Virtual space generation device, virtual space generation program and virtual space generation method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025013760
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-15
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-09-09
AI Technical Summary
In virtual spaces, conversations between users and service providers, such as virtual store clerks, often contain personal information, and there is a need to control the confidentiality of these conversations as they can vary in sensitivity.
A virtual space generation device and method that allows users to set up groups within the virtual space, where conversation information is transmitted only to terminals within the group, ensuring that conversations remain confidential within the designated group.
This solution effectively controls the confidentiality of conversations in virtual spaces by ensuring that sensitive information is not leaked outside designated groups, while also allowing for public conversations when appropriate.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a virtual space generating device, a virtual space generating program, and a virtual space generating method. [Background technology]
[0002] In recent years, various services using virtual space have been proposed. In one type of system for providing such services, an attempt is made to realize services in virtual space that are similar to services provided in real space. For example, in the system of Patent Document 1, a virtual store clerk serves the avatar of a user who is trying to purchase a product in a store in the virtual space. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-36690 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In virtual space, users of the service, as well as users and virtual store clerks and other attendants, communicate with each other through text and voice chat. The content of such conversations varies from casual chat to personal information, and the degree to which conversations should be prevented from being leaked to others varies. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a system that can control the confidentiality of conversations as a system for providing virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] Aspects of a virtual space generating device, a virtual space generating program, and a virtual space generating method for solving the above problems will be described below. [Aspect 1] A virtual space generating device comprising: a virtual space generation unit that places in the virtual space an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in the virtual space, and an avatar of a second user who will be the first user's contact in the virtual space; a group management unit that, upon receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, sets a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; and a communication unit that, when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an in-group terminal and receives in-group conversation information from the in-group terminal, which is information indicating a message input to the terminal, transmits the in-group conversation information only to each in-group terminal of the group, and when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user not belonging to the group is an out-group terminal and receives out-group conversation information from the out-group terminal, which is information indicating a message input to the terminal, transmits the out-group conversation information to each out-group terminal.
[0006] According to the above configuration, a conversation can be made public to users who do not belong to a group, while a conversation can be made public only to those in the group by setting a group. Therefore, the confidentiality of conversations in a virtual space can be controlled.
[0007] [Aspect 2] A virtual space generating device as described in [Aspect 1], wherein the virtual space includes a facility and the service is provided at the facility. According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a variety of services similar to those provided in the real space.
[0008] [Aspect 3] A virtual space generating device as described in [Aspect 2], wherein the communication unit transmits the intra-group conversation information to the intra-group terminal when an avatar of the first user belonging to the group is located in the same space within the facility as an avatar of the first user not belonging to the group.
[0009] According to the above configuration, a highly confidential conversation can be held between a first user and a second user with the avatar in a location suitable for the conversation, such as a space where products are displayed, without the need to move to individual booths or the like.
[0010] [Aspect 4] The virtual space generating device according to any one of [Aspect 1] to [Aspect 3], wherein the communication unit does not transmit the outside-group conversation information to the in-group terminal. According to the above configuration, since comments from users outside the group are not inserted into conversations between users within the group, conversations within the group can proceed smoothly.
[0011] [Aspect 5] A virtual space generating device described in any one of [Aspect 1] to [Aspect 4], wherein the terminal operated by the first user is a first terminal, the terminal operated by the second user is a second terminal, and the group management unit accepts a request to set up the group only from the second terminal of the first terminal and the second terminal.
[0012] According to the above configuration, the number of groups is reduced, and the processing load of the virtual space generating device is reduced. In addition, since the contents of the conversation that should be kept secret are often more related to the contents of the service in the virtual space, the second user can determine the group settings to appropriately increase the confidentiality of the contents of the conversation that should not be leaked to others.
[0013] [Aspect 6] A virtual space generating device as described in [Aspect 5], wherein the group management unit accepts requests to add a user to the group and disband the group only from the second terminal among the terminals in the group that requested the setting up of the group, and accepts a request from the first terminal for the first user to leave the group.
[0014] According to the above configuration, since the second user takes the initiative in forming groups, groups that are more related to the service content and that require higher confidentiality are appropriately formed. Meanwhile, the first user can also choose to leave a group, ensuring the first user's freedom in deciding whether to join a group.
