Control server, control method, and program

Abstract

To separate an avatar of a user having no authority from a prohibition content in a virtual space.SOLUTION: A control server 100 is connected to a plurality of user terminals 200 via a network N, and controls virtual spaces 301 to 304 in which an avatar (an adult avatar 321, a child avatar 322, or the like) in each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals 200 can be moved, and comprises: a prohibition area determination part 111 that determines a prohibition area 315 where a progress of the avatar in the surroundings of a prohibition content corresponding place (a prohibition content corresponding store 311A) corresponded to a prohibition content according to the authority of the user in the virtual spaces 301 to 304; and a prohibition area display control part 112 that performs control of a display (a display of a prohibition display 316, a shield 317, a shield store 318 or the like) expressing that the avatar cannot progress to the prohibition area 315.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control server, a control method, and a program for controlling a virtual space in which an avatar for each user can move. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, technology has become popular that allows users to wear devices such as head-up displays and share a virtual space (three-dimensional virtual reality space) that is the metaverse with other users through an avatar, which is their own avatar (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, a method has been proposed for generating restricted screen data in which the display content is restricted compared to unrestricted screen data in a virtual world when the age of a real user is below a certain age (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-230707 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-106783 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, even if age restrictions are used to restrict the display of harmful content from screen data in a virtual space, in areas where content (such as tobacco, alcohol, adult images, etc.) that may be harmful to child avatars (underage users) is present (for example, around places where prohibited content is purchased), adult avatars (adult users) seeking this content will exist. In such areas, it can be said that there is a high risk that adult avatars will have a negative impact on child avatars by contacting them through conversation or information exchange, or will behave in a way that may have a negative impact on child avatars.

[0006] It should be noted that a child avatar is said to be a person without authority regarding content such as tobacco, alcohol, and adult images. Also, for example, an avatar of a user who is a regular member and not a VIP member who can receive some preferential treatment such as the acquisition of specific images, can be said to be a person without authority regarding content corresponding to the preferential treatment. And, there are also cases where it is desirable for such a person without authority to not unnecessarily approach the surroundings of a place where preferential treatment can be received. Thus, a person without authority is not limited to a child avatar.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a control server, a control method, and a program that can keep avatars of unauthorized users away from prohibited content in a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In one aspect, the control server is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network, and controls a virtual space in which avatars for each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move, and is equipped with a prohibited area determination unit that determines a prohibited area in which the progression of the avatar is prohibited around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space that corresponds to prohibited content according to the authority of the user, and a prohibited area display control unit that controls a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to this aspect, in the virtual space, the avatars of unauthorized users can be kept away from prohibited content. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first example of a virtual space according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first example virtual space according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a virtual space of a second example according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a second example of a virtual space according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a virtual space of a third example according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a virtual space of a third example according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a virtual space of a fourth example according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a control server, a control method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system 1 according to an embodiment.

[0013] 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a plan view showing a virtual space 301 of the first example.

[0014] The control system 1 shown in FIG.

[0015] The control server 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and an interface unit 130. The control server 100 is connected to an external device such as a user terminal 200 via a network N.

[0016] The control unit 110 controls a virtual space 301 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in which avatars (alter ego characters) of each user controlled by each of the multiple user terminals 200 can move. The virtual space 301 may be used for any purpose, such as a network game. In order to generate the virtual space 301, for example, the control unit 110 may refer to a database in which information such as position coordinates (three-dimensional position coordinates or two-dimensional position coordinates), images, and types are associated with each display object such as a store 311, and the control unit 110 may display each display object based on the position coordinates, images, and the like, thereby generating the virtual space 301; the control unit 110 or another device may combine images captured by an imaging device while moving in a real space based on the imaging position, and the control unit 110 or another device may generate the virtual space 301 by designing it with 3DCG (3 Dimensional Computer Graphics). The virtual space 301 may be generated using known virtual space generating software corresponding to each of such generation methods.

