Digital content provision method

Abstract

To provide a method for realizing distribution of design content with high added value.SOLUTION: In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital content provision method for a user terminal by a server terminal. A digital content is managed by a blockchain network connected to the server terminal and is associated with game data including a plurality of pieces of parameter data. A control unit of the server terminal accepts a lottery request for the digital content from the user terminal, executes lottery processing for the digital content, records transaction data for the digital content issued as a result of the lottery processing in the blockchain network, records the game data for the issued digital content in a storage unit, and provides the issued digital content to the user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for providing digital content. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, schemes that use non-fungible tokens (hereinafter referred to as "NFTs") to manage digital content have become widespread.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which game media (characters, items, etc.) provided through a lottery process such as gacha in a game that uses a blockchain are issued, circulated, and managed on the blockchain as NFTs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7197822 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, while the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 may contribute to realizing transaction management of game media using blockchain and reducing the management burden of game media, it does not focus on preventing tampering with game data or ensuring transparency of transactions without compromising the user's gaming experience.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of preventing tampering with game data and ensuring transparency of transactions without impairing the user's gaming experience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, a method of providing digital content to a user terminal by a server terminal, wherein the digital content is managed in a blockchain network connected to the server terminal and is associated with game data including a plurality of parameter data, and a control unit of the server terminal accepts a lottery request for the digital content from the user terminal, executes a lottery process for the digital content, records transaction data for the digital content issued as a result of the lottery process on the blockchain, records the game data for the issued digital content in a memory unit, and provides the issued digital content to the user terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method capable of preventing tampering with game data and ensuring transparency of transactions without impairing the user's gaming experience. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a digital content providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a functional block diagram showing the server terminal 100 of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a functional block diagram showing a user terminal 200 of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of user data stored in a server terminal 100. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of content data stored in a server terminal 100. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of transaction data stored in a server terminal 100. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for providing digital content according to the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the components shown in the embodiment are necessarily essential components of the present invention.

[0011] <Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system for providing digital content according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The system 1 includes a server terminal 100 associated with a game operator that provides an online game, including storing digital content data such as game characters and game items and providing the digital content to users through a lottery process (so-called gacha), and user terminals 200A and 200B associated with users that play the game, request the lottery process for the game, and obtain the digital content. A blockchain network for managing digital content and transaction records of the digital content is connected to the server terminal 100. For convenience of explanation, each terminal is described as a single terminal or a specific number, but the number is not limited, and each may be composed of multiple user terminals, multiple content provider terminals, or multiple user terminals. For convenience of explanation, the multiple user terminals 200A and 200B will be collectively referred to as "user terminals 200" and will be described below.

[0012] The server terminal 100 and the user terminal 200 are connected to each other via a network NW1. The network NW is configured by the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the like.

[0013] The server terminal 100 may be, for example, a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer, or may be logically realized by cloud computing.

[0014] The server terminal 100 receives transaction information regarding transactions involving digital content executed between the server terminal 100 and the user terminal 200 or between the user terminals 200, and records the NFT associated with the digital content by an identifier or the like in the blockchain network together with other transaction information. The NFT is, for example, a token issued in a standard called "ERC721" of Etherium, a blockchain network platform, and is a unit of data recorded in the blockchain network. It can indicate unique digital assets such as products related to digital information such as image data and video data, and has a non-fungible nature. While the above digital content can be copied on the network, the NFT is recorded on the blockchain together with a smart contract and is traceable, so that transaction information including details and history of rights holders, owner information, etc. can be proven. In addition, by using a smart contract here, a contract regarding a transaction between digital media and a user, or between users, can be automatically generated, approved, and executed without the intervention of a third party. In addition, the smart contract allows the parties to the transaction and the third party to refer to the transaction information without the intervention of a server terminal, which increases the convenience of the service and reduces operation costs. Here, the user terminal 200 can also be directly connected to the blockchain network. In such a case, the user terminal 200 can request a lottery process for digital content described below and record transaction information regarding the digital content in the blockchain network without going through the server terminal 100.

[0015] The user terminal 200 is, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal, but may also be configured as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like.

[0016] In this embodiment, the system 1 is described as having a server terminal 100 and a user terminal 200, and a configuration in which users of each terminal use their respective terminals to perform operations on the server terminal 100; however, the server terminal 100 may be configured as a stand-alone system, and the server terminal itself may have a function for each user to perform operations directly.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram of the server terminal 100 of Fig. 1. The server terminal 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit .

