

[0131] The item "matching identification information (ID)" is information for identifying each matching performed by the server 20. Note that in this embodiment, even if the server 20 has performed matching, it is not necessarily the case that the matched users will play against each other, but only matchings that have led to users playing against each other may be stored in the matching history database 282.

[0132] The item "matching date and time" indicates the timing (date and time) when the server 20 performed matching.

[0133] The item "target user" includes information about the matched users. When the server 20 matches the users, it notifies the terminal device 10 of each user to play a match.

[0134] The item "Event Type Information" includes information for identifying the event in which matching was performed. The server 20 may perform matching from among the participants of the event in order to support the operations of the administrator who manages the event. As shown in the figure, the item "Event Type Information" includes the name of the event, the details of the rules of the event, the date and time of the event, and other information as information for identifying the event.

[0135] Each record in the match history database 283 includes the following items: "match identification information (ID)", "match date and time", "target user", "matching ID", "match progress history", and "rule non-compliance history".

[0136] It includes an item "matching identification information (ID)", an item "matching date and time", an item "target user", and an item "match type information".

[0137] The item "battle identification information (ID)" is information for identifying each user who has played a match. The server 20 updates the records in the battle history database 283 by receiving the results of the terminal device 10 analyzing the battle between users using the support system 1.

[0138] The item "match date and time" indicates the timing when a match between users was held. Here, the timing when a match was held may include the timing (date and time) when the server 20 performed matching, the time when each user started the match (the time when the server 20 accepted the start of a match between users as described later), and the time when each user ended the match (the time when one of the users who played a match was determined to have satisfied the victory condition as described later).

[0139] The item "target user" is information that identifies each user who participated in a match.

[0140] The item "matching ID" indicates a matching ID when the server 20 performs matching and a match between users is held based on this matching.

[0141] The item "battle progress history" includes the steps of each user's actions analyzed by the terminal device 10 sensing the TCG items. The information on the steps of these actions includes information on the time required for each user to progress a turn. For example, a turn is progressed by a user operating a "turn progress button" on the terminal device 10B, and this allows the time required for each user to progress a turn to be measured. In addition, the terminal device 10B may display buttons corresponding to various actions that each user can perform during a turn. In this case, the time required for each user to progress a turn may be measured by operating these buttons. For example, the terminal device 10B displays, on the operation reception unit 130, a button that accepts from the user that a card that can only be used a predetermined number of times during a turn has been used (for example, that an auxiliary card that has an upper limit on the number that can be used during a turn has been used). Also, for example, the terminal device 10B displays, on the operation reception unit 130, a button that accepts from the user that an action power card has been associated with a character card. This allows each user to be supported in progressing a turn. For example, each user can be notified that a predetermined number of action power cards have already been associated with character cards during a turn, and that no more action power cards can be associated during that turn.

[0142] A unique action ID is set for each action performed by each user. The "Match Progress History" item contains this information, so it is possible to reproduce how each user progressed in a match using their own deck based on the information in the "Match Progress History" item.

[0143] The item "rule non-compliance history" indicates a history of the terminal device 10A determining that an action not complying with the rules occurred during a match between users.

[0144] <3 operations> The following describes the process in which the terminal devices 10A and 10B support a TCG match played by users.

[0145] 7 is a flowchart showing a process of analyzing a match between users on a terminal and notifying them to support the progress of the TCG match according to the analysis result. In the following example, a situation is described in which each user repeats a match while receiving a notice of the match location at a tournament or the like.

[0146] In step S651, when the server 20 determines users to be matched in a match, it transmits information about the opponents and the venue (table information) where the match will be held to the terminal of each user.

[0147] In step S601A, the terminal device 10A operated by the first user (user 5A) displays on the display 132 information about the opponent and information about the venue where the battle will take place.

[0148] In step S601B, the terminal device 10B operated by the second user (user 5B) displays on the display 132 information about the opponent and information about the venue where the battle will take place.

[0149] In step S603A, the user 5A uses the photographing function of the terminal device 10A to read the two-dimensional code 36 on the TCG item 30. The two-dimensional code 36 includes information for identifying the table at which the match will be played, such as a URL. The terminal device 10A transmits the information for identifying the table at which the match will be played to the server 20 based on the result of reading the two-dimensional code 36.

[0150] In step S603B, the user 5B uses the photographing function of the terminal device 10B to read the two-dimensional code 36 of the TCG item 30. Based on the result of reading the two-dimensional code 36, the terminal device 10B transmits to the server 20 information identifying the table at which the game will be played.

[0151] When the user reads the two-dimensional code 36 by the photographing function of the terminal device 10, the terminal device 10 detects whether the user is at the table where the match is to be played by comparing the table at which the user is to play with the table shown in the reading result of the two-dimensional code 36. That is, the terminal device 10 detects that the user is about to play at a table different from the table at which the match is to be played. When the table at which the user is to play does not match the table shown in the reading result of the two-dimensional code 36, the terminal device 10 notifies the user of an error and notifies the user of a guide to the position of the table at which the match is to be played. Such guidance includes, for example, displaying on the terminal device 10 a route from the position of the table shown in the two-dimensional code 36 to the position of the table at which the match is to be played, or displaying landmarks around the position of the table at which the match is to be played on the terminal device 10. For example, the terminal device 10 displays landmarks such as the entrance to the venue and installations at the venue, and information on the position of the table relative to these landmarks (displaying, for example, "The table at which the match is to be played is the second seat from the entrance").