[0015] [Aspect 7] A virtual space generation program that causes one or more computers to execute the following steps: place in the virtual space an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in the virtual space, and an avatar of a second user who will be the first user's contact in the virtual space; upon receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, set a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an in-group terminal and in-group conversation information is received from the in-group terminal, the in-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, transmitting the in-group conversation information only to each in-group terminal of the group; and when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user not belonging to the group is an out-group terminal and out-group conversation information is received from the out-group terminal, the out-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, transmitting the out-group conversation information to each out-group terminal.
[0016] According to the above configuration, a conversation can be made public to users who do not belong to a group, while a conversation can be made public only to those in the group by setting a group. Therefore, the confidentiality of conversations in a virtual space can be controlled.
[0017] [Aspect 8] A virtual space generating method in which one or more computers place in the virtual space an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in the virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be the first user's contact in the virtual space; upon receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, set a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an in-group terminal and in-group conversation information is received from the in-group terminal, the in-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, transmitting the in-group conversation information only to each in-group terminal of the group; and when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user not belonging to the group is an out-group terminal and in-group conversation information is received from the out-group terminal, the out-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, transmitting the out-group conversation information to each out-group terminal.
[0018] According to the above configuration, a conversation can be made public to users who do not belong to a group, while a conversation can be made public only to those in the group by setting a group. Therefore, the confidentiality of conversations in a virtual space can be controlled. Effect of the Invention
[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to control the confidentiality of conversations in a virtual space. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a virtual space providing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a virtual space generation server according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a visitor terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a staff terminal according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a group management screen displayed on a staff terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of the virtual space providing system regarding group organization in the virtual space providing system of an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a group management screen displayed on a staff terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a shop screen displayed on a visitor terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 11 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of a virtual space generation server for sending a message in the virtual space provision system of an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a chat area included in a shop screen according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a chat area included in a shop screen according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] An embodiment of a virtual space generating device, a virtual space generating program, and a virtual space generating method will be described with reference to the drawings. [Overall configuration of the virtual space provision system] The overall configuration of a virtual space providing system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In this embodiment, as an example, a case will be described in which the virtual space providing system 100 is used for customer service in a store that handles various products.
[0022] 1, the virtual space providing system 100 includes a virtual space generation server 10, which is an example of a virtual space generating device, one or more visitor terminals 20, and one or more staff terminals 30. The virtual space generation server 10, the visitor terminals 20, and the staff terminals 30 are each connected via a network NW such as the Internet.
[0023] The virtual space generation server 10 generates a virtual space VS including a store. The visitor terminal 20 is a terminal operated by a visitor user Pg, who is a user visiting a store in the virtual space VS. The visitor user Pg is, in other words, a user of the above-mentioned customer service. The visitor user Pg uses an avatar to use the store in the virtual space VS by operating the visitor terminal 20. The visitor user Pg is an example of a first user, and the visitor terminal 20 is an example of a first terminal.
[0024] The staff terminal 30 is a terminal operated by a staff user Ps who is a user who works as a clerk in a store in the virtual space VS. The staff user Ps is, in other words, a customer service representative in the store in the virtual space VS. The staff user Ps serves customers in the store in the virtual space VS using an avatar by operating the staff terminal 30. The staff user Ps is an example of a second user, and the staff terminal 30 is an example of a second terminal. An avatar is a character that acts as the user's alter ego in the virtual space VS.
[0025] In this embodiment, it is possible to have a public chat in which the contents of the conversation are widely open to users who are in the virtual space VS, and a private chat in which the contents of the conversation are open only to users in a set group. The group in which the private chat is used is set based on an invitation from a staff user Ps.
[0026] [Virtual space provision system configuration] The configuration of each device constituting the virtual space providing system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0027] The functional configuration of the virtual space generation server 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The virtual space generation server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a control unit 12, and a storage unit 13. The communication unit 11 performs communication processing between the virtual space generation server 10 and each of the visitor terminals 20 and staff terminals 30, such as connecting to a network and sending and receiving data.
[0028] The control unit 12 executes a virtual space generating program stored in the storage unit 13, thereby functioning as a virtual space generating unit 12a, a group management unit 12b, and a chat control unit 12c.
[0029] The virtual space generation unit 12a generates a virtual space VS and manages the movement of avatars of visitor users Pg and staff users Ps in the virtual space VS. The group management unit 12b sets user groups Gp, which are groups that use private chat, and manages their organization. Specifically, the group management unit 12b creates user groups Gp, adds and deletes members to and from user groups Gp, and disbands user groups Gp.