[0018] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface for communicating with the user terminal 200 and the blockchain network via the network NW, and communication is performed according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

[0019] The storage unit 120 stores programs for executing various control processes and various functions in the control unit 130, input data, etc., and is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The storage unit 120 also has a user data storage unit 121 for storing various data related to users, a content data storage unit 122 for storing various data related to digital content, and a transaction data storage unit 123 for storing various data related to transactions. Here, content data such as digital content stored and managed by the storage unit 120 can be stored and managed on a blockchain network, and can also be stored and managed both in the server terminal 100 and in the blockchain network. Note that a database (not shown) storing various data may be constructed on the storage unit 120 or another server outside the server terminal 100.

[0020] The control unit 130 controls the overall operation of the server terminal 100 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 120, and is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. Functions of the control unit 130 include an information receiving unit 131 that receives information and requests from each terminal, a lottery processing unit 132 that executes lottery processing for digital content, and a blockchain processing unit 133 that records transactions related to digital content and data related to the digital content in the blockchain network. The information receiving unit 131, the lottery processing unit 132, and the blockchain processing unit 133 are started by a program stored in the storage unit 120 and executed by the server terminal 100, which is a computer (electronic calculator).

[0021] The information receiving unit 131 is provided by the server terminal 100 and receives information and requests from the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 110. For example, from the user terminal 200, in addition to information related to the user, a lottery request for digital content is received.

[0022] The lottery processing unit 132 performs lottery processing for digital content in response to a lottery request from the user terminal 200.

[0023] The blockchain processing unit 133 performs processing for recording transactions related to the digital content issued as a result of the lottery processing and data related to the digital content on the blockchain network.

[0024] The control unit 130 may also have a screen generation unit (not shown) and generates screen information to be displayed via the user interface of the user terminal 200 upon request. For example, the control unit 130 uses image and text data (not shown) stored in the storage unit 120 as material, and generates a user interface by arranging various images and text in a predetermined area of ​​the user interface based on a predetermined layout rule. The processing related to the image generation unit may also be executed by a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0025] Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the user terminal 200 of Fig. 1. The user terminal 200 includes a communication unit 210, a display operation unit 220, a storage unit 230, and a control unit 240.

[0026] The communication unit 210 is a communication interface for communicating with the server terminal 100 via the network NW, and communication is performed according to a communication protocol such as TCP / IP.

[0027] The display operation unit 220 is a user interface used for inputting instructions by the user and displaying text, images, etc. according to input data from the control unit 240, and is composed of a display, a keyboard, and a mouse when the user terminal 200 is configured as a personal computer, and is composed of a touch panel, etc. when the user terminal 200 is configured as a smartphone or tablet terminal. This display operation unit 220 is started up by a control program stored in the storage unit 230 and executed by the user terminal 200, which is a computer (electronic calculator).

[0028] The storage unit 230 stores programs for executing various control processes and functions in the control unit 240, input data, etc., and is composed of a RAM, a ROM, etc. The storage unit 230 also temporarily stores the contents of communication with the server terminal 100.

[0029] The control unit 240 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 200 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 230, and is composed of a CPU, a GPU, and the like.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of user data stored in the server terminal 100. As shown in FIG.

[0031] 4 shows an example of one user (a user identified by a user ID "10001") for the sake of convenience, but information on a plurality of users can be stored. Various data related to a user can include, for example, basic information about the user (profile information such as the user's name or title, address or location, gender, age, etc.) and game medium information related to digital content (characters, items, etc.) acquired and owned by the user (image data, game medium information (character (item) name, parameter information (HP, MP, attack power, defense power, etc.), rarity information, ID for associating with NFT, etc.).

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of content data stored in the server terminal 100. As shown in FIG.

[0033] The content data 2000 stores various data related to digital content. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 5 shows an example of one digital content (content identified by content ID "20001"), but information related to a plurality of digital contents can be stored. Various data related to digital content (characters, items, etc.) can include, for example, basic information of digital content (organization name, address or location of content provider providing digital content, service name, profile information of content provider, description information of service, etc.), game medium information related to digital content (characters, items, etc.) (image data, game medium information (character (item) name, parameter information (HP, MP, attack power, defense power, etc.), rarity information, ID for associating with NFT, etc.), and transaction information (digital content transaction record, transaction ID, etc.). Here, examples of digital content include characters, items, etc., and parameters for controlling ability values ​​and / or appearance (appearance) are given to each of them, making it possible to provide digital content related to unique characters or items with a huge number of patterns. Here, the image data stored as the content data can also be stored in an IPFS server outside the server terminal 100.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the transaction data stored in the server terminal 100. As shown in FIG.