[0017] The control unit 110 has, for example, one or more processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) that function as an arithmetic processing device. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program from the storage unit 120 or from a storage medium (non-transient computer-readable recording medium) that is removable from the control server 100, thereby functioning as a generator for the virtual space 301 and various functional units (prohibited area determination unit 111, prohibited area display control unit 112, contact prevention area determination unit 113, etc.). In this way, the control unit 110 (or the control server 100) functions as an example of a computer that executes a program.

[0018] The prohibited area determination unit 111 determines a prohibited area 315 (shown by a dashed line) in which the child avatar 322 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is prohibited from proceeding. This prohibited area 315 is an area surrounding a prohibited-content-compatible store 311A ​​(shown by a halftone dot pattern) corresponding to prohibited content according to the authority of the user in the virtual space 301, and the child avatar 322 (the avatar of an unauthorized user) cannot proceed into the prohibited area 315. In the example of Figs. 2 and 3, the prohibited-content-compatible store 311A ​​is a place in the virtual space 301 for the child avatar 322 to purchase products such as tobacco and alcohol and content such as adult images. Note that the prohibited-content-compatible store 311A ​​is an example of a prohibited-content-compatible place corresponding to prohibited content, and this prohibited-content-compatible place can be said to be a place where processing such as purchasing prohibited content can be performed.

[0019] The prohibited area determination unit 111 may determine whether each of the multiple stores 311 shown in Figures 2 and 3 corresponds to a prohibited content-compatible store 311A ​​based on information such as type associated with each display object such as the store 311 and user information acquired from the user terminal 200, or may determine based on the user information and the result of determining whether the images constituting the virtual space 301 contain images corresponding to content such as tobacco, alcohol, etc., by performing image recognition using AI or the like.

[0020] It should be noted that the child avatar 322 is said to have no authority to access content such as tobacco, alcohol, and adult images, but the authority may be determined not only based on age, but also based on the presence or absence of parental consent. Also, for example, the avatar of a user who is a regular member but not a VIP member who can receive some preferential treatment such as obtaining specific images in the virtual space 301 is said to have no authority to access content corresponding to the preferential treatment. Therefore, for example, a place corresponding to prohibited content for regular members may be a place where only VIP members can obtain and print specific images.

[0021] The surroundings of the prohibited content corresponding location that defines the prohibited area 315 include, for example, the area up to the intersection 314 with the intersecting passage 313 where the passage 312 that passes through the prohibited content corresponding location first intersects, an area separated from the prohibited content corresponding location by a distance equal to or less than a specified distance, and an area where the prohibited content corresponding location is visible from the avatar.

[0022] The prohibited area display control unit 112 controls a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area 315. For example, in order to indicate that the child avatar 322 cannot proceed into the prohibited area 315, the prohibited area display control unit 112 controls the display indicating that proceeding is not possible by displaying a prohibition display 316 such as a no entry sign at the entrance portion of the prohibited area 315 (the periphery of the prohibited area 315). Note that, since an avatar without authority cannot proceed into the prohibited area 315 regardless of whether or not a display is present, the display indicating that proceeding is not possible can also be said to be a display that discourages the avatar (user) from proceeding or does not generate a desire to proceed.

[0023] The contact prevention area determination unit 113, which will be described later with respect to the fourth example virtual space 304 shown in Figure 8, determines a contact prevention area 319 (shown by a dashed line in Figure 8) around the prohibited area 315 to prevent contact, such as conversation or information exchange, between an avatar with authority (e.g., an adult avatar 321) and an avatar without authority (e.g., a child avatar 322).

[0024] The storage unit 120 includes, for example, a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined control program is pre-recorded, a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working storage area as necessary when the processor executes various control programs, a hard disk device, etc. Note that, in particular, when a large-scale virtual space 301 in which avatars are operated by a large number of users (user terminals 200) is used, the storage unit 120 may include an external storage device (database) to store a large amount of information such as information about the virtual space 301 and user information.