[0152] In step S653, the server 20 receives a signal based on the result of reading the two-dimensional code 36 from each of the terminals of the users who will compete, and thereby accepts that the matched users have started a battle. The server 20 transmits to the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B a notification that it has accepted that the users have started a battle. The server 20 transmits information about the decks registered by each user to the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B. The terminals of each user receive the information about the decks of the users who will compete.

[0153] In steps S605A and S605B, the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B establish a communication connection with each other. For example, the communication connection is established by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or WiFi.

[0154] In step S607B, the terminal device 10B notifies the user 5B to place the terminal device 10B on the board of the TCG supplies 30 (state (A) in FIG. 1). As shown in state (B) in FIG. 1, the terminal device 10B displays the turn progress button 132B and accepts operations by each user to progress the turn while notifying the users of the progress of the match. Therefore, without being limited to the example of the arrangement in state (A) in FIG. 1, the terminal device 10B may be placed, for example, in a position where both the user 5A and the user 5B can be notified of information.

[0155] In step S607A, the terminal device 10A notifies the user 5A of the location of the terminal device 10A relative to the TCG equipment 30 by image or sound. Based on the image captured by the camera 160, the terminal device 10A determines whether the terminal device 10A is placed in a position where the user can photograph the entire range of the TCG equipment 30 where the cards are placed, and notifies the user 5A until the terminal device 10A is placed in an appropriate location. In addition, when the terminal device 10B is placed within the range photographed by the terminal device 10A, the terminal device 10A detects that the terminal device 10B is appropriately placed based on the photographed image, and notifies the user to place the terminal device 10B in an appropriate position if it does not detect the terminal device 10B. When the terminal device 10A detects that the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B are placed in appropriate positions, the terminal device 10A notifies the user by sound that the TCG match can start. Alternatively, the terminal device 10A transmits a signal indicating that the TCG match can begin to the terminal device 10B, and causes the terminal device 10B to notify the user that the TCG match can begin.

[0156] In step S609A, the terminal device 10A identifies the progress of the match based on the captured image of the camera 160 while the user is playing the TCG match. Specifically, the terminal device 10A identifies the battle content of the character card, the activation of the effect of the auxiliary card, and the like, by analyzing the captured image of the TCG item 30 captured by the camera 160. The terminal device 10A identifies the actions performed by the user during the match by analyzing the user's voice. The terminal device 10A identifies the actions performed by the user during the match based on both the captured image and the voice. The terminal device 10A determines the progress of the match (for example, the vitality value of the character on the character card has changed, the effect of the auxiliary card has been activated, etc.) based on the results thus identified, and transmits the determined result to the terminal device 10B. The terminal device 10A also determines that the user has performed an action that does not comply with the rules of the match by analyzing the captured image, and transmits the fact that the action has been performed to the terminal device 10B. In addition, the progress of the match or whether the user has performed an action that does not conform to the rules of the match may be determined by analyzing the user's voice or accepting input operations to terminal device 10B, in addition to or instead of analyzing the captured images.

[0157] In step S609B, the terminal device 10B receives the determination result of the progress of the match from the terminal device 10A and notifies the user of the progress of the match. The terminal device 10B accepts an input operation for the user to advance the turn while the match is in progress (for example, notifies as in state (B) of FIG. 1). When the terminal device 10B receives from the terminal device 10A that an action that does not conform to the rules has been performed, it notifies the user by image or sound. The terminal device 10B determines the language in which to notify the user of information according to the language setting of the user, which is held as the user information database 281 in the server 20. The terminal device 10B notifies, for example, according to the language setting of the user who is acting in the turn. For example, the terminal device 10B notifies the user of the progress of the match by a voice such as "It's your turn" in the language of the user who has arrived to the user whose turn has arrived. Alternatively, the terminal device 10B notifies the user of the progress of the match by image or sound according to each language of the users participating in the match. For example, when the terminal device 10B is placed on the TCG item 30, on the display 132 of the terminal device 10B, in an area easily visible to the user 5A, information is displayed in the language setting of the user 5A in an orientation easily visible to the user 5A, and in an area easily visible to the user 5B, information is displayed in the language setting of the user 5B in an orientation easily visible to the user 5A (an orientation different from the information in the language setting of the user 5A). In this way, the terminal device 10A analyzes the captured image to identify the orientation of the terminal device 10B in the TCG item 30, and the terminal device 10B displays information in each language on the display 132. If the user does not perform an operation to advance the turn within a certain time after starting the turn, the terminal device 10B advances the turn and notifies the user that the turn is to be ended. In response to an input operation on the turn advance button 132B, the terminal device 10B transmits to the server 20 and the terminal device 10A that the user has advanced the turn. This allows the terminal device 10A to detect that the user's turn has progressed.

[0158] 8 is a diagram showing a situation in which the terminal device 10B notifies the user that an action that does not conform to the rules has been taken during a match. The terminal device 10B displays, in the operation reception unit 130, information indicating that an action that does not conform to the rules has been taken and the details of the action, in the error detection display unit 132E. The terminal device 10B displays, in the operation reception unit 130, a judge call unit 132F that receives an operation to call a referee (judge) who will referee a match or the like, and a replay playback unit 132G that receives an operation to display an image captured by the terminal device 10A as a replay.

[0159] In response to a user's input operation to the judge calling unit 132F, the terminal device 10B transmits a signal to the server 20. This allows the organizer of the tournament to know at which table an action that does not comply with the rules has occurred, and allows the organizer to dispatch a judge to that table.

[0160] In response to an input operation by the user to the replay playback unit 132G, the terminal device 10B transmits a signal to the terminal device 10A or the server 20. This allows the video captured and recorded by the terminal device 10A to be displayed on the terminal device 10B or the terminal of the organizer of the competition, etc.

