Virtual space content distribution system, virtual space content distribution program, and virtual space content distribution method

Abstract

To prevent decrease in interest in a virtual space content based on actions of viewer avatars.SOLUTION: A virtual space content distribution system includes a server computer capable of distributing a virtual space content, and viewer user terminals allowing operation causing actions of viewer avatars capable of participating in the virtual space. The system is equipped with action restriction means to restrict prescribed actions among viewer avatar actions during a period of the distribution of a first content being a main content of the virtual space content, while not restricting the prescribed actions during a period of distribution of a second content of the virtual space content.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 31

Description

[Technical field] 【0001】 The present invention relates to a virtual space content distribution system capable of distributing virtual space content in a virtual space, a virtual space content distribution program, and a virtual space content distribution method. [Background technology] 【0002】 Conventionally, a distribution system has been known in which video content including animation of a character object (avatar) of a distribution user (performer) that moves in a virtual space in conjunction with the movements of the distribution user (performer) is live-distributed from a server computer connected to a viewer user's terminal via a computer network, and in which the viewer user can also participate as an audience member in the virtual space in which the avatar of the distribution user (performer) is participating, upon request from the viewer user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents] 【0003】 [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-120098 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention] 【0004】 However, in Patent Document 1, there are no restrictions on the avatar movements of the viewer user in the virtual space during the period when the avatar of the distribution user (performer) is performing a performance (dancing, singing, etc.), which creates a problem that the movements of the viewer user's avatar (viewer avatar) may significantly reduce interest in the distributed virtual space content. 【0005】 The present invention has been made in response to such problems, and aims to provide a virtual space content distribution system, a virtual space content distribution program, and a virtual space content distribution method that can prevent the interest in virtual space content from being diminished due to the actions of a viewer avatar. [Means for solving the problem] 【0006】 The virtual space content delivery system of claim 1 comprises: A virtual space content distribution system capable of distributing virtual space content (e.g., a virtual live performance) in a virtual space (e.g., a virtual live performance venue), a viewer user terminal (e.g., viewer terminal 300) that is a terminal (e.g., a smartphone P, a computer PC) capable of displaying an image of the virtual space content and that can be used by a viewer user who performs an operation to operate a viewer avatar that can participate in the virtual space that is the subject of the virtual space content in the virtual space; A server computer (e.g., a distribution server computer) that is connected to the viewer user terminal via a communication network (e.g., the Internet) and is capable of executing at least processes related to the virtual space (e.g., virtual space update process, virtual space update data generation process, etc.) and processes related to the distribution of the virtual space content (e.g., virtual space update data distribution process, generated audio distribution process, etc.); Including, The virtual space content includes a first content (e.g., a music piece content) that is a main content of the virtual space content, and a second content (e.g., an MC (talk) content) that is different from the first content, a motion restriction means for restricting jumping (e.g., jumping in Variation 3-4) among the motions of the viewer avatar in the virtual space during a period in which the first content is distributed (e.g., each performance period), but not restricting the jumping during a period in which the second content is distributed (e.g., each MC period) (e.g., a portion in which the viewer avatar's jumping in Variation 3-4 is restricted (prohibited) in the viewer terminal 300 during a performance period, but the viewer avatar's jumping is allowed during an MC period); When the viewer user performs an operation to make the viewer avatar jump during the period in which the first content is being distributed, the operation restriction means invalidates the operation without reservation and restricts the jumping of the viewer avatar. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, since the jumping of the viewer avatar is restricted during the period in which the first content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the jumping from reducing the interest of the first content. Moreover, since the jumping is not restricted during the period in which the second content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the jumping of the viewer avatar from being excessively restricted. 【0007】 The virtual space content delivery system of the means 1 is a virtual space content delivery system according to claim 1, The viewer avatar is capable of performing a specific action (e.g., the chemi-light action of Example 3) by performing a specific operation on the viewer user terminal (e.g., an operation of selecting a chemi-light menu on the screen of FIG. 40(B)), The operation restriction means does not restrict the specific operation during either the period during which the first content is distributed (e.g., each program period) or the period during which the second content is distributed (e.g., each MC period) (e.g., a chemilight operation is permitted during both the program period and each MC period). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, the viewer can cause the viewer avatar to perform a specific action by performing a specific operation during the distribution period of either the first content or the second content. 【0008】 The virtual space content delivery system of means 2 is the virtual space content delivery system according to means 1, The specific action is an action that is permitted in advance as an action that does not cause discomfort to other avatars participating in the virtual space during both the period during which the first content is distributed (e.g., each performance period) and the period during which the second content is distributed (e.g., each MC period) among actions that the viewer avatar can perform by operating the viewer user terminal (e.g., an action of shaking a Chemilight K back and forth or a wave action in variant example 3-4). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, a viewer avatar can perform specific actions that are preliminarily permitted as actions that do not cause discomfort to other avatars participating in the virtual space, during the distribution period of either the first content or the second content. 【0009】 The virtual space content delivery system of the third aspect is the virtual space content delivery system according to claim 1, The action restriction means restricts the jumping by regarding a predetermined period before the first content is distributed as a distribution period of the first content (for example, as shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 35, a portion in which jumping is restricted (prohibited) in the same manner as the movement of the viewer avatar in the predetermined period before the start timing of each program in Modification 3-4). It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, since the jumping is restricted from a predetermined period before the first content is distributed, it is possible to more reliably prevent the interest in the first content from decreasing due to the jumping. 【0010】 The virtual space content delivery system of means 4 is the virtual space content delivery system according to claim 1, The viewer avatar is capable of performing an action (e.g., a chemical light action) corresponding to (in sync with) the first content (e.g., music content) during a period in which the first content is being distributed. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, the viewer avatar can perform a corresponding action corresponding to the first content, thereby increasing the interest of the viewer user participating in the virtual space. 【0011】 The virtual space content delivery system of means 5 is the virtual space content delivery system according to claim 1, The first content includes performance content (e.g., singing or dancing) performed by a performer avatar that can participate in the virtual space. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, performance content is included in which performer avatars perform, and jumping is restricted while this performance content is being distributed, thereby preventing jumping from diminishing the interest of the performance content. 【0012】 The virtual space content delivery program according to claim 2 A virtual space content distribution program (e.g., a program that operates in the distribution server computer 100 to transmit virtual space update data, and a program that operates in the viewer terminal 300 to generate a viewer avatar viewpoint video) for distributing virtual space content (e.g., a virtual live performance) in a virtual space (e.g., a virtual live performance venue) over a network (e.g., the Internet) using at least a server computer (e.g., a distribution server computer 100), comprising: The avatars (e.g., viewer avatars) that can participate in the virtual space that is the subject of the virtual space content include viewer avatars that operate in the virtual space by operating a viewer user terminal (e.g., viewer terminal 300) that is a terminal available to a viewer user and is connected to the server computer via the network, The virtual space content includes a first content (e.g., a music piece content) that is a main content of the virtual space content, and a second content (e.g., an MC (talk) content) that is different from the first content, a motion restriction step (e.g., a step of executing an avatar motion operation process in the viewer terminal 300 for receiving an operation to be performed by the viewer avatar) of restricting jumping (e.g., jumping in the modification 3-4) among the motions of the viewer avatar in the virtual space during a period in which the first content is distributed (e.g., each performance period), while not restricting the jumping during a period in which the second content is distributed (e.g., each MC period); In the operation restriction step, when the viewer user performs an operation to make the viewer avatar jump during a period in which the first content is distributed, the operation is invalidated without reservation and the jumping of the viewer avatar is restricted. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, since the jumping of the viewer avatar is restricted during the period in which the first content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the jumping from reducing the interest of the first content. Moreover, since the jumping is not restricted during the period in which the second content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the jumping of the viewer avatar from being excessively restricted. 【0013】 The virtual space content delivery method according to claim 3 comprises: A virtual space content distribution method for distributing virtual space content (e.g., a virtual live performance) in a virtual space (e.g., a virtual live performance venue) via a network (e.g., the Internet) using at least a server computer (e.g., a distribution server computer 100), comprising: The avatars (e.g., viewer avatars) that can participate in the virtual space that is the subject of the virtual space content include viewer avatars that operate in the virtual space by operating a viewer user terminal (e.g., viewer terminal 300) that is a terminal available to a viewer user and is connected to the server computer via the network, The virtual space content includes a first content (e.g., a music piece content) that is a main content of the virtual space content, and a second content (e.g., an MC (talk) content) that is different from the first content, a motion restriction procedure (e.g., a procedure for executing an avatar motion operation process in the viewer terminal 300 that receives an operation to be performed by the viewer avatar) that restricts jumping (e.g., jumping in the modification 3-4) among the motions of the viewer avatar in the virtual space during a period in which the first content is distributed (e.g., each performance period), while not restricting the jumping during a period in which the second content is distributed (e.g., each MC period); In the operation restriction step, when the viewer user performs an operation to make the viewer avatar jump during a period in which the first content is being distributed, the operation is invalidated without reservation and the jumping of the viewer avatar is restricted. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, since the jumping of the viewer avatar is restricted during the period in which the first content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the jumping from reducing the interest of the first content. Moreover, since the jumping is not restricted during the period in which the second content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the jumping of the viewer avatar from being excessively restricted. 【0014】 Furthermore, the present invention may have only the invention-specific matters described in the claims of the present invention, or may have the invention-specific matters described in the claims of the present invention as well as configurations other than the invention-specific matters. [Brief description of the drawings] 【0015】 [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a virtual space content delivery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a delivery server computer in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 3]2 is a diagram showing various data stored in a storage device of a delivery server computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a performer terminal in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a viewer terminal in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an administrator terminal in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of event data in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of performer user data in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of viewer user data in the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between each terminal and a server computer constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the facilities of a studio used by a performer user in a virtual space content delivery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a virtual live concert venue, which is a virtual space used in a virtual space content delivery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 3 is a diagram showing a display example on a viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 3 is a diagram showing a display example on a viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 15] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating examples of displays on a performer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16]1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an example of a display by a zoom operation on a viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating an example of a display by a zoom operation on a viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 3 is a diagram showing a display example on a viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the display of a flying performance period on a viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing an example of a viewer viewpoint video control process executed in the viewer terminal constituting the virtual space content delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a virtual live performance delivered by the virtual space content delivery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 23] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a participant user table used in a delivery server computer constituting a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 25] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 26] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 27]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the period type of a virtual live show and the entity that generates the virtual camera viewpoint video in the virtual space content delivery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the generation status of a virtual camera viewpoint video and a viewer viewpoint video in a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a viewer viewpoint video generation process in a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 30] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the contents of virtual space update data transmitted from a delivery server computer in a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 31] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a virtual live performance delivered by a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 32] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the behavior of viewer users in a virtual live event according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 33] 10(A) is an explanatory diagram showing data sent and received from a distribution server computer constituting a virtual space content distribution system of Example 3 of the present invention to a viewer terminal, and FIG. 10(B) is an explanatory diagram showing differences in the timing of actions of each viewer user during a virtual live performance. [Diagram 34] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a participant user table used in a distribution server computer constituting a virtual space content distribution system of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing music list data stored in the distribution server computer. [Diagram 35] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the transmission status of each piece of information by the distribution server computer during each period of the virtual live in Example 3 of the present invention. [Diagram 36] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing the contents of a delay actor determination process executed in a delivery server computer constituting a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 38] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a delivery server computer and a viewer terminal that constitute a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39] 13A is a flow diagram showing the contents of viewer perspective video generation process 1 executed in a viewer terminal constituting a virtual space content distribution system of Example 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 13B is a flow diagram showing the contents of viewer perspective video generation process 2. [Diagram 40] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a viewer's viewpoint video of a virtual live performance displayed on a viewer terminal constituting a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 41] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a viewer's viewpoint video of a virtual live performance displayed on a viewer terminal constituting a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 42] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a virtual live concert venue in a modified example of the present invention. [Diagram 43] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a participation position selection screen for a virtual live performance venue in a modified example of the present invention. [Diagram 44] FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a movable range of a viewer user in a modified example of the present invention, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing an example of a display displayed on a viewer terminal in the modified example. [Diagram 45] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation in which the movement of a viewer avatar is adjusted in a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 46] A diagram showing the relationship between the duration of a virtual live show and the periods during which performance content and non-performance content are performed in a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 47] A diagram showing the relationship between the duration of a virtual live show and the actions that a viewer avatar can take in a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 48]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing data exchanged between a distribution server computer and a viewer terminal in a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 【0016】 The following describes the form for implementing the virtual space content distribution system of the present invention based on the embodiments and with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or similar components in the drawings are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations are omitted. The virtual space content distribution program according to the present invention may be a program used in the entire system consisting of the server computer and each terminal described later that constitute the virtual space content distribution system, or may be a program that operates only on a part of the devices that constitute the virtual space content distribution system, such as the server computer and each terminal, and each process described below is executed by a program stored in the device that performs the process. EXAMPLES 【0017】 Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a virtual space content distribution system in Example 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, and in the system of Example 1 shown in Fig. 1, a virtual live performance in which a performer avatar 1 corresponding to a performer user performs a live event in a virtual live venue shown in Fig. 12 is distributed as virtual space content. Note that in the following, distribution means transmission to multiple people and is synonymous with transmission. 【0018】 As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual space content distribution system of this embodiment 1 is mainly composed of a distribution server computer 100 capable of executing various processes related to the virtual live venue shown in FIG. 11, which is a virtual space, and various processes related to the distribution of the virtual live event, an administrator terminal 150 used by an event manager M of an event management organization that operates and manages the virtual live event to manage the distribution of the virtual live event, a performer terminal 200 used by a performer user, and a viewer terminal 300 that can be used by a viewer user who virtually participates in and watches the virtual live event, and the distribution server computer 100, the administrator terminal 150, the performer terminal 200, and the viewer terminal 300 are connected to each other so that they can communicate data with each other via the Internet N, which is an open computer network. 【0019】 In this embodiment 1, the administrator terminal 150 and the performer terminal 200 are also shown as being connected to the distribution server computer 100 via the Internet network N, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the studio shown in FIG. 11 is a studio operated by an event management organization which provides the studio to a performer user, and the distribution server computer 100 is installed in this studio, the administrator terminal 150 and the performer terminal 200 may be locally connected to the distribution server computer 100 via data communication, or may be connected via a local area network LAN within the studio facility. 【0020】 1, there are multiple viewer users, such as viewer user A, viewer user B, viewer user C, etc., and viewer terminals 300 include viewer terminals 300a, 300b, 300c, etc. that can be used by each of viewer users A, B, C, etc. Note that there are usually multiple viewer users, but there may be one or four or more, and the number may be appropriately determined depending on the virtual space, such as a virtual live venue. Hereinafter, viewer user A, viewer user B, viewer user C, etc. may be collectively referred to as viewer users, and viewer terminals 300a, 300b, 300c, etc. may be collectively referred to as viewer terminals 300. 【0021】 Furthermore, in this embodiment 1, an example is given of a form in which there is one performer user, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the virtual live performance may be a collaborative event in which multiple performer users working individually virtually participate, or a group event in which a group of multiple people working together virtually participate. In this way, when multiple performers appear, performer terminal 200a, performer terminal 200b, performer terminal 200c... may be provided for each performer user, or if a group of multiple people appears, one performer terminal 200 may be used by multiple people. 【0022】 In addition, although FIG. 1 illustrates the distribution server computer 100 as a single unit, the present invention is not limited to this. These distribution server computers 100 may be configured with multiple server computers, such as a first server computer that mainly performs virtual space processing and a second server computer that mainly performs distribution processing, or may be configured as a cloud server, etc., so that the number of server computers can be changed appropriately depending on the scale of the event, the number of participating listener users, etc. 【0023】 Similarly, although the administrator terminal 150 is illustrated as a single unit in FIG. 1, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that there may be multiple administrator terminals 150 depending on the number of performer users and viewer users virtually participating in the live performance. 【0024】 <Distribution server computer> Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the distribution server computer 100 used in this embodiment 1. As described above, the distribution server computer 100 used in this embodiment 1 is a normal server computer with relatively excellent processing power installed in a studio operated by an event management organization, and as shown in Fig. 2, it has a processor (CPU) 101 connected to a data bus 108, a memory (RAM) 102, a storage 103 such as a hard disk, a communication interface (I / F) 104 capable of two-way communication by the TCP / IP protocol via the Internet, which is an open computer network, and an input / output interface (I / F) 105 to which an input device such as a keyboard can be connected. 【0025】 In this embodiment 1, an input / output interface (I / F) 105 is provided to enable local operation, but if remote operation is possible via a communication interface (I / F) 104, the input / output interface (I / F) 105 may not be provided. 【0026】 In addition to an operation system (server OS) for providing server functions (not shown), storage 103 of distribution server computer 100 stores various data and programs as shown in Fig. 3. Specifically, mainly stored are an event management program 110 for providing an event management function for managing live events, a virtual space generation program 120 for providing a virtual space of a virtual live venue, which is a virtual space, a performer user management program 130 for providing a performer user management function for managing performer users, and a viewer user management program 132 for providing a viewer user management function for managing viewer users. 