[0025] The interface unit 130 transmits and receives various information to and from external devices such as the user terminal 200. For example, the interface unit 130 receives operation information for moving an avatar from the user terminal 200, and transmits information on the virtual space 301 and position information of other avatars (for example, display information for displaying the virtual space 301 on the display unit 240 of the user terminal 200) to the user terminal 200.

[0026] The user terminal 200 includes a control unit 210, a storage unit 220, an interface unit 230, a display unit 240, and an input unit 250. In the user terminal 200, a user performs operations such as moving an avatar (an adult avatar 321, a child avatar 322, etc.) in a virtual space 301. The user terminal 200 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc., but may also be another terminal such as a head-up display.

[0027] The control unit 210 has, for example, a processor (for example, a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing device that controls the operation of each unit of the user terminal 200. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program, for example, from the storage unit 220 or from a storage medium (non-transient computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the user terminal 200.

[0028] The storage unit 220 includes, for example, a ROM, which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a specific control program is pre-recorded, and a RAM, which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working memory area as needed when the processor executes various control programs, and other memories.

[0029] The interface unit 230 transmits and receives various information to and from external devices such as the control server 100. For example, the interface unit 230 transmits operation information for moving an avatar to the control server 100, and receives information on the virtual space 301 and position information of other avatars from the control server 100 (for example, display information for displaying the virtual space 301 on the display unit 240 of the user terminal 200).

[0030] The display unit 240 is a display that displays various information. For example, the display unit 240 displays a virtual space 301.

[0031] The input unit 250 is, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a dedicated controller for network games, etc., and receives various information input by the user.

[0032] 4 and 5 are a perspective view and a plan view showing a virtual space 302 of the second example.

[0033] The virtual space 302 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be similar to the virtual space 301 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except that an obstruction 317 is displayed instead of the prohibition display 316.

[0034] 1 controls the display of an obstruction 317 that obstructs the passage 312 in the prohibited area 315 so as to prevent the user from recognizing the passage 312 in the virtual space 302. To prevent the user from recognizing the passage 312, the obstruction 317 may have the same appearance as the surrounding display objects such as a store 311, or may have the appearance of a plant (e.g., a tree) so as to represent a natural landscape.

[0035] 6 and 7 are a perspective view and a plan view showing a virtual space 303 of the third example.

[0036] The virtual space 303 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be similar to the virtual space 301 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except that a blocked store 318 is displayed instead of the prohibition sign 316.

[0037] The prohibited area display control unit 112 shown in Fig. 1 generates a virtual space 303 excluding the passage (corresponding passage 312) in the prohibited area 315. In order to exclude the corresponding passage 312 in the prohibited area 315 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in the virtual space 303, the prohibited area display control unit 112 enlarges the stores 311 located on both sides of the corresponding passage 312 in a direction to fill the prohibited area 315 and displays them as a shielding store 318, thereby generating a virtual space 303 excluding the corresponding passage 312. Note that, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the prohibited content-compatible store 311A ​​is also displayed as a prohibited content-compatible shielding store 318A that is enlarged in the same way as the shielding store 318. In order to generate a virtual space 303 excluding the relevant aisle 312, only one of the stores 311 on either side of the relevant aisle 312 may be enlarged and displayed, or other obstructions (e.g., multiple stores 311) may be displayed to exclude (fill in) the relevant aisle 312 in the prohibited area 315.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a virtual space 304 of the fourth example.

[0039] The virtual space 304 shown in Fig. 8 can be similar to the virtual space 301 shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, except that a contact prevention area 319 that prevents contact with other avatars is determined around the prohibited area 315. Note that instead of the prohibition display 316 shown in Fig. 8, the obstruction 317 shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 or the obstructed store 318 (prohibited content-compatible obstructed store 318A) shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 may be displayed.

[0040] The contact prevention area determination unit 113 shown in FIG. 1 determines a contact prevention area 319 (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 8) around the prohibited area 315 to prevent contact between an avatar with authority (e.g., adult avatar 321) and an avatar without authority (e.g., child avatar 322). Here, contact refers to, for example, conversation or information exchange between users. In the contact prevention area 319, even an avatar with authority may be excluded from the contact prevention targets if, for example, the visit history to prohibited content-enabled store 311A ​​is referenced, so long as the visit frequency is low.