[0161] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 7, in step S611A, when it is determined that the condition for ending the battle is satisfied, the terminal device 10A transmits to the server 20 a history of the actions of each user determined during the battle.

[0162] In step S655, the server 20 receives from the terminal device 10 the history of the progress of the battle and the history of acts that do not comply with the rules, and stores them in the battle history database 283.

[0163] In step S657, the server 20 performs matching with opponents with which each user will play next, and transmits information about the opponents and information about the venue of the match to the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B.

[0164] In step S613A, the terminal device 10A displays on the display 132 information about the opponent and information about the venue where the match will take place.

[0165] In step S613B, the terminal device 10B displays, on the display 132, information about the opponent and information about the venue where the match will take place (state (C) in FIG. 2).

[0166] <4 Layout example> FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the terminal device 10 relative to the TCG supplies 30 in order to support the progress of a TCG match.

[0167] In the example (A) of Fig. 9, a terminal device 10A and a terminal device 10B are placed on either side of the users playing against each other so as to photograph the TCG items 30. By photographing the TCG items 30 with the two terminals and performing image analysis, it is possible to further improve the accuracy of determining the progress of the match.

[0168] In example (B), the terminals are placed close to the users who are playing against each other. When determining the progress of a match based on the voice input of the users, the accuracy of the determination can be further improved by placing the terminals close to the speakers.

[0169] In the example (C), three terminals are arranged. Here, the terminal device 10A is the terminal of the user 5A, and the terminal device 10B is the terminal of the user 5B. In addition, a third party such as a tournament organizer prepares the terminal device 10C and places it on the TCG equipment 30. The terminal device 10C can support the progress of the TCG match by performing the same process as the terminal device 10B in the description of FIG. 7 above. The terminal device 10C may display information identifying the table (for example, a two-dimensional code) on the display instead of the two-dimensional code 36 described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Each user may be able to start a match in a tournament or the like by reading the information displayed on the terminal device 10C with the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B when a match location is assigned. That is, if the user is a correct user paired for the match, the match can be started at that table. In this way, when the server 20 accepts the start of the TCG match by the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B reading the two-dimensional code displayed on the terminal device 10C (step S653 in FIG. 7), the server 20 notifies the terminal device 10C that the match has started. After that, the terminal device 10C plays the role of the terminal device 10B described in FIG. 7 and displays information to support the progress of the TCG match (similar to step S609B). In addition, the two terminals of each user may sense the TCG items 30, and each terminal may determine the progress of the match and transmit it to the server 20. This improves the consistency of the contents of the match progress history recorded in the match history database 283, and prevents cheating in the TCG match.

[0170] <5. When matching by server 20 is not used> In the description of FIG. 7, an example has been described in which the server 20 matches opponents in a tournament or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0171] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a process in which each user progresses a TCG match using a terminal.

[0172] First, at the start of a match, each user reads information displayed on the other user's terminal, and the terminal identifies the user who will be the opponent.

[0173] In step S901A, the terminal device 10A displays information for identifying the user of the terminal device 10A (for example, a user ID) in a format (for example, a two-dimensional code) that can be read by the terminal device 10B.

[0174] In step S901B, the terminal device 10B acquires information about the opponent user (user 5A) by reading the code displayed on the terminal device 10A.

[0175] In step S903B, the terminal device 10B displays information for identifying the user of the terminal device 10B in a format readable by the terminal device 10A.

[0176] In step S903A, the terminal device 10A acquires information about the opponent user (user 5B) by reading the code displayed on the terminal device 10B.

[0177] The terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B transmit to the server 20 the opponent information that they have read.

[0178] In step S653A, the server 20 receives information about the users who will start the battle from each terminal, thereby accepting that the users have started the battle.

[0179] The subsequent processing is similar to that described with reference to FIG. 7, and therefore will not be described repeatedly.

[0180] <6 Variations> (1) In the above description of the embodiment, the terminal device 10A determines that the match has ended, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be configured as follows. For example, the terminal device 10A may not determine that the match has ended, but rather the user may determine whether the match has ended, and the TCG match may be ended by the user performing an input operation to end the match on the terminal device 10B. This allows users to play a TCG match face-to-face while encouraging communication when the match ends.

[0181] (2) Regarding the example of terminal arrangement as explained in FIG. 9, the arrangement pattern may be specified individually for each match, or may be set in advance by the organizer in a match event.

[0182] (3) In the above embodiment, in a battle between character cards, parameters such as vitality values ​​are changed by attacks, etc., regardless of the orientation of the cards placed in the battle card placement unit 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the terminal device 10A may detect the orientation of the cards by taking into consideration the orientation of the cards, thereby affecting the progress of the TCG battle (for example, by varying the amount of damage, etc.).

[0183] (4) In the above embodiment, the terminal device 10A of the first user (user 5A) photographs the TCG items 30, and the terminal device 10B of the second user (user 5B) is placed on the TCG items 30 to display information supporting the progress of the TCG match. Here, the performance of the terminal device used by each user varies, and the camera performance, the processing power of the processor, the display resolution, etc. may differ. Therefore, for example, the server 20 or the like may compare information on the performance of the terminals of each user to determine which terminal is to be used to photograph the TCG items 30 (to be made to play the role of the terminal device 10A described above). For example, a terminal device with a certain level of sensing accuracy of the TCG items 30 or the like may be used for photographing. Specifically, since the content of each user's actions during a TCG match is determined based on an image captured by a camera, a terminal device equipped with a camera having a certain number of pixels or more and having a high processing capacity (i.e., a terminal device that requires a short time to determine the content of each user's actions) may be used as the terminal device for capturing images. In addition, since the terminal device continues sensing to determine the content of each user's actions during a TCG match, a terminal device with sufficient battery power may be used for sensing.