[0035] The transaction data 3000 stores various data related to transactions of goods related to digital information. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 7 shows an example of one transaction (a transaction identified by transaction ID "30001"), but information related to multiple transactions can be stored. The various data related to the transaction can include, for example, digital content information (image data of the game medium, explanatory information, price information, ID for associating with the NFT, etc.), trader information (information on the parties involved in the transaction of the game medium (transferor and transferee of the game medium)), transaction date and time (date and time when the transaction was carried out, etc.), and transaction price (sale price of the traded goods, etc.). Here, as described above, digital content information can also be managed as information linked to the NFT.

[0036] <Processing flow> The process flow of the digital content providing method executed by the system 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an example of a flowchart showing the digital content providing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] First, in the process of step S101, the information receiving unit 131 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 receives a lottery request for game media recorded and managed on the blockchain network from the user terminal 200. Here, the control unit 130 issues in-game currency to the user as, for example, a unique token (including a Fungible Token, a Semi Fungible Token, and a Non Fungible Token) recorded and managed on the blockchain network, and the user can make a lottery request (mint) for the game media in exchange for the in-game currency. By issuing the in-game currency as a Semi Fungible Token, the in-game currency can be properly managed on the wallet, and trade between users and unauthorized use of the in-game currency can be prevented. In addition, by issuing the in-game currency free of charge for marketing purposes, it is also possible to promote the lottery for the game media. It is also possible for the user to make a lottery request for the game media directly in exchange for a token or virtual currency without using the in-game currency.

[0038] Next, in step S102, the lottery processing unit 132 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 cooperates with the blockchain network to execute a lottery process for game media managed by the blockchain network. The lottery process is executed by randomly drawing lots based on the number of game media and the appearance rate determined by the rarity associated with the game media, and one game medium is extracted. Each of the game media recorded and managed in the blockchain network includes game medium information (image data, information on the game media (character (item) name, parameter information (HP, MP, attack power, defense power, etc.), rarity information, ID for associating with NFT, etc.). Here, when the lottery process is executed by random number drawing on the blockchain network (on-chain), there is a risk of fraud occurring if the processing contents are made public, so the lottery process can be executed on the server terminal 100 (off-chain). Also, if there is no risk of fraud occurring even if the processing contents are made public, all of the processing including the processing contents can be executed on-chain.

[0039] Next, in step S103, the blockchain processing unit 133 of the control unit 130 of the server terminal 100 associates the game media information (game data) of the extracted game media with the user information of the user who made the lottery request, and records the transaction on the blockchain network via a smart contract. Here, recording all game data on the blockchain network is useful for ensuring the transparency and traceability of transactions, but it also has issues such as time-consuming processing speed and high cost. Therefore, in the following steps, it is also possible to perform off-chain recording of game data, which is superior in terms of processing speed and cost.

[0040] Next, in step S104, the lottery processing unit 132 associates the game media information (game data) of the extracted game media with the user information of the user who made the lottery request, and stores the game media information (game data) in the content data storage unit 122 of the memory unit 120 as content data.

[0041] Next, in step S105, the lottery processing unit 132 executes a process of providing the extracted game media to the user terminal 200. Specifically, a process can be executed in which image data of the extracted game media is displayed on the user terminal 200 together with game media information (e.g., rarity and parameter data). This allows the user to enjoy the reliability of transactions due to on-chain recording of game data while simultaneously executing off-chain recording, thereby allowing the user to access the game server and quickly refer to information related to the game media after the lottery processing without impairing the game experience.

[0042] As described above, by managing digital content (in this example, game content) on the blockchain network through smart contract transactions, it is possible to ensure the transparency, traceability, and reliability of digital content transactions, while also recording the digital content on the game server, allowing users to enjoy a smooth gaming experience without compromising the game.

[0043] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they can be embodied in various other forms and can be implemented with various omissions, substitutions, and modifications. These embodiments and modifications, as well as omissions, substitutions, and modifications, are included in the technical scope of the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 System 100 Server terminal, 110 Communication unit, 120 Storage unit, 130 Control unit, 200 User terminal, NW1 Network

Claims

1. A method for providing digital content to a user terminal by a server terminal, comprising: The digital content is managed by a blockchain network connected to the server terminal, and game data including a plurality of parameter data is associated with the digital content; The control unit of the server terminal accepting a lottery request for the digital content from the user terminal; Executing a lottery process for the digital content; Recording transaction data of the digital content issued as a result of the lottery process on a blockchain network; recording the game data of the issued digital content in a storage unit; providing the published digital content to the user terminal.

2. 2. The method of claim 1 , The method, wherein the digital content is a game medium.

3. 2. The method of claim 1 , A method for issuing in-game currency as a Token to the user terminal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the digital content is issued as a Non-Fungible Token in exchange for the in-game currency.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording the game data of the published digital content on a blockchain.

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