[0030] The chat control unit 12c receives conversation information indicating chat comments from the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30, determines the terminal 20, 30 to which the conversation information will be sent, and transmits the conversation information to that terminal 20, 30 via the communication unit 11.
[0031] Specifically, when the chat control unit 12c receives intra-group conversation information indicating a message entered into an intra-group terminal, which is a terminal 20, 30 operated by a user belonging to the user group Gp, the chat control unit 12c sets only each intra-group terminal of the group as the destination of the intra-group conversation information.
[0032] In addition, when the chat control unit 12c receives outside-group conversation information indicating a message entered into an outside-group terminal, which is a terminal 20, 30 operated by a user who does not belong to the user group Gp, the chat control unit 12c sets each outside-group terminal as the destination of the outside-group conversation information.
[0033] The virtual space generation unit 12a, group management unit 12b, and chat control unit 12c work together to generate data for displaying various screens for using the virtual space providing system 100 on the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30, and this data is sent to each terminal 20, 30 by the communication unit 11. The screens displayed on the visitor terminal 20 include a shop screen, and the screens displayed on the staff terminal 30 include a group management screen and a shop screen.
[0034] Note that a portion of the data for displaying these screens may be stored in each terminal 20, 30, and the data transmitted from the virtual space generating server 10 may include information that defines at least a portion of the display content of the above screens, such as avatar position information. When text chat is used, the information that defines the display content of the screens also includes the above conversation information.
[0035] The storage unit 13 stores various programs and data necessary for the control unit 12 to execute processes. The storage unit 13 stores a virtual space generation program as an example of such a program. The storage unit 13 also stores virtual space data 13a and user management data 13b as examples of such data.
[0036] The virtual space data 13a includes data necessary for generating the virtual space VS, such as information on a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system set for the space, position information of objects to be placed in the space, and information for drawing them. The virtual space data 13a also includes information for drawing the avatars of the visitor users Pg and the staff users Ps.
[0037] The user management data 13b includes information about the visitor users Pg and the staff users Ps. For example, the user management data 13b includes, for each of the visitor users Pg and the staff users Ps, a user name, a record of affiliation to a user group Gp, and the like. The information about these users may be managed in association with the user identification information.
[0038] The physical configuration, i.e., the hardware configuration, of the virtual space generation server 10 having the above functions will be described. The virtual space generation server 10 includes electronic circuits, which are arithmetic devices such as a CPU, MPU, and GPU, memories such as ROM, RAM, registered memory, and unbuffered memory, and storage devices such as SSD and HDD. The arithmetic devices load an operating system and various programs from the storage into the memory, and execute commands retrieved from the memory. The virtual space generation server 10 may include integrated circuits such as ASIC and FPGA.
[0039] The virtual space generation server 10 also includes a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from a connected device via a network. The communication interface is implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of these.
[0040] Each process executed by the virtual space generation server 10 may be executed by software included in the virtual space generation server 10, or may be realized by a combination of an integrated circuit included in the virtual space generation server 10 and software.
[0041] The functional configuration of the visitor terminal 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The visitor terminal 20 comprises a communication unit 21, a control unit 22, a storage unit 23, an input unit 24, and an output unit 25. The communication unit 21 performs communication processing between the visitor terminal 20 and the virtual space generation server 10, such as connecting to a network and sending and receiving data. The input unit 24 accepts operation and voice input to the visitor terminal 20 and sends data and signals corresponding to the input to the control unit 22. The output unit 25 receives data and signals from the control unit 22 and outputs images and sounds.
[0042] The storage unit 23 stores various programs and data necessary for the execution of processes by the control unit 22. The storage unit 23 stores a visitor management program as an example of such a program.
[0043] The control unit 22 functions as a visitor screen management unit 22a by executing a visitor management program stored in the memory unit 23. The visitor screen management unit 22a displays screens such as a shop screen on a display unit included in the output unit 25. In addition, the visitor screen management unit 22a transmits information according to a user's operation on the displayed screen to the virtual space generating server 10 via the communication unit 21.
[0044] The functions of the visitor terminal 20 in the virtual space providing system 100 are embodied by application software for using the virtual space providing system 100. The visitor management program is included in the application software.