【0027】 The event management program 110 is a program for managing a virtual live event, which is an event held at a virtual live venue (see FIG. 12), in cooperation with the administrator terminal 150, and is capable of managing the progress of the virtual live event by using event data 111 (see FIG. 7), time schedule data (TS data) 112, and music data 113 stored in the storage 103 together with the event management program 110. 【0028】 An example of the event data 111 used in the present embodiment 1 is shown in Fig. 7. The event data 111 stores information such as an event name, a file name of time schedule (TS) data, a performer ID uniquely assigned to a performer user who is a performer, a file name of a music list, a file name of a participating viewer list in which information of special viewer users who are permitted to participate virtually is registered in a third area of ​​the virtual audience area described later, and a file name of a participating viewer list in which information of viewer users who have reserved virtual participation is registered in a fourth area of ​​the virtual audience area described later, in association with an event ID uniquely assigned to the event. 【0029】 The time schedule data (TS data) 112 is data in which the order of progress of the virtual live event to be held and the programs such as songs are described in chronological order, and the virtual live event is managed so as to progress based on the time schedule described in the time schedule data (TS data) 112. Moreover, the time schedule data (TS data) 112, event data 111, etc. can be changed, updated, or added by the event manager M operating the manager terminal 150. 【0030】 Furthermore, the song data 113 is data for the performance parts (so-called karaoke) of each song sung by the performer user, and is played by the audio control program 124 (described later) based on the time schedule data (TS data) 112 by the event management program 110, and transmitted to the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300 (see FIG. 11). 【0031】 The virtual space generation program 120 is a program for providing a virtual live venue, which is the virtual space shown in Figure 12, and has the function of providing a virtual live venue in which performer avatars and viewer avatars are virtually participating, using virtual space data 121 describing the structure of the virtual live venue, which is stored in storage 103 together with the virtual space generation program 120, object data 122 for placing various objects to be placed in the virtual live venue (including virtual placement object 43, which is a star decoration on the stage, and virtual aerial objects 50-52, which are star objects in the sky), etc., within the virtual space, and performer avatar data contained in performer user data 131 described later and viewer avatar data contained in viewer user data 133. 【0032】 12, viewpoint image control program 123 is a program for providing a function to generate viewpoint images from virtual cameras C1-C4 virtually set in the virtual live venue and an airborne virtual camera (not shown), and also to provide a function to display images from the viewpoints of viewer avatars 11-14 virtually participating in the third area of ​​the virtual live venue and viewer avatars 21-32 virtually participating in the fourth area on viewer terminal 300. Virtual camera C2 is a virtual camera set to provide an image from the viewpoint of performer avatar 1 on the stage of the virtual live venue, and the viewpoint image from virtual camera C2 is projected onto a screen S installed in the studio by projector 211 (described later) connected to performer terminal 200 in cooperation with performer terminal 200. 【0033】 The audio control program 124 is a program for controlling the audio (including music) distributed during the virtual live event, and specifically provides a function for playing music data 113 and a function for synthesizing the audio produced by the performer user with the played music and distributing it to the administrator terminal 150 and the viewer terminal 300. 【0034】 The comment control program 125, in cooperation with a viewer comment control program stored in the viewer terminal 300 described below, provides a function for displaying various comments entered by each viewer user at the viewer terminal 300 during a virtual live event in chronological order on the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300. 【0035】 The gift control program 126 is a program for controlling gifts given from viewer users to performer users in cooperation with a viewer program stored in the viewer terminal 300 described below, and specifically provides a function for the viewer user to purchase gifts based on information on the unit purchase price set for various gifts stored in the gift data 134, a processing function for the viewer user to give a gift purchased using the gift object data included in the gift data 134 to the performer user (including processing for the presentation when giving the gift), and a processing function for changing the owner of a gift given from the viewer user to the performer user. 【0036】 The performer user management program 130 provides a management function for information relating to performer users, an authentication function, and the like, based on performer user data 131 shown in FIG. 8, which is stored in the storage 103 together with the performer user management program 130 . 【0037】 The performer user data 131 used in the present embodiment 1 is illustrated in Fig. 8. The performer user data 131 stores various information, such as the performer user's account (email address), name, authentication information, file name of avatar data of an avatar used in the virtual space, and file name of an item list in which owned items are registered, in association with a performer user ID uniquely assigned to the performer user. Although not illustrated in Fig. 8, information on virtual value such as points owned by each performer user may also be stored as the performer user data 131. 【0038】 Performer users can be authenticated by matching their performer user ID, account, and authentication information, and each performer user can identify from an item list the items (gifts) that they own as a result of being given to them by viewers. 【0039】 The viewer / user management program 132 provides functions such as management of information relating to viewer / users and authentication based on viewer / user data 133 shown in FIG. 9 stored in the storage 103 together with the program. 【0040】 The viewer user data 133 used in the present embodiment 1 is illustrated in Fig. 9. The viewer user data 133 stores various information, such as the viewer user's account (email address), authentication information, the file name of the avatar data of the avatar to be used in the virtual space, the owned points which are the number of points that can be used in the virtual space, the file name of the item list in which the items (gifts) purchased using the points are registered, and personal information such as the name, date of birth, and telephone number, in association with the viewer user ID uniquely assigned to the viewer user. Although not shown in Fig. 9, a nickname (comment name) to be displayed together with the comment is also registered in the viewer user data 133, and the nickname (comment name) is displayed together with the comment. In addition, points can be increased by, for example, purchasing points from a predetermined operating company. 【0041】 <Performer terminal> Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a performer terminal 200 in the virtual space content delivery system of this embodiment 1. In this embodiment 1, as shown in Fig. 11, the performer terminal 200 is installed in a control room adjacent to a studio where a performer user performs his / her acting motion, and uses a normal computer with relatively excellent processing power, and as shown in Fig. 4, has a processor (CPU) 201 connected to a data bus 208, a memory (RAM) 202, a storage 203 such as a hard disk, a communication interface (I / F) 204 capable of two-way communication by the TCP / IP protocol via the Internet, which is an open computer network, an image processing unit 206 including a graphics processing unit (GPU) to which display devices A210 to C212 are connected, and an input / output interface (I / F) 205 to which various input / output devices are connected. 【0042】 The input / output interface (I / F) 205 is connected with input devices such as a motion sensor 220 including multiple wearable sensors 220C1-220C5 (see FIG. 11) worn by the performer user on the left and right limbs and waist, a facial expression input device 221 consisting of an imaging camera for inputting the performer's facial expressions, a voice input device 222 consisting of a sound collecting microphone worn on the performer user's head, and an operation input device 224 such as a keyboard or touch panel operable by an assistant operator O who assists the performer user. Note that by providing a controller that can be held by the performer user to perform various operations as these input devices, the performer himself may be able to perform various operations without the assistance of the assistant operator O. 【0043】 In this embodiment 1, in order for the performer user to perform performance actions in accordance with the music (including musical actions such as singing and dancing), an assistant operator O assists with the operations during the performance. However, it is also possible to have multiple assistant operators O, or to set the operation content in advance in the performer terminal 200, for example, in a sequence program, thereby eliminating the need for an assistant operator O. 【0044】 An audio output device 223 including high-performance earphones (in-ear monitors) worn by the performer user and speakers placed in the control room is connected to the input / output interface (I / F) 205 as an output device, so that the sound of the played music transmitted from the distribution server computer 100 is output to the performer user via the high-performance earphones (in-ear monitors), and the music audio is output from the speakers along with the performer's voice, allowing an assistant operator O, etc. to check the status of the music, including the voice produced by the performer user, in the control room. 【0045】 In this embodiment 1, high-performance earphones (in-ear monitors) are used to avoid the inconvenience caused by the played music audio being input from the sound collection microphone worn by the performer user, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the music audio may be output from speakers in the studio, etc., as long as the inconvenience caused by the input of the music audio can be avoided. 【0046】 In the first embodiment, the sound collecting microphones are worn by the performers, but these sound collecting microphones may be installed on the floor, wall, or ceiling of the studio. 【0047】 Here, the motion sensor 220 used in the performer terminal 200 of the present embodiment 1 will be described. Any motion sensor can be used as long as it can properly detect (measure) the body movements (movements) of the performer user. In the present embodiment 1, in order to enable more accurate and short-period detection of the performer's movements, a number of wearable sensors 220C1 to 220C5 are used that are worn by the performer user on the body. Note that the motion sensor 220 may be of a type that does not require the performer to wear any equipment, such as LiDAR that uses laser light or the like. 【0048】 In this embodiment 1, in order to reduce the burden of movement, particularly the head movement, caused by wearing sensors etc. when the performer user performs a performance movement, the head movement of the performer user is detected by image recognition using images captured by the imaging camera constituting the facial expression input device 221 as described below, and five wearable sensors 220C1 to 220C5 are used to detect movements other than the head. However, for example, wearable sensors may also be provided on the performer user's head, etc., or more wearable sensors (7 or more) may be worn to detect more detailed movements. 【0049】 As shown in FIG. 11, the mounting sensors 220C1 to 220C5 detect their own positions and orientations in cooperation with base stations 220a and 220b installed in a studio room separated from the adjacent control room by a glass window. 【0050】 Base station 220a and base station 220b may use, for example, a multi-axis laser emitter. Base station 220a may emit a flashing light for synchronization, and then scan the laser light around, for example, a vertical axis. Base station 220b may scan the laser light around, for example, a horizontal axis. 【0051】 Each of the mounting sensors 220C1 to 220C5 may include a plurality of optical sensors that detect the incidence of blinking light and laser light from the base station 220a and the base station 220b. 【0052】 Each of the wearing sensors 220C1 to 220C5 is capable of detecting its own position and orientation based on the time difference between the timing of the incidence of the flashing light and the timing of the incidence of the laser light, the light reception time at each optical sensor, the incidence angle of the laser light detected by each optical sensor, and other information as necessary. For example, the ViveTracker or base station provided by HTC CORPORATION can be suitably used. 【0053】 Base station 220a and base station 220b emit blinking light and perform laser light scanning at regular intervals, so that the detection information of each of worn sensors 220C1-220C5 is updated at each interval. Detection information indicating the position and orientation of each motion sensor calculated in each of these worn sensors 220C1-220C5 is input to performer terminal 200 by short-range wireless communication and transmitted to distribution server computer 100 as performer avatar information together with facial motion information (see FIG. 10). 【0054】 In this embodiment 1, an example is shown in which two base stations, base station 220a and base station 220b, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of base stations may be three or more. 【0055】 In addition, the motion sensor 220 may be configured such that each of multiple motion sensors worn by the performer user is equipped with a number of infrared LEDs or visible light LEDs, and the position and orientation of each of the motion sensors is detected by detecting the light from these LEDs with an infrared camera installed on the floor or wall of the studio. 【0056】 Also, in order to reduce the burden on the performer user, the motion sensor 220 may be replaced with a motion sensor using a lighter reflective marker instead of the wearable sensors 220C1-220C5. That is, the motion sensor may detect the motion of the performer user by capturing images of reflective markers attached to various parts of the performer user's body with adhesive tape or the like to generate image data, and then processing the captured image data to detect the positions and orientations of the reflective markers. In this case, a cameraman who captures the performer user may be placed in the studio to capture the performer user's motion from a direction suitable for detection, so that the motion of the performer user can be detected well. 【0057】 In addition, the motion sensor 220 may be a suit with a built-in inertial sensor, such as a suit with a built-in inertial sensor for the MVN motion capture system marketed by Xsens.com, and the movements of the performer user may be detected by analyzing the sensor signal output from the inertial sensor. 【0058】 Any facial expression input device 221 can be used as long as it can appropriately detect the head movement including the face of the performer user. In this embodiment 1, specifically, it is configured with an imaging camera (digital camera) arranged so as to be able to continuously capture head images including the face of the performer user, and the head movement and facial movement (facial expression) of the performer user captured by the imaging camera are detected by image recognition, and the facial motion information, which is the detected head movement and facial movement (facial expression), is transmitted to the delivery server computer 100 as performer avatar information together with body motion information, as shown in Fig. 10. 【0059】 The facial expression input device 221 is not limited to the imaging camera (digital camera) used in the present embodiment 1, and may be, for example, a 3D camera capable of detecting the depth of a person's face, or may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone equipped with a LiDER device. In this case, the performer user may wear such a mobile terminal. 【0060】 As described above, the performer terminal 200 of this Example 1 has three display devices A210 to C212, where display device A210 is an LCD monitor or the like installed in a control room as shown in FIG. 11, display device B211 is a projector that projects an image onto a screen S installed in a studio, and display device C212 is a large vertical display installed adjacent to the screen S in the studio. 【0061】 Display device A210, which is placed in the adjustment room of the studio, displays images from each viewpoint of virtual cameras C1 to C4, viewpoint images from a virtual camera moving in the air during the flying performance period described below, the contents of comments, and a message input window into which assistant operator O inputs any message he or she wishes to convey to the performer user. 【0062】 Meanwhile, a screen S projected from a projector, which is a display device B211 installed in the studio, displays an image from the viewpoint of a virtual camera C2 (see FIG. 12), which is the viewpoint of the performer, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, including avatars of viewers who are virtually participating in the live performance in the third and fourth areas, thereby enabling the performer user to check the status of the viewer users who are virtually participating in the virtual live performance through the image. 【0063】 In addition, comments from viewer users, as well as comments and messages entered by the assistant operator O, are displayed on a display device C212 installed in the studio, allowing the performer user to check the comments from viewer users and messages from the assistant operator O even during the performance. 【0064】 In addition to an operating system (OS) for operating the computer that is the performer terminal 200, the storage 203 also stores performer programs that, when executed by the processor (CPU) 201 etc., work in cooperation with the distribution server computer 100 to provide various functions, including the function of allowing the performer user to control the movement of the performer avatar 1 in a virtual live performance, which is virtual space content. 【0065】 As shown in FIG. 4, the performer programs include a performer avatar control program, a performer viewpoint image control program, a performer viewpoint image control program, a performer voice control program, a performer comment control program, performer authentication data, etc. 【0066】 The performer avatar control program is a program that mainly provides the function of scanning the body motion of the performer user using the motion sensor 220 and scanning the facial motion (facial expression) of the performer user using the facial expression input device 221, generating performer avatar information for operating the performer avatar, and transmitting it to the distribution server computer 100. 【0067】 The performer's viewpoint image control program is a program that provides a function for generating and outputting a viewpoint image of virtual camera C2, which is the performer's viewpoint, based on the virtual space update data distributed from distribution server computer 100. 【0068】 The performer's audio control program is a program that provides the function of outputting the playback sound of a song based on the playback music data distributed from the distribution server computer 100 via the audio output device 223, converting the audio input from the audio input device 222 into data and transmitting it to the distribution server computer 100 as performer audio data, and generating and outputting monitor audio consisting of the playback sound of the song and the performer's audio. 【0069】 The performer's comment control program is a program that provides a function for displaying each comment by an audience user that is distributed from the distribution server computer 100 . 【0070】 The performer authentication data is data for authenticating the identity of the performer user in a communication connection with the distribution server computer 100 . 【0071】 In addition, the performer avatar control program includes a motion parameter generation program capable of generating parameter information for the positions and rotation angles of the bones that make up the rig data (sometimes called "skeleton data") that indicates the skeleton of the performer avatar contained in the performer avatar data, as well as an image recognition processing program for image-recognizing the position of the performer user's head and facial expression from images captured by an imaging camera. 【0072】 In addition, in this embodiment 1, the performer terminal 200 is exemplified as a form in which a computer serving as the performer terminal 200 installed in a studio operated by an event management organization is jointly used by multiple performer users to hold a live event, and each performer user can use it as their own performer terminal 200 by inputting performer authentication data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, when a performer user appears in a virtual live performance from their home, etc., the performer terminal 200 may be a computer installed in the performer user's home and used exclusively by the performer user, and in such cases, storage of performer authentication data is not necessarily required. 【0073】 In this way, by using the performer terminal 200 constituting the virtual space content delivery system of the present embodiment 1, the performer user or the like can move the performer avatar 1 placed on the virtual stage G in the virtual live venue in conjunction with the performer user's own movements, and can reflect the performer user's own facial expression in the facial expression of the performer avatar 1. In addition, the performer user can deliver his or her own voice as the voice of the performer avatar 1 to the viewers via the delivery server computer 100. 【0074】 <Viewer device> Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a viewer terminal 300 in the virtual space content delivery system of the present embodiment 1. In the present embodiment 1, the viewer terminal 300 is a smartphone P carried by a viewer user or a regular desktop computer (PC) installed at a viewer user's home or the like, and as shown in Fig. 5, has a processor (CPU) 301 connected to a data bus 308, a memory (RAM) 302, a storage 303 such as a hard disk or non-volatile memory, a communication interface (I / F) 304 capable of two-way communication by the TCP / IP protocol via the Internet, which is an open computer network, an image processing unit 306 including a graphics processing unit (GPU) to which a display device 310 is connected, and an input / output interface (I / F) 305 to which various input / output devices are connected. 【0075】 The display device 310 may display each viewpoint video generated based on the virtual space data of the virtual live venue, which is a virtual space updated by the virtual space update data (see FIG. 10) distributed from the distribution server computer 100, by the viewer viewpoint video control program included in the viewer program stored in the storage 303, as described later, and the flying viewpoint video distributed from the distribution server computer 100 during the flying production period described later. If the viewer terminal 300 is a smartphone P, the display device 310 corresponds to the display device of the smartphone P, and if the viewer terminal 300 is a normal computer (PC), the display device 310 corresponds to the display device of the stationary type constituting the computer (PC). Note that these displays are not limited to those that display planar images (2D images), and may be, for example, those that can display stereoscopic images (3D images) by displaying right-eye images and left-eye images, such as a head-mounted display (HMD) that can be worn by the viewer. 【0076】 The input / output interface (I / F) 305 is connected to an operation input device 321 consisting of one or more devices that allow the viewer to perform various operations as input devices, and an audio output device 322 such as earphones or speakers that can output live audio, etc., distributed from the distribution server computer 100. 【0077】 It goes without saying that the audio output device 322 need not be an independent device, but may be integrated with the display device 310 like the above-mentioned head mounted display (HMD). 【0078】 The operation input device 321 may be any device that allows the viewer to perform various operations such as motion operations including moving the viewer avatar, zoom operations, operations related to comments, operations related to gifts, etc., and may be composed of at least one of, for example, a transparent touch panel formed on the display surface of a smartphone, a keyboard constituting a computer, a game controller, etc. 【0079】 In this embodiment 1, as described below, the virtual audience area in the virtual live venue is divided into a third area near the virtual stage G in which only viewer users who have been specially permitted by the performer user can virtually participate, and a fourth area around the third area in which general viewer users can virtually participate, as shown in Figure 12. As described above, a viewer user who virtually participates in the fourth area may have an operation input device 321 such as a touch panel, keyboard, game controller, etc., but a viewer user who virtually participates in the third area owns an operation input device 321 such as an MVN motion capture suit with the above-mentioned inertial sensor built in, and is a viewer user who can precisely move the viewer avatar with their own movements, just like a performer user. 【0080】 However, even viewer users who are permitted to virtually participate in the third area cannot change the facial expression of the viewer avatar, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the facial expressions of these viewer avatars may be changed, for example, as described above, by the viewer user using the camera function of a smartphone or a camera connected to a computer to recognize the facial expression of the viewer user, even if it is to a different level than the level of change made by the performer user. 【0081】 The various input / output devices connected to the input / output interface (I / F) 305 may be built-in or external, and in the case of external devices, the connection form may be either wired or wireless. 【0082】 In addition to an operating system (OS) for operating the viewer terminal 300, which is a smartphone or computer, the storage 303 also stores a viewer program as a viewing application that, when executed by a processor (CPU) 301 or the like, works in cooperation with the distribution server computer 100 to provide various functions, including a live viewing function for viewer users in a virtual live, which is virtual space content. 【0083】 As shown in FIG. 5, the viewer program includes a viewer viewpoint image control program which provides the function of generating each viewpoint image of the virtual live to be displayed on the display device 310, a viewer audio control program which provides the function of outputting live audio from the audio output device 322 based on the live audio (data) of the virtual live distributed from the distribution server computer 100, a viewer comment control program which displays comments based on comment data distributed from the distribution server computer 100 and provides functions related to comments such as comments entered by the viewer and sending them to the distribution server computer 100, and viewer authentication data for authenticating that the viewer user is the correct person in a communication connection with the distribution server computer 100. 