Server and method

Abstract

To optimize notifications in livestreaming.SOLUTION: A server is a server of a livestreaming platform and comprises: holding means to hold, in association with each other, a user ID for identifying a user on the livestreaming platform and livestreamer-of-interest IDs for identifying livestreamers of interest registered by the user as livestreamers that the user is interested in; and processing means to divide the livestreamers of interest of the user into notification-allowed livestreamers of interest and other livestreamers of interest, where the notification-allowed livestreamers of interest are such that their predetermined activity on the livestreaming platform can trigger transmission of a notification to the user by the server.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a server and a method. [Background technology]

[0002] With the development of IT technology, the way information is exchanged has also changed. In the Showa era, one-way information transmission such as newspapers and television was the norm. In the Heisei era, mobile phones and personal computers became widespread and Internet communication speeds improved significantly, leading to the rise of instant two-way communication services such as chat services, and on-demand video distribution services became more popular as storage costs decreased. Now, in the Reiwa era, with the increasing functionality of smartphones and further improvements in network speeds such as 5G, services that enable real-time communication through video, especially live streaming services, are rapidly gaining recognition. Live streaming services are seeing an increase in users, especially young people, as they allow everyone to share the same fun time even when they are far apart.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for notifying followers of a live broadcaster of the broadcast schedule of the broadcaster. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-115884 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Notifications about live streaming have the effect of encouraging users to watch live streaming. However, that doesn't mean you should send notifications for everything. If there are too many notifications, users will get annoyed and ignore them, and the purpose of the notifications will be lost.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these problems, and its purpose is to provide technology that can optimize notifications in live streaming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to a server, which is a server related to a live streaming platform, and includes a storage unit for storing a user ID identifying a user of the live streaming platform and an interested broadcaster ID identifying an interested broadcaster who is a broadcaster registered as an interested broadcaster by the user in association with each other, and a processing unit for classifying the interested broadcasters of the user into notifiable interested broadcasters who are interested broadcasters to which the server can send a notification when a predetermined activity of the interested broadcaster on the live streaming platform is triggered, and other interested broadcasters.

[0008] In addition, any combination of the above components, or mutual substitution of the components or expressions of the present invention between an apparatus, a method, a system, a computer program, a recording medium storing a computer program, etc., are also valid aspects of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, notifications in live distribution can be optimized. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a live distribution system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the functions and configuration of the user terminal of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the functions and configuration of the server in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a data structure diagram showing an example of a stream DB in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5]4 is a data structure diagram showing an example of a user DB in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 4 is a data structure diagram showing an example of a gift DB in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing optimization of user-perspective notification in the live distribution system of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of followee classification processing in the followee processing unit of FIG. 3. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process of transmitting and retransmitting a delivery start push notification in the server of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a representative screen diagram of a live streaming room screen displayed on the display of a viewer's user terminal. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a representative screen diagram of a screen including a distribution start push notification displayed on the display of a user terminal of an active user. [Figure 12] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the same or equivalent components, members, processes, and signals shown in each drawing will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted as appropriate. Also, some of the members that are not important for the explanation will be omitted in each drawing.

[0012] The present inventors have made the following findings through their own investigations. If notifications such as push notifications are automatically generated and sent to users who follow a broadcaster when a broadcaster's specific activity on the live streaming platform, such as the start of a live stream or schedule registration, is triggered, the broadcaster can attract more viewers without much effort. This can make the live streaming platform more active. However, notifications tend to be perceived as a nuisance when there are too many of them. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize notifications that are automatically sent on the live streaming platform.

[0013] One possible timing for optimizing notifications is when notifications are automatically generated. When automatically generating notifications, users to send the notifications to are also selected. Specifically, when the start of a live broadcast by a broadcaster is detected, a score is calculated for each follower of the broadcaster, and the followers are sorted by the calculated score. Notifications are then sent only to a predetermined number of followers with the highest scores, and the remaining followers are not notified. This reduces notifications that may be unnecessary for the broadcaster, while still allowing notifications to be sent to users important to the broadcaster.

[0014] However, optimizing notifications from the broadcaster's perspective as described above has the following issues. When broadcasters select important users, they tend to concentrate on high-paying users and users who give large amounts of tips (hereinafter collectively referred to as VIPs). As a result of a large number of notifications being concentrated on VIPs, VIPs stop looking at notifications, which reduces the significance of the notifications. Irritation from a large number of notifications can also cause VIPs to leave the live streaming platform. In addition, since notifications do not reach non-VIP users (hereinafter referred to as non-VIPs), an increase in the number of viewers cannot be expected.

[0015] Therefore, in the live distribution system according to the embodiment, notifications are optimized from the user's or follower's perspective, not from the distributor's perspective. An interest score is calculated in advance for each of the distributors (hereinafter referred to as followees) that the user follows, and the followees are sorted by the calculated interest score. Followees with high interest scores are registered as notifiable followees of the follower. After that, when the start of live distribution by a distributor is detected, the distributor sends notifications to the followers registered as notifiable followees. This allows even VIPs to receive notifications from important followees while reliably reducing the number of notifications. As a result, it is possible to increase the degree to which VIPs are attached to the live distribution platform. In addition, if non-VIPs are followed, a certain number of notifications will be received, so that the exposure opportunities of the distributor can be maintained or improved.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing optimization of notifications from a user's perspective in a live distribution system according to an embodiment. A user is associated with a followee, who is a distributor that the user follows, and a non-followee, who is a distributor who has watched a live distribution in the past but is not following the user. For each followee of the user, the system calculates parameters indicating the degree of contribution from the user to the followee in the live distribution of the followee, and acquires them as features. The features include an average viewing rate, an average session, an average session rate, user interactions (gifts, comments), and the like. The system inputs the obtained features into a classification model. The classification model is a machine learning model that takes the above features as input and outputs an interest score indicating the degree of interest of the user in the followee. The higher the interest score, the higher the degree of interest of the user in the followee. The machine learning model itself may be realized using a known machine learning technique. In this embodiment, different classification models are used depending on whether the user is a VIP or not. In the case of a VIP, a VIP classification model is used, and in the case of a nonVIP, a nonVIP classification model is used.

[0017] The system divides the user's followees into notifiable and non-notifiable followees according to a predetermined criterion for the interest score output by the classification model. If the followee's interest score is above a threshold, the followee is registered as a notifiable followee. If the followee is not registered as a notifiable followee, the followee is registered as a non-notifiable followee. Alternatively, if the followee's interest score is below a threshold, the followee is registered as a non-notifiable followee. If the followee is not registered as a non-notifiable followee, the followee is registered as a notifiable followee. In any case, the user's degree of interest in notifiable followees is higher than the degree of interest in non-notifiable followees.

[0018] The system sends a push notification to a user when a predetermined activity by a notifiable follower of the user is triggered. If a predetermined resending criterion is met, the system resends a push notification with the same content to the user. The system does not send a push notification to the user even if a predetermined activity by a non-notifiable follower of the user is detected.

[0019] When a non-followee of a user meets a predetermined follow recommendation criteria, the system sends the user a notification recommending that the user follow the non-followee.