[0045] The functional configuration of the staff terminal 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The staff terminal 30 includes a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a storage unit 33, an input unit , and an output unit . The communication unit 31 performs communication processing between the staff terminal 30 and the virtual space generation server 10, such as connecting to a network and sending and receiving data. The input unit 34 accepts operation and voice input to the staff terminal 30, and sends data and signals corresponding to the input to the control unit 32. The output unit 35 receives data and signals from the control unit 32, and outputs images and sounds.
[0046] The storage unit 33 stores various programs and data necessary for the execution of processes by the control unit 32. The storage unit 33 stores a staff management program as an example of such a program.
[0047] The control unit 32 functions as a staff screen management unit 32a by executing a staff management program stored in the memory unit 33. The staff screen management unit 32a displays a group management screen and a shop screen on a display unit included in the output unit 35. In addition, the staff screen management unit 32a transmits information according to a user's operation on the displayed screen to the virtual space generating server 10 via the communication unit 31.
[0048] The functions of the staff terminal 30 in the virtual space providing system 100 are embodied by application software for using the virtual space providing system 100. The above-mentioned staff management program is included in the application software.
[0049] We will now explain the physical configuration, i.e., the hardware configuration, of the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30. Each of the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30 is a smartphone, tablet device, personal computer, wearable computer, or an information processing device other than these devices that can display images.
[0050] Each of the visitor terminal 20 and staff terminal 30 is configured such that a computing device, which is a circuit such as a CPU, loads an operating system and various programs from storage into memory and executes commands retrieved from the memory, and communicates with the virtual space generation server 10 via a communication interface. Each of the visitor terminal 20 and staff terminal 30 also has input devices such as a touch panel, operation buttons, a keyboard, a mouse, a controller, a camera, a microphone, and output devices including a display and a speaker.
[0051] [Group organization] The operation of the virtual space providing system 100 for organizing the user group Gp will be described below. 5 shows an example of a group management screen IG displayed on the staff terminal 30. In the group management screen IG, a list of visitor users Pg and staff users Ps who are in the store in the virtual space VS is displayed by user name and avatar. In this user list, users who can be invited to the user group Gp are displayed selectably. A user who can be invited to the user group Gp is a user who is not participating in other user groups Gp.
[0052] In the example shown in Fig. 5, a user with a lock icon C1 is a user who is participating in another user group Gp and cannot be invited to the user group Gp. A user with a telephone icon C2 is a staff user Ps who is the operator of the staff terminal 30. Note that only visitor users Pg may be displayed in the user list, and only visitor users Pg may be invited to the user group Gp. Furthermore, the group management screen IG includes an invitation instruction area R1 that is an area for instructing to invite a user to join the user group Gp.
[0053] The visitor user Pg enters a store in the virtual space VS as an avatar by starting up application software for using the virtual space provision system 100 on the visitor terminal 20 and performing predetermined operations such as logging in and selecting the store to enter. That is, when the above-mentioned predetermined operations are performed on the visitor terminal 20, the virtual space generation server 10 sets the position of the visitor user Pg's avatar in the virtual space VS and transmits data to the visitor terminal 20 indicating the display contents of the shop screen, which is a screen that displays the inside of the virtual space VS.
[0054] Similarly, the staff user Ps enters the shop in the virtual space VS as an avatar by performing a predetermined operation on the staff terminal 30. That is, when the predetermined operation is performed on the staff terminal 30, the virtual space generation server 10 sets the position of the avatar of the staff user Ps in the virtual space VS, and transmits data indicating the display contents of the shop screen, which is a screen that displays the inside of the virtual space VS, to the staff terminal 30. The placement of the avatars of visitor users Pg and staff users Ps in the virtual space VS is a process carried out by the virtual space generating unit 12a.
[0055] The group management screen IG is displayed on the staff terminal 30 by the virtual space generation server 10 sending data indicating the display contents of the group management screen IG to the staff terminal 30 in response to a request for information on the group management screen IG from the staff terminal 30 based on a specified operation on the shop screen, for example.
[0056] The flow of processing performed by the virtual space providing system 100 for organizing a user group Gp will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Figure 6, when a user to be invited to a user group Gp is specified and the invitation instruction area R1 is selected on the group management screen IG of the staff terminal 30, information indicating this operation, in other words, information indicating the invitation target and the invitation instruction, is sent from the staff terminal 30 to the virtual space generation server 10 (step S10).