[0184] (5) In the above embodiment, a replay is displayed on the terminal device 10 when an action that does not comply with the rules is performed. In addition, a terminal device operated by a referee (judge) of a match may display images taken by the terminal device 10A or the like at any time in response to an input operation by the referee. This makes it even easier for the referee to grasp the progress of the match between the users.

[0185] (6) In a TCG battle, when parameters are changed using items other than cards, the terminal device 10A may detect the items based on the sensing results. The terminal device 10 changes various parameters based on the detection results of these items and notifies the user of the results. For example, when a parameter of a vitality value is set in a character card and the vitality value decreases due to a battle or increases due to recovery, an item indicating the decreased value is placed in association with the character card. For example, when a character card is damaged, an item with a number printed thereon corresponding to the amount of damage is placed on the card. In this case, the terminal device 10A can recognize the change in the parameter of the vitality value by detecting the item. As described above, when a user battles using character cards, parameters such as vitality value are changed and managed by the terminal device 10A, etc. based on the parameters of each character card, but when the managed parameter differs from the amount of damage indicated by the above-mentioned item, the terminal device 10B may notify the user of the fact.

[0186] (7) In the above embodiment, the cards placed in the TCG supplies 30 or the cards in the user's hand are identified based on the sensing results of the terminal device 10A. In addition, the sensing results (the type of card determined by the terminal device 10A) may be displayed on the terminal device 10B to prompt the user to confirm whether the sensing results are correct. For example, if the accuracy with which the type of card can be identified varies for each card (it may be difficult for the terminal device 10A, etc. to determine the type of a particular card), for cards with an accuracy below a certain level, the terminal device 10B, etc. may receive an input from the user as to which card it is.

[0187] <7 Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. Description of the same configuration as the first embodiment will not be repeated.

[0188] In the second embodiment, the server 20 accepts registration of multiple decks in advance from users for battles in a tournament. When the server 20 matches users for a battle in a tournament, it causes the terminal device 10 of each user to display deck information of the opponent user (information on a portion of the cards that make up the deck). The terminal device 10 of each user accepts designation of a deck to be used in a battle from the user among the multiple registered decks.

[0189] This allows the user to specify the deck to be used in a battle, taking into consideration the compatibility of the cards that make up the deck, thereby making TCG battles even more interesting.

[0190] <7.1 Data structure in the second embodiment> In the second embodiment, the server 20 stores in the storage unit 202 card information 286, a tournament database 287, tournament entry information 288, a matching history database 282C, and a battle history database 283C.

[0191] 11 is a diagram showing the data structures of card information 286 and tournament database 287. Card information 286 is a database for storing information on cards used in TCG matches. Tournament database 287 is a database for storing information related to the management of each TCG tournament.

[0192] As shown in FIG. 11, each record of the card information 286 includes an item "card ID", an item "card name", an item "card type", an item "card attributes", an item "parameters", an item "regulations", etc.

[0193] The item "Card ID" is information for identifying each card used in a TCG match.

[0194] The item "Card Name" indicates the name of the card. For example, the name of the card may be the name of a character written on the card, the name of an auxiliary card, etc.

[0195] The item "card type" indicates the type of card, as already explained in another embodiment. The card types include character cards (unconditional cards, conditional cards), action cards, and support cards (including a first card type that the user can use any number of cards during a turn, and a second card type that the user can use only one card during a turn), etc.

[0196] The item "card attribute" indicates an attribute set to a card. Here, it is assumed that multiple types of attributes are prepared in advance for setting to a card, and compatibility is set for each type. For example, there is a first type (e.g., type "forest"). There is a second type (e.g., type "fire"), a third type (e.g., type "water"), and other types, and tendencies of advantage and disadvantage are set between these types. For example, the parameters of the card are corrected so that the first type is advantageous over the second type, and compatibility such as a rock-paper-scissors is set between these multiple types. Note that the types of attributes set to a card are not limited to three types, and there may also be a "none" attribute where no attribute is set.

[0197] The item "parameter" includes parameters that define the character parameters such as physical strength and attack power set for the card, and the amount of effect.

[0198] The "Regulations" item is set for each card, and is information that specifies whether or not a card can be used in a match for each type of tournament. For example, regulations may be set for each series of cards used in a TCG. Depending on the tournament, regulations (i.e. the range of types of cards that can be used in the tournament) may be specified.

[0199] Each record in the tournament database 287 includes an item "Tournament ID," an item "Tournament name," an item "Tournament date and time," an item "Deck registration acceptance period," an item "Tournament venue," an item "Deck regulations," an item "Eligibility to participate in tournament," etc.

[0200] The item "Tournament ID" is information for identifying each tournament.

[0201] The item "Tournament Name" indicates the name of the tournament.

[0202] The "Event Date and Time" item indicates the period during which the event will be held. Some events will be held in one day, while others may be held over multiple days.

[0203] The item "deck registration acceptance period" is a period for accepting registration of the decks to be used by each user in the tournament in advance when participating in the tournament. For example, the period for accepting deck registration may close before the date and time of the tournament, or it may be possible to accept deck registration at the stage of entry on the day of the tournament (taking the procedure to register as a user participating in the tournament) (before the TCG battle in the tournament starts). After the deck registration acceptance period has passed or after the start of the battle in the tournament, the server 20 does not allow the user to change the information of the multiple decks accepted from the user to be used in the tournament, regardless of the user's operation. In other words, during the period when the battle in the tournament has started, the user cannot change the multiple decks registered in the tournament (cannot change the combination of cards that make up the deck). In addition, the server 20 does not allow the user to change the information of the multiple decks used by the user in the tournament, regardless of the operation of other users including the user's opponent.