[0020] In this way, the followers that the user follows are divided into notifiable followers and non-notifiable followers, and notifications are not sent from certain activities of non-notifiable followers. This allows the system to optimize notifications by reducing the number of notifications that are not important from the user's perspective while continuing to send important notifications.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a live distribution system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The live distribution system 1 provides an interactive live distribution service in which a distributor (also called a live streamer) LV and a viewer (also called an audience) AU (AU1, AU2, ...) can communicate in real time. As shown in FIG. 1, the live distribution system 1 includes a server 10, a user terminal 20 on the distributor side, and a user terminal 30 (30a, 30b, ...) on the viewer side. In addition to distributors who distribute live distribution and viewers who watch live distribution, there are also users who log in to the live distribution platform but do not distribute or watch. Such users are called active users. The distributors, viewers, and active users may be collectively called users. The server 10 may be configured by one or more information processing devices connected to a network NW. The user terminals 20 and 30 may be, for example, mobile terminals such as smartphones, tablet terminals, laptop PCs, recorders, portable game consoles, and wearable devices, or may be stationary devices such as desktop PCs. The server 10, the user terminal 20, and the user terminal 30 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via various wired or wireless networks NW.

[0022] The live distribution system 1 involves a distributor LV, a viewer AU, and an administrator (not shown) who manages the server 10. The distributor LV is a person who transmits content in real time by recording and filming his / her own songs, talks, performances, fortune telling, game commentary, etc. on his / her own user terminal 20 and uploading the content to the server 10 as is. The administrator provides a platform for live distribution of content on the server 10, and also mediates or manages real-time exchanges between the distributor LV and the viewer AU. The viewer AU accesses the platform with the user terminal 30, selects desired content, and views it. During the live distribution of this content, the viewer AU performs operations to make comments, cheer, or request a fortune telling through the user terminal 30, and the distributor LV providing the content responds to such comments, cheers, or requests, and the reactions are transmitted to the viewer AU by video and / or audio, thereby establishing two-way communication.

[0023] In this specification, "live distribution" may mean a data transmission mode that realizes a state in which content recorded on a user terminal 20 of a distributor LV is played back and made viewable on a user terminal 30 of a viewer AU in substantially real time, or may mean distribution itself realized by such a transmission mode. Live distribution may be realized using existing live distribution technologies such as HTTP Live Streaming, Common Media Application Format, Web Real-Time Communications, Real-Time Messaging Protocol, and MPEG DASH. Live distribution includes a transmission mode in which a viewer AU can view content with a predetermined delay while a distributor LV is recording the content. The amount of delay is at least as large as the amount of communication between the distributor LV and the viewer AU. However, live distribution is distinguished from so-called on-demand distribution in which the entire recorded data of the content is temporarily stored on a server, and the data is provided to a user from the server at any time thereafter in response to a request from the user.

[0024] In this specification, "moving image data" refers to data including image data (also called video data) generated by the imaging function of the user terminals 20 and 30, and audio data (also called audio data) generated by the audio input function of the user terminals 20 and 30. The moving image data is played back on the user terminals 20 and 30, allowing users to view the content. In this embodiment, it is assumed that processing such as compression, decompression, encoding, decoding, transcoding, and other processing is performed to change the format, size, and specifications of the data from when the moving image data is generated on the distributor's user terminal until it is played back on the viewer's user terminal. Since the contents (e.g., moving images and audio) represented by the moving image data before and after such processing are substantially unchanged, this embodiment will be described assuming that the moving image data after such processing is the same as the moving image data before such processing. In other words, when moving image data is generated on the distributor's user terminal and then played back on the viewer's user terminal via the server 10, the moving image data generated on the distributor's user terminal, the moving image data passing through the server 10, and the moving image data received and played on the viewer's user terminal are all the same moving image data.

[0025] As used herein, "stream duration" is a parameter associated with a live stream and refers to the length of time that the live stream lasts. Stream duration is calculated regardless of whether the live stream has an audience. In this specification, the "total broadcast time" is a parameter associated with a broadcaster, and is the time obtained by adding up the broadcast time of all live broadcasts performed by the broadcaster in question during a specified period of time. In this specification, the "total viewing time" is a parameter associated with a pair of a viewer and a broadcaster, and refers to the length of time (view duration) during which the viewer viewed the broadcaster's live broadcasts in a given period. If the live broadcast spans multiple times, the duration is totaled.

[0026] In the example of Fig. 1, a broadcaster LV is live-streaming a talk. The user terminal 20 of the broadcaster LV records and records the image and audio of the broadcaster LV while he or she is talking, generating video data, and transmits the video data to the server 10 via the network NW. The user terminal 20 also displays the recorded video image VD of the broadcaster LV on the display of the user terminal 20, thereby enabling the broadcast content by the broadcaster LV to be confirmed.

[0027] The user terminals 30a, 30b of the viewers AU1, AU2 who have requested the platform to watch the live broadcast of the broadcaster LV each receive video data related to the live broadcast via the network NW, and play the received video data to display the videos VD1, VD2 on the display and output audio from the speaker. The videos VD1, VD2 displayed on each user terminal 30a, 30b are substantially identical to the video VD captured by the user terminal 20 of the broadcaster LV, and the audio output from each user terminal 30a, 30b is also substantially identical to the audio recorded by the user terminal 20 of the broadcaster LV.

[0028] The recording and recording in the user terminal 20 of the distributor LV and the playback of the video data in the user terminals 30a and 30b of the viewers AU1 and AU2 are performed substantially simultaneously. When one viewer AU1 inputs a comment on the content of the talk of the distributor LV to the user terminal 30a, the server 10 displays the comment in real time on the user terminal 20 of the distributor LV and also on the user terminals 30a and 30b of each viewer AU1 and AU2. When the distributor LV reads the comment and develops a talk that overlaps the content, the video and audio of the talk are output on the user terminals 30a and 30b of each viewer AU1 and AU2, and it is recognized that a conversation between the distributor LV and the viewer AU1 has been established. In this way, the live distribution system 1 realizes live distribution that enables two-way communication, not one-way.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions and configuration of the user terminal 20 in Fig. 1. The user terminal 30 has the same functions and configuration as the user terminal 20. Each block shown in Fig. 2 and the following block diagrams can be realized in hardware terms by elements and mechanical devices such as a computer CPU, and in software terms by a computer program, etc., but here, functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these are depicted. Therefore, those skilled in the art who have read this specification will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various ways by combining hardware and software.

[0030] The distributor LV and the viewer AU download and install a live distribution application program (hereinafter, referred to as a live distribution app) according to this embodiment from a download site to the user terminals 20 and 30 via the network NW. Alternatively, the live distribution app may be pre-installed in the user terminals 20 and 30. When the live distribution app is executed by the user terminals 20 and 30, the user terminals 20 and 30 communicate with the server 10 via the network NW to realize various functions. Hereinafter, functions realized by the user terminals 20 and 30 (processors such as CPUs) executing the live distribution app will be described as functions of the user terminals 20 and 30. These functions are actually functions that the live distribution app causes the user terminals 20 and 30 to realize. Note that in other embodiments, these functions may be realized by a computer program written in a programming language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language), which is transmitted from the server 10 to a web browser of the user terminals 20 and 30 via the network NW and executed by the web browser.