[0057] When the virtual space generation server 10 receives the information indicating the invitation target and the invitation instruction, the virtual space generation server 10 records the user group Gp with the staff user Ps, who is the operator of the staff terminal 30, as the administrator in the user management data 13b (step S11). As a result, the user group Gp is created and the staff user Ps is set as the administrator. Then, the virtual space generation server 10 transmits an invitation notification to the visitor terminal 20 of the visitor user Pg corresponding to the designated invitation target (step S12).
[0058] When the visitor terminal 20 that received the invitation notification approves participation in the user group Gp based on the operation of the visitor user Pg, information indicating this operation, in other words, information indicating approval of participation, is sent from the visitor terminal 20 to the virtual space generation server 10 (step S13).
[0059] When the virtual space generation server 10 receives the information indicating approval of the participation, the virtual space generation server 10 records the visitor user Pg, whose participation has been approved, as a member of the user group Gp in the user management data 13b (step S14). As a result, the visitor user Pg is added to the user group Gp, and the user group Gp is set to include two or more users.
[0060] In addition, on the group management screen IG, a plurality of users to be invited to the user group Gp may be selected at once. Also, by repeatedly inviting users through the group management screen IG, users may be added to the user group Gp in sequence. In the above, the processes of steps S11, S12, and S14 are processes performed by the group management unit 12b.
[0061] 7 shows an example of a group management screen IG after the user group Gp is set. In the group management screen IG, the members of the user group Gp to which the staff user Ps, who is the operator of the staff terminal 30, belongs are displayed separately from other users in a list of users who have entered the store in the virtual space VS.
[0062] The group management screen IG also includes a dissolution instruction area R2, which is an area for instructing to dissolve the user group Gp. When an instruction to dissolve the group is received from the staff terminal 30 based on the selection of the dissolution instruction area R2, the virtual space generation server 10 updates the user management data 13b so as to dissolve the user group Gp. That is, the virtual space generation server 10 deletes all users belonging to the user group Gp from the user group Gp, and deletes the user group Gp.
[0063] As described above, the staff user Ps, who is the administrator, has the authority to invite users to the user group Gp and to disband the user group Gp as a group organization operation. On the other hand, the visitor user Pg who is participating in the user group Gp does not have the authority to invite users or disband the group, but has the authority to withdraw from the user group Gp. Withdrawing from the user group Gp means that only the visitor user Pg leaves the user group Gp.
[0064] For example, a withdrawal instruction area, which is an area for instructing a user to withdraw from the user group Gp, is displayed along with a list of users participating in the group on a screen called up from the shop screen of the visitor terminal 20. When an instruction to withdraw from the group is received from the visitor terminal 20 based on the selection of the withdrawal instruction area, the virtual space generation server 10 updates the user management data 13b so as to delete the visitor user Pg, who is the operator of the visitor terminal 20, from the user group Gp.
[0065] In addition, the screen displaying the list of users on the visitor terminal 20 may be a screen displaying a list of users similar to the group management screen IG on the staff terminal 30, and while the staff terminal 30 displays the invitation instruction area R1 and the disband instruction area R2, the visitor terminal 20 may display a withdrawal instruction area.
[0066] [Chat Usage] The operation of the virtual space providing system 100 will be described below in the case where a conversation is conducted using chat. First, a case where a chat is conducted using text as a public chat and a private chat will be described.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows an example of a shop screen IS displayed on the visitor terminal 20. The shop screen IS includes a shop area R3, which is an area displaying the virtual space VS in which the avatar Aa of the visitor user Pg, who is the operator of the visitor terminal 20, is placed. By moving the avatar Aa through operations on the visitor terminal 20, the avatar Aa moves within the store in the virtual space VS, and the range within the store included in the shop area R3 also moves accordingly. This allows the visitor user Pg to engage in activities in the virtual space VS, such as viewing exhibits such as products placed within the store. If the avatars Ab of other visitor users Pg or staff users Ps are located within the range included in the shop area R3, these avatars Ab are also displayed.
[0068] The shop screen IS also includes a chat area R4 that displays messages sent and received in chat, and an input area R5 that is an area for inputting a message and sending it in chat. When a message is input in the input area R5 and an instruction to send is given, conversation information that is information indicating the message is sent from the visitor terminal 20 to the virtual space generating server 10. The shop screen displayed on the staff terminal 30 has the same configuration as the shop screen IS of the visitor terminal 20, and includes a shop area R3, a chat area R4, and an input area R5.