[0204] The item "battle venue" indicates the location where the tournament will be held.

[0205] The item "Deck Regulations" indicates the card regulations that stipulate the range of cards that can be used in the tournament. In other words, each user will organize their deck using cards within the range specified by the regulations.

[0206] The item "Tournament Participation Eligibility" indicates the conditions, if any, for participating in the tournament.

[0207] 12 is a diagram showing the data structures of the tournament entry information 288, the matching history database 282C, and the battle history database 283C. The tournament entry information 288 is a database for managing deck information of each user who is registered as a participant in the tournament. The matching history database 282C is a database showing the history of the server 20 matching battles between users, and includes information on the decks used by each user in the battle. The battle history database 283C is a database for storing the history of the TCG battle content.

[0208] As shown in FIG. 12, each record of the tournament entry information 288 includes an item "user ID", an item "first registered deck", an item "second registered deck", an item "third registered deck", and the like, in association with the identification information of each tournament. When a user enters a tournament, the user may enter with fewer decks than the number of decks that can be registered in the tournament. In the illustrated example, the user "#USER_01" has registered three decks, while the user "#USER_02" has registered one deck organized by the user himself. When entering a tournament, the user may be able to register a dummy deck (dummy deck) in addition to the deck organized by the user himself. In other words, even cards that the user does not own may be registered as a dummy deck. Therefore, the dummy deck may be said to be a deck (restricted deck) that cannot be used in a tournament because it may be associated with cards that the user does not own. On the other hand, a deck organized by cards owned by the user may be said to be a deck (non-restricted deck) that can be registered in a tournament and used in a tournament.

[0209] The server 20 may accept the registration of a dummy deck from the user, or may automatically register the dummy deck without user operation if the number of decks registered by the user is less than a predetermined number (for example, when registering one deck), or may automatically generate dummy deck candidates and present them to the user, and accept the selection of the dummy deck from the user. In other words, the server 20 may generate dummy deck information without user operation (operation in which the user selects cards to organize a deck).

[0210] The item "user ID" is information for identifying each user participating in the tournament.

[0211] The item "First Registered Deck" indicates information about each card that makes up the first deck of multiple decks registered by the user.

[0212] The item "Second registered deck" indicates information about each card that makes up the second deck of multiple decks registered by the user.

[0213] The item "Third registered deck" indicates information about each card that makes up the third deck out of multiple decks registered by the user.

[0214] Each record of the matching history database 282C includes an item "matching ID", an item "matching date and time", an item "target user", an item "table number", an item "deck used", and the like.

[0215] The item “matching ID” is information for identifying each match performed by the server 20.

[0216] The item "matching date and time" indicates the timing (date and time) when the server 20 performed matching.

[0217] The item "Target User" contains information about the matched user.

[0218] The item "table number" is information that identifies the table at which each user played a match when tables for playing matches are arranged at the venue of the match.

[0219] The item "Deck Used" indicates the deck that each user specifies to be used in a battle among multiple decks when the users battle each other.

[0220] Each record in the match history database 283C includes an item "match ID", an item "match date and time", an item "target user", an item "matching ID", an item "match progress history", an item "rule non-compliance history", and the like.

[0221] The item "battle ID" is information for identifying each battle in which a user has participated.

[0222] The item "match date and time" indicates the time when a match between users took place.

[0223] The item "target user" is information that identifies each user who participated in a match.

[0224] The item "matching ID" indicates a matching ID when the server 20 performs matching and a match between users is held based on this matching.

[0225] The item "match progress history" includes the procedure of each user's actions analyzed by the terminal device 10 by sensing the TCG items.

[0226] The item "rule non-compliance history" indicates a history of the terminal device 10A determining that an action not complying with the rules occurred during a match between users.

[0227] <7.2 Operation in the second embodiment> Next, the operation of each device in the second embodiment will be described. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the operation of each device in the second embodiment. In the description of Fig. 13, the processes in steps S601A and S601B are the same as those in Fig. 7, and therefore the description will not be repeated.

[0228] In step S651A, the server 20 matches users to compete against each other, and notifies the terminals of the matched users (terminal devices 10A and 10B) of the information on the battle location. The server 20 transmits information on the opponent's deck (information on the multiple decks registered by each user, which is stored in the battle entry information 288) to the terminals of each user. The server 20 may transmit all information on the multiple decks registered by the opponent user to the terminals of each user, or may transmit part of the information on the multiple decks to be registered to the terminals of each user. When a dummy deck is registered in association with user information, the server 20 transmits information including the dummy deck as information on the multiple decks of the user to the terminal of the user who will be the opponent of the user. Alternatively, the server 20 may generate a dummy deck by matching users with each other. In other words, if a first user has not registered multiple decks that the first user has organized himself / herself (for example, if the first user has registered one deck), the server 20 may match users who will be competing against each other, generate a dummy deck to send to a second user who will be the first user's opponent, and transmit information about the generated dummy deck and information about the deck that the first user has organized himself / herself to the terminal of the second user.