[0031] The user terminal 20 includes a distribution unit 100 that generates video data recording the user's image and voice and provides it to the server 10, a viewing unit 200 that acquires the video data from the server 10 and plays it, and a non-distribution processing unit 400 that processes requests from active users. The user activates the distribution unit 100 when distributing, the viewing unit 200 when viewing, and the non-distribution processing unit 400 when searching for a live broadcast to watch, viewing a distributor's profile, or viewing an archive. A user terminal on which the distribution unit 100 is active is a user terminal on the distributor side, that is, a user terminal on the generating side of video data, a user terminal on which the viewing unit 200 is active is a user terminal on the viewer side, that is, a user terminal on the playing side of video data, and a user terminal on which the non-distribution processing unit 400 is active is a user terminal of an active user.

[0032] The delivery unit 100 includes an imaging control unit 102, an audio control unit 104, a video transmission unit 106, a delivery-side UI control unit 108, and a delivery-side communication unit 110. The imaging control unit 102 is connected to a camera (not shown in FIG. 2) and controls imaging by the camera. The imaging control unit 102 acquires image data from the camera. The audio control unit 104 is connected to a microphone (not shown in FIG. 2) and controls audio input by the microphone. The audio control unit 104 acquires audio data from the microphone. The video transmission unit 106 transmits video data including the image data acquired by the imaging control unit 102 and the audio data acquired by the audio control unit 104 to the server 10 via the network NW. The video transmission unit 106 transmits the video data in real time. That is, the generation of video data by the imaging control unit 102 and the audio control unit 104 and the transmission of the generated video data by the video transmission unit 106 are substantially performed simultaneously.

[0033] The distribution side UI control unit 108 controls the UI for the distributor. The distribution side UI control unit 108 is connected to a display not shown in FIG. 2, and displays a moving image on the display by playing back the moving image data to be transmitted by the moving image transmission unit 106. The distribution side UI control unit 108 is connected to input means such as a touch panel, a keyboard, and a display not shown in FIG. 2, and acquires input from the distributor via the input means. The distribution side UI control unit 108 superimposes a predetermined frame image on the moving image. The frame image includes various user interface objects (hereinafter simply referred to as objects) for receiving input from the distributor, comments input by the viewer, and information acquired from the server 10. The distribution side UI control unit 108 accepts, for example, a tap input on an object by the distributor.

[0034] The delivery-side communication unit 110 controls communication with the server 10 during live delivery. The delivery-side communication unit 110 transmits the contents of the input by the distributor acquired by the delivery-side UI control unit 108 to the server 10 via the network NW. The delivery-side communication unit 110 receives various types of information associated with the live delivery from the server 10 via the network NW.

[0035] The viewing unit 200 includes a viewing side UI control unit 202 and a viewing side communication unit 204. The viewing side communication unit 204 controls communication with the server 10 during live distribution. The viewing side communication unit 204 receives video data related to the live distribution in which the distributor and the viewers participate from the server 10 via the network NW.

[0036] The viewer-side UI control unit 202 controls the UI for the viewer. The viewer-side UI control unit 202 is connected to a display and a speaker (not shown in FIG. 2), and plays the received video data to display a video image on the display and output audio from the speaker. The output of an image on the display and audio from the speaker can be collectively referred to as "video data being played". The viewer-side UI control unit 202 is connected to input means (not shown in FIG. 2), such as a touch panel, a keyboard, or a display, and acquires input by the viewer through the input means. The viewer-side UI control unit 202 superimposes a predetermined frame image on the image of the video data acquired from the server 10. The frame image includes various objects for receiving input from the viewer, comments input by the viewer, and information acquired from the server 10. The viewer-side communication unit 204 transmits the contents of the input by the viewer acquired by the viewer-side UI control unit 202 to the server 10 via the network NW.

[0037] The non-broadcast processing unit 400 includes a non-broadcast UI control unit 402 and a non-broadcast communication unit 404. The non-broadcast UI control unit 402 controls a UI for active users. For example, the non-broadcast UI control unit 402 generates a live broadcast selection screen that displays a list of live broadcasts that can currently be joined and accepts the selection of a live broadcast by an active user, and displays it on the display. The non-broadcast UI control unit 402 generates a profile screen of an arbitrary user and displays it on the display. The non-broadcast UI control unit 402 plays back an archive generated by recording and filming past live broadcasts.

[0038] The non-broadcast communication unit 404 controls communication with the server 10 outside of live broadcasting. The non-broadcast communication unit 404 receives information for generating a live broadcast selection screen, information for generating a profile screen, and archive data from the server 10 via the network NW. The non-broadcast communication unit 404 transmits the contents of input by active users to the server 10 via the network NW.

[0039] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the functions and configuration of the server 10 in Fig. 1. The server 10 includes a distribution information providing unit 302, a relay unit 304, a gift processing unit 308, a payment processing unit 310, a follow registration unit 322, a followee processing unit 324, a VIP classification model 326, a nonVIP classification model 328, a notification control unit 330, a retransmission control unit 332, a recommendation control unit 334, a stream DB 314, a user DB 318, and a gift DB 320.

[0040] Fig. 4 is a data structure diagram showing an example of the stream DB 314 in Fig. 3. The stream DB 314 holds information on live streaming currently being performed. The stream DB 314 holds, in association with each other, a stream ID that identifies a live streaming on a live streaming platform provided by the live streaming system 1, a broadcaster ID that is a user ID that identifies a broadcaster of the live streaming, and a viewer ID that is a user ID that identifies a viewer of the live streaming.

[0041] In the live streaming platform provided by the live streaming system 1 according to the present embodiment, when a user performs live streaming, the user becomes a streamer, and when the same user watches a live stream by another user, the user becomes a viewer. Therefore, the distinction between streamer and viewer is not fixed, and a user ID registered as a streamer ID at one time may be registered as a viewer ID at another time.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram showing an example of the user DB 318 of FIG. 3. The user DB 318 holds information about the user. The user DB 318 holds a user ID that identifies the user, points owned by the user, rewards given to the user, the number of broadcasts of the user in the current month, the total broadcast time of the user in the current month, a VIP flag indicating whether the user is a VIP or not, a followee ID that identifies the followee of the user, a parameter indicating the degree of contribution from the user to the followee in the live broadcast, and a notification flag indicating whether the followee is a notifiable followee or a non-notifiable followee of the user, in association with each other. When a user follows multiple broadcasters, multiple followee IDs are registered in association with the user ID of the user.

[0043] Points are electronic value circulated within the live streaming platform. Users purchase points by credit card or other payment methods. Rewards are electronic value defined within the live streaming platform and are an indicator for determining the amount of money that a broadcaster receives from the administrator of the live streaming platform. On the live streaming platform, when a viewer gives a gift to a broadcaster during or outside of a live streaming, the viewer's points are consumed and the broadcaster's reward increases accordingly.

[0044] The number of broadcasts in the current month is the number of live broadcasts performed by the user from the beginning of the month to which the current month belongs to until the present. The total broadcast time in the current month is the total broadcast time from the beginning of the month to which the current month belongs to until the present. The number of broadcasts in the current month and the total broadcast time in the current month may be updated by an update unit (not shown).