【0084】 In addition, although not shown in Figure 5, in addition to the above-mentioned programs, there are included a gift control program that performs control related to gifts, and an area designation program for reserving an area (position) in which a viewer avatar will virtually participate in the virtual live venue in advance before the start of a live event, as shown in variant example 3-1 (see Figures 42 and 43) described below, but other programs other than these may also be included. 【0085】 In the first embodiment, the comments input by the viewer are short messages in text format, but are not limited to these short messages in text format, and may be, for example, still image messages, video messages, or any other electronic message format. The comments are displayed on the display device 310, superimposed on each viewpoint video. 【0086】 In this way, by using the viewer terminal 300 that constitutes the virtual space content distribution system of this Example 1, a viewer user can move and operate the viewer avatar that is virtually participating in the virtual live venue, and by changing the viewpoint of the viewer avatar, the viewpoint image displayed on the display device 310 can be changed, and the zoom state (viewpoint state) can also be changed, allowing the viewer user to operate the viewer avatar to cheer on the performer avatar 1. 【0087】 It should be noted that a viewer avatar who has virtually participated in the third area is only allowed to move within the third area, and cannot move to the fourth area. On the other hand, a viewer avatar who has virtually participated in the fourth area is only allowed to move within the fourth area, and cannot move to the third area. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a viewer avatar who has virtually participated in three areas may be allowed to move to the fourth area. It should be noted that a viewer avatar cannot naturally move to the virtual stage G, etc., so the visibility of the performer avatar 1 is not obstructed by the viewer avatar moving onto the virtual stage G. 【0088】 In addition, by displaying viewpoint images on these display devices 310 and outputting live audio, the user can enjoy the virtual live performance with the feeling that he or she is actually present at the virtual live performance venue. 【0089】 Although detailed explanation is omitted, the comment function provided by the viewer comment control program allows viewers to enjoy the virtual live performance while checking comments entered by themselves and other viewer users, and the gift function provided by the gift control program allows viewers to liven up the virtual live performance by gifting items they own to the performer avatar 1. 【0090】 <Administrator terminal> Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an administrator terminal 150 in the virtual space content delivery system of this embodiment 1. In this embodiment 1, the administrator terminal 150 uses a normal computer installed in a control room adjacent to the studio together with the performer terminal 200, and as shown in Fig. 6, has a processor (CPU) 151 connected to a data bus 158, a memory (RAM) 152, a storage 153 such as a hard disk, a communication interface (I / F) 154 capable of two-way communication by the TCP / IP protocol via the Internet, which is an open computer network, an image processing unit 156 including a graphics processing unit (GPU) to which a display device 160 is connected, and an input / output interface (I / F) 155 to which various input / output devices are connected. 【0091】 As described below, the display device 160 is capable of individually displaying each viewpoint image of each of the virtual cameras C1 to C4 described below and each viewpoint image of the virtual camera moving in the air during the flying performance period, which are generated based on virtual space data of the virtual live venue, which is a virtual space updated by virtual space update data (see Figure 10) distributed from the distribution server computer 100, by an administrator viewpoint image control program included in the administrator program stored in storage 153, and is also capable of displaying comments based on comment data distributed from the distribution server computer 100, and is composed of one or more stationary displays. 【0092】 The input / output interface (I / F) 155 is connected to an operation input device 161 consisting of one or more devices that enable the event manager M to perform various operations as input devices, and an audio output device 162 such as earphones, headphones, or speakers that can output live audio, etc., distributed from the distribution server computer 100. 【0093】 The operation input device 161 can be any device that allows the event manager M to perform various operations such as input and settings related to the virtual live event, and may be composed of at least one of, for example, a keyboard that constitutes a computer, a transparent touch panel formed on the surface of a display, a viewpoint switching controller, etc. 【0094】 The various input / output devices connected to the input / output interface (I / F) 155 may be connected in either a wired or wireless manner. 【0095】 In addition to an operating system (OS) for operating the computer that is the administrator terminal 150, the storage 153 also stores an administrator program that is executed by a processor (CPU) 151, etc. to provide various functions in cooperation with the distribution server computer 100, including distribution management functions for the distribution of virtual live shows, which are virtual space content. 【0096】 As shown in FIG. 6, the administrator programs include an administrator viewpoint video control program, an administrator audio control program, an administrator comment control program, an audience management program, a performer management program, and the like. 【0097】 The viewpoint video control program for administrator is a program that provides a function for generating viewpoint videos from each virtual camera to be displayed on the display device 160, as well as a function for changing and switching each viewpoint. 【0098】 The administrator audio control program is a program that provides a function for outputting live audio from the audio output device 162 based on the audio data of the virtual live event distributed from the distribution server computer 100 . 【0099】 The administrator's comment control program is a program that displays comments based on comment data distributed from the distribution server computer 100, and provides comment-related functions such as prohibiting comments from being distributed and selecting viewers to prevent them from being distributed. 【0100】 The viewer management program is a program for managing viewer users who virtually participate in the virtual live performance, and the performer management program is a program for managing performer users who virtually participate in the virtual live performance. 【0101】 Although not shown in FIG. 6, the system includes an authentication program for authenticating whether the administrator who is the operator is the actual person, and a schedule program for editing the virtual live show time schedule and song order, etc., but may also include other programs. 【0102】 In this way, by the event manager M operating the manager terminal 150 that constitutes the virtual space content distribution system of this embodiment 1, various settings for executing the event can be implemented, such as settings related to the program, order of songs, and performance, as well as the time schedule and the trajectory of the virtual camera moving in the air during the flying performance period, and the virtual live performance can be managed based on the settings made in this way. 【0103】 <Virtual live venue> The virtual live venue, which is the virtual space used in Example 1, is shown in Fig. 12. As shown in Fig. 12, the virtual live venue, like a live venue in real space, is a virtual space having a virtual stage G where performer users appear as performer avatars 1 and a virtual audience area where viewer users who will be in the audience virtually participate as viewer avatars. 【0104】 12, virtual stage G has a relatively large trapezoidal floor surface, and performer avatar 1 can move on virtual stage G in the same way as in a live venue in real space. On the side of virtual stage G opposite the virtual audience seats, as shown in Fig. 12, a virtual stage wall is formed that is divided into three parts, a center part, a right part, and a left part, and virtual displays 40, 41, and 42 are provided in front of these virtual stage walls, and images and videos for performance are virtually displayed on these virtual displays 40, 41, and 42. 【0105】 A star virtual arrangement object 43 related to the performer user is placed between the virtual displays 40, 41, 42, and large star virtual aerial objects 50-52 are placed in a second area, which is an area on the virtual stage G and is above a first area surrounded by the virtual stage walls, as shown in Fig. 12. The virtual aerial objects 50-52 are movable within the second area. 【0106】 A virtual audience area where viewer users can virtually participate in the virtual live venue as viewer avatars is provided in front of the virtual stage G. As shown in Fig. 12, this virtual audience area is made up of a third area, which is a special area close to the center of the virtual stage G where the performer avatar 1 appears, and a fourth area, which is formed to surround the third area and is farther away from the center of the virtual stage G than the third area. 【0107】 These third areas are available for virtual participation by special viewer users who are permitted to participate virtually, up to a predetermined upper limit. In this embodiment 1, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, viewer avatars 11 to 14 of four viewer users who have met a predetermined virtual participation record and have been permitted to participate virtually by the performer user are arranged. 【0108】 In addition, the fourth area includes viewer avatars 21-32 of general viewer users who have reserved virtual participation before the start of the virtual live. Note that, in Fig. 12, the viewer avatars 21-32 are shown in a simplified manner for the sake of convenience, but are the same avatars as the viewer avatars 11-14. 【0109】 Furthermore, each viewer avatar 11-14 placed in the third area can be moved within the third area by the viewer user operating the viewer terminal, and each viewer avatar 21-32 placed in the fourth area can be moved within the fourth area by the viewer user operating the viewer terminal. 【0110】 Four virtual cameras C1 to C4 are virtually arranged (set) in the virtual live performance venue, as shown in Fig. 12. Virtual camera C1 is virtually arranged in front of performer avatar 1 so as to face the performer avatar 1, and the viewpoint image captured by virtual camera C1 is a viewpoint image viewed from a position close to the front of the performer avatar 1, as shown in Fig. 13(a). 【0111】 Virtual camera C2 is a camera virtually placed (set) above the head of performer avatar 1, and the viewpoint image captured by virtual camera C2 is a performer viewpoint image captured by viewing the virtual audience area from performer avatar 1, as shown in FIG. 【0112】 Virtual camera C3 is a virtual camera virtually placed on the virtual display 41 diagonally behind the performer avatar 1, and the viewpoint image from virtual camera C3 is a viewpoint image looking at the virtual audience area from diagonally behind the performer avatar 1, as shown in Figure 13(c). 【0113】 Virtual camera C4 is a virtual camera virtually placed on the virtual display 42 diagonally behind the performer avatar 1, and the viewpoint image from virtual camera C4 is a viewpoint image looking at the virtual audience area from diagonally behind the performer avatar 1, as shown in Figure 13(b). 【0114】 In addition to the fixedly placed (set) virtual cameras C1 to C4, in this embodiment 1, an air-moving virtual camera (not shown) is virtually placed so as to be movable in the air within the virtual live venue space, which is a virtual space. The air trajectories along which these air-moving virtual cameras move and the viewpoint directions (angles) at each position on the air trajectory are preset by the administrator terminal 150, and during the flying performance period described later, the performer avatar 1 virtually flies so as to follow the air trajectory of the air-moving virtual camera, thereby generating a viewpoint video of the virtually flying performer avatar 1 captured by the air-moving virtual camera. 【0115】 In this embodiment 1, as shown in FIG. 12, an example is given in which four virtual cameras C1 to C4 are virtually arranged as fixedly arranged (set) virtual cameras, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of these fixedly arranged (set) virtual cameras may be five or more, or conversely, without providing fixedly arranged (set) virtual cameras, only the viewpoint images seen from the viewpoints corresponding to each avatar virtually participating in the virtual live venue may be displayed on the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300. 【0116】 In addition, in this embodiment 1, an example is given of a configuration in which there is one virtual camera moving through the air, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which there are multiple virtual cameras moving through the air may also be used, or conversely, a configuration in which no virtual camera moving through the air is virtually placed may also be used. 【0117】 <Studio> 11 is a diagram showing the studio used in Example 1, and as described above, the studio is adjacent to the control room separated by a glass window, and the performer user performs each movement corresponding to singing in the studio, while the assistant operator O assists with the operation of the performer terminal 200 installed in the control room. Around the performer user wearing the wearable sensors 220C1 to 220C5, base stations 220a and 220b are mounted on a stand, and an imaging camera constituting the facial expression input device 221 is mounted on a stand in a position almost in front of the performer user. 【0118】 A screen S is provided on the wall facing the performer user in the studio, and a projector (display device B211) installed on the ceiling of the studio projects the viewpoint image of virtual camera C2 onto screen S, so that the viewpoint image seen from performer avatar 1 as looking at the virtual audience area is displayed on screen S, as shown in Figure 15. This allows the performer user to proceed with the live performance while constantly keeping track of the behavior of the viewer avatars virtually participating in the virtual audience area (the viewer's reaction to the live performance). 【0119】 A vertical large display is arranged to the side of the screen S as the display device C212, and comments from the audience and messages that the assistant operator O wants to convey to the performer users are displayed on the large display. The display device C212 may be configured to display information (performer support information) such as the lyrics of the song sung by the performer during the live performance and lines. 【0120】 <Operation of virtual space content delivery system> FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the virtual space content delivery system of the first embodiment, specifically, the flow of delivery of video and audio of a virtual live performance. 【0121】 First, the video system will be described. As described above, the distribution server computer 100 is capable of providing a virtual space of a virtual live venue based on the virtual space generation program 120 and the avatar data of the performer users and the viewer users, and the actions of the avatars of the performer users and the viewer users are reflected in the actions of the performer avatar 1 and the viewer avatar 1 actions (operations) of the viewer users are reflected in the actions of the viewer avatar by updating the virtual space data in which the state of the virtual space is described based on the performer avatar information transmitted from the performer terminal 200 and the viewer avatar information transmitted from the viewer terminal 300. 【0122】 Although not shown in FIG. 10, when the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300 communicate with the distribution server computer 100 in order to virtually participate in the virtual live performance, virtual space data of the virtual live performance venue is delivered in advance from the distribution server computer 100 and stored in the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300. As described below, the virtual space data stored in advance in this manner is successively updated by virtual space update data delivered successively from the distribution server computer 100, allowing the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300 to identify the latest state of the virtual live performance venue. 【0123】 Specifically, the movements and facial expressions of the performer user in the studio are scanned at predetermined time intervals by the body motion scan and face motion scan functions of the performer avatar control program described above, and performer avatar information is generated and transmitted to the distribution server computer 100. 【0124】 On the other hand, viewer users who are permitted to virtually participate in the third area use motion sensors, just like the performers, and are scanned at specified intervals using the body motion scan and face motion scan functions, and viewer avatar information is generated and transmitted to the distribution server computer 100. 【0125】 Furthermore, a viewer user permitted to virtually participate in the fourth area can use the touch panel, keyboard, or controller of the viewer terminal 300 to perform various operations such as movement, changing the viewpoint direction, changing the viewpoint state (zoom), raising hands, clapping hands, jumping, etc., to make the viewer avatar perform the corresponding action. Then, of these operations, viewer avatar information is generated based on the operation related to the viewer avatar's action and transmitted to the delivery server computer 100. 【0126】 Furthermore, viewer users virtually participating in the third area can also use a controller or the like to perform various operations such as movement, changing the viewpoint (zoom), raising their hands, clapping their hands, jumping, etc. In this case, menu items corresponding to each action are displayed, and the menu items corresponding to each action can be selected using a controller or the like. 【0127】 In this manner, an avatar action operation process is executed in the viewer terminal 300 to receive operations corresponding to each action to be performed by the viewer avatar. The avatar action operation process also includes processes such as displaying and erasing menu items corresponding to each of the above-mentioned actions. 【0128】 In this way, based on the performer avatar information transmitted from the performer terminal 200 and the viewer avatar information transmitted from the viewer terminal 300, the distribution server computer 100 executes a virtual space update process that updates the virtual space data, thereby reflecting the actions (operations) of the performer user and the viewer user in each avatar virtually participating in the virtual live venue. 【0129】 Then, after executing a virtual space update data generation process for generating virtual space update data based on the virtual space data before the update and the virtual space data after the update, the generated virtual space update data is distributed to the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300. 【0130】 At the performer terminal 200 and viewer terminal 300 to which the virtual space update data has been delivered, as shown in FIG. 10, the pre-stored virtual space data is updated based on the delivered virtual space update data, and a performer perspective video generation process and a viewer perspective video generation process are executed using the updated virtual space data, thereby generating performer perspective video and viewer perspective video based on the updated virtual space data, and the generated performer perspective video and viewer perspective video are displayed on the performer terminal 200 and the viewer terminal 300 (viewer perspective video output process). 【0131】 In this way, in this embodiment 1, the viewpoint video of each viewer user who is virtually participating in the virtual live venue through a viewer avatar is generated and displayed on the viewer terminal 300 of each viewer user, and by generating the viewer avatar viewpoint video of each viewer user on the distribution server computer 100, it is possible to prevent the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 from becoming significantly large, which would result in many viewer users being unable to participate in the virtual live, and it is also possible to prevent distribution from becoming difficult due to an increased processing load. 【0132】 In this embodiment 1, a viewpoint image is generated and displayed on the display device 310 of the viewer terminal 300 of the viewer user of the viewer avatar 13 who is virtually participating in the third area close to the performer avatar 1 on the virtual stage G, in which a viewpoint image of almost the front of the performer avatar 1 is displayed large, as shown in Figure 13 (d), which is a viewpoint image seen from the viewer avatar 13 close to the performer avatar 1, while a viewpoint image is generated and displayed on the display device 310 of the viewer terminal 300 of the viewer user of the viewer avatar 28 who is virtually participating in the fourth area far from the performer avatar 1 on the virtual stage G, for example, at a position behind the viewer avatar 13, in which a viewpoint image of almost the front of the performer avatar 1 appears relatively small through the viewer avatar 13 and viewer avatar 14 who are virtually participating in the third area, as shown in Figure 13 (e). 【0133】 In addition, the display device 310 of the viewer terminal 300 of the viewer user of the viewer avatar 32 who is virtually participating at the edge position of the virtual stage G in the fourth area, which is set up as a U-shape when viewed from above, displays a viewpoint image seen from the viewer avatar 32 positioned diagonally forward of the performer avatar 1, as shown in Figure 13 (f), in which the performer avatar 1 appears relatively small through the viewer avatar 14 who is virtually participating in the third area. 【0134】 Note that all of the display examples shown in Figure 13 are examples in which the viewer terminal 300 is a stationary computer (PC) and the display device 310 is a stationary display. However, for example, if the viewer terminal 300 is a smartphone P, tablet, etc., the viewpoint image of the virtual camera C1 is displayed as shown in Figure 14(a), and if the viewer terminal 300 is the viewer terminal 300 of the viewer avatar 13, it is displayed as shown in Figure 14(b). 【0135】 Next, the audio system will be described. In the distribution server computer 100, music data 113 is played back by audio control program 124 based on time schedule data (TS data) 112, and transmitted to the performer terminal 200 as played music (data) (music playback process). 【0136】 In the performer terminal 200, the music audio from the played music (data) transmitted from the distribution server computer 100 is output to the performer user through high-performance earphones (in-ear monitors) worn by the performer user (played music output process), and when the performer user sings along with the output played music, the performer voice input from the sound collection microphone (audio input device 222) is digitized and transmitted to the distribution server computer 100 as the performer voice (data). 【0137】 The distribution server computer 100 generates distribution audio (data) from the performer audio (data) received from the performer terminal 200 and the played music played in the music playback process described above (distribution audio generation process), and distributes the generated distribution audio (data) to the viewer terminal 300 (generated audio distribution process). 【0138】 In the viewer terminal 300, the distribution audio (data) distributed from the distribution server computer 100 is output from an audio output device 322 such as earphones or speakers, allowing the viewer to hear the live audio as if the performer avatar 1 were singing in the virtual live venue. 【0139】 Furthermore, in the performer terminal 200, as described above, the performer's voice (data) is transmitted to the distribution server computer 100, and as shown in Figure 10, a monitor audio generation process and a monitor audio output process are executed, so that the music audio of the played music and the performer's voice are output from speakers placed in the control room, allowing an assistant operator O, etc. to check the singing status of the performer user in the control room. 【0140】 <Viewer's viewpoint video control processing> Next, a viewer's viewpoint video control process executed in the viewer terminal 300 based on a viewer's viewpoint video control program included in the viewer's program will be described with reference to FIG. 【0141】 In the viewer viewpoint video control process, first, it is determined whether or not the performer avatar 1 is in a flying performance period in which the performer avatar 1 is virtually flying, as shown in Fig. 19 (step S1). Whether or not the performer avatar 1 is in a flying performance period can be identified by performance status data indicating that the performer avatar 1 is in a flying performance period, which is sent from the delivery server computer 100. The delivery server computer 100 transmits performance status data indicating that the performer avatar 1 is in a flying performance period to the viewer terminal 300 when the performer avatar 1 is in a flying performance period based on the time schedule data. 【0142】 If it is during the flying performance period (Y in step S1), proceed to step S21, whereas if it is not during the flying performance period (N in step S1), it is determined whether viewpoint-related operations including viewpoint movement operations (including changing the viewpoint by avatar movement operations and motion operations) and zoom operations are disabled (step S2). 【0143】 If the viewpoint-related operation is invalid (Y in step S2), the process proceeds to step S7. If the viewpoint-related operation is not invalid (N in step S2), the process determines whether or not there is an operation that changes the viewpoint, such as an operation of moving an avatar or an operation of moving an avatar (step S3), and if there is an operation (Y in step S3), the viewer viewpoint is changed according to the operation, and if there is no operation (N in step S3), the process proceeds to step S5, and determines whether or not there is a zoom operation (step S5). 【0144】 If a zoom operation is performed (Y in step S5), the image area displayed on the display device 310 is changed to an image area corresponding to the operation, and if a zoom operation is not performed (N in step S5), it is determined whether or not a motion tracking setting is present (step S7). 