[0041] The contact prevention area 319 is, for example, an area that is separated from the prohibited area 315 by a distance equal to or less than a specified distance. The control unit 110 may have a display control unit that performs control to display the contact prevention area 319 in the virtual space 304.

[0042] In the embodiment described above, the control server 100 is connected to a plurality of user terminals 200 via a network N, and controls virtual spaces 301-304 in which avatars (adult avatar 321, child avatar 322, etc.) for each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals 200 can move. The control server 100 includes a prohibited area determination unit 111 that determines a prohibited area 315 in which the avatar is prohibited from proceeding around a prohibited content-compatible location (prohibited content-compatible store 311A) corresponding to prohibited content according to the authority of the user in the virtual spaces 301-304, and a prohibited area display control unit 112 that controls a display (display of a prohibition display 316, a shield 317, a shielded store 318, etc.) indicating that the avatar cannot proceed to the prohibited area 315. The control server 100 does not need to be a control server dedicated to virtual space control, but can be called a virtual space control server. Similarly, the control system 1 and the control method can be called a virtual space control system and a virtual space control method.

[0043] From the viewpoint of the method, the control method is a control method in the control server 100, and includes determining a prohibited area 315 that prohibits the progression of the avatar around a prohibited-content-compatible location (prohibited-content-compatible store 311A) that corresponds to prohibited content according to the user's authority in the virtual spaces 301-304, and controlling displays (displays of prohibition display 316, obstruction 317, obstructing store 318, etc.) indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area 315.

[0044] From a program perspective, the program causes the control server 100 to realize a function of determining a prohibited area 315 that prohibits the progression of an avatar around a prohibited-content-compatible location (prohibited-content-compatible store 311A) that corresponds to prohibited content according to the user's authority in the virtual spaces 301-304, and a function of controlling displays (displays of prohibition displays 316, obstructions 317, obstructing stores 318, etc.) indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area 315.

[0045] This makes it possible to prohibit the avatar from proceeding not only to prohibited content-compatible stores 311A ​​such as places selling alcohol or tobacco, or places where images are acquired or printed, but also to the prohibited areas 315 surrounding the prohibited content-compatible stores. It is also possible to make prohibited content-compatible places such as prohibited content-compatible stores 311A ​​less noticeable to users, and to prevent users from approaching them out of curiosity. Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to keep the avatar of an unauthorized user away from prohibited content (prohibited content-compatible store 311A, which is an example of a prohibited content-compatible place). This makes it possible to prevent, for example, an unauthorized person being a child avatar 322 of a minor user from contacting an adult avatar 321 seeking potentially harmful content such as alcohol or tobacco in the prohibited content-compatible store 311A ​​through conversation or information exchange, or to make it difficult to visually recognize the behavior of such an adult avatar 321.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the prohibited area display control unit 112 controls the display of an obstruction 317 (see Figures 4 and 5) that blocks the passage 312 in the prohibited area 315 (the passage 312) so that the user is not aware of the passage.

[0047] This makes it even more difficult for unauthorized persons, such as users of child avatars 322, to notice the presence of prohibited-content-compliant store 311A.

[0048] In this embodiment, the prohibited area display control unit 112 generates a virtual space 303 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) excluding the passage in the prohibited area 315 (corresponding passage 312).

[0049] This can reliably prevent unauthorized persons, such as users of child avatars 322, from noticing the presence of prohibited-content-compliant store 311A.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, the control system 1 further includes a contact prevention area determination unit 113 that determines a contact prevention area 319 (see FIG. 8) around the prohibited area 315 to prevent contact between an avatar with authority and an avatar without authority.