[0045] In the live streaming system 1 according to the present embodiment, log data is acquired and stored for each live streaming, indicating who started and ended the live streaming at what time, who participated in the live streaming as a viewer at what time and when, who posted what comment during the live streaming at what time, and who gave what gift at what time. The above-mentioned number of streams and total stream time during the month, total gift points, total number of comments, number of views during the month, total viewing time during the month, whether or not a person is a top spender, and whether or not a person is a top gifter are calculated or determined by referring to this log data.

[0046] Regarding the VIP flag, the system may automatically set the VIP flag using a predetermined algorithm based on the amount charged, etc., or the administrator of the live streaming platform may set the VIP flag.

[0047] The parameters indicating the degree of contribution from the user to the followee in the live stream include total gift points, which is the total number of gift points given by the user to the followee, total number of comments, which is the total number of comments posted by the user in the live stream of the followee, the number of views and total viewing time of the live stream of the followee by the user in the current month, a flag indicating whether or not the user is a top spender, and a flag indicating whether or not the user is a top gifter. The number of views in the current month is the number of live streams of the followee that the user has viewed from the beginning of the current month to the present. The total viewing time in the current month is the total viewing time of the live streams of the followee that the user has viewed from the beginning of the current month to the present.

[0048] A top spender is a user who is ranked within a certain rank (e.g., 10th or 20th) for the target followee (e.g., ranking by amount of gifts given to the followee). If the user is a top spender for the target followee, the flag is Y, otherwise it is N.

[0049] A top gifter refers to a user who gave the top gift in the live broadcast of the target followee. If the user is the top gifter of the target followee, the flag is Y, otherwise it is N. A top gift refers to a gift that is ranked within a certain rank (for example, 10th or 20th place) when gifts given to the target followee are sorted by number. The value of the gift does not affect whether or not a gift is a top gift. Even if a gift is inexpensive, if it is given to a broadcaster in large numbers, the gift becomes the top gift of the broadcaster, and conversely, even if a gift is expensive, if it is not given to a broadcaster very often, the gift does not become a top gift. As described later, whether or not a gift is a top gifter is one of the features input to the VIP classification model 326, but is not a feature of the nonVIP classification model 328. This is due to the inventor's unique realization that VIPs tend to repeatedly give specific gifts to specific favorite broadcasters. If a VIP is a top gifter of a followee, it can be determined that the bond or connection between the VIP and the followee is strong.

[0050] For example, suppose followee "A" receives 100 gift "X" (value points are 100), 50 gift "Y" (value points are 500), and 10 gift "Z" (value points are 3000). In this case, gift "X" is the top gift, and gifts "Y" and "Z" are not the top gifts. If VIP "B" gives gift "Z" to followee "A", VIP "C" gives gift "Y" to followee "A", and VIP "D" gives gift "X" to followee "A", then VIP "D" is the top gifter to followee "A", but VIPs "B" and "C" are not the top gifters, even though they gave more expensive gifts.

[0051] Fig. 6 is a data structure diagram showing an example of the gift DB 320 in Fig. 3. The gift DB 320 holds information about gifts that can be used by viewers in live broadcasts. A gift is a digital item or electronic data that has the following characteristics. -Can be purchased with points or money, or given free of charge. Something that viewers can give to the streamer. Giving a gift to a streamer is also called using a gift or throwing a gift. In some cases, the purchase and use of the gift occur simultaneously as a set, while in other cases the viewer can use the gift at any time after purchasing it. When a viewer gives a gift to a streamer, the streamer will receive a corresponding reward. When a gift is used, an effect associated with the gift may occur. For example, an effect corresponding to the gift may appear on the live streaming room screen.

[0052] The gift DB320 stores a gift ID that identifies a gift, a given reward that is given to a broadcaster when the gift is given to the broadcaster, and a value point that is a value to be paid when the gift is used, in association with each other. A viewer can give a gift to a broadcaster by paying the value points of a desired gift while watching a live broadcast. The payment of the value points may be made by an appropriate electronic payment means, for example, the viewer may pay the value points to the administrator. Alternatively, payment may be made by bank transfer or credit card. The relationship between the given reward and the value points can be arbitrarily set by the administrator. For example, the given reward may be set to the value points. Alternatively, the value points may be set to points obtained by multiplying the given reward by a predetermined coefficient such as 1.2, or the value points may be set to points obtained by adding a predetermined commission point to the given reward.

[0053] Returning to FIG. 3, when the distribution information providing unit 302 receives a start request for starting live distribution from the user terminal 20 of the distributor via the network NW, it registers a stream ID that identifies the live distribution and a distributor ID of the distributor of the live distribution in the stream DB 314. When the distribution information providing unit 302 receives a request for providing information about live distribution from the non-distribution communication unit 404 of the user terminal of an active user via the network NW, it refers to the stream DB 314 and generates a list of live distributions that can be currently viewed. The distribution information providing unit 302 transmits the generated list to the user terminal that made the request via the network NW. The non-distribution UI control unit 402 of the user terminal that made the request generates a live distribution selection screen based on the received list, and displays it on the display of the user terminal.

[0054] When the non-delivery UI control unit 402 of the user terminal accepts the selection of live streaming by the active user on the live streaming selection screen, it generates a delivery request including the stream ID of the selected live streaming and transmits it to the server 10 via the network NW. The delivery information providing unit 302 starts providing the live streaming identified by the stream ID included in the received delivery request to the requesting user terminal. The delivery information providing unit 302 updates the stream DB 314 so that the viewer ID of the stream ID includes the user ID of the active user of the requesting user terminal. As a result, the active user becomes a viewer of the selected live streaming.

[0055] When the non-delivery UI control unit 402 of the user terminal receives an instruction to start viewing a live stream from an active user via a delivery start push notification described below, it generates a delivery request including the stream ID of the live stream related to the delivery start push notification and transmits it to the server 10 via the network NW. The delivery information providing unit 302 starts providing the live stream identified by the stream ID included in the received delivery request to the requesting user terminal. The delivery information providing unit 302 updates the stream DB 314 so that the viewer ID of the stream ID includes the user ID of the active user of the requesting user terminal. As a result, the active user becomes a viewer of the selected live stream.

[0056] The relay unit 304 relays the transmission of video data from the user terminal 20 of the distributor to the user terminal 30 of the viewer in the live distribution started by the distribution information providing unit 302. The relay unit 304 receives a signal indicating a user input by the viewer during the live distribution, i.e., during the playback of the video data, from the viewing side communication unit 204. The signal indicating the user input may be an object designation signal indicating the designation of an object displayed on the display of the user terminal 30, and the object designation signal includes the viewer ID of the viewer, the distributor ID of the distributor performing the live distribution that the viewer is viewing, and an object ID that identifies the object. If the object is a gift icon, the object ID is a gift ID. In that case, the object designation signal is a gift use signal indicating the use of a gift by the viewer for the distributor. Similarly, the relay unit 304 receives a signal indicating a user input by the distributor during the playback of the video data, for example, an object designation signal, from the distribution side communication unit 110 of the distribution unit 100 of the user terminal 20.

[0057] The gift processing unit 308 updates the user DB 318 so as to increase the distributor's reward according to the reward for the gift specified by the gift ID included in the gift use signal. The gift processing unit 308 refers to the gift DB 320 and specifies the reward for the gift ID included in the received gift use signal. The gift processing unit 308 updates the user DB 318 so as to add the specified reward for the reward corresponding to the distributor ID included in the gift use signal. The gift processing unit 308 registers information on the used gift in a gift information storage unit (not shown). The information stored in the gift information storage unit is used when calculating features, which will be described later.