【0145】 This motion tracking setting can be arbitrarily set by the viewer user on the viewer terminal 300, for example, before the start of a live performance or during a live performance, depending on the type of device used by the viewer user and his / her level of proficiency in the operation. Specifically, the motion tracking setting is set in cases where, for example, the viewer user is not familiar with operating the operation input device 321 such as a touch panel, keyboard, or game controller, or is not familiar with changing the viewpoint by operating the avatar to move or move, or, as will be described later, the virtual participation position of the viewer user's avatar is far from the performer avatar 1 and the viewer user is zoomed in and displayed in an enlarged manner, so that even a slight movement of the performer avatar 1 prevents the performer avatar 1 from being displayed appropriately, and so on, and the viewer user is unable to change the viewpoint in response to the movement or movement of the performer avatar 1. 【0146】 If there is no motion following setting (N in step S7), the process proceeds to step S11. If there is a motion following setting (Y in step S7), it is further determined whether or not the motion following condition is satisfied (step S8). 【0147】 In this embodiment 1, the motion tracking condition is a condition under which it is almost certain that the performer avatar 1 will no longer be displayed clearly on the display device 310. Specifically, when the head (or face) of the performer avatar 1 is within a specified range around the display area of ​​the display device 310, it is highly likely that the movement or motion of the performer avatar 1 will cause the head (face) to move outside the display area, causing it to no longer be displayed clearly, and therefore it is determined that the motion tracking condition is met. 【0148】 In this way, in the first embodiment, by determining that the motion tracking condition is met before the head (face) of the performer avatar 1 disappears from the display area, it is possible to significantly reduce the occurrence of the head (face) of the performer avatar 1 disappearing from the display area, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these motion tracking conditions may be a condition that the head (face) moves out of the display area, or other conditions may be used as the motion tracking conditions. In other words, any conditions may be used as the motion tracking conditions as long as they can prevent the performer avatar 1 from disappearing from the display area in a good manner. 【0149】 If the action tracking condition is met (Y in step S8), after disabling the viewpoint-related operations (step S12), the viewpoint image displayed in the display area of ​​display device 310 is automatically changed to a motion tracking viewpoint in which the head (face) of performer avatar 1 is within a non-metable range surrounded by a predetermined range around the display area, and the viewpoint image seen from the motion tracking viewpoint is displayed in the display area of ​​display device 310 (step S13). 【0150】 On the other hand, if the action tracking condition is not met (N in step S8), it is further determined whether or not the viewpoint-related operation is disabled (step S9). If the viewpoint-related operation is disabled (Y in step S9), the disabled viewpoint-related operation is enabled (step S10) and then the process proceeds to step S11. If the viewpoint-related operation is not disabled (N in step S9), the process proceeds to step S11 without going through step S10. 【0151】 In step 11, since the motion tracking setting is not set or the motion tracking condition is not satisfied, the viewpoint video of the viewer avatar is continuously displayed in the display area of ​​display device 310 (step S11). 【0152】 Also, as mentioned above, if the flying performance period in which the performer avatar 1 virtually flies during a live performance has begun, the answer in step S1 is determined to be Y, and the process proceeds to step S21, where it is determined whether or not it is the start timing of the flying performance period (step S21). 【0153】 If it is the start timing of the flying performance period (Y in step S21), the flying viewpoint image distributed from the distribution server computer 100 is displayed (step S22) in place of the viewer avatar's viewpoint image or action-tracking viewpoint image that was displayed in the display area of ​​the display device 310 before the start of the flying performance period, and then viewpoint-related operations are disabled (step S23) and the process returns to step S1. 【0154】 In this embodiment 1, during the flying performance period, the same flying viewpoint video is displayed on the viewer terminals 300 of all viewer users. Instead of generating the flying viewpoint video on each viewer terminal 300 side, as in the case of viewer avatar viewpoint videos which are different for each viewer user, the flying viewpoint video is generated on the distribution server computer 100 side and distributed to the viewer terminals 300. This allows the flying viewpoint video, which involves movement of the viewpoint in the air and therefore imposes a large rendering load on the viewer terminals 300, to be displayed well even on viewer terminals 300 with low processing capabilities. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these flying viewpoint videos may be generated on the individual viewer terminals 300 side, in the same way as viewer avatar viewpoint videos. 【0155】 On the other hand, if it is not the start timing of the flying effect period (N in step S21), it is further determined whether it is the end timing of the flying effect period (step S24). 【0156】 Whether or not it is the end timing of the flying performance period may be determined based on data indicating the end contained in the flying viewpoint video data transmitted from the distribution server computer 100, or may be determined based on the aforementioned performance status data that is different from the flying viewpoint video. 【0157】 If it is not the end of the flying performance period (N in step S24), that is, if it is during the flying performance period, proceed to step S26, update the flying viewpoint video, and then return to step 1; on the other hand, if it is the end of the flying performance period (Y in step S24), enable viewpoint-related operations (step S25), proceed to step S11, display the viewer avatar's viewpoint video in the display area of ​​display device 310 in place of the flying viewpoint video that was displayed in the display area of ​​display device 310 during the flying performance period, and then return to step S1. 【0158】 Thus, each viewpoint video displayed on the viewer terminal 300 by executing the viewer viewpoint video control process shown in FIG. 20 in the viewer terminal 300 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 19. FIG. 【0159】 Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the display contents of the display device 310 when a zoom operation is performed on the viewer terminal 300 of the present embodiment 1. In the default state where no zoom operation is performed, as shown in Fig. 16(a), a viewpoint video of the video area centered on the upper body of the performer avatar 1 is displayed. In this default state, when the viewer user performs a zoom-up operation, for example, when the viewer terminal 300 is a smartphone P, by touching the "+" display (not shown), or when the viewer terminal 300 is a computer (PC), by operating the "+" key on the keyboard, as shown in Fig. 16(b), for example, a viewpoint video of the video area centered on the head (face) of the performer avatar 1 is displayed. 【0160】 On the other hand, if the viewer user performs a zoom-down operation, for example, by touching the "- " display (not shown) if the viewer terminal 300 is a smartphone P, or by operating the "- " key on the keyboard if the viewer terminal 300 is a computer (PC), a viewpoint image of the image area including the entire body of the performer avatar 1 will be displayed, as shown in Figure 16 (c), for example. 【0161】 In Figure 16, in order to make the zoom function easier to understand, the explanation was given using the viewpoint image of virtual camera C1 rather than the viewpoint of the viewer avatar, but as shown in Figure 17, zooming up and down can also be performed in the same way on the viewpoint of the viewer avatar. 【0162】 Also, although not described in detail in the viewer viewpoint image control process of Figure 20, for example, when performer avatar 1 appears on virtual stage G for the first time when a live performance begins, the viewpoint of the viewer avatar will not be directed toward performer avatar 1, and there is a possibility that the appearing performer avatar 1 will not be displayed on the viewer terminal 300 for a long period of time. Therefore, the period when performer avatar 1 first appears may be designated as an appearance performance period, and during this performance period, the viewpoint image displayed on the viewer terminal 300 may be automatically switched to the viewpoint image of virtual camera C1, etc., instead of the viewpoint image of the viewer avatar, and individual viewer users may be allowed to zoom in and perform other operations on the viewpoint images of virtual camera C1, etc. 【0163】 17 shows, as an example of a viewpoint image of a viewer avatar, the viewpoint image of viewer avatar 28 who is virtually participating in the fourth area. As shown in Fig. 17, the viewpoint image of viewer avatar 28 includes the heads of viewer avatar 13 and viewer avatar 14 who are virtually participating in the third area, and the image shows performer avatar 1 seen through the heads of viewer avatar 13 and viewer avatar 14. 【0164】 Therefore, the viewer user of viewer avatar 28 can enjoy the live performance by, for example, performing a zoom-in operation to change the image area so that the upper body of performer avatar 1 is displayed primarily, as shown in Figure 17(b), thereby preventing viewer avatar 13 and viewer avatar 14 from being displayed. 【0165】 However, in the zoomed-in state as shown in Figure 17(b), for example, as the live performance progresses and the performer avatar 1 begins to move and make large movements, if the viewer user is unable to properly change the viewpoint of the viewer avatar 28 to match the movements of the performer avatar 1, the performer avatar 1 may not be displayed properly, as shown in Figures 18(d)-(f).If the viewer user has to pay attention to adjusting the viewpoint, it may become difficult to concentrate on the live performance and they may not be able to enjoy it well. 【0166】 However, in this Example 1, when the viewer user sets the motion tracking setting as described above, as shown in Figures 18(a) to (c), the head of the performer avatar 1 enters within a specified peripheral area of ​​the display area, the motion tracking condition is met, the viewpoint is automatically changed to the motion tracking viewpoint, and the viewpoint image of the motion tracking viewpoint is displayed. Therefore, the viewer user does not need to pay attention to operating the viewpoint, and can concentrate on the live performance and enjoy it to the fullest. 【0167】 Then, as the live performance progresses and the flying performance period begins, as shown in Figure 19, the viewpoint images of the individual viewer avatars are automatically changed to flying viewpoint images seen from a virtual camera moving in the air, without any operation by the viewer user. 【0168】 Specifically, before the performer avatar 1 takes off in virtual flight, an image is displayed in which a wing object grows on the back of the performer avatar 1. Then, the performer avatar 1 looks up at a virtual aerial star object 50 virtually placed in the second area of ​​the virtual live venue, and the viewpoint of the viewer avatar moves in the same way. At this time, light effects 61 appear around the performer avatar 1. 【0169】 Thereafter, when the performer avatar 1 enters virtual flight, the viewpoint image displayed on the display device 310 automatically switches from the viewpoint image of the viewer avatar in FIG. 19(b) to a flying viewpoint image seen from a virtual camera moving in the air, as shown in FIG. 19(c). 【0170】 During the flying performance period, the aerial moving virtual cameras move within the second area based on a pre-set aerial trajectory as described above, and the flying viewpoint images seen from these aerial moving virtual cameras moving in the air are displayed on the display device 310 as shown in Figure 19(d). 【0171】 <Modification of Example 1> In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the general action (first action) is an action of the performer avatar 1 standing without moving to the virtual stage G, the special action (second action) is an action of the performer avatar 1 flying virtually, and the specific action (third action) is an action of the performer avatar 1 moving rapidly in the lateral direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the actions may be actions according to the content to be distributed. For example, the general action (first action) may be an action (normal action) that the performer avatar performs for the longest period in the distributed content, the special action (second action) may be an action that is performed in a special period that is the shortest period in the distributed content, or an action that is performed least frequently, and the specific action (third action) may be an action that is performed for a shorter period than the general action (first action) but for a longer period than the special action, or an operation that is performed less frequently than the general action (first action) but more frequently than the special action. Note that the special action (second action) may include the specific action (third action). 【0172】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 1, an example was given of a form having both a function of switching the viewpoint corresponding to a special action (second action) and a function of following a specific action (third action), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the virtual space content distribution system may have only one of these functions. 【0173】 In the above-mentioned Example 1, an example was given of a form in which the viewpoint of the viewer user is changed and followed in accordance with the movements of the performer avatar, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the change and tracking of the viewpoint may be performed in accordance with specific effects such as smoke or fireworks (pillars of fire) devices, special lighting, deformation of the virtual stage G, etc., which are effects on the virtual stage G. EXAMPLES 【0174】 Next, a virtual space content delivery system according to a second embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 21 to Fig. 28. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. 【0175】 The configuration of the virtual space content distribution system of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. However, the progress of the virtual live performance is different, and therefore the period during which the viewpoint images from the virtual cameras C1 to C4 and the airborne moving virtual camera (hereinafter collectively referred to as virtual camera viewpoint images) are distributed and the entity that generates these virtual camera viewpoint images are different from those of the first embodiment, which is a characteristic feature of the second embodiment. 【0176】 21 is a diagram showing the progress of a virtual live performance delivered in a virtual space content delivery system of Example 2. In the virtual live performance of Example 2, a "live virtual space participation period" and a "pre-performance speech" period are set as periods before the start of the virtual live performance, and during the live virtual space participation period, viewer users can virtually participate in the virtual live performance venue, which is the target virtual space of the virtual live performance. 【0177】 The period up to the timing for checking whether the pre-show download has been completed, which is set just before the end of the "pre-show speech" period, is the pre-show data download (DL) period, during which the virtual space data (basic data) of the virtual live venue, avatar data of performer avatar 1, and avatar data of other viewer users who have participated virtually are downloaded (DL) as pre-show data from the distribution server computer 100 to the viewer terminals 300 of viewer users who have participated virtually during the period during which they are able to participate in the live virtual space. 【0178】 At the advance data DL completion check timing, which is the end timing of the advance data download (DL) period, it is checked whether the advance data download (DL) has been completed in each viewer terminal 300 or not. 【0179】 During the "pre-show speech" period, explanations about the virtual live show are given by video footage, etc. Therefore, by making the "pre-show speech" period a period during which advance data can be downloaded (DL), each viewer terminal 300 can also download (DL) from the distribution server computer 100 the avatar data of viewer avatars who virtually participated in the live virtual space just before the end of the participation period. 【0180】 As shown in FIG. 21, the virtual live performance of Example 2 progresses as follows: "Opening performance" → "First MC" → "First performance" → "Second MC" → "Second performance" ... "Opening performance" is a performance in which the performer avatar 1 appears on the virtual stage G. In the "First MC", the performer avatar 1 appears on the virtual stage G, greets the audience through a talk, and introduces the first performance that will be performed first. The "First performance" is a performance that includes singing and dancing by the performer avatar 1 (performer), and also includes a flying performance in the middle of the performance, in which the performer avatar 1 virtually flies through the virtual live venue and is virtually captured by a virtual camera moving in the air. In the "Second MC", the performer avatar 1 (performer) mainly introduces the second performance through a talk. The "second performance" includes singing and dancing by the performer avatar 1 (performer), and also includes a costume change performance using footage virtually captured by the virtual camera C1 of the performer avatar 1 changing clothes, and a clone performance using footage virtually captured by the virtual camera C1 of the performer avatar 1 cloned into multiple people. 【0181】 The processing load on the delivery server computer 100 during each period in which these effects and programs are performed is the lowest at "low" during the period in which participation in the live virtual space is possible, while it is the highest at "high" during the period in which the special effects "flying effect", "costume change effect", and "double-ego effect" are performed. The processing load on the delivery server computer 100 during the period of the "first performance" from the "introduction", "opening effect", "first MC", and "flying effect" is "medium", and the processing load is also "medium" during the period of the "first performance" after the "flying effect", the period of the "second performance" until the "second MC" and "costume change effect", the period of the "second performance" from the "costume change effect" to the "double-ego effect" is also "medium", and the period of the "second performance" after the "double-ego effect" is also "medium". 【0182】 Next, regarding each period in the virtual live in Example 2, we will explain the viewpoint images that can be viewed on the viewer terminal 300. During the period during which participation in the live virtual space is possible, from the time of virtual participation until the start of the "pre-show speech," only the viewer avatar viewpoint images can be displayed. 【0183】 Then, when the "pre-show speech" starts, only the virtual camera viewpoint video, specifically, the viewpoint video of virtual camera C1, can be displayed. In this way, the viewpoint video of the virtual camera is the only one used in the "pre-show speech" even though it is before the start of the virtual live performance. Since the pre-show speech includes an explanation of precautions regarding the virtual live performance, the purpose is to prevent a viewer user from not viewing the pre-show speech being performed on virtual stage G due to the viewer avatar viewpoint video being displayed on viewer terminal 300. 【0184】 As described below, these virtual camera viewpoint images of the "introduction" are generated by the distribution server computer 100 and distributed to each viewer terminal 300, so that they can be displayed even on viewer terminals 300 that have not yet completed downloading the advance data. 【0185】 For viewer terminals 300 for which the pre-data download has been completed at the above-mentioned pre-data download completion check timing, the viewer avatar viewpoint image can be displayed in addition to the virtual camera viewpoint image during the period of the "first performance" from the "first MC" to the "flying performance", as well as during the period after the "flying performance". 【0186】 On the other hand, for viewer terminals 300 that have not completed downloading the advance data at the above-mentioned advance data download completion check timing, the viewer avatar viewpoint video cannot be generated accurately, so the virtual camera viewpoint video generated in the distribution server computer 100 is distributed, making it possible to display only the virtual camera viewpoint video during the entire virtual live broadcast, and it is not possible to display the viewer avatar viewpoint video. 【0187】 Furthermore, among the images of the "Flying Performance," "Costume Change Performance," and "Double Ego Performance," which have a "high" processing load on the distribution server computer 100, the virtual camera viewpoint images of virtual camera C1 for the "Costume Change Performance" and "Double Ego Performance," as well as the virtual camera viewpoint images during the second performance period other than these "Costume Change Performance" and "Double Ego Performance," are generated on each viewer terminal 300 rather than on the distribution server computer 100, thereby making it possible to reduce the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 for generating the virtual camera viewpoint images of virtual camera C1 for these "Costume Change Performance" and "Double Ego Performance." 【0188】 Furthermore, since the processing load for the "flying performance" period is high on the distribution server computer 100, it is possible to generate the "flying performance" at the viewer terminal 300, similar to the "costume change performance" and "doppelganger performance". In this case, detailed trajectory data of the movement trajectory of the virtual camera moving through the virtual live venue needs to be distributed in advance to each viewer terminal 300 to generate the video. Therefore, in Example 2, the video for the "flying performance" is generated and distributed at the distribution server computer 100, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the video for the "flying performance" may also be generated at each viewer terminal 300 in order to reduce the processing load on the distribution server computer 100. 【0189】 Here, the participant user table used in the distribution server computer 100 of the second embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 【0190】 The participant user table is a data table used to identify the participation status of viewer users in a virtual live event and the download status of pre-data for each virtual live event registered in the event data shown in Figure 7, and as shown in Figure 23, is a table that can store data such as participation identification data (participation identification flag) that can identify the participation status of the participant (viewer user) in correspondence with a participant ID (viewer user ID), and pre-data DL identification data (pre-data DL identification flag) that can identify the participation area of ​​the participant (viewer user) and the download status of the pre-data. 【0191】 In addition, the participant ID field contains all the viewer user IDs of the prospective participants described in the file of each participant group stored in the event data corresponding to the virtual live. 【0192】 The participation identification data (participation identification flag) is registered as "0" corresponding to a non-participating state when a participant ID (viewer user ID) is registered, and is updated to "1" indicating participation when the participation of each participant (viewer user) is permitted by authentication. Therefore, the participation identification data (participation identification flag) makes it possible to identify, among the viewer users who are scheduled to participate, those who are participating and those who could not participate for some reason. 【0193】 The participation area data is data that can identify whether the participation area of ​​each participant (viewer user) is the third area or the fourth area, and is registered when the participation of each participant (viewer user) is permitted by authentication. 【0194】 The pre-data DL identification data (pre-data DL identification flag) is updated from "0" indicating incomplete to "1" indicating complete if the download (DL) of the pre-data is completed based on a check as to whether or not the download (DL) of the pre-data is completed at the pre-data DL completion check timing described above. Therefore, by using this pre-data DL identification data (pre-data DL identification flag), it is possible to easily identify all participants (viewer users) who have not completed the download (DL) of the pre-data among the participants (viewer users) virtually participating. 【0195】 Next, a flow of downloading advance data when a viewer user virtually participates in a virtual live concert venue in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 【0196】 First, in a viewer program (viewing application) running on the viewer terminal 300, the viewer user performs an operation to participate in a virtual live event in which the viewer plans to virtually participate, for example, by selecting a participation menu or operating a specific key on the keyboard to which the participation operation is assigned. 【0197】 By executing this participation operation, a participation request including the viewer user ID and authentication data for authenticating the viewer user is transmitted from the viewer terminal 300 to the distribution server computer 100. 【0198】 The delivery server computer 100 that has received the participation request executes a participant authentication process on the condition that it is a period during which participation in the live virtual space is possible. In the participant authentication process, it is determined whether the viewer user is a prospective participant of the corresponding virtual live depending on whether the viewer user ID included in the received participation request is registered as a participant ID in the participant user database corresponding to the virtual live to be participated in, and the viewer user is authenticated by comparing the authentication data included in the participation request with the authentication data described in the authentication information file identified from the authentication information file data stored in association with the viewer user ID in the viewer user data shown in Fig. 9. 【0199】 If the viewer user is a prospective participant and has been authenticated using the authentication data, the participant identification data (participation identification flag) in the participant user table is updated to "1" corresponding to "participation." 【0200】 The delivery server computer 100 then transmits (responds to) advance data DL command information to the viewer terminal 300 that sent the participation request, to cause the viewer terminal 300 to download advance data corresponding to the virtual live event to be participated in. By receiving the advance data DL command information, the viewer terminal 300 can confirm that participation has been permitted. 