[0069] FIG. 9 shows the process of the virtual space generating server 10 when conversation information is received from the visitor terminal 20 or the staff terminal 30.
[0070] First, the virtual space generation server 10 judges whether the user who is the sender of the conversation information is participating in the user group Gp (step S20). If the user is participating in the user group Gp (positive judgment in step S20), the virtual space generation server 10 transmits the conversation information to the terminals 20 and 30 of the members of the user group Gp in which the user is participating, that is, the intra-group terminals (step S21). The conversation information in this case is intra-group conversation information.
[0071] If the user is not participating in the user group Gp (negative determination in step S20), the virtual space generation server 10 transmits the conversation information to the terminals 20 and 30 that are not participating in the user group Gp, i.e., the outside-group terminals (step S22). The conversation information in this case is outside-group conversation information. The terminals 20 and 30 that have received the conversation information display a message based on the conversation information in the chat area R4.
[0072] As described above, a message sent by a user participating in a user group Gp is displayed only on the terminals 20, 30 of the users of the user group Gp, and is not displayed on the terminals 20, 30 of other users. This enables private chat within the user group Gp.
[0073] On the other hand, a message sent by a user who is not a member of the user group Gp is displayed on the terminals 20, 30 of all users who are not a member of the user group Gp, thereby enabling public chat.
[0074] It should be noted that messages in public chat are not displayed on the terminals 20, 30 of users participating in the user group Gp. In other words, only messages in either public chat or private chat are displayed on the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30. Furthermore, users participating in the user group Gp cannot send messages in public chat. In other words, all conversation information sent from the terminals 20, 30 of users participating in the user group Gp is intra-group conversation information.
[0075] Fig. 10 shows an example of the chat area R4 of the shop screen IS displayed on the terminals 20 and 30 of users who are participating in the user group Gp. Fig. 11 shows an example of the chat area R4 of the shop screen IS displayed on the terminals 20 and 30 of users who are not participating in the user group Gp.
[0076] In the example shown in FIG. 10, a message "Staff member, I have a question" from a visitor user Pg with the user name "Sato" is a message in a public chat. A staff user Ps with the user name "Staff A" who has seen this message invites the visitor user Pg with the user name "Sato" to set up a user group Gp, whereby a user group Gp including these two users is set up and a private chat is started. As a result, the private chat messages from "Sato" and "Staff A" are displayed on the terminals 20, 30 of the users "Sato" and "Staff A" who are participating in the user group Gp, as shown in FIG. 10. It is preferable that messages in a private chat are displayed so as to be distinguishable from messages in a public chat.
[0077] On the other hand, in the example shown in Fig. 11, on the terminals 20 and 30 of users who are not participating in the user group Gp, even after the message "Hey staff, I have a question" from the visitor user Pg with the user name "Sato" as in Fig. 10, a public chat message is displayed, but no private chat message is displayed. And, as shown in Fig. 10, after the private chat starts, no public chat message is displayed on the terminals 20 and 30 of users who are participating in the user group Gp.
[0078] As described above, in this embodiment, a conversation that is widely open to users who have entered the virtual space VS can be held as a public chat, while a conversation that is open only to those in the group can be held as a private chat by setting a user group Gp. Therefore, if you want to prevent a conversation from being leaked to others, you can increase the confidentiality of the conversation by setting a user group Gp, and the confidentiality of the conversation in the virtual space VS can be controlled.
[0079] Also, since only the staff users Ps have the authority to set up the user group Gp, the proliferation of groups is suppressed, thereby reducing the processing load on the virtual space generation server 10. Furthermore, since the contents of conversations that require increased confidentiality are often more closely related to the contents of services in the virtual space VS, the staff users Ps can accurately increase the confidentiality of the contents of conversations that should not be leaked to others by deciding on the setting of the user group Gp. Note that setting the user group Gp means that the user group Gp is created and at least one visitor user Pg is added to the group in addition to the staff user Ps.
[0080] In addition, a private chat conversation is possible when the avatar of a user belonging to the user group Gp is in the same space as the avatar of a user outside the group. That is, users participating in the user group Gp can have a conversation only within the group without moving to an individual booth or the like in the store. For example, even if an avatar of a user outside the group is in the same space in a space where exhibits such as products are displayed in the store of the virtual space VS, the staff user Ps and the visitor user Pg can have a conversation only within the group while looking at the exhibits. In this way, since there is a high degree of freedom in the location of the conversation, a highly confidential conversation between the staff user Ps and the visitor user Pg is possible with the avatars in a place suitable for the topic.