[0058] In response to receiving the gift use signal, the payment processing unit 310 processes the payment of the value of the gift by the viewer. The payment processing unit 310 refers to the gift DB 320 and identifies the value points of the gift identified by the gift ID included in the gift use signal. The payment processing unit 310 updates the user DB 318 so as to subtract the identified value points from the points of the viewer identified by the viewer ID included in the gift use signal.

[0059] The follow registration unit 322 controls following of broadcasters by users. The follow registration unit 322 receives a follow request including the user ID of the user who instructed to follow and the broadcaster ID of the followed broadcaster from a user terminal via the network NW. When a viewer inputs an instruction to follow (or register) a broadcaster of a live broadcast while watching the live broadcast on the user terminal 20, the viewing side communication unit 204 of the user terminal 20 generates a follow request and transmits it to the follow registration unit 322. Alternatively, when an active user inputs an instruction to follow a broadcaster while viewing the profile screen of the broadcaster into the user terminal, the non-broadcast communication unit 404 of the user terminal generates a follow request and transmits it to the follow registration unit 322.

[0060] The follow registration unit 322 updates the user DB 318 so that the followed broadcaster is registered as a followee of the user who instructed the follow. The follow registration unit 322 newly registers or adds the broadcaster ID included in the follow request to the followee ID corresponding to the user ID included in the follow request in the user DB 318.

[0061] The followee processing unit 324 periodically calculates the total gift points, total number of comments, number of views in the current month, and total viewing time in the current month for each followee of the user, and updates the user DB 318 with the calculated values. The followee processing unit 324 determines whether each followee of a user whose VIP flag is Y is a top spender or not, and updates the user DB 318 with the determination result. The followee processing unit 324 determines whether each followee of a user whose VIP flag is Y is a top gifter or not, and updates the user DB 318 with the determination result.

[0062] The followee processing unit 324 divides the followees of the user into notifiable followees who can be sent a distribution start push notification to the user by the server 10 when a specific activity of the followee on the live distribution platform is triggered, and non-notifiable followees who can not be sent. The followee processing unit 324 divides the followees into notifiable followees and non-notifiable followees according to the interest score calculated by the machine learning model for each followee. The followee processing unit 324 uses different machine learning models depending on the amount of charge of the user on the live distribution platform.

[0063] As an example of the method of classification, the followee processing unit 324 selects notifiable followees from among the followees of the user based on the interest score, and selects followees not selected as notifiable followees as non-notifiable followees. The followee processing unit 324 registers the selection result in the user DB 318 in association with the user. The followee processing unit 324 sets the notifiable flag corresponding to the followee selected as a notifiable followee to Y, and sets the notifiable flag corresponding to the followee selected as a non-notifiable followee to N. The processing in the followee processing unit 324 will be described later.

[0064] The VIP classification model 326 is a machine learning model that takes VIP / non-VIP common features between a VIP and its followees and VIP-specific features between a VIP and its followees as input, and outputs an interest score. The VIP classification model 326 is generated by training using past data related to VIPs as training data.

[0065] The nonVIP classification model 328 is a machine learning model that takes VIP / non-VIP common features between nonVIPs and their followees as input and outputs an interest score. The nonVIP classification model 328 is generated by training using past data related to nonVIPs as training data.

[0066] VIP / non-VIP common features are listed below. Total Gift Points Total comments Average viewing rate Average Sessions Average Session Rate For each VIP / non-VIP common feature, the higher the value, the higher the contribution from the VIP to the followers in the live broadcast. In addition to these, for example, whether or not the VIP has played against each other in a VS live broadcast, whether or not they have broadcast together in a group broadcast, and whether or not there is a mutual follow may be adopted as a VIP / non-VIP common feature.

[0067] The average viewing rate between a VIP and its followee is the number of times the VIP views the followee's live streams in that month divided by the number of streams by that followee in that month. The average session between a VIP and its followee is the total time the VIP views the followee's live streams in that month divided by the number of times the VIP views the followee's live streams in that month. The average session rate between a VIP and its followee is the total time the VIP views the followee's live streams in that month divided by the followee's total streams in that month.

[0068] The VIP-exclusive features are listed below. Top Spender or Not · Top gifter or not? For each VIP-only feature, if its value is Y, the degree of contribution from the VIP to followers in the live broadcast is relatively high, and if its value is N, the degree of contribution is relatively low.

[0069] Using the example of FIG. 5, the VIP / non-VIP common features and VIP-only features between the user "USR1" and his followee "ABC" are as follows: Total Gift Points = 10000 Total comments = 100 Average viewer rate = 10 / 15 = 0.67 Average session = 3 / 10 = 0.3 Average session rate = 3 / 4 = 0.75 Top Spender or Not = Y · Top gifter or not = Y

[0070] The VIP / non-VIP common features and VIP-only features between user "USR1" and his follower "DEF" are as follows: Total Gift Points = 5000 Total comments = 50 Average viewer rating = 5 / 20 = 0.25 Average session = 1 / 5 = 0.2 Average session rate = 1 / 5 = 0.2 Top Spender or Not = N Top gifter or not = N

[0071] The followee processing unit 324 refers to the VIP flag in the user DB 318 and determines that the user "USR1" is a VIP. The followee processing unit 324 selects the VIP classification model 326 from the VIP classification model 326 and the nonVIP classification model 328 according to the determination result. The followee processing unit 324 inputs the VIP / non-VIP common features and VIP-only features calculated as described above for the followee "ABC" to the selected VIP classification model 326. The VIP classification model 326 outputs an interest score corresponding to the input features. For example, the VIP classification model 326 outputs an interest score = 0.9 corresponding to the values ​​of the VIP / non-VIP common features and VIP-only features of the followee "ABC". The interest score is set to vary from 0 to 1, and the higher the score, the greater the degree of interest. Similarly, the followee processing unit 324 inputs the VIP / non-VIP common features and VIP exclusive features calculated as above for the followee "DEF" to the selected VIP classification model 326. For example, the VIP classification model 326 outputs an interest score=0.2 corresponding to the values ​​of the VIP / non-VIP common features and VIP exclusive features of the followee "DEF".

[0072] In the followee processing unit 324, a threshold value of 0.5 for the interest score is set as the criterion for determining whether a followee can be notified or not. The followee processing unit 324 determines that the followee "ABC" is a notifiable followee because the interest score of 0.9 exceeds the threshold value. The followee processing unit 324 updates the user DB 318 so that the notifiable flag of the followee "ABC" of the user "USR1" becomes "Y". The followee processing unit 324 determines that the followee "DEF" is a notifiable followee because the interest score of 0.2 falls below the threshold value. The followee processing unit 324 updates the user DB 318 so that the notifiable flag of the followee "DEF" of the user "USR1" becomes "N".