【0201】 In response to receiving the advance data DL instruction information, the viewer terminal 300 identifies advance data to be downloaded, and transmits to the delivery server computer 100 an advance data DL request requesting the download of the identified advance data. 【0202】 In response to receiving this advance data DL request, the delivery server computer 100 executes an advance data transmission process. 【0203】 In this advance data transmission process, the requested advance data is transmitted to the viewer terminal 300 that sent the advance data DL request. As described above, the advance data includes the virtual space data (basic data) of the virtual live venue, the avatar data of the performer avatar 1, and the avatar data of other viewer users who are already participating virtually. 【0204】 In the advance data transmission process, the avatar data of the viewer user who has sent the advance data DL request is additionally distributed as advance data to the viewer terminals 300 other than the viewer terminal 300 that sent the advance data DL request and which are viewer terminals 300 of viewer users whose participation has already been confirmed by the participant data table. As a result, the avatar data of all viewer users who are virtually participating in the virtual live show are distributed in advance to and stored in the viewer terminals 300 of each viewer user who is virtually participating in the virtual live show, together with the virtual space data (basic data) and the avatar data of the performer avatars. 【0205】 Then, at the pre-data download completion check timing described above (see FIG. 21), the pre-data stored in the viewer terminal 300 is checked to see whether all the pre-data has been downloaded, and if the pre-data download has been completed, the pre-data DL identification data (pre-data DL identification flag) in the participant user table is updated from "0", indicating incomplete, to "1", indicating complete. 【0206】 Furthermore, for participants (viewer users) whose pre-data download identification data (pre-data DL identification flag) remains at "0", indicating incomplete download, because the pre-data download has not been completed, only the virtual camera viewpoint image can be displayed, as described above. 【0207】 Next, a situation in which the subject from which various viewpoint videos displayed on the viewer terminal 300 are generated changes during each period of the virtual live will be described with reference to Figs. 24 to 27. 【0208】 First, during the live virtual space participation period when only the viewer avatar viewpoint video can be displayed on the viewer terminal 300, the virtual space data already stored in the viewer terminal 300 is sequentially updated by receiving the advance data based on the virtual space update data including the performer avatar action data for generating the action of the performer avatar 1 that performs the action linked to the action of the performer user, which is transmitted from the distribution server computer 100, as shown in Fig. 24, and the viewer viewpoint video generation process is executed in the viewer terminal 300 based on the updated virtual space data to generate the viewer avatar viewpoint video, which is output (displayed) by the video output process. Note that, although the performer terminal 200 is omitted in Fig. 24, the virtual space update data is also transmitted to the performer terminal 200 as shown in Fig. 10 in the first embodiment. 【0209】 Furthermore, during each of the periods of "introduction," "opening performance," and "flying performance" in which only virtual camera viewpoint video can be displayed on viewer terminals 300, as shown in Fig. 25, in the virtual space update data distribution process, distribution server computer 100 transmits virtual space update data only to performer terminals 200. Then, following the virtual space update data distribution process, a virtual camera viewpoint video generation process is executed in which a virtual camera viewpoint video is generated, and a virtual camera viewpoint video data distribution process is executed in which the video data of the virtual camera viewpoint video generated in the virtual camera viewpoint video generation process is distributed to all viewer terminals 300 participating in the virtual live. 【0210】 The virtual camera viewpoint video data distributed from distribution server computer 100 in the virtual camera viewpoint video data distribution process is displayed by executing a video output process in viewer terminal 300 that receives the virtual camera viewpoint video data. 【0211】 In other words, as shown in FIG. 27, for each period of “introduction”, “opening performance”, and “flying performance” when only virtual camera viewpoint images can be displayed, the virtual camera viewpoint images are generated in distribution server computer 100. 【0212】 In addition, during the performance period excluding the MC period and the flying performance period, when either the viewer avatar viewpoint image or the virtual camera viewpoint image can be selected and displayed on the viewer terminal 300, as shown in FIG. 26, a virtual space update data distribution process is executed in the distribution server computer 100, and virtual space update data is distributed to the viewer terminal 300 of each viewer user participating in the virtual live, thereby executing the virtual space update process in the viewer terminal 300. 【0213】 Then, in the viewer terminal 300, it is determined whether or not a viewer avatar viewpoint video has been selected as the video to be displayed. If a viewer avatar viewpoint video has been selected, a viewer avatar viewpoint video generation process is executed to generate a viewer avatar viewpoint video, similar to the flow shown in FIG. 24, and the generated viewer avatar viewpoint video is displayed by a video output process. 【0214】 On the other hand, when the viewer avatar viewpoint video is not selected as the image to be displayed, i.e., when the virtual camera viewpoint video is selected as the image to be displayed, a virtual camera viewpoint video generation process is executed in the viewer terminal 300 to generate a virtual camera viewpoint video, and the generated virtual camera viewpoint video is displayed by a video output process. 【0215】 Furthermore, the viewer user may be able to select which of the virtual cameras C1, C3, or C4 the virtual camera viewpoint image generated in this virtual camera viewpoint image should be, or the distribution server computer 100 may instruct all viewer terminals 300. 【0216】 27, during the performance period excluding the MC period and the flying performance period when either the virtual camera viewpoint video or the viewer avatar viewpoint video can be displayed on the viewer terminal 300, the virtual camera viewpoint video is generated on the viewer terminal 300. In this way, during the period when either the virtual camera viewpoint video or the viewer avatar viewpoint video can be selected and displayed on the viewer terminal 300, switching between the virtual camera viewpoint video and the viewer avatar viewpoint video is performed at the viewer user's selection, so that switching between these videos can be performed without problems such as video interruption and while preventing an increase in the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 that accompanies switching between these videos, as compared to when the virtual camera viewpoint video data is displayed by distribution from the distribution server computer 100. 【0217】 On the other hand, during each of the periods of "introduction to the performance", "opening performance", and "flying performance", in which only the virtual camera viewpoint video can be displayed on the viewer terminal 300, the virtual camera viewpoint video is generated only on the distribution server computer 100 and distributed to each viewer terminal 300. In this way, during the period in which only the virtual camera viewpoint video can be displayed on the viewer terminal 300, the virtual camera viewpoint video is generated only on the distribution server computer 100, so that it is possible to prevent the process of generating the virtual camera viewpoint video from being executed redundantly on the viewer terminal 300, thereby preventing a needless increase in the processing load of the entire system. 【0218】 Here, the situation when the viewpoint video is switched on the viewer terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 28, taking as an example a period of "flying effect" during which only the virtual camera viewpoint video can be displayed. 【0219】 For example, as shown in FIG. 28, in a viewer terminal 300 on which a viewer avatar viewpoint video is displayed during the "first MC" period and the first performance period up to the "flying performance", if the distribution server computer 100 starts distributing the virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) from the start of the "flying performance" period in which only the virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) can be displayed, the virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) will not be displayed on the viewer terminal 300 during the period from the start of these distributions until the virtual camera viewpoint video is displayed, which could result in a problem in which the viewer is unable to view the first video of the "flying performance". 【0220】 For this reason, at the start of a "flying performance" in which the viewpoint image is forcibly changed from the viewer avatar viewpoint image to the virtual camera viewpoint image (viewpoint image from a virtual camera moving in the air), as shown in FIG. 28, the distribution server computer 100 of the second embodiment sends a BF advance notification to the viewer terminal 300 at a specific timing prior to the start of the "flying performance", thereby notifying the viewer terminal 300 of the distribution start (buffering start) timing for starting advance distribution of the virtual camera viewpoint image (viewpoint image from a virtual camera moving in the air) before the start of the flying performance period. 【0221】 In response to receiving the BF advance notification, the viewer terminal 300 identifies the timing at which distribution of the virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) will begin from the distribution server computer 100, and begins buffering the received virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) from that timing. 【0222】 The timing at which distribution of these virtual camera viewpoint images (viewpoint images from virtual cameras moving in the air) begins, that is, the timing at which buffering begins, can be determined appropriately taking into account differences in the image storage functions of the viewer terminals 300, but can be set to a period corresponding to several tens of frames of image, for example. 【0223】 In this way, the distribution server computer 100 of Example 2 begins generating and distributing virtual camera viewpoint video of the flying performance (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) before the start of the flying performance period, and the viewer terminal 300 buffers the distributed virtual camera viewpoint video. Therefore, when the flying performance period begins, the video can be instantly changed from the viewer avatar viewpoint video that was displayed before the start of the flying performance period to the virtual camera viewpoint video, thereby preventing the occurrence of a problem in which the viewer is unable to view the initial video of the "flying performance". 【0224】 Furthermore, when the period of the ``flying performance'' ends, because the viewer avatar viewpoint video was selected before the ``flying performance'' began, the viewpoint video switches from the flying performance's virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from the virtual camera moving in the air) to the viewer avatar viewpoint video upon the end of the ``flying performance'' period. However, even in this case, if the viewer avatar viewpoint video is generated and displayed from the end of the ``flying performance'' period, there is a risk that a malfunction will occur in which the viewer avatar viewpoint video is not displayed on viewer terminal 300 during the period until the viewer avatar viewpoint video is generated and displayed, just as at the start of the ``flying performance''. 【0225】 For this reason, even when the period of these "flying effects" ends, the distribution server computer 100 of the second embodiment sends an end TM (timing) advance notification to the viewer terminal 300, as shown in FIG. 28, thereby notifying the viewer terminal 300 in advance of the end timing of the "flying effects" period when the distribution of the virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) will end. 【0226】 In response to receiving the end TM (timing) advance notification, the viewer terminal 300 determines in advance the timing at which the distribution of the virtual camera viewpoint video (viewpoint video from a virtual camera moving in the air) from the distribution server computer 100 will be stopped, and starts the viewer viewpoint video generation process at a specified timing before that timing, thereby pre-generating the viewer avatar viewpoint video. 【0227】 Furthermore, the distribution server computer 100 starts distributing the virtual space update data from the time of sending the end TM (timing) advance notification, and the viewer terminal 300 executes virtual space processing to update the virtual space data using the received virtual space update data, so that at the specified timing mentioned above, a viewer avatar viewpoint image that reflects the situation of the virtual live venue at that time can be generated. 【0228】 In this way, the distribution server computer 100 of Example 2 sends an end TM (timing) advance notification to the viewer terminal 300 before the end of the flying performance period, enabling the viewer terminal 300 to generate the viewer avatar viewpoint video in advance before the end of the flying performance period, thereby preventing a problem from occurring in which the viewer avatar viewpoint video is not displayed on the viewer terminal 300. 【0229】 In addition, in Figure 28, the "flying performance" is used as an example, but similar control is also performed during the "pre-show speech" and "opening performance" periods, when the viewpoint image is forcibly changed from the viewer avatar viewpoint image to the virtual camera viewpoint image. 【0230】 As described above, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 2, there are multiple viewer users, and each viewer user is assigned a viewer terminal 300. When the viewer terminal 300 displays the viewer avatar viewpoint video, which is a viewpoint video of the virtual live venue (virtual space) corresponding to the viewer avatar, the viewer avatar viewpoint video is generated based on the virtual space update data (virtual space data) transmitted from the distribution server computer 100. Since the generation of these viewer avatar viewpoint videos, which have a large processing load, is performed by the viewer terminal 300, more viewer users can participate in the virtual live. 【0231】 Furthermore, the virtual space content of Example 2 is content that allows a performer user to participate in a virtual live venue as a performer avatar 1, and is content in which the performer avatar 1 performs musical actions (performances) such as singing and dancing in the virtual live venue, thereby increasing the interest of the virtual space content. 【0232】 Furthermore, since the virtual space update data (virtual space data) of Example 2 includes movement data for the performer avatar for generating the movements of the performer avatar 1, the movements of the performer avatar 1 can be accurately reflected in the viewer avatar viewpoint image generated in the viewer terminal 300. 【0233】 In addition, the common viewpoint video displayed in common on each viewer terminal 300 in Example 2, such as the video of the "pre-show speech," "opening performance," and "early performance," is generated in the distribution server computer 100 and distributed to each viewer terminal 300, thereby preventing unnecessary increase in the processing load of the entire system due to duplicate processing being executed in each viewer terminal 300. 【0234】 Furthermore, in the viewer terminal 300 of Example 2, during the performance period (specific period) other than the "MC period" and "flying performance" periods, during which either the viewer avatar view point video or the virtual camera view point video can be selected and displayed, the virtual camera view point video is generated and displayed in the viewer terminal 300, thereby preventing problems such as video interruptions when the view point video is switched. 【0235】 In addition, during special periods such as "costume change performance" and "doppelganger performance" when the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 in Example 2 is high, each viewer terminal 300 also generates and displays the virtual camera viewpoint image (common viewpoint image), thereby preventing the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 from becoming temporarily extremely high. 【0236】 Furthermore, the distribution server computer 100 of Example 2 transmits advance data including basic data of the virtual live venue (virtual space) and basic data of the performer avatar 1 and viewer avatars who will virtually participate in the virtual live venue to each viewer terminal 300 before the virtual live starts, thereby preventing the occurrence of a problem in which the viewer avatar's viewpoint image is not displayed properly at the start of the virtual live. 【0237】 In addition, the distribution server computer 100 of Example 2 transmits virtual camera viewpoint video (common viewpoint video) to viewer terminals 300 for which it cannot confirm that they have completed receiving the advance data. In this way, it is possible to prevent the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 from increasing excessively due to the transmission of basic data, etc. after the start of the virtual live broadcast, while also preventing viewer users from being unable to watch the virtual live broadcast. 【0238】 <Modification of Example 2> FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the process of generating a viewer's viewpoint video in the modification 2-1 of the second embodiment. 【0239】 In the above-mentioned Example 2, a form has been shown in which viewer avatar viewpoint images including the movements of the performer avatar 1 are always generated uniformly, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these viewer avatar viewpoint images may be generated in a number of ways with different processing loads in image generation, depending on the selection of the viewer user at the viewer terminal 300. 【0240】 In other words, as the viewer terminal 300 used by the viewer user, as exemplified in Example 1, it is expected that terminals with different processing capabilities will be used, such as a desktop personal computer (PC) with high processing capabilities, or a smartphone terminal or tablet terminal with relatively lower processing capabilities than a personal computer (PC). However, if the viewer avatar viewpoint video is always generated uniformly on terminals with such different processing capabilities, the viewer avatar viewpoint video may not be generated properly on a terminal with low processing capabilities, which may result in a misalignment between the viewer avatar viewpoint video and audio, or the viewer avatar viewpoint video may become discontinuous and unnatural. Therefore, for example, when generating viewer avatar viewpoint video including performer movements, it may be possible to allow the viewer to select appropriately depending on the processing capabilities of the terminal he or she is using whether to generate viewer avatar viewpoint video including high-definition performer movements, which requires a high processing load for generating the video, or to generate viewer avatar viewpoint video including low-definition performer movements, which requires a low processing load for generating the video. 【0241】 Specifically, the viewer viewpoint video generation process executed in the viewer terminal 300 may be as shown in the flow diagram of Fig. 29, and in the viewer viewpoint video generation process, first, the performer movement generation mode selected by the viewer user in the viewer terminal 300 is identified (step S101). Then, it is determined whether the identified performer movement generation mode is a high processing load mode (step S102), and if the high processing load mode is selected (Y in step S102), a viewer avatar viewpoint video including high-definition performer movements is generated (step S103). On the other hand, if the high processing load mode is not selected (N in step S102), a viewer avatar viewpoint video including low-definition performer movements is generated (step S104). 【0242】 Although FIG. 29 shows an example of two modes, a high processing load mode and a low processing load mode, the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing load modes may be three or more modes. 【0243】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 2 (which is also the same as Example 1), an example is given in which all actions, including the movement of the viewer avatar of the viewer user, are reflected in each viewer avatar by distributing virtual space update data, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case where the actions of these viewer avatars are actions that cannot normally be performed but become possible when a special fee is paid, for example, an operation to perform a special action that allows the viewer avatar to appeal to the performer avatar 1, the special action is directed to the performer user and not to other viewer users, so it is possible to prevent the virtual space update data including these special actions from being distributed to the viewer terminals 300 of other viewer users, thereby preventing an excessive increase in the processing load of the distribution server computer 100 by making these special actions executable. 【0244】 In this way, if virtual space update data including special actions is not distributed to viewer terminals 300 of other viewer users, as shown in variant example 2-2 of Figure 30, when viewer user A performs an operation corresponding to the special action, causing viewer user A's viewer avatar to perform a special action, virtual space update data A corresponding to viewer user A's viewer avatar performing the special action is transmitted from the distribution server computer 100 to viewer terminal 300 of viewer user A, but virtual space update data B in which viewer user A's viewer avatar is not performing the special action is distributed to viewer terminal 300 of viewer user B, who is different from viewer user A. 【0245】 Therefore, different virtual space update data is delivered from the distribution server computer 100 to the viewer terminal 300 of viewer user A and the viewer terminal 300 of viewer user B, thereby increasing the flexibility of the virtual space update data and making it possible to generate different viewer avatar viewpoint images on the viewer terminal 300 of viewer user A and the viewer terminal 300 of viewer user B. 【0246】 Furthermore, viewer terminal 300 of viewer user A can generate and display an image of viewer avatar of viewer user A performing a special action different from the actions that viewer avatar of viewer user B is capable of performing based on virtual space update data A that is different from virtual space update data B delivered to viewer terminal 300 of viewer user B, thereby increasing viewer user A's interest in the virtual live performance, which is the virtual space content. 【0247】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 2 (which is also the same as Example 1), the viewer avatars of viewer users virtually participating in the fourth area are illustrated as normal avatars in which the avatar appearance differs for each viewer user, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to reduce the processing load when generating various viewpoint images in a virtual live performance, the viewer avatars of viewer users virtually participating in the fourth area may be simplified avatars in which the avatar appearance is simplified. 【0248】 Note that Figure 30 shows an example of executing a special action that becomes possible when a special fee is paid. However, for example, in the case of using a simplified avatar as described above, normal actions other than the movement of the simplified avatar, such as waving, clapping, and changing the direction of the viewer avatar, may be prevented from being included in the virtual space update data distributed to other viewer users, just like special actions, thereby further reducing the processing load on the distribution server computer 100. EXAMPLES 【0249】 Next, a virtual space content delivery system according to a third embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 31 to Fig. 41. Note that the same components as those in the first and second embodiments will be given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. 【0250】 The configuration of the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3 is the same as that of Examples 1 and 2 shown in Figure 1, but the progress of the virtual live performance differs from that of Examples 1 and 2, and a chemical light action (see Figure 33) of swinging a rod-shaped chemical light K (hereinafter abbreviated as chemical light K), which emits light by mixing the filled chemicals, from side to side can be performed, which is a content-compatible action that is not executable as an action of a viewer avatar in Examples 1 and 2. The characteristic part of this Example 3 is that the control related to these chemical light actions differs from that of Examples 1 and 2. 【0251】 31 is a diagram showing the progress of a virtual live performance delivered in a virtual space content delivery system of Example 3. In the virtual live performance of Example 3, a "live virtual space participation period" and a "pre-show speech" period are set as periods before the start of the virtual live performance, and viewer users can virtually participate in the target virtual space of the virtual live performance during the live virtual space participation period. 【0252】 In addition, the period from the live virtual space participation period to the end of the advance data download timing (not shown), which is set just before the end of the "pre-show speech" period, is the advance data download (DL) period, as in Example 2, and the virtual space data (basic data) of the virtual live venue, avatar data of performer avatar 1, and avatar data of other viewer users who have virtually participated during the live virtual space participation period are downloaded (DL) as advance data from the distribution server computer 100 to the viewer terminal 300 of the viewer user who has virtually participated during the live virtual space participation period. 【0253】 During the "pre-show talk" period, similar to the second embodiment, an explanation of the upcoming virtual live show is presented through video footage or the like. 【0254】 As shown in Fig. 31, the virtual live performance in Example 3 progresses as follows: "Opening performance" -> "First MC" -> "First performance" -> "Second MC" -> "Second performance" -> "Third MC" -> "Third performance", etc. The "Opening performance", "First MC", and "Second (3rd) MC" are the same as those in Example 2. The "First performance", "Second performance", "Third performance", etc. include singing and dancing by performer avatar 1 (performer). 【0255】 Just before the end of each period of the "1st MC," "2nd MC," and "3rd MC," the timing for executing the delay action determination process (see Figure 37) for determining the participant (viewer user) who will perform the delay action in the chem-light operation is set, so that a different participant (viewer user) is determined as the participant (viewer user) who will perform the delay action in each of the "1st performance," "2nd performance," "3rd performance," etc. 