[0229] In step S1303A, the terminal device 10A acquires at least a part of the information of the deck of the matched opponent from the server 20, and displays the acquired part of the information of the deck. The terminal device 10A accepts the designation of the deck to be used in the match by the user. Even if the information of the deck of the opponent who will compete against the user includes information of a dummy deck, it is difficult for the user to determine which deck information is that of the dummy deck. In other words, the terminal device 10 presents to the user a deck (unrestricted deck) that is organized with cards owned by the opponent and registered in the match, and a dummy deck (restricted deck) without distinction. On the other hand, by organizing one deck, the opponent user can participate in the match without organizing multiple decks, making it easier to participate in the match.

[0230] In step S1303B, the terminal device 10B acquires at least a part of the information of the deck of the matched opponent from the server 20, and displays the acquired part of the information of the deck. The terminal device 10B accepts the designation of the deck to be used in the match by the user. Here, if the user organizes one deck, not multiple decks, the terminal device 10 of the user may perform processing assuming that the one deck will be used without accepting the designation of the deck to be used in the match by the user. In addition, the terminal device 10 of the user may display information on the dummy deck displayed on the terminal device 10 of the opponent user. In other words, the user may be able to confirm information on the dummy deck presented to the opponent. When displaying information on the dummy deck presented to the opponent, the terminal device 10 may perform processing so that the dummy deck cannot be designated as the deck to be used in the match (for example, by hiding a button for designating a dummy deck, notifying an error when an operation for designating a dummy deck is performed, etc.).

[0231] In steps S1303A and S1303B, the terminal device 10A and the terminal device 10B each accept a designation of a deck to be used in a match from each user within a certain period of time, and if no deck is designated by the user, one of the decks registered by each user may be specified as the deck to be used in the match regardless of the user's designation. The terminal devices 10A and 10B transmit information on the decks designated by each user to be used in the match to the server 20.

[0232] In step S1353, the server 20 updates the database (the "Deck Used" item in the matching history database 282C) based on the information of the deck specified by each marching user. The server 20 accepts the start of a match between users. The server 20 transmits the registered contents of each user's deck to each user's terminal device. In other words, the server 20 transmits at least the information of the deck specified by each user in step S1303A or step S1303B, out of the information of multiple decks registered by each user, to the terminal device of each matched user. This allows each terminal device to hold the deck information of the opponent user.

[0233] As described above, the server 20 performs a process of matching each user who will play a TCG match, and in response to the completion of matching between the users who will play against each other, causes each user to present information on the opponent's deck. The server 20 does not present information on each user's deck to each user until matching is completed in the terminal device 10. In other words, each user is presented with a part of the information on the opponent's decks when an opponent is determined by matching. This makes it difficult for users to prepare a strategy after knowing the information on each user's deck before matching, thereby improving fairness in the battle between users. In other words, it is possible to suppress a situation in which a user who has prepared a strategy in advance has an advantage.

[0234] <7.3 Screen Examples in the Second Embodiment> FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the terminal device 10 in the second embodiment.

[0235] 14(A), the terminal device 10 displays information about the matched opponent on the display 132. The terminal device 10 displays, on the display 132, information about the user who will be the opponent, information about the battle location, information about the time remaining until the end of the battle, and the like.

[0236] The terminal device 10 displays, in the information display section 132P2, part of the information about the multiple decks that the opponents will register for the tournament.

[0237] Here, the terminal device 10 displaying part of the information of the multiple decks includes displaying information of each card constituting the deck (information of each item shown in the card information 286). Specifically, the terminal device 10 may display information on the type of cards included in the opponent's deck (the "card type" item of the card information 286) (or information on the name of the cards). This makes it possible to provide information on the opponent's main character card and then select a deck that takes measures against that character card.

[0238] The terminal device 10 may display information about the attributes of cards included in the opponent's deck (for example, displaying information about the most common attribute among the attributes of cards included in the deck). This can provide the user with information to help them select a deck that includes cards with more advantageous attributes than those of the opponent's deck.

[0239] The terminal device 10 may display information that allows the user to recognize that the information displayed in the information display section 132P2 is part of the information of the opponent's deck.

[0240] The terminal device 10 accepts, in the specification acceptance unit 132P3, a specification of a deck to be used in a battle by a user. The specification acceptance unit 132P3 displays information indicating each deck registered by the user in the battle (first deck 132P4, second deck 132P5, third deck 132P6) and accepts the user's specification.

[0241] The server 20 may display a part of the information of the opponent's decks to each matched user, and may receive a designation from the organizer of the match regarding the range of cards to be presented to the opponent user. For example, the organizer of the match may designate in advance that the server 20 should display information on the types of cards that compose the registered decks to each matched user. This allows the range of deck information to be presented to the opponent to be set according to the deck configuration of the user participating in the match, or according to the skill of the user participating in the match. In addition, the terminal device 10 may allow the matched user to designate the range of the opponent's decks to which information is to be presented. This allows the users to negotiate the selection of decks before starting the match according to the range of presentation agreed upon between the users.

[0242] FIG. 14(B) shows a situation in which the user competing in a match specifies the range within which information is to be presented about the opponent's multiple decks.

[0243] The server 20 displays, on the information display unit 132P of the terminal device 10, an operation reception unit 132P10 for receiving information about the types of cards in the opponent's deck, and an operation reception unit 132P11 for receiving information about the tendencies in the attributes of the cards that make up the opponent's deck.

[0244] The terminal device 10 accepts a designation of a range in which to display the information of a portion of the opponent's deck by accepting an operation to designate the operation acceptance unit 132P10 or the operation acceptance unit 132P11 from the user. In response to the designation, the terminal device 10 displays the information of a portion of the opponent's deck.