[0073] The VIP / non-VIP common features between user "USR2" and his followee "ABC" are as follows: Total Gift Points = 1000 Total comments = 10 Average viewer rate = 2 / 15 = 0.13 Average session = 0.5 / 2 = 0.25 Average session rate = 0.5 / 4 = 0.13

[0074] The VIP / non-VIP common features between user "USR2" and his follower "DEF" are as follows: Total Gift Points = 3000 Total comments = 30 Average viewer rating = 5 / 20 = 0.25 Average session = 2 / 5 = 0.4 Average session rate = 2 / 5 = 0.4

[0075] The followee processing unit 324 refers to the VIP flag in the user DB 318 and determines that the user "USR2" is a nonVIP. The followee processing unit 324 selects the nonVIP classification model 328 from the VIP classification model 326 and the nonVIP classification model 328 according to the determination result. The followee processing unit 324 inputs the VIP / nonVIP common features calculated as above for the followee "ABC" to the selected nonVIP classification model 328. The nonVIP classification model 328 outputs an interest score corresponding to the input feature. For example, the nonVIP classification model 328 outputs an interest score = 0.2 corresponding to the VIP / nonVIP common features of the followee "ABC". Similarly, the followee processing unit 324 inputs the VIP / nonVIP common features calculated as above for the followee "DEF" to the selected nonVIP classification model 328. For example, the nonVIP classification model 328 outputs an interest score=0.6 in response to the value of the VIP / non-VIP common feature of followee "DEF."

[0076] The followee processing unit 324 determines that the followee "ABC" is an unnotifiable followee because the interest score = 0.2 is below the threshold. The followee processing unit 324 updates the user DB 318 so that the notification possible flag of the followee "ABC" of the user "USR2" becomes "N". The followee processing unit 324 determines that the followee "DEF" is a notifiable followee because the interest score = 0.6 is above the threshold. The followee processing unit 324 updates the user DB 318 so that the notification possible flag of the followee "DEF" of the user "USR2" becomes "Y".

[0077] When the notification control unit 330 detects a predetermined activity of a distributor on a live distribution platform, the notification control unit 330 sends a push notification to users who are registered as notifiable followees by the distributor, and does not send a push notification to users who are registered as followees by the distributor but not as notifiable followees. In this embodiment, the predetermined activity is the start of a live distribution, but is not limited to this. The predetermined activity may be, for example, the registration of a live distribution schedule by the distributor, a post by the distributor, or an activity related to live distribution on a live distribution platform. The predetermined activity is different from the sending of a notification by the distributor himself.

[0078] When the notification control unit 330 receives a start request from the user terminal 20 of the distributor via the network NW, it refers to the user DB 318 and identifies the notification possible flag and user ID corresponding to the followee ID that matches the distributor ID of the distributor related to the start request. That is, the notification control unit 330 identifies the user ID of the follower of the distributor related to the start request. If the identified notification possible flag is "Y", the notification control unit 330 includes the identified user ID in the user ID of the user to be notified, and if the identified notification possible flag is "N", the notification control unit 330 does not include the identified user ID in the user ID of the user to be notified. The notification control unit 330 performs processing to send a distribution start push notification that notifies the user terminal of the user to be notified of the start of live distribution by the distributor related to the start request. The distribution start push notification may be sent directly to the user terminal by the notification control unit 330 or the server 10, or may be requested to a push notification server different from the server 10, and the push notification server may send it to the user terminal.

[0079] In the example of FIG. 5, when the distributor "ABC" starts live distribution, the notification control unit 330 specifies ("Y", "USR1"), ("N", "USR5"), ("N", "USR2"), and ("Y", "USR6") as pairs of notification possible flags and user IDs. The notification control unit 330 includes "USR1" and "USR6" in the user IDs of the users to be notified. The notification control unit 330 performs processing to send a distribution start push notification to the user terminals of the users "USR1" and "USR6" to notify them of the start of live distribution by the distributor "ABC". In this case, the users "USR1", "USR5", "USR2", and "USR6" all follow the distributor "ABC", but of these four followers, a distribution start push notification is sent to "USR1" and "USR6", and a distribution start push notification is not sent to "USR2" and "USR5".

[0080] If a predetermined period (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or 1 hour) has elapsed since a notifiable followee of a user started a live broadcast and the user did not participate in the live broadcast, the retransmission control unit 332 sends a broadcast start push notification to the user again. This allows followers to watch important followees' live broadcasts more reliably, reducing the chance of missing them.

[0081] When a broadcaster who is not registered as a followee of the user meets a predetermined recommendation criterion, the recommendation control unit 334 transmits a notification to the user recommending that the user follow the broadcaster.

[0082] The operation of the live distribution system 1 configured as above will now be described. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of followee classification processing in the followee processing unit 324. The followee processing unit 324 periodically performs followee classification processing on all user IDs registered in the user DB 318, for example, once a day or once an hour. The followee processing unit 324 refers to the user DB 318 and selects a user to be subject to the followee classification processing (S202). The followee processing unit 324 may select user IDs registered in the user DB 318 in order from the top, or may select a user ID that has been selected a predetermined period of time since it was last selected.

[0083] The followee processing unit 324 judges whether or not the user to be processed has a followee (S204). The followee processing unit 324 refers to the user DB 318, and if a followee ID is not registered corresponding to the user ID to be processed, it judges that a followee does not exist (N in S204), and returns the process to step S202. If a followee ID is registered corresponding to the user ID to be processed (Y in S204), the followee processing unit 324 repeats the following process until all followees are processed. The followee processing unit 324 selects a followee to be processed from among the followees registered corresponding to the user ID to be processed (S206). The followee processing unit 324 may select the followee IDs registered corresponding to the user ID to be processed in order. The followee processing unit 324 judges whether or not the followee to be processed selected in step S206 satisfies the exclusion condition (S208). The exclusion condition is a condition that specifies a user or followee to be excluded from the classification of notifiable / notifiable. The exclusion condition is satisfied when (1) a predetermined period has not elapsed since the user to be processed followed the followee to be processed, or (2) a predetermined period has not elapsed since the user to be processed was registered on the live distribution platform. When the exclusion condition is satisfied (Y in S208), the followee processing unit 324 registers the followee to be processed in the user DB 318 as a notifiable followee (S220). By setting the exclusion condition in this way, it is possible to reliably deliver a push notification of the start of distribution of the broadcaster to the user within a predetermined period after the user follows the broadcaster. Also, it is possible to reliably deliver a push notification of the start of distribution to the user within a predetermined period after the user registers on the live distribution platform. Also, by setting such a predetermined period, it is possible to collect sufficient log data that is the basis for calculating features, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of the interest score that is output.

[0084] If the exclusion condition is not satisfied (N in S208), the followee processing unit 324 judges whether the user to be processed is a VIP or not (S210). If the VIP flag of the user ID to be processed registered in the user DB 318 is "Y" (VIP in S210), the followee processing unit 324 inputs the features of the followee to be processed into the VIP classification model 326 (S212). If the VIP flag of the user ID to be processed registered in the user DB 318 is "N" (non-VIP in S210), the followee processing unit 324 inputs the features of the followee to be processed into the nonVIP classification model 328 (S214).

[0085] The followee processing unit 324 judges whether the interest score output by the VIP classification model 326 (in the case of S212) or the nonVIP classification model 328 (in the case of S214) exceeds the threshold value (S216). If it exceeds the threshold value (Y in S216), the process proceeds to step S220. If it does not exceed the threshold value (N in S216), the followee processing unit 324 registers the followee to be processed as a non-notifiable followee in the user DB 318 (S218). After all followees of the user to be processed have been processed, the process returns to step S202.