[0051] This makes it possible to more reliably prevent contact, such as conversation or information exchange, with adult avatars 321 seeking potentially harmful content such as alcohol or tobacco around the prohibited area 315, when the unauthorized person is a child avatar 322 of a minor user, and to more reliably make it difficult to see the behavior of such adult avatars 321. Note that it is also possible to prevent a situation in which an unauthorized person such as a normal member obtains unnecessary information about content that corresponds to preferential treatment for an authorized person such as a VIP member, and therefore contact to be prevented is not limited to contact between adults and children.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the gist of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriate combinations of the multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, all the components shown in the embodiment may be appropriately combined. Of course, various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention described in the claims at the time of filing of this application is appended below.

[0053] [Appendix 1] A control server that is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network and controls a virtual space in which an avatar of each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move, a prohibited area determination unit that determines a prohibited area in which the avatar is prohibited from proceeding around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space that corresponds to prohibited content according to the authority of the user; a prohibited area display control unit that controls a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area; A control server comprising:

[0054] [Appendix 2] The prohibited area display control unit controls display of an obstacle that blocks the passage in the prohibited area so that the user is not aware of the passage. 2. The control server according to claim 1 .

[0055] [Appendix 3] The prohibited area display control unit generates the virtual space excluding the passage in the prohibited area. 2. The control server according to claim 1 .

[0056] [Appendix 4] a contact prevention area determining unit that determines a contact prevention area around the prohibited area to prevent contact between the avatar having the authority and the avatar not having the authority. 4. The control server according to claim 1,

[0057] [Appendix 5] A control method in a control server that is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network and controls a virtual space in which an avatar of each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move, comprising: determining a prohibited area in which the avatar is prohibited from proceeding around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space that corresponds to prohibited content according to the authority of the user; Controlling a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area; A control method comprising:

[0058] [Appendix 6] a control server that is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network and controls a virtual space in which an avatar of each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move; a function of determining a prohibited area in which the progress of the avatar is prohibited around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space corresponding to prohibited content according to the authority of the user; A function of controlling a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area; A program to achieve this. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Control System 100 Control Server 110 Control section 111 Prohibited Area Determination Unit 112 Restricted area display control unit 113 Contact prevention area determination unit 120 Storage section 130 Interface section 200 User terminals 210 Control section 220 Storage section 230 Interface section 240 Display section 250 Input section 301, 302, 303, 304 Virtual Space 311 stores 311A Prohibited Content Store 312 Corresponding passage 313 Crossing Passage 314 Intersection 315 Prohibited Areas 316 Prohibited display 317 Shield 318 Shielded Store 318A Prohibited Content Shielding Store 319 Contact Prevention Area 321 Adult Avatar 322 Child Avatar N Network

Claims

1. A control server that is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network and controls a virtual space in which an avatar of each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move, a prohibited area determination unit that determines a prohibited area in which the avatar is prohibited from proceeding around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space that corresponds to prohibited content according to the authority of the user; a prohibited area display control unit that controls a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area; A control server comprising:

2. The prohibited area display control unit controls display of an obstacle that blocks the passage in the prohibited area so that the user is not aware of the passage.

2. The control server according to claim 1.

3. The prohibited area display control unit generates the virtual space excluding the passage in the prohibited area.

2. The control server according to claim 1.

4. a contact prevention area determining unit that determines a contact prevention area around the prohibited area to prevent contact between the avatar having the authority and the avatar not having the authority.

4. The control server according to claim 1, wherein the control server is a server that performs a control operation on the control server.

5. A control method in a control server that is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network and controls a virtual space in which an avatar of each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move, comprising: determining a prohibited area in which the avatar is prohibited from proceeding around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space that corresponds to prohibited content according to the authority of the user; Controlling a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area; A control method comprising:

6. A control server that is connected to a plurality of user terminals via a network and controls a virtual space in which an avatar of each user controlled by each of the plurality of user terminals can move, a function of determining a prohibited area in which the progress of the avatar is prohibited around a prohibited content corresponding location in the virtual space corresponding to prohibited content according to the authority of the user; A function of controlling a display indicating that the avatar cannot proceed into the prohibited area; A program to achieve this.

Images