[0245] FIG. 14(C) shows another example of displaying part of the information of the opponent's deck.

[0246] As shown in FIG. 14(C), the terminal device 10 displays, in the designation receiving unit 132P3, information for supporting the user in deciding which of the multiple decks to designate on the information display unit 132P7. The terminal device 10 estimates the probability of winning or losing between the decks based on the information of the opponent's multiple decks and the information of the multiple decks registered by the user of the terminal device 10, and displays information based on the estimation result on the information display unit 132P7. For example, as shown in the figure, information suggesting advantages and disadvantages in a battle using the deck registered by the user of the terminal device 10 (a combination of cards constituting the deck) against the deck of the opponent user may be displayed on the information display unit 132P7. The server 20 estimates the probability of winning or losing between the decks by referring to the battle history database 283C, and generates a trained model based on the information of the decks used by each user in the battle (matching history database 282C, battle history database 283C) and the information of the results of the battle based on the information of the decks used. The trained model inputs deck information of each user competing, and outputs the probability of which user will win (probability of losing). As described above, the server 20 determines the compatibility of decks based on the combination of cards organized in the decks, or the history of match results in matches using the decks.

[0247] FIG. 14(D) shows an example of displaying an error when a user uses a card that is not included in the deck, regardless of the deck specified by the user. The terminal device 10 displays, on the information display unit 132P8, that a card that is not included in the specified deck is being used (a reason that the match may be interrupted in the match). The server 20 or the terminal device 10 refers to the information of the deck that each matched user specified to be used in the match. Meanwhile, as described in the first embodiment, the image of the card placed on the TCG equipment 30 can be photographed by a camera and image recognition can be performed to record the history of the progress of the match. As a result, the server 20 or the terminal device 10 displays an error on the terminal device 10 when a card that is not included in the deck specified by the user is used.

[0248] <7.4 Modifications of the second embodiment> In the above explanation of the second embodiment, we have described a process in which, in response to the server 20 performing matching, it displays partial information about the opponent's deck on the terminal device 10 of each matched user, and a process in which the user accepts an operation to specify the deck to be used in the match.

[0249] In addition, the terminal device 10 of each user may present information on multiple decks of other users to the user regardless of whether matching is successful or not. The server 20 transmits information on multiple decks of each user to the terminal device 10 of each user. The terminal device 10 presents information on multiple decks of other users to the user and accepts designation of information on the decks of other users from the user. That is, the terminal device 10 accepts an operation to designate the decks of other users from the user of the terminal device 10. In response to the operation to designate the decks of the other users, the terminal device 10 performs a process of challenging the other users to a battle. The server 20 receives a signal to challenge the other users to a battle from the terminal device 10, and transmits a signal indicating that a battle has been requested to the terminal device 10 of the other users. In response to receiving a signal to challenge the other users to a battle from the terminal device 10, the server 20 determines a battle location for each user and transmits information on the battle location to the terminal device 10 of each user.

[0250] The above-described embodiment can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0251] <Additional Notes> The matters described in the above embodiment will be supplemented below.

[0252] (Appendix 1) An information processing device (20) for supporting the management of a TCG (Trading Card Game) tournament, which manages tournament information related to a tournament (287) and tournament information (282C, 283C) of each user (288) participating in the tournament, is configured to store information on a plurality of decks that users can use in the tournament as registered deck information in association with the tournament information (288), and a control unit (203) of the information processing device includes a step of determining an opponent user who will play against one user, and a step of storing win / loss information between the one user and the opponent user. an information processing device that executes the steps of: presenting information related to the registered deck information of the opponent user to one user before registration (S651A, S1303A, S1303B); after the presentation to the user in the step of presenting to the user, accepting from the one user a designation of a deck to be used in the battle from the one user's registered deck information (S1301A, S1303B, S1353); and updating the managed battle information in response to each user designating a deck to be used in the battle (S1353).

[0253] (Appendix 2) The information processing device described in (Appendix 1) in which the tournament information includes information regarding the event period (287), and the control unit executes a step of accepting registered deck information from the user at a timing before the event period (287), and a step of storing the registered deck information in the memory unit in response to storing the deck information in association with the user (288), and after a specified condition is met, does not allow the user to change the registered deck information regardless of the user's operation.

[0254] (Appendix 3) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 2), in which the control unit does not change the registered deck information of a single user, regardless of operations of other users, including users who are opponents of the single user.

[0255] (Appendix 4) An information processing device as described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 3), which acquires sensed data from a sensing mechanism that senses the area in which cards used in TCG battles are placed (10A), and executes a step in which a control unit detects, based on the analysis results of the sensed data, that a card other than a card included in a deck stored as registered deck information has been used.

[0256] (Appendix 5) An information processing device as described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 4), wherein the control unit, in response to completion of matching between competing users, causes each user to present information about the opponent's deck, and the information about the opponent's deck is not presented to each user until matching is completed.

[0257] (Appendix 6) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 5), wherein in a step of presenting information related to registered deck information to a user, the control unit presents a portion of information about each of the multiple decks.

[0258] (Appendix 7) The information processing device according to (Appendix 6), wherein the part of information about each of the multiple decks is a specific type of card among cards organized in each of the multiple decks (286, FIG. 14, 132P2).

[0259] (Appendix 8) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 6) or (Appendix 7), wherein a portion of the information for each of the multiple decks is specified by an organizer of the tournament and / or the users participating in the tournament.

[0260] (Appendix 9) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 6), wherein the portion of information of each of the multiple decks is a portion of information indicated by cards organized in each of the multiple decks.