[0086] 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the transmission and retransmission process of the distribution start push notification in the server 10. The notification control unit 330 detects the start of live distribution by the distributor (S230). The notification control unit 330 detects the start of live distribution when it receives a start request from the user terminal 20 of the distributor. The notification control unit 330 identifies users who are registered as notifiable followees of the distributor who has started live distribution by referring to the followee ID and the notifiable flag in the user DB 318 (S232). The notification control unit 330 transmits a distribution start push notification related to the start of live distribution to the user terminal of the user identified in step S232 via the network NW (S234).

[0087] The retransmission control unit 332 determines whether or not the user identified in step S232 participated in the live distribution related to the distribution start push notification (S236). If the user participated (Y in S236), the process ends. If the user did not participate (N in S236), the retransmission control unit 332 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of the live distribution related to the distribution start push notification (S238). If the predetermined period has not elapsed (N in S238), the process returns to step S236. If the predetermined period has elapsed (Y in S238), the retransmission control unit 332 retransmits the distribution start push notification to the user terminal of the user identified in step S232 via the network NW (S240).

[0088] 10 is a representative screen diagram of a live streaming room screen 608 displayed on the display of the viewer's user terminal 30. The live streaming room screen 608 displays a video image generated by the user terminal 20 of the broadcaster in real time. The live streaming room screen 608 has a video image 610 of the broadcaster obtained by playing video data received from the server 10, a gift object 612, a comment input area 616, a comment display area 618, an end viewing button 620, and a follow button 622. The viewer-side UI control unit 202 generates the live streaming room screen 608 by superimposing other objects, i.e., the gift object 612, the comment input area 616, the comment display area 618, the end viewing button 620, and the follow button 622, on the video image 610 obtained by playing the video data.

[0089] The comment display area 618 may include comments entered by the viewer, comments entered by other viewers, and notifications from the system. The notifications from the system may include information indicating who gave which gift to the broadcaster. The viewer-side UI control unit 202 generates a comment display area 618 including the comments of other viewers received from the server 10 and notifications from the system, and includes the generated comment display area 618 in the live broadcasting room screen 608.

[0090] The comment input area 616 accepts input of a comment by a viewer. The viewer-side communication unit 204 generates a comment input signal including the comment input in the comment input area 616, and transmits the signal to the server 10 via the network NW. Additionally, the viewer-side UI control unit 202 updates the comment display area 618 so as to display the comment input in the comment input area 616.

[0091] The view end button 620 is an object for receiving an instruction from the viewer to stop viewing the live broadcast.

[0092] When the viewer-side UI control unit 202 of the user terminal 30 detects a tap on the follow button 622, it accepts it as an instruction for the viewer to follow the broadcaster. When the viewer-side communication unit 204 accepts the instruction, it generates a follow request including the viewer ID of the viewer who issued the follow instruction and the broadcaster ID of the broadcaster being followed, and transmits the request to the server 10 via the network NW. When the server 10 completes the follow registration process related to the follow request, the follow button 622 may be replaced with an object that displays the text "Following".

[0093] 11 is a representative screen diagram of a screen 650 including a distribution start push notification 652 displayed on the display of the user terminal of the active user. The distribution start push notification 652 includes text indicating that a distributor followed by the active user has started live distribution, and a join button 654. When the non-distribution UI control unit 402 detects a tap on the join button 654, it accepts it as an instruction to start viewing the live distribution by the active user. When the non-distribution communication unit 404 accepts the instruction to start viewing, it generates a distribution request including a stream ID of the live distribution related to the distribution start push notification 652, and transmits it to the server 10 via the network NW.

[0094] In the above-mentioned embodiment, examples of the storage unit are a hard disk and a semiconductor memory. Furthermore, based on the description in this specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art who have read this specification that each unit can be realized by a CPU (not shown), an installed application program module, a system program module, a semiconductor memory that temporarily stores the contents of data read from a hard disk, or the like.

[0095] According to the live streaming system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of push notifications of start of streaming received by a follower while allowing the follower to continue receiving the push notifications of start of streaming that are important to the follower. This allows the follower to use the live streaming platform more comfortably.

[0096] Once a user follows a broadcaster, even if the user's interest in the broadcaster fades, the user finds it difficult to unfollow the broadcaster. Therefore, the longer the user uses the live streaming platform, the more followers the user has, and the number of broadcast start push notifications increases in proportion to the number of followers. If the number of broadcast start push notifications increases too much, the user will feel that the notifications are in the way, and they will be left unseen or deleted more often. In this embodiment, the broadcast start push notifications from followers who have lost interest will naturally disappear, so the stress felt by the user regarding the increase in push notifications can be reduced or eliminated. In addition, users, especially VIPs, will no longer have to worry about the increase in push notifications due to the increase in the number of followers, so they will be able to follow broadcasters more easily. As a result, an environment that makes it easy to follow broadcasters is fostered on the live streaming platform, and the increase in the number of followers will contribute to improving the motivation of broadcasters.

[0097] In the live distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, a VIP classification model 326 for VIPs and a nonVIP classification model 328 for nonVIPs are used. By using different models for VIPs and nonVIPs, it is possible to construct models suitable for VIPs and nonVIPs, who behave differently on the live distribution platform.

[0098] In the live distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, the total number of push notifications can be reduced by providing a notification-unavailable follower, and push notification resources (servers, external services, etc.) can be used more effectively. In addition, the possibility that a push notification will be viewed can be increased, which increases the probability of re-viewing and improves user retention.

[0099] The hardware configuration of the information processing device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing device according to the present embodiment. The illustrated information processing device 900 can realize, for example, each of the server 10 and the user terminals 20 and 30 in the present embodiment.

[0100] The information processing device 900 includes a CPU 901, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 902, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 903. The information processing device 900 may also include a host bus 907, a bridge 909, an external bus 911, an interface 913, an input device 915, an output device 917, a storage device 919, a drive 921, a connection port 925, and a communication device 929. The information processing device 900 further includes an imaging device (not shown) such as a camera. The information processing device 900 may also have a processing circuit such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) instead of or in addition to the CPU 901.

[0101] The CPU 901 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls the overall operation or a part of the operation in the information processing device 900 according to various programs recorded in the ROM 902, the RAM 903, the storage device 919, or the removable recording medium 923. For example, the CPU 901 controls the overall operation of each functional unit included in the server 10 and the user terminals 20 and 30 in this embodiment. The ROM 902 stores programs and arithmetic parameters used by the CPU 901. The RAM 903 temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 901 and parameters that change appropriately during the execution. The CPU 901, the ROM 902, and the RAM 903 are mutually connected by a host bus 907 constituted by an internal bus such as a CPU bus. Furthermore, the host bus 907 is connected to an external bus 911 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus via a bridge 909.