【0256】 In the virtual live performance of Example 3, during each period in which each performance or program is performed, the actions that the performer avatar 1 can perform include, in addition to normal actions of moving parts of the avatar such as the hands, feet, and head, actions of moving around the virtual stage G and actions related to talking in the opening performance in which the performer avatar 1 appears, as shown in Fig. 31. Note that, in Fig. 31, normal actions that the performer avatar 1 and the viewer avatars are capable of are omitted due to space limitations. 【0257】 Also, during the MC periods of "1st MC", "2nd MC", "3rd MC", etc., in addition to normal actions, actions related to moving on the virtual stage G and talking can be performed, as in the "opening performance", and during the performance periods of "1st performance", "2nd performance", "3rd performance", etc., in addition to normal actions, singing and dancing can be performed. Incidentally, dancing actions may include actions of moving on the virtual stage G. 【0258】 In each period of the virtual live in the third embodiment, the viewer avatar of a participant (viewer user) who virtually participated in the virtual live venue can perform actions other than normal actions of moving parts of the avatar such as hands, feet, and head, as well as non-synchronized chemilight actions in which the timing and speed of waving the chemilight K of each participant (viewer user) are not synchronized, as performed by the viewer avatar 12 and the viewer avatar 13 in Fig. 32, during the period before the live starts (period during which the participant can participate in the virtual space and the pre-show opening speech period), the opening performance period, and each MC period, and can move within the virtual live venue, as performed by the viewer avatar 11 and the viewer avatar 14 in Fig. 32(A). Note that in Fig. 32, the viewer avatar participating in the fourth area is shown in a simplified manner for convenience, but is an avatar similar to the viewer avatars 11 to 14, and can perform the same actions as the viewer avatars 11 to 14. 【0259】 Incidentally, the non-synchronized chemilight action is an action of shaking the chemilight K from side to side at any speed (tone) of speed 1 to speed 5 individually selected as a default by the viewer user at each viewer terminal 300, as will be described later. 【0260】 In addition to normal actions, the viewer avatars of the participants (viewer users) who are virtually participating in each performance period of "First Performance", "Second Performance", "Third Performance", etc. can perform synchronized chemilight actions, such as the actions of viewer avatars 11 to 14 as shown in Fig. 32(B), in which the timing and speed of the viewer avatars of each participant (viewer user) shaking the chemilight K are synchronized according to various information (see Fig. 33) transmitted from the distribution server computer 100. In other words, in the third embodiment, the movement of the viewer avatars is prohibited during each performance period in which the performer avatar is performing a performance, and this can prevent the movement of these viewer avatars during each performance period from having a negative effect on the virtual live performance, for example, from interfering with the viewing of other viewer avatars due to collisions with other viewer avatars, or from causing a decrease in the performer's concentration due to the movement. 【0261】 Furthermore, the Chemilight action is not an action that can be performed by the viewer avatars of all participants (viewer users) who virtually participate in the virtual live, but is only an action that can be performed by the viewer avatars of participants (viewer users) who have purchased the Chemilight K virtual item in advance.Therefore, even if a viewer avatar is virtually participating in the virtual live, if the viewer avatar does not possess Chemilight K, the viewer avatar cannot perform the Chemilight action, and therefore there will be viewer avatars that do not perform the Chemilight action during each performance period. 【0262】 Using Figures 40 and 41, we will explain the situation in which movement, which is an action of the viewer avatar, is prohibited on the personal computer (PC) that the viewer user is using as the viewer terminal 300.When the viewer user performs an operation to display the action menu during the pre-live period or each MC period when the performer avatar 1 is not performing, the avatar action operation process is executed on the viewer terminal 300, and the action menus for "Move" and "Chemical Light" are displayed in an active (enabled) state, as shown in Figure 40 (B), thereby notifying the viewer that both the actions of "Move" and "Chemical Light" can be performed, and the viewer user can have the viewer avatar perform either the action of "Move" or "Chemical Light" by selecting and inputting a selection. 【0263】 In addition, in Figures 40 and 41, in order to simplify the explanation, items such as normal operations other than the "Movement" and "Chemilite" operations have been omitted, and it goes without saying that items other than these "Movement" and "Chemilite" items may be included. 【0264】 On the other hand, if the viewer user performs an operation to display the action menu during the performance period when performer avatar 1 is performing, as described above, movement is prohibited, and as a result, the avatar action operation processing will display only the "Chemilite" action menu in an active (enabled) state, and the "Move" action menu in an inactive (disabled) state, as shown in Figure 41, so that the viewer user can cause the viewer avatar to perform the "Chemilite" action by selecting it, but cannot cause it to perform the "Move" action. 【0265】 In addition, the movement restriction of the viewer avatar by controlling the display of these action menus may be performed by executing avatar movement operation processing on the viewer terminal 300 side, and determining whether or not the current time is during the performance period based on BPM information and start of dance information. Alternatively, at each point during the virtual live performance, the distribution server computer 100 may generate movement restriction information sequentially that can specify whether each movement of the viewer avatar can be performed or not, and distribute this information to each viewer terminal 300, so that the viewer terminal 300 can perform the movement restriction based on the movement restriction information. Alternatively, instead of transmitting this movement restriction information, the viewer terminal 300 may temporarily accept operations corresponding to the movements, and the distribution server computer 100 may determine whether the accepted movements are valid or invalid. 【0266】 Next, in order to perform synchronized chemi-lighting operations as described above, information transmitted from the distribution server computer 100 to each viewer terminal 300 is shown in Fig. 31 and Fig. 33(A). Specifically, along with the virtual space update data explained in the first embodiment, the distribution server computer 100 transmits BPM (beats per minute) information, chemi-lighting operation information, and delay operation information, as shown in Fig. 33(A). 【0267】 In addition to the BPM information, chemilight action information, and delayed action information, as shown in Figures 31 and 35, swing start information that can identify the timing at which each viewer avatar performing the chemilight action will start swinging the chemilight K at the start of each performance is transmitted from the distribution server computer 100 to each viewer terminal 300 at a timing a predetermined period (the period at which the viewer avatar's actions stop) before the start of each performance, and each viewer avatar performing the chemilight action starts swinging the chemilight K based on the timing identified by the swing start information (in Example 3, this is approximately the same timing as the start of the performance), so that the chemilight actions of each viewer avatar are synchronized. 【0268】 The swing start information in the third embodiment is information that specifies the timing a predetermined period after the timing of receiving the swing start information, that is, information that can identify the length of the predetermined period, and each viewer terminal 300 that receives the swing start information starts a timer count from the timing of receiving the information and can identify the timing of when the Chemi-Light K will start swinging (the start of the performance), which is the timing a predetermined period after the timing of receiving the information, based on the timing when the timer expires. 【0269】 In addition, in Example 3, as shown in FIG. 31, during the period before the swing start information is transmitted a predetermined time before the start of the performance, the movement of the viewer avatar performed by the viewer C avatar and the asynchronous chemi-lighting action performed by the viewer A avatar and the viewer B avatar at the default swing speed are possible. However, during the predetermined period from the transmission of the swing start information to the start of the performance, which is the start timing of the synchronized chemi-lighting action specified by the swing start information, all actions of the viewer avatar are stopped (prohibited). This enables each viewer avatar to properly start the synchronized chemi-lighting action, and avoids the viewer feeling uncomfortable when suddenly transitioning from an asynchronous chemi-lighting action to a synchronized chemi-lighting action with a different swing speed, etc. In addition, in the third embodiment, the BPM (beats per minute) information described below is distributed in advance from the timing of sending the start of the dance information, which is a predetermined period before the start of the performance, so that the chemi-light movements synchronized with the music can start properly from the beginning. This also prevents the BPM information from being erroneously reflected in non-synchronized chemi-light movements. 【0270】 BPM (beats per minute) information indicates the number of beats in a song per minute, and the faster the song, the higher the BPM value, and the slower the song, the lower the BPM value. BPM (beats per minute) information is written as data that can specify the interval between beats and the timing of the beats corresponding to these BPM values, and by specifying the timing of the beats as the BPM reference timing (see FIG. 33) from the BPM information and operating so that one cycle of swinging the chemilight K from side to side is completed at the interval between these beats, the speed of the chemilight movement can be made to match the speed (tempo) of the song being performed in each performance, and the speed of the chemilight movement of each viewer avatar can be made to match the same speed. 【0271】 In the third embodiment, as described above, the BPM information is distributed in advance from the transmission timing, with the start of the dance movement information being a predetermined period before the start of the performance, but the BPM information distributed during this predetermined period is not reflected in the asynchronous chem-light movements of the viewer avatar, and the viewer terminal 300 can determine the manner of the synchronized chem-light movements in advance, prior to the start of the performance, from the beats and the periods between beats identified from the BPM information transmitted in advance. In this way, by the viewer terminal 300 being used to determine the manner of the synchronized chem-light movements in advance, these synchronized chem-light movements can be executed accurately from the start of the performance. 【0272】 The chemilight action information is information for identifying the viewer avatars performing the chemilight action among the viewer avatars virtually participating in the virtual live. That is, as described above, the viewer avatars who have not purchased the chemilight K in advance are not capable of performing the chemilight action, and there are also viewer avatars who have purchased the chemilight K in advance but have not performed the chemilight action. Therefore, for all the viewer avatars virtually participating in the virtual live, data describing whether or not they are performing the chemilight action is transmitted to each viewer terminal 300 as the chemilight action information, so that when each viewer terminal 300 generates a viewer avatar viewpoint image or a virtual camera viewpoint image, the presence or absence of the chemilight action is identified for each viewer avatar based on the chemilight action information and reflected in the viewer avatar's action. 【0273】 The delay action information is information that enables identification of viewer avatars performing the chem-light action as those performing the delay A or delay B actions shown in Figure 33 (B), and is data that describes whether all viewer avatars (viewer users) performing the chem-light action belong to the no-delay group, the delay A group, or the delay B group. 【0274】 In other words, for a viewer avatar (viewer user) that is identified by the delay action information as belonging to the "no delay" group, the viewer avatar will begin one cycle of chemilight action (one action cycle of shaking the chemilight K from side to side) without any delay (deviation) from the BPM reference timing corresponding to the beat timing identified by the BPM information, such as the chemilight action performed by viewer avatar 13 in Figure 33 (B). 【0275】 In addition, for viewer avatars (viewer users) identified by the delay action information as belonging to the "Delay A" group, the viewer avatars begin one cycle (a left and right swinging action cycle) of a chemilight action at a timing delayed by 0.1 seconds from the BPM reference timing corresponding to the beat timing identified by the BPM information, such as the chemilight action performed by viewer avatar 12 in Figure 33 (B). 【0276】 In addition, for viewer avatars (viewer users) identified by the delay action information as belonging to the "Delay B" group, the viewer avatars begin one cycle of chemilight action (a left and right swinging action cycle) at a timing delayed by 0.2 seconds from the BPM reference timing corresponding to the beat timing identified by the BPM information, such as the chemilight action performed by viewer avatar 11 in Figure 33 (B). 【0277】 The reason for sending such delayed action information to have viewer avatar 12 and viewer avatar 11 perform chemilight actions that are delayed (shifted) by 0.1 seconds or 0.2 seconds from the BPM reference timing is that, for example, if all the chemilight actions performed by the viewer avatars were to perfectly match (synchronize) based on the swing start information and BPM information, the chemilight actions would become unrealistic, which could significantly reduce the realism of the virtual live performance. Therefore, in order to increase the realism of the chemilight actions performed by the viewer avatars, the timing of the chemilight actions for some viewer avatars is deliberately shifted by a range of 0.2 seconds, which is a specified range of seconds that does not go out of sync. 【0278】 In the third embodiment, the timing of the shift is generated by delaying it from the BPM reference timing because this is easy to identify from the BPM information in the viewer terminal 300. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the timing of the Delay B group may be set to 0.1 seconds before the BPM reference timing, rather than being delayed, to make the difference from the BPM reference timing smaller. 【0279】 In addition, in the third embodiment, the maximum deviation is set to 0.2 seconds, which is a predetermined range that does not cause out-of-sync, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the maximum deviation may be any appropriate period that does not cause the listener to feel out of sync, and is not limited to a fixed number of seconds. In other words, the maximum deviation may be a variable number of seconds, such that a fast tempo song has a small number of seconds, and a slow tempo song has a large number of seconds. In such a case, for example, the number of seconds may correspond to a numerical value obtained by multiplying the reciprocal of the tempo (BPM) of the song by a predetermined percentage (e.g., 10%). 【0280】 Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the chemilight operation information and the delay operation information are treated as separate pieces of information (data), but the present invention is not limited to this, and these may be treated as one piece of data. 【0281】 In addition, in Example 3, the shift timing is set to two, 0.1 seconds and 0.2 seconds, thereby making it possible to further improve the realism of the chemilight operation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shift timing may be simplified to just one, or conversely, may be set to three or more to further improve the realism. 【0282】 In addition, in Example 3, the number of timing deviations is the same for each piece, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of timing deviations may be reduced or "none" for a piece of music with a very fast tempo, and the number of timing deviations may be increased for a piece of music with a slow tempo. In this way, the number of timing deviations may be changed depending on the piece. 【0283】 Next, a participant user table used in the delivery server computer 100 of the third embodiment is shown in Fig. 34(A). The participant user table of the third embodiment, like the participant user table of the second embodiment, is a table that can store, in association with a participant ID (viewer user ID), participation identification data (participation identification flag) capable of identifying the participation state of the participant (viewer user), the participation area of ​​the participant (viewer user), participant coordinates capable of identifying the position in the virtual live venue where the viewer avatar of the participant (viewer user) is present at that time, data on the purchase of a chemilight item capable of identifying whether or not the virtual item chemilight K has been purchased, data on the chemilight operation status capable of identifying whether or not the chemilight operation is in progress, data on the default speed capable of identifying the type of the default speed of the chemilight operation, and data on the delay type capable of identifying which of the above-mentioned groups "no delay", "delay A", and "delay B" the participant belongs to. 【0284】 In the participant ID field, all viewer user IDs of prospective participants described in the file of each participant group stored in the event data corresponding to the virtual live are registered. In addition, the participation identification data (participation identification flag) is registered as "0" corresponding to a non-participating state when the participant ID (viewer user ID) is registered, and is updated to "1" indicating participation when the participation of each participant (viewer user) is permitted by authentication. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 34(A), it can be identified that the viewer user "MID-00007" whose participation identification data (participation identification flag) is "0" is not participating in the virtual live for some reason. 【0285】 The participation area data is data that can identify whether the participation area of ​​each participant (viewer user) is the third area or the fourth area, and is registered when the participation of each participant (viewer user) is permitted by authentication. The participant coordinate data is data that is updated sequentially in the virtual space update process, and is coordinate data of the location where the viewer avatar of each participant (viewer user) is located within the virtual live venue. Therefore, from the coordinate data, the location within the virtual live venue where each viewer avatar is located at that time can be easily identified. 【0286】 The chemilite item purchase data is updated from "0" indicating that the item has not been purchased to "1" indicating that the item has been purchased in response to the purchase. Therefore, as described above, only the viewer avatar of a viewer user whose chemilite item purchase data is "1" can perform chemilite actions, and as an operation corresponding to the execution of such a chemilite action is performed, the validity or invalidity of the operation is determined in the delivery server computer 100 based on the chemilite item purchase data. 【0287】 The chemilite action status data is data that can identify whether or not the viewer avatar of each participant (viewer user) is performing a chemilite action, and when an operation corresponding to the execution of a chemilite action is executed on the viewer terminal 300 and the operation is determined to be valid, the data is updated from "0", indicating ineffective, to "1", and when an operation corresponding to non-execution (end) of the chemilite action is executed on the viewer terminal 300, the data is updated from "1", indicating execution, to "0", indicating ineffective. 【0288】 The default swing speed data is data capable of specifying the speed at which the chemilite K is swung when performing an asynchronous chemilite action, and corresponds to the speed selected by the viewer user when performing the chemilite action during a period before the start of the first performance, for example. Specifically, in the third embodiment, the viewer user can select from five speed levels ranging from a low speed 1 (P1) to a high speed 5 (P5) as these default speeds, and information on the default speeds selected by the viewer user on the viewer terminal 300 is notified to the distribution server computer 100 and registered. 【0289】 Therefore, the speed at which a viewer avatar swings the chemilight K during a period when asynchronous chemilight operation is possible is based on the default speed data associated with the viewer user ID of the viewer user to which the viewer avatar corresponds. 【0290】 The delay type data is data that identifies which group each viewer user's viewer avatar belongs to: "no delay," "delay A," or "delay B" as described above. If it belongs to "no delay," "N" is registered; if it belongs to "delay A," "A" is registered; and if it belongs to "delay B," "B" is registered. 【0291】 Here, the flow of determining whether a viewer avatar is assigned to the "no delay", "delay A", or "delay B" group will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 37. FIG. 【0292】 The division into these groups "no delay", "delay A", and "delay B" is performed by the delivery server computer 100 executing the delay performer determination process shown in FIG. 【0293】 In addition, the timing at which the delay performer determination process is executed in the delivery server computer 100 is not just once, but is executed at multiple timings immediately before the start of each performance, as shown in Fig. 31. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the viewer avatars belonging to "No Delay", "Delay A", and "Delay B" change for each performance. 【0294】 In this way, in the delayed performer determination process executed immediately before the start of each performance, first, as shown in Fig. 37(A), all viewer avatars performing the chem-lighting action are identified (step S201). Specifically, it is sufficient to identify all participant IDs (viewer user IDs) in which "1" is registered as the chem-lighting action status data at that time in the participant user table shown in Fig. 34(A). 【0295】 Then, from the viewer avatars performing the identified chemical light actions, a viewer avatar performing a chemical light action of "delay A" and a viewer avatar performing a chemical light action of "delay B" are selected based on the determination ratios in the determination table shown in Figure 37 (B) (step S202). 【0296】 As shown in FIG. 37(B), the determination ratio in Example 3 is exemplified as follows: the viewer avatars performing the chemilighting action of "Delay A" are 20% of the total viewer avatars performing the chemilighting action, and the viewer avatars performing the chemilighting action of "Delay B" are 10% of the total viewer avatars performing the chemilighting action. In this way, the larger the deviation, the smaller the determination ratio is, which is preferable because the deviation state becomes more realistic, but these determination ratios may be determined appropriately. However, it is preferable that the combined ratio of "Delay A" and "Delay B" does not exceed 50%. 【0297】 In addition, in Example 3, an example is given in which these determination ratios are set to one, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to provide multiple determination tables with different determination ratios, and change the determination ratio by changing the determination table to be used depending on the music in the program. 【0298】 The specific method of selection is not limited, but for example, a determination number 1 is calculated by multiplying the total number M of viewer avatars performing the chemilight action identified in step S201 by 10%, which is the determination ratio corresponding to "Delay B", and a determination number 2 is calculated by multiplying the total number M of viewer avatars performing the chemilight action identified in step S201 by 10%, which is the determination ratio corresponding to "Delay B". A lottery is then held among the viewer avatars performing the chemilight action identified in step S201 until the determination number 1 is reached to determine a viewer avatar that will perform the chemilight action of "Delay B", a lottery is held among the undetermined viewer avatars until the determination number 2 is reached to determine a viewer avatar that will perform the chemilight action of "Delay A", and the remaining viewer avatars are determined as viewer avatars that will perform the chemilight action of "no delay". 【0299】 Then, the data of the delay action type in the participant user table is updated based on the above-mentioned determination result (step S203). 【0300】 Then, new delay operation information is generated based on the updated delay operation type data and distributed to each viewer terminal 300 (step S204). 【0301】 Next, Fig. 34(B) shows the song list data used in the delivery server computer 100 of the embodiment 3. Note that the song list data is stored in the delivery server computer 100 as one file data. 【0302】 As shown in Figure 34 (B), the song list data stores information such as "song name," "song ID," and "BPM" in association with the type of performance, and it is possible to identify which songs will be used in each performance based on the information on the type of performance. 【0303】 In other words, in the example shown in Figure 34(B), it can be specified that the song with song ID "GK-XXXX" will be performed in the first performance, the song with song ID "GK-YYYY" will be performed in the second performance, and the song with song ID "GK-ZZZZ" will be performed in the third performance. 【0304】 Also, from the BPM data, it can be seen that the music performed in the first performance has a relatively slow tempo of 82 beats per minute, the music performed in the second performance has a relatively fast tempo of 123 beats per minute, and the music performed in the third performance has an even faster tempo of 136 beats per minute. Note that, although the BPM data in Fig. 34(B) is expressed as integer numerical values, the present invention is not limited to this, and these values ​​may be numerical values ​​including decimal points. 