[0261] (Appendix 10) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 6), wherein a portion of the information about each of the multiple decks is information about the compatibility of each of the multiple decks with other decks.

[0262] (Appendix 11) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 10), wherein the control unit determines compatibility based on the combination of cards organized in the deck or the history of the deck's past match results.

[0263] (Appendix 12) An information processing device described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 4), wherein the control unit executes the steps of obtaining information about other users' decks and presenting it to the user, and challenging the other users to a battle in response to the user specifying the presented deck information.

[0264] (Appendix 13) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 1), in which updating battle information includes retaining information on decks designated by each user to be used in battles.

[0265] (Appendix 14) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 1), in which the registered deck information includes information on at least one non-limited deck that can be used in a battle and information on at least one limited deck that cannot be used in a battle, and in the step of presenting the information to the user, the non-limited deck and the limited deck are presented to the opposing user without distinction.

[0266] (Appendix 15) An information processing device as described in (Appendix 14), in which information on the restricted deck is generated without a card selection operation by a user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0267] 5A, 5B User, 10A, 10B Terminal device, 12 Communication IF, 13 Input / output IF, 15 Memory, 16 Storage, 19 Processor, 20 Server, 22 Communication IF, 23 Input / output IF, 25 Memory, 26 Storage, 29 Processor, 30 TCG supplies (mat), 31A, 31B Deck placement section, 32A, 32B Preparation card placement section, 33A, 33B Victory / loss condition card placement section, 34A, 34B Battle card placement section, 35A, 35B Consumption card placement section, 80 Network, 81 Wireless base station, 82 Wireless LAN base station, 130 Operation reception section (touch screen), 132 Display, 181 Card information, 182 Deck information, 281 User information database, 282, 282C Matching history database, 283, 283C Match history database, card information 286, match database 287, match entry information 288.

Claims

1. An information processing device for supporting the management of a trading card game (TCG) competition, managing tournament information regarding the tournament and tournament information of each user participating in the tournament; The method is configured to store, in association with the tournament information, information on a plurality of decks that the user can use in the tournament as registered deck information, The control unit of the information processing device determining an opponent user to play against the one user; A step of presenting information related to the registered deck information of the opponent user to the first user before registering win / loss information between the first user and the opponent user; a step of accepting, after the presentation to the user, a designation of a deck to be used in the battle from the one user among the registered deck information of the one user; and updating the managed battle information in response to each user of the battle specifying the deck.

2. The tournament information includes information regarding the tournament period, The control unit receives the registered deck information from a user at a timing before the event period; In response to storing the deck information, a storage unit stores the registered deck information in association with the user; The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein after a predetermined condition is met, the user is not allowed to change the registered deck information regardless of an operation by the user.

3. The information processing device of claim 2, wherein the control unit does not change the registered deck information of the one user regardless of operations of other users, including users who are opponents of the one user.

4. acquiring sensed data from a sensing mechanism that senses an area in which cards to be used in the TCG battle are placed; 4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a step of detecting that a card different from a card included in a deck stored as registered deck information has been used based on an analysis result of the sensed data.

5. the control unit, in response to completion of matching between the users who will compete against each other, causes each user to present information about the opponent's deck to the user; The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein information about the opponent's deck is not presented to each user until the matching is completed.

6. In the step of presenting information related to the registered deck information to a user, The information processing device according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit presents a portion of information about each of the plurality of decks.

7. The information processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the part of information about each of the plurality of decks is a specific type of card among cards organized in each of the plurality of decks.

8. The information processing device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the information about the part of each of the plurality of decks is specified by an organizer of the competition and / or a user participating in the competition.

9. The information processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the portion of information of each of the plurality of decks is a portion of information indicated by cards organized in each of the plurality of decks.

10. The information processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the portion of information about each of the plurality of decks is information about compatibility between each of the plurality of decks and other decks.

11. The information processing device according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit determines the compatibility based on a combination of cards organized in the deck or a history of past match results of the deck.

12. The control unit is obtaining information on decks of other users and presenting it to the user; An information processing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a step of challenging the other user to a battle in response to the user specifying information of the presented deck.

13. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein updating the battle information includes retaining information on a deck designated by each user to be used in a battle.

14. The registered deck information includes information on at least one non-restricted deck that can be used in the battle and information on at least one restricted deck that cannot be used in the battle, The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein in the step of presenting to the user, the non-restricted deck and the restricted deck are presented to the opponent user without distinction.

15. The information processing device according to claim 14 , wherein the information on the restricted deck is generated without a card selection operation by a user.

16. 1. A method comprising: An information processing device for supporting the management of a trading card game (TCG) tournament, Manages battle information of each user participating in the battle, The device is configured to store a plurality of pieces of deck information, which are combinations of trading cards used by the user in the tournament; The method includes the steps of: presenting to the user information related to the plurality of decks of the opponent user who will play against the user based on information of the plurality of decks of the opponent user; receiving, from the user, a designation of a deck to be used in the battle from among information on the plurality of decks of the user; and updating the managed battle information in response to each user participating in the battle specifying the deck.

17. A program for operating an information processing device to support the management of a trading card game (TCG) tournament, The information processing device includes: Manages battle information of each user participating in the battle, The device is configured to store a plurality of pieces of deck information, which are combinations of trading cards used by the user in the tournament; The program includes: presenting to the user information related to the plurality of decks of the opponent user who will play against the user based on information of the plurality of decks of the opponent user; receiving, from the user, a designation of a deck to be used in the battle from among information on the plurality of decks of the user; A program that executes a step of updating the managed battle information in response to each user of the battle specifying the deck.

Images