[0102] The input device 915 may be, for example, a device operated by a user, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a switch, or a lever, or may be a device that converts a physical quantity into an electric signal, such as a sound sensor such as a microphone, an acceleration sensor, a tilt sensor, an infrared sensor, a depth sensor, a temperature sensor, or a humidity sensor. The input device 915 may be, for example, a remote control device that uses infrared or other radio waves, or an external connection device 927 such as a mobile phone that supports the operation of the information processing device 900. The input device 915 includes an input control circuit that generates an input signal based on information input by the user or a sensed physical quantity and outputs the input signal to the CPU 901. The user operates the input device 915 to input various data to the information processing device 900 or to instruct a processing operation.

[0103] The output device 917 is configured with a device capable of visually or audibly notifying the user of acquired information. The output device 917 can be, for example, a display such as an LCD, a PDP, or an OELD, an audio output device such as a speaker or a headphone, or a printer device. The output device 917 outputs the results obtained by the processing of the information processing device 900 as a video such as text or an image, or as a sound such as audio.

[0104] The storage device 919 is a data storage device configured as an example of a storage unit of the information processing device 900. The storage device 919 is configured, for example, with a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor storage device, an optical storage device, or a magneto-optical storage device. The storage device 919 stores programs and various data executed by the CPU 901, and various data acquired from the outside.

[0105] The drive 921 is a reader / writer for a removable recording medium 923 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and is built into or externally attached to the information processing device 900. The drive 921 reads out information recorded on the attached removable recording medium 923 and outputs the information to the RAM 903. The drive 921 also writes information to the attached removable recording medium 923.

[0106] The connection port 925 is a port for directly connecting a device to the information processing device 900. The connection port 925 can be, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, an IEEE 1394 port, a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) port, or the like. The connection port 925 can also be an RS-232C port, an optical audio terminal, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) port, or the like. By connecting an external connection device 927 to the connection port 925, various types of data can be exchanged between the information processing device 900 and the external connection device 927.

[0107] The communication device 929 is, for example, a communication interface configured with a communication device for connecting to a network NW. The communication device 929 can be, for example, a communication card for a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or WUSB (Wireless USB). The communication device 929 may also be a router for optical communication, a router for ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), or a modem for various communications. The communication device 929 transmits and receives signals, for example, between the Internet and other communication devices using a predetermined protocol such as TCP / IP. The communication network NW connected to the communication device 929 is a network connected by wire or wirelessly, for example, the Internet, a home LAN, infrared communication, radio wave communication, or satellite communication. The communication device 929 realizes a function as a communication unit.

[0108] An imaging device (not shown) such as a camera is a device that captures real space and generates a captured image using an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) and various members such as a lens for controlling the formation of a subject image on the imaging element. The imaging device may capture a still image or a moving image.

[0109] The above describes the configuration and operation of the live streaming system 1 according to the embodiment. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component and each process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0110] In the embodiment, a followee, who is a broadcaster followed by a user, is used as an example of a broadcaster of interest, who is a broadcaster that a user has registered as a broadcaster of interest. However, this is not limited to this, and the technical idea of ​​this embodiment can also be applied when a broadcaster of interest is a broadcaster that the user has registered as a favorite or a broadcaster that the user has registered as a friend.

[0111] In the embodiment, a case has been described in which the interest score is calculated using a machine learning model, but this is not limited to this, and the interest score may be calculated using a predetermined formula, or the interest score may be calculated on a rule-based basis.

[0112] In the embodiment, the criterion for distinguishing between notifiable and non-notifiable followers is the magnitude relationship between the interest score and a threshold value, but this is not limited to this. For example, followees can be sorted by the calculated interest score, and the top N followers (N is a natural number) can be designated as notifiable followees, and the rest as non-notifiable followees.

[0113] In the embodiment, a case has been described in which a distribution start push notification is resent to notifiable followers, but this is not limited to the above, and for example, the distribution start push notification may be resent only to a portion of notifiable followers with higher interest scores.

[0114] The conversion rates from gift points to given rewards in the embodiments are merely examples, and may be set appropriately by, for example, an administrator of the live distribution system.

[0115] The technical ideas of the embodiments may be applied to virtual live streaming and live commerce, in which an avatar that moves in sync with the streamer's movements is used instead of an image of the streamer.

[0116] In the processing procedures described in this specification, particularly in the processing procedures described using flow diagrams and flowcharts, it is possible to omit some of the steps that make up the processing procedures, to add steps that are not explicitly stated as steps that make up the processing procedures, and / or to rearrange the order of the steps, and processing procedures in which such omissions, additions, or changes in order have been made are included within the scope of this disclosure as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0117] At least a part of the functions realized by the server 10 may be realized by a device other than the server 10, for example, the user terminals 20 and 30. At least a part of the functions realized by the user terminals 20 and 30 may be realized by a device other than the user terminals 20 and 30, for example, the server 10. For example, the superimposition of a predetermined frame image onto an image of video data performed at a viewer's user terminal may be performed at the server 10 or at a distributor's user terminal.

Claims

1. A server related to a live distribution platform, A storage means for storing a user ID for identifying a user of the live streaming platform and an interest broadcaster ID for identifying an interest broadcaster who is a broadcaster registered as an interest by the user in association with each other; A server comprising: a processing means for dividing the broadcasters of interest of the user into notifiable broadcasters of interest, which are broadcasters of interest for which the server can send a notification to the user in response to a predetermined activity of the broadcasters of interest on the live streaming platform, and broadcasters of interest other than notifiable broadcasters.

2. The processing means selects a notifiable interested broadcaster from among the interested broadcasters of the user, and registers the selection result in the storage means in association with the user; The server further comprises: The server of claim 1, further comprising a sending means for, when detecting the predetermined activity of a broadcaster on the live streaming platform, sending a notification to users for whom the broadcaster is registered as a notifiable broadcaster of interest, and not sending a notification to users for whom the broadcaster is registered as an interesting broadcaster but not registered as a notifiable broadcaster of interest.

3. The processing means divides the user's interested broadcasters into notifiable interested broadcasters and not notifiable interested broadcasters according to a predetermined criterion; 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is set such that a degree of interest by a user in a notifiable interesting broadcaster is higher than a degree of interest in a non-notifiable interesting broadcaster.

4. The server according to claim 1 , wherein the processing means selects a notifiable broadcaster of interest based on a score output by a machine learning model that inputs a parameter indicating the degree of contribution from the user to the broadcaster of interest in live streaming.

5. The server according to claim 4 , wherein the processing means uses different machine learning models depending on the amount of money charged by a user to the live distribution platform.

6. The server according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined activity is the start of a live broadcast.

7. The server according to claim 1, further comprising means for sending a notification to a user recommending that the user register a broadcaster not registered as a broadcaster of interest to the user when the broadcaster satisfies a predetermined recommendation criterion.

8. The server of claim 1, further comprising a retransmission means for sending a notification to the user again if a predetermined period of time has passed since a broadcaster of interest to the user that the user is notified of has started a live broadcast without the user participating in the live broadcast.

9. A method executed on a server related to a live distribution platform, A user ID for identifying a user of the live streaming platform and an interest broadcaster ID for identifying an interest broadcaster who is a broadcaster registered as an interest by the user are stored in a storage means in association with each other; and dividing the user's broadcasters of interest into notifiable broadcasters of interest, which are broadcasters of interest for which the server can send a notification to the user in response to a predetermined activity of the broadcasters of interest on the live streaming platform, and non-notifiable broadcasters of interest.

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