【0305】 35, in the first performance, BPM information corresponding to 82 beats per minute, which is the BPM of the song ID "GK-XXXX", is distributed to each viewer terminal 300 as BPM information for the first performance, in the second performance, BPM information corresponding to 123 beats per minute, which is the BPM of the song ID "GK-YYYY", is distributed to each viewer terminal 300 as BPM information for the second performance, and in the third performance, BPM information corresponding to 136 beats per minute, which is the BPM of the song ID "GK-ZZZZ", is distributed to each viewer terminal 300 as BPM information for the third performance. In other words, in each performance, different BPM information corresponding to the song being performed is distributed. 【0306】 It should be noted that the BPM information for the first performance, the BPM information for the second performance, and the BPM information for the third performance all begin to be distributed from the timing of sending the swing start information a predetermined period before the start of the first performance, the second performance, and the third performance, as shown in FIG. 35. However, this predetermined period is designated as a viewer avatar motion stop period T during which the motion of the viewer avatar is stopped, and is therefore not reflected in the chemilight motion, which is the motion of the viewer avatar. 【0307】 Here, a flow when a viewer user virtually participates in a virtual live concert venue in the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 【0308】 First, in a viewer program (viewing application) running on the viewer terminal 300, the viewer user performs an operation to participate in a virtual live event in which the viewer plans to virtually participate, for example, by selecting a participation menu or operating a specific key on the keyboard to which the participation operation is assigned. 【0309】 By executing this participation operation, a participation request including the viewer user ID and authentication data for authenticating the viewer user is transmitted from the viewer terminal 300 to the distribution server computer 100. 【0310】 The delivery server computer 100 that has received the participation request executes a participant authentication process on the condition that it is a period during which participation in the live virtual space is possible. In the participant authentication process, it is determined whether the viewer user is a prospective participant of the corresponding virtual live depending on whether the viewer user ID included in the received participation request is registered as a participant ID in the participant user database corresponding to the virtual live to be participated in, and the viewer user is authenticated by comparing the authentication data included in the participation request with the authentication data described in the authentication information file identified from the authentication information file data stored in association with the viewer user ID in the viewer user data shown in Fig. 9. 【0311】 If the viewer user is a prospective participant and has been authenticated using the authentication data, the participation identification data (participation identification flag) in the participant user table is updated to "1" corresponding to "participation", and the delivery server computer 100 then returns participation completion information to the viewer terminal 300 that sent the participation request. In response to receiving the participation completion information returned in this manner, the viewer terminal 300 displays a message indicating that virtual participation has been completed, thereby notifying the viewer that virtual participation has been completed. This allows the viewer user to, for example, purchase virtual items (including Chemilite K) that are available for purchase at the virtual live show in which virtual participation has been completed. 【0312】 Following the participation completion notification process, the delivery server computer 100 executes a pre-data transmission process to transmit the pre-data to the viewer terminal 300 of the viewer user who has newly participated virtually. The viewer terminal 300 that has received the pre-data transmitted in this manner stores the received pre-data, and then generates and starts displaying (outputting) a viewer's viewpoint video based on the stored pre-data. This allows the viewer user to view video of the virtual live venue as seen from the viewer avatar of his or her own virtual participation. 【0313】 Next, the flow of information between the distribution server computer 100 and the viewer terminal 300 after virtual participation will be described with reference to FIG. 【0314】 38, the flow up to the virtual space update process in the delivery server computer 100 is the same as in the first embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted here. However, the operation in the avatar action operation process in the viewer terminal 300 includes an operation related to a chemilight action. 【0315】 In the distribution server computer 100, a participant user table update process is executed after the virtual space update process, and the participant user table, specifically, for example, participant coordinate data, chemilight operation status data, default swing speed data, etc., may be updated. 【0316】 Then, in the distribution server computer 100, it is determined whether or not it is during a period for transmitting BPM information. Note that, as will be described later, BPM information is also distributed (transmitted) before the start of each program period (see FIG. 35). 【0317】 During the period when BPM information is being transmitted, the chemi-light action information, BPM information, and delay action information are distributed (transmitted) to the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300. The chemi-light action information, BPM information, and delay action information thus distributed are updated and stored in the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300. 【0318】 In the third embodiment, even during each performance period, the viewer terminal 300 is allowed to perform a new operation to make the viewer avatar perform a chemilighting action, but since the delay operator determination process is not performed during each performance period as shown in Fig. 31, the viewer user who newly performs a chemilighting action during the performance period is assigned a "no delay" status, and delay action information that can identify that the viewer user belongs to the "no delay" group is sent to the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300 together with the chemilighting action information reflecting the information of the viewer user who newly performed the chemilighting action. However, during each performance period, as shown in Fig. 31, the processing load of the delivery server computer 100 is relatively high, so in order to prevent a further increase in the processing load of the delivery server computer 100 due to the increase in the processing load associated with the above-mentioned processing, the viewer terminal 300 may be disabled to perform a new operation to make the viewer avatar perform a chemilighting action. 【0319】 Next, in the distribution server computer 100, as in Example 1, a virtual space update data generation process and a virtual space update data distribution process are executed, and the virtual space update data is distributed (transmitted) to the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300. 【0320】 In response to receiving the virtual space update data distributed (transmitted) in this manner, a virtual space update process is executed in each viewer terminal 300, and the update contents of the received virtual space update data are reflected in the virtual space data stored in each viewer terminal 300, and then viewer perspective video generation process 1 shown in Figure 39 (A) is executed. 【0321】 Figure 39 (A) is a flow diagram showing the processing contents of viewer perspective video generation process 1 executed in viewer terminal 300 of Example 3. In this viewer perspective video generation process 1, first, a process of generating a normal viewer perspective video based on the updated virtual space data is performed (step S300). 【0322】 Next, based on the chem-lighting action information and delay action information received from the delivery server computer 100 and updated and stored, all viewer avatars performing chem-lighting actions and their delay types are identified (step S301). 【0323】 Then, the operation mode based on the delay type identified in step S301 and the received BPM information is reflected in the chem-lighting operation of each viewer avatar currently performing the chem-lighting operation (step S302). 【0324】 In this way, by reflecting the information in step S302, a viewer avatar viewpoint video including a viewer avatar performing a chemilight action synchronized based on the BPM information is generated (step S303). 【0325】 The viewer avatar viewpoint images, in which the chemical light actions of the viewer avatars are synchronized and generated by viewer viewpoint image generation process 1, are output (displayed) on each viewer terminal 300 by viewer viewpoint image output process. 【0326】 Furthermore, even if the BPM information is being distributed, if the viewer avatar's movements are stopped, this is before the timing for starting swinging, and since the viewer avatar's movements have been stopped, the viewer avatar is not performing the chemilight movement that is the subject of the BPM information, so the viewer's perspective image will be generated and displayed as a viewer's avatar's perspective image including the viewer avatar that is stopped moving. 【0327】 On the other hand, when it is not the period for transmitting BPM information, the chem-light action information and the default swing speed information are distributed (transmitted) to the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300. The chem-light action information and the default swing speed information distributed in this way are updated and stored in the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300. 【0328】 In addition, the default swing speed information is information based on the default swing speed data in the participant user table and includes data that can identify the default speed for each viewer avatar performing the chemical light action. Therefore, in each viewer terminal 300 that receives the default swing speed information, the speed (speed 1 to speed 5) at which each viewer avatar swings the chemical light K in the chemical light action can be identified for all viewer avatars performing the chemical light action. 【0329】 Furthermore, the default swing speed may be changed by a viewer user during, for example, each MC period, and these changes are updated on the viewer terminals of other viewer users by sequentially distributing the default swing speed information. 【0330】 Next, in the distribution server computer 100, as in Example 1, a virtual space update data generation process and a virtual space update data distribution process are executed, and the virtual space update data is distributed (transmitted) to the performer terminal 200 and each viewer terminal 300. 【0331】 In response to receiving the virtual space update data distributed (transmitted) in this manner, a virtual space update process is executed in each viewer terminal 300, and the update contents of the received virtual space update data are reflected in the virtual space data stored in each viewer terminal 300, and then viewer perspective video generation process 2 shown in Figure 39 (B) is executed. 【0332】 Figure 39 (B) is a flow diagram showing the processing contents of viewer perspective video generation process 2 executed in viewer terminal 300 of Example 3. In this viewer perspective video generation process 2, first, a process of generating a normal viewer perspective video based on the updated virtual space data is performed (step S400). 【0333】 Next, based on the chem-lighting action information and default swing speed information received from the distribution server computer 100 and updated and stored, all viewer avatars performing chem-lighting actions and their default swing speeds are identified (step S401). 【0334】 Then, the motion mode based on the default swing speed identified in step S401 is reflected in the chem-lighting motion of each viewer avatar currently performing the chem-lighting motion (step S402). 【0335】 In this manner, by reflecting the reflection in step S402, a viewer avatar viewpoint image is generated that includes a viewer avatar performing an asynchronous chemical light action in which the chemical light K is swung at a swing speed uniquely selected by each viewer user identified by the default swing speed information (step S403). 【0336】 The viewer avatar viewpoint images, in which the chemical light actions of the viewer avatars are not synchronized and generated by viewer viewpoint image generation process 2, are output (displayed) on each viewer terminal 300 by viewer viewpoint image output process. 【0337】 As described above, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, viewer avatars are capable of performing chemi-lighting actions, which are content-related actions, and when multiple viewer avatars perform chemi-lighting actions, the distribution server computer 100 serves as a content-related action adjustment means for synchronizing the timing of the chemi-lighting actions of each viewer avatar. The distribution server computer 100 distributes chemi-lighting action information, BPM information, and delayed action information, and the viewer terminal 300 receives and updates and stores this chemi-lighting action information, BPM information, and delayed action information, and executes viewer perspective video generation process 1 based on the stored information. This synchronizes the chemi-lighting actions of each viewer avatar, thereby increasing the interest of each viewer user participating in the virtual space. 【0338】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, it is possible to adjust the operation timing of some of the multiple viewer avatars performing chemilight operations to "delay A" or "delay B" operation modes, which are non-synchronized timings that differ within a range of 0.2 seconds from the synchronized synchronization timing, thereby improving the realism of the chemilight operations in the virtual live space and further increasing the interest of the viewer users. 【0339】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, as in Example 1, viewer terminal 300 can generate and display viewer avatar viewpoint video including video of viewer avatars performing synchronized chemical light actions, thereby enabling more viewer users to participate in the virtual live performance, and even when more such viewer users participate, the interest of each viewer user participating in the virtual live space can be increased. 【0340】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, the virtual space content includes performance content such as singing and dancing to music performed by performer avatars who can virtually participate in the virtual live space, and the BPM information, which is information for synchronizing chemi-light movements, is information corresponding to the tempo of the music, which is the performance content. Therefore, it is possible to synchronize chemi-light movements to the music performed by the performer avatars, thereby further enhancing the interest of the virtual space content. 【0341】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, the distribution server computer 100 includes, as the action synchronization information, BPM information corresponding to the tempo of the music, and swing start information which serves as start information that can identify the start time of the chemi-light action, so that the chemi-light action can be made to match the tempo of the music. 【0342】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, as shown in FIG. 35, when the music of the first performance, which is the first performance content, is progressing, BPM information for the first performance corresponding to the tempo (BPM) of the music of the first performance is distributed from the distribution server computer 100, and when the music of the second performance, which is the second performance content, is progressing, BPM information for the second performance corresponding to the tempo (BPM) of the music of the second performance is distributed from the distribution server computer 100, so that chemilight movements with different swing speeds corresponding to differences in the tempo of the music, which is the performance content, can be performed. 【0343】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, BPM information and start of dance information are distributed in advance from the distribution server computer 100 a predetermined period before the start of a song during each performance period, thereby preventing the chemilight movements from becoming out of sync at the start of a song. 【0344】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, the viewer terminal 300 does not reflect the BPM information transmitted before the song starts in the chemi-lighting movements of the viewer avatar, thereby preventing a decrease in interest in the virtual space content due to unnatural chemi-lighting movements before the song starts. 【0345】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content delivery system of Example 3, of the viewer avatars performing the chem-lighting action, 20% of the viewer avatars can be determined to be in the "Delay A" group in which the start timing of the chem-lighting action is the first out-of-synchronization timing that is delayed by 0.1 seconds from the BPM reference timing, and 10% of the viewer avatars can be determined to be in the "Delay B" group in which the start timing of the chem-lighting action is the second out-of-synchronization timing that is delayed by 0.2 seconds from the BPM reference timing.In this way, by having multiple types of delay, the realism of the chem-lighting action can be further improved. 【0346】 In addition, the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3 includes performance content in which a song accompanied by singing and dancing, which is the main content (first content) of the virtual live, which is the virtual space content, is performed, and MC (talk) content, which is non-performance content different from the performance content, and the viewer avatar can perform chemical light movements corresponding to the song performed in the performance content during each performance period when the performance content is distributed, while during the MC period when the MC (talk) is distributed, the viewer avatar can perform movement movements that do not correspond to the talk during the MC period.In this way, the movements of the viewer avatar are adjusted to chemical light movements in sync with the song when the performance content is distributed, while movement movements that do not correspond to the talk are possible when the talk content is distributed in each MC period, thereby increasing the interest of each viewer user participating in the virtual live space. 【0347】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, the main content (first content) is performance content performed by performer avatar 1 who can virtually participate in the virtual live space, and includes singing and dancing of a song performed by performer avatar 1, so that the chemical light movements of the viewer avatar are adjusted to movements corresponding to the song and dance that are the performance content, thereby further enhancing the interest of the virtual space content. 【0348】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, the content distributed during each MC period when MC (talk) is distributed does not include performance content in which a musical piece is performed by performer avatar 1, so it is possible to appropriately prevent movement actions that do not correspond to the performance content from being executed during the performance period when the performance content is being distributed. 【0349】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, the performance content includes a song with song ID "GK-XXXX" (first period content) that is distributed during the first performance period, which is the first period, and a song with song ID "GK-YYYY" (second period content) that is distributed during the second performance period, which is the second period different from the first period, and as BPM information, which is the operation information for synchronizing the chem-lighting operation of the viewer avatar, BPM information corresponding to the first performance is transmitted during the first period, and BPM information corresponding to the second performance, which can specify a tempo different from the BPM information corresponding to the first performance, is transmitted during the second period, so that the chem-lighting operation can be adjusted to correspond to the difference in tempo of the songs that are the performance contents distributed during different periods. 【0350】 Moreover, the virtual space content distribution system of the third embodiment includes, as virtual space content, performance content (first content) which becomes the main content when a performer avatar 1 who virtually participates in the virtual live space performs a musical piece, and non-performance content (second content) which does not become the main content when the performer avatar 1 performs MC (talk) without performing a musical piece, and has a motion restriction function which restricts movement, which is a predetermined motion among the motions of the viewer avatar, during each performance period in which the performance content is distributed, while not restricting movement during each MC period in which the non-performance content (MC) is distributed, so that since the movement of the viewer avatar is restricted during the period in which the performance content is distributed, it is possible to prevent the interest in the performance content from being reduced by these movements. On the other hand, since movement is not restricted during each MC period in which the non-performance content, MC (talk), is distributed, it is also possible to prevent the motion of the viewer avatar from being excessively restricted. 【0351】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, as shown in Figures 40 and 41, during each performance period when performance content is being distributed and during each MC period when performance content is not being distributed, it is possible to perform an operation of selecting the ``Chemilite'' item, which is an operation corresponding to the chemilite action, which is a specific action of the viewer avatar, and when this operation is executed, synchronized chemilite actions are possible without restriction (prohibition) during each performance period, and non-synchronized chemilite actions are possible without restriction (prohibition) during each MC period. In this way, a viewer user can have the viewer avatar perform a chemilite action by performing an operation of selecting the ``Chemilite'' item, which is a specific operation, during both each performance period when performance content is being distributed and each MC period when non-performance content is being distributed. 【0352】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, a predetermined period before the start of each performance period in which performance content is distributed, that is, a predetermined period from when the start of dance information is transmitted to the start of each performance period, is also treated as a performance period, and all movements of the viewer avatar, including movement, are restricted (prohibited) in the same way as for the performance period. In this way, movements of the viewer avatar, etc. are restricted (prohibited) even during the predetermined period before the performance period starts, so that it is possible to more accurately prevent a decrease in interest in the performance content due to these movements, etc. being performed up until the start of the performance period. 【0353】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 3, an example is given in which all movements of the viewer avatar other than movement are restricted (prohibited) during a specified period before the start of the performance period, but it is also possible for the movement to be the only movement that is restricted (prohibited). 【0354】 Furthermore, in the virtual space content distribution system of Example 3, during each performance period when the performance content is distributed, chemical light operation corresponding to the tempo of the musical piece that is the performance content is possible, thereby increasing the interest of viewer users participating in the virtual live space. 【0355】 <Modification of the third embodiment> In the above Example 3, as in Examples 1 and 2, an example was given of a form in which a viewer avatar can move freely within the third or fourth area in which they are virtually participating. However, doing so may give rise to problems such as errors in the virtual space data due to, for example, different viewer avatars participating in the fourth area colliding virtually with each other or overlapping in the same virtual position. 【0356】 In order to solve such a problem, for example, a modification 3-1 shown in Fig. 42, Fig. 43, and Fig. 44 may be used. Specifically, the third and fourth areas are divided into small areas as shown in Fig. 42, and the viewer user is asked which of these areas he or she will virtually participate in the virtual live show in when accepting participation in advance for the virtual live show (when reserving virtual participation) or when virtually participating in the virtual live show, as shown in Fig. 42. When the viewer user virtually participates with a viewer avatar, participation is only possible in the area selected in advance, and movement is restricted (prohibited) to be limited to within the selected area, thereby preventing errors in the virtual space data due to virtual collisions between viewer avatars or overlapping in the same virtual position, while also preventing excessive restriction on the movement of the viewer avatar. 【0357】 Specifically, as examples of the restriction (prohibition) of these movements, for example, in the case of a viewer user who has selected the "H5" area in Figure 43 as the virtual participation location, when the viewer user performs an operation to move to any of the areas surrounding "H5", such as "G4~G6", "H4", "H6", or "I4~I6", as shown in Figure 44, the viewer terminal 300 will determine that the movement is to a prohibited area, and as shown in Figure 44(B), a warning message stating "You cannot move to the indicated position as you are outside the permitted movement range" will be displayed on the viewer terminal 300, thereby restricting (prohibiting) the movement. On the other hand, with regard to movement within the "H5" area, the warning message will not be displayed and movement will be permitted, allowing the viewer user to move his or her viewer avatar within the "H5" area where he or she has virtually participated. 【0358】 The range in which movement is prohibited is not limited to the range of virtual participation described above. For example, in a situation where a group of multiple people is virtually participating in a virtual live show and the locations of the virtual participants are adjacent to each other, the range in which the viewer avatars participating in this group are virtually participating may be set as a movable range based on information indicating that they are a group. 【0359】 Furthermore, although the above-mentioned modified example 3-1 has been described as a modified example of the third embodiment, it is applicable not only to the third embodiment but also to the first and second embodiments. 【0360】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 3, a predetermined period from the transmission timing of the start of swinging information to the start timing of the performance is designated as a viewer avatar operation stop period T in which the movement of the viewer avatar is prohibited. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in variant example 3-2 in FIG. 45, during the predetermined period from the transmission timing of the start of swinging information to the start timing of the performance, the period may be an adjustment operation period in which an adjustment operation is performed to transition the operation state of a viewer avatar performing a non-synchronized chemi-light operation from the time of transmission of the start of swinging information to the operation state at the start of a synchronized chemi-light operation. 【0361】 Furthermore, for these adjustment actions, the posture of the viewer avatar at the time the swing start information is sent can be compared with the posture at the start of the chemilight action, and actions that compensate for the posture difference can be generated using, for example, a known motion morphing program. In addition, in the above modification 3-2, the timing at which the synchronized chemi-lighting action starts is used as an example for explanation, but these adjustment action periods may be performed at the timing at which the synchronized chemi-lighting action ends. In other words, an adjustment action that compensates for the difference in posture between the viewer avatar's posture when the synchronized chemi-lighting action ends and the viewer avatar's posture when the non-synchronized chemi-lighting action starts may be performed by setting an adjustment action period. 【0362】 In other words, as shown in variant example 3-2, when starting or ending a synchronized chemi-light action, an adjustment action is generated to adjust the difference between the viewer avatar's posture before the action and the posture at the start of the synchronized chemi-light action, and the difference between the posture at the end of the synchronized chemi-light action and the viewer avatar's posture after the action is ended, thereby preventing the viewer avatar's movements from becoming discontinuous and unnatural. 【0363】 In the above-mentioned embodiment 3, as shown in Fig. 31, each MC period is not included in the program period, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in modified example 3-3 in Fig. 46, these MC (talk) periods may be included in the program depending on the performer user, in which case, movements such as movement may be prohibited during these MC periods as part of the program period. Note that, in the case where MC (talk) is included in the performer's program in this way, since these MC (talk) periods are included in the program period, MC BPM information corresponding to the MC (talk) is transmitted as BPM information in the same way as in the case of music, and the chemilight operation is adjusted to an operation with a tempo corresponding to the MC (talk). 【0364】 In other words, since the first content included in the virtual space content includes content of the performer avatar 1 speaking (talking), the chemilight action of the viewer avatar can be adjusted to an action corresponding to the speaking (talking). 【0365】 Furthermore, when an MC (talk) is included in the performer's performance as in variant example 3-3 above, actions such as movement of the viewer avatar are always prohibited. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 46, during the waiting period from when the viewer virtually joins before the start of the live performance until the virtual live performance begins, during a specific MC period within the MC period, or during a rest period for performers to rest during the virtual live performance, the periods during which archived video content of past virtual live performances, etc. are displayed on virtual displays 40, 41, and 42 are not included in the performance period, and actions such as movement can be permitted. In this case, the performer's MC (talk) content, along with singing and dancing, is included in the performance content, and the archived video content, etc., content displayed on virtual displays 40, 41, and 42 become non-performance content. 【0366】 In addition, in the above Example 3, movement is given as an example of an action that is restricted (prohibited) by a viewer avatar during each performance period, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition to these movements, as shown in variant example 3-4 of Figure 47, actions such as jumping (jumping) and high-fiving other viewer avatars, which are actions that affect other viewer avatars, may also be restricted (prohibited) during each performance period. 【0367】 In other words, the actions of the viewer avatar that are restricted (prohibited) during each performance period, which is the period during which the performance content is distributed, include actions and jumps that affect other viewer avatars virtually participating in the virtual live space, and in this way, it is possible to prevent the interest in the performance content from being reduced by actions and jumps that affect other viewer avatars. Note that the targets of the actions may include performer avatars in addition to viewer avatars. 【0368】 Note that the actions of the viewer avatar that are restricted (prohibited) during these performances are not limited to those shown in FIG. 47, but may include actions that are considered to give the viewer avatar an uncomfortable feeling during each performance period. 【0369】 Similarly, in the above Example 3, an example is given of a form in which the content-related action that the viewer avatar can perform during each performance period is only one action, which is the chemilight action of waving the chemilight K from side to side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, these actions may include multiple actions, for example, as shown in Figure 47, in addition to the chemilight action of waving the chemilight K from side to side, a chemilight action of waving the chemilight K back and forth, and a wave action in which the viewer avatar swings both hands raised above from side to side, so that each of these three content-related actions can be performed in the performance to which each content-related action corresponds. 【0370】 The content-related actions that may be performed during these performances are not limited to the three actions shown in Figure 47, and any action that is pre-approved as not causing discomfort to all viewer avatars during each performance period can be added to the content-related actions. 【0371】 Furthermore, with regard to the chemilight action of swinging the chemilight K back and forth and the wave action, just like the chemilight action of swinging the chemilight K left and right, multiple viewer avatars performing these actions can synchronize their movements at a tempo corresponding to the music being performed based on the BPM information and the start of swinging information. 【0372】 In other words, the chemilight action includes a plurality of chemilight actions with different action patterns, such as a left-right swing action and a front-back swing action, and the virtual space content delivery system of variant 3-4 can synchronize the chemilight actions of a plurality of viewer avatars for any chemilight action. In this way, the chemilight action has a plurality of action patterns, and it is possible to synchronize the chemilight actions of these plurality of action patterns, so that the interest of each viewer user participating in the virtual live space can be further increased. 【0373】 Furthermore, in cases where these multiple content-related actions are executable, during periods before the start of a live performance outside of the performance period or during MC periods, it may be possible to make all types of content-related actions executable, as shown in FIG. 47, and it may also be possible to make multiple content-related actions executable in one performance rather than just one type, such as making the chemilight action of waving the chemilight K from side to side possible during a performance period corresponding to a wave action. 【0374】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 3, an example is given in which the delay performer determination process is executed in the distribution server computer 100, thereby causing the distribution server computer 100 to determine the viewer avatar that will perform the delay action in the synchronized chemi-light action. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in variant example 3-5 of Figure 48, these delay performer determination processes may be executed in the viewer terminal 300, thereby causing the viewer avatar that will perform the delay action to be determined in the viewer terminal 300. 【0375】 In other words, in variant example 3-5, the viewer terminal 300 can generate a viewer avatar viewpoint image in which the timing of the chemical light action of each viewer avatar is synchronized, and the distribution server computer 100 can distribute chemical light action information to each viewer terminal 300 as related action execution information that can identify the viewer avatar performing the chemical light action, and the viewer terminal 300 can adjust the chemical light action to "delay A" or "delay B", which are non-synchronized timing, for some of the viewer avatars performing the chemical light action identified from the chemical light action information. In this way, the distribution server computer 100 does not need to distribute delayed action information, thereby reducing the processing load on the distribution server computer 100 for distributing this delayed action information. 【0376】 In addition, in variant example 3-5, the execution timing and processing content of the delayed performer determination process executed by the viewer terminal 300 may be the same as the execution timing and processing content executed by the distribution server computer 100 shown in Figure 37. In this case, the determination table may be received as advance data from the distribution server computer 100 and stored, and the viewer avatar performing the chem-lighting action at the time the process is executed may be identified from the chem-lighting action information distributed from the distribution server computer 100. The determination results may be reflected in a delayed performer table for storing and updating the determination results, not in the participant user table, in correspondence with the viewer user IDs of all participants included in the chem-lighting action information, and the viewer perspective video generation process 1 may be executed based on the determination results identified from these delayed performer tables. 【0377】 In addition, in variant example 3-5, the delayed performer determination process is executed individually in each viewer terminal 300, so that a viewer avatar determined to be the delayed performer for "delay A" in the viewer terminal 300 of viewer user A may be determined to be the delayed performer for "delay B" in the viewer terminal 300 of viewer user B, and the viewer user perspective image including the synchronized chemilight action generated in each viewer terminal 300 will be a different image for each viewer terminal 300. 【0378】 In addition, in Example 3, an example is given in which the timing for starting the chemilight operation based on the dance start information is the start timing of the song that is the performance content (the start timing of the performance period), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the timing for starting the chemilight operation based on this dance start information may be a timing different from the start timing of the performance period or the start timing of the song, for example, a certain period of time has passed since the start timing of the performance period, or the start timing of the song after the intro or other part has passed and singing begins. 【0379】 The present invention has been described above based on each embodiment and modified examples, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and modified examples, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. 【0380】 For example, as shown in variant example 3-1, in the case where each viewer user is allowed to select in advance the virtual participation position of the viewer avatar, for example, for a viewer user who selects areas A1 to C6 on the right side facing the virtual stage G in the fourth area, a viewpoint image from the right front position of the virtually flying performer avatar 1 is generated and displayed as the viewpoint image during the flying performance period, for a viewer user who selects areas D4 to H6 on the center facing the virtual stage G in the fourth area, a viewpoint image from the central front position of the virtually flying performer avatar 1 is generated and displayed as the viewpoint image during the flying performance period, and for a viewer user who selects areas I1 to K6 on the left side facing the virtual stage G in the fourth area, a viewpoint image from the left front position of the virtually flying performer avatar 1 is generated and displayed as the viewpoint image during the flying performance period. In this way, depending on the position selected by the viewer user, the viewpoint image during the virtual flight, which is a special action, may be a viewpoint image corresponding to the position (area) selected by each viewer user. 【0381】 In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, the viewer avatar viewpoint video is generated and displayed on the viewer terminal 300 side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, in the case of a live event with few virtual participants, the viewer avatar viewpoint video may also be generated and distributed on the distribution server computer 100 side. Also, the viewer user may be allowed to select whether the viewer avatar viewpoint video is generated on the viewer terminal 300 side or on the distribution server computer 100 side according to the processing capacity of the terminal he / she owns and the available data communication environment, or the distribution server computer 100 may specify the processing capacity of the viewer terminal 300 with which it is connected for communication, and determine whether the viewer avatar viewpoint video is generated on the viewer terminal 300 side or on the distribution server computer 100 side based on the specified processing capacity. 【0382】 In addition, in each of the above embodiments and modified examples, an example is given of the distribution server computer 100 being installed in a studio operated by the event management organization that hosts the virtual live performance, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as the distribution server computer 100, a server computer owned in a data center or the like by the company that rents out the server computer may be used, or as described above, a server computer provided by a cloud service may be used, and the installation form of these server computers may be any form that provides the functions of the distribution server computer 100. 【0383】 In addition, in the above embodiments and modified examples, a performer user sings, dances, and so on, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the performer users may be a group of multiple people, and when a virtual live performance is performed by a group of multiple people, the multiple people may share one performer terminal 200, or a performer terminal 200 may be provided for each member of the group. When the performer users are a group of multiple members, for example, a viewpoint tracking target designation process may be executed by at least one of the distribution server computer 100 and the viewer terminal 300, so that the viewer user can select a member to follow the viewpoint. 【0384】 In addition, while the above embodiments and modified examples illustrate a form in which a performer user sings, dances, and other performance actions are performed by one person, the present invention is not limited to this, and the singer who sings and the actor who performs the dancing actions may be separate persons, in which case the singer's performer terminal and the actor's performer terminal may be separate, and the singer may sing in a location other than the studio where the actor performs the performance actions. 【0385】 In addition, in each of the above embodiments and variant examples, the Internet network is used as an example of the computer communication network connecting the distribution server computer 100, the administrator terminal 150, the performer terminal 200, and the viewer terminal 300, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these communication networks may be composed of local area networks capable of data communication only within a specific area, or may include a local area network and local data communication as part of them. 【0386】 In addition, in each of the above embodiments and variant examples, the viewer terminal 300 is exemplified as a smartphone P or a computer (PC), but the present invention is not limited to this, and these computers may be portable laptops, tablet terminals, e-book readers, wearable computers, game consoles, and various other information processing devices capable of outputting at least 2D video and audio. 【0387】 In addition, in each of the above embodiments and variant examples, a performer user performs in a studio, including singing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a performer user may use a performer terminal 200 installed in a home or the like to appear in a virtual live performance from a home or the like. 【0388】 Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments and variant examples, a virtual live performance has been given as an example of virtual space content, but the present invention is not limited to this, and such virtual space content may be any content that is beneficial to viewer users, such as a fan meeting where performer users gather with their fans, or a talk session, and that is related to a virtual space in which performer avatar 1 and viewer avatars virtually participate. 【0389】 In addition, in each of the above embodiments and modified examples, an example is given in which viewpoint switching of the four virtual cameras C1 to C4 as fixedly positioned (set) virtual cameras or the airborne moving virtual camera can be performed in advance by settings and operations on the administrator terminal 150, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, these viewpoint switching may be performed in real time by the event manager M on the administrator terminal 150 using a viewpoint switching controller or the like constituting the operation input device 161. 【0390】 Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments and modified examples, an example is given of the use of virtual cameras C1 to C4 fixedly positioned (set) in the virtual space as the virtual cameras, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to or instead of the virtual cameras C1 to C4, a movable virtual moving camera may be placed in the virtual live venue, and the position and imaging direction of the virtual moving camera in the virtual space may be controlled by the event manager M, a cameraman, or the like through operation of the manager terminal 150 to produce the viewpoint image of the virtual moving camera. 【0391】 In addition, in the above embodiments and modified examples, a form is exemplified in which the viewpoint image of the virtual camera C2 is displayed on the screen S so that the facial expression of the performer user can be detected to be reflected in the facial expression of the performer avatar, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, if the performer user has a high-performance head-mounted display with a sensor function to detect the facial expression of the performer user, the performer user may wear such a high-performance head-mounted display to perform the performance, which may improve the performer user's sense of immersion in the virtual live performance. Also, in cases where the facial expression of the performer user does not need to be reflected in detail in the facial expression of the performer avatar, the performer user may wear a normal head-mounted display to perform the performance. 【0392】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 3, the timing of the chem-lighting action is exemplified by setting a delay A that is 0.1 seconds behind the BPM reference timing and a delay B that is 0.2 seconds behind the BPM reference timing, but the present invention is not limited to this, and all viewer avatars performing the chem-lighting action may perform the chem-lighting action in synchronization with only the same BPM reference timing without setting the timing of delay A or delay B. In other words, in the present invention, synchronization does not only mean synchronization with only the reference timing, but also includes an action mode in which the timing of the chem-lighting action of some viewer avatars differs within a range of 0.2 seconds as a predetermined range that can be recognized as approximately the same timing, and therefore the synchronization timing includes not only the synchronization timing that is the BPM reference timing, but also the delay A and delay B that are pseudo-synchronization timings. 【0393】 In addition, in the above-mentioned Example 3, as shown in Figures 31 and 35, an example is given in which the viewer avatar operation suspension period T is the period from when the start of swinging information is transmitted to the start timing of each performance period. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as an example in which these viewer avatar operation suspension periods T are not set, the viewer avatar may be capable of performing chemilight operation throughout the entire period of each MC period. 【0394】 Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments and variants, the performer user sings or performs singing actions (performance actions) in real time during the distribution of the virtual live performance, allowing the performer user to proceed with the live performance while checking the reactions of the viewer users who are virtually participating in the virtual live performance; however, the present invention is not limited to this, and the performer user's singing or singing actions (performance actions) do not have to be performed in real time, but may be performed in advance, and the singing audio and singing actions (performance actions) may be recorded in the distribution server computer 100 as performer avatar information, and the recorded singing audio and singing actions (performance actions) may be played back as the live performance progresses, thereby holding a virtual live performance. 【0395】 In addition, instead of the performer user's singing or singing actions (performance), the singing and singing actions (performance actions) of a virtual performer created using computer graphics, etc., can be recorded as performer avatar information on a distribution server computer, and a virtual live performance can be held by playing back the recorded singing voice and singing actions (performance actions) as the live performance progresses. 【0396】 In this way, when singing or singing actions (performance actions) are performed in advance to record and play back performer avatar information on the distribution server computer 100 to distribute a virtual live performance, the configuration of the virtual space content distribution system at the time of distribution will be made up of the distribution server computer 100, an administrator terminal 150, and a viewer terminal 300, and will not include a performer terminal 200, which is a performer user terminal that can be used by a performer user to perform operations to move the performer avatar 1 in the virtual space. [Explanation of symbols] 【0397】 1. Performer Avatar 100 Distribution server computer 150 Administrator terminal 200 Performer terminals 300 Viewer terminals

Claims

[Claim 1] A virtual space content distribution system capable of distributing virtual space content in a virtual space, A terminal capable of displaying video of the virtual space content, and a viewer user terminal that can be used by a viewer user to operate a viewer avatar that can participate in the virtual space targeted by the virtual space content in the virtual space, A server computer connected to the aforementioned viewer user terminal via a communication network, capable of performing at least processing related to the virtual space and processing related to the distribution of the virtual space content, Includes, The virtual space content includes a first content which is the main content of the virtual space content, and a second content which is different from the first content. The system includes an action restriction means that restricts predetermined actions of the viewer avatar within the virtual space during the period when the first content is being distributed, while not restricting the predetermined actions during the period when the second content is being distributed. The viewer avatar is capable of performing specific actions through specific operations on the viewer user terminal. The operation restriction means does not restrict the specified operation during either the period in which the first content is being distributed or the period in which the second content is being distributed. A virtual space content distribution system characterized by the following features. [Claim 2] A virtual space content distribution program for distributing virtual space content in a virtual space via a network using at least a server computer, The avatars that can participate in the virtual space targeted by the virtual space content include viewer avatars that operate in the virtual space through operations on a viewer user terminal that is available to the viewer user and connected to the server computer via the network. The virtual space content includes a first content which is the main content of the virtual space content, and a second content which is different from the first content. The process includes an action restriction step in which predetermined actions of the viewer avatar within the virtual space are restricted during the period in which the first content is being distributed, while the predetermined actions are not restricted during the period in which the second content is being distributed. The viewer avatar is capable of performing specific actions through specific operations on the viewer user terminal. The aforementioned operation restriction step does not restrict the specified operation during either the period in which the first content is being delivered or the period in which the second content is being delivered. A virtual space content distribution program characterized by the following features. [Claim 3] A virtual space content distribution method for distributing virtual space content in a virtual space via a network using at least a server computer, The avatars that can participate in the virtual space targeted by the virtual space content include viewer avatars that operate in the virtual space through operations on a viewer user terminal that is available to the viewer user and connected to the server computer via the network. The virtual space content includes a first content which is the main content of the virtual space content, and a second content which is different from the first content. The procedure includes an action restriction procedure that restricts predetermined actions of the viewer avatar within the virtual space during the period in which the first content is being distributed, while not restricting the predetermined actions during the period in which the second content is being distributed. The viewer avatar is capable of performing specific actions through specific operations on the viewer user terminal. The aforementioned operation restriction procedure does not restrict the specified operation during either the period in which the first content is being distributed or the period in which the second content is being distributed. A method for distributing virtual space content characterized by the following features.

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