[0081] Also, during participation in a user group Gp, only messages in private chat are displayed on the terminals 20 and 30, so that conversations within the group do not include comments from users outside the group, and conversations within the group proceed smoothly. This configuration is particularly useful in cases where messages in public chat and messages in private chat are displayed in the same chat area R4, or when the visitor terminal 20 or the staff terminal 30 is a device with a small display area such as a smartphone and it is difficult to enlarge the chat area R4.
[0082] Public chat and private chat can also be conducted by audio or video. That is, the messages input to the terminals 20 and 30 are not limited to text, but may be audio or video including images and audio. In other words, the conversation information is not limited to text data, but may include audio and video data. Even when chat is conducted by audio or video, the intra-group conversation information is sent only to intra-group terminals, and the extra-group conversation information is sent only to extra-group terminals.
[0083] When a message includes audio, it is preferable that in a public chat, the volume of the message output is changed depending on the distance between users, and in a private chat, the volume of the message output is constant regardless of the distance between users.
[0084] Specifically, when the conversation information includes voice data, the outside-group conversation information is transmitted from the virtual space generation server 10 to the outside-group terminal so that the farther the distance in the virtual space VS is between the avatar of the user who input the message and the avatar of the user to whom the message is to be sent, the quieter the volume of the message is output at the destination terminal. As a result, the farther the speaker's avatar is from the user's own avatar in the virtual space VS, the quieter the speaker's speech sounds to the user, enhancing the realism of the activities in the virtual space VS.
[0085] On the other hand, when the conversation information includes voice data, the intra-group conversation information is transmitted from the virtual space generating server 10 to the intra-group terminals so that the message is output at a constant volume at the destination terminal, regardless of the distance in the virtual space VS between the avatar of the user who entered the message and the avatar of the user to whom the message is to be sent. Since the importance of the contents of a conversation in a private chat is often higher than that of a public chat, outputting the conversation in a private chat at a constant volume makes it easier to understand the contents of the conversation.
[0086] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) While it is possible for conversations to be made public to users who do not belong to a user group Gp, it is also possible for conversations to be made public only to those within the group by setting a user group Gp. Therefore, it is possible to control the confidentiality of conversations in the virtual space VS.
[0087] (2) Because outside-group conversation information is not sent to the terminals in the group, only messages in private chats are displayed on the terminals 20 and 30 of users participating in the user group Gp. Therefore, since comments from users outside the group are not inserted into conversations within the group, conversations within the group proceed smoothly.
[0088] (3) Of the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30, the virtual space generation server 10 accepts requests to set up groups only from the staff terminal 30. In other words, only the staff user Ps has the authority to set up the user group Gp. This prevents groups from being created in excessive numbers, reducing the processing load on the virtual space generation server 10. Furthermore, by having the staff user Ps decide on the setting up of the user group Gp, the confidentiality of conversation contents related to the service that should not be leaked to others is appropriately increased.
[0089] (4) The virtual space generation server 10 accepts requests to add users to a group and disband a group only from the staff terminal 30 that requested the group's establishment, among the visitor terminals 20 and staff terminals 30 in the group, and accepts requests from the visitor terminal 20 for visitor users Pg to leave the group. In this way, since the organization of user groups Gp is performed under the initiative of staff users Ps, groups that are more closely related to the service content and that require high confidentiality are appropriately organized. On the other hand, visitor users Pg can also choose to leave a group at their own will, ensuring the visitor users Pg's freedom in deciding their participation in groups.
[0090] (5) In a state where an avatar of a visitor user Pg belonging to a user group Gp is located in the same space in a facility such as a store in the virtual space VS as an avatar of a visitor user Pg not belonging to the user group Gp, intra-group conversation information is transmitted to an intra-group terminal. This enables a highly confidential conversation between staff user Ps and visitor user Pg with the avatars in a location suitable for the topic without moving to individual booths, etc.
[0091] [Variations] The above embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The contents of the conversation in the public chat may be made public to all users in the store of the virtual space VS. In other words, the conversation information of the outside group may be sent to the terminals in the group as well as the terminals in the outside group.
[0092] The authority to organize the user group Gp may be different from that in the above embodiment. For example, the visitor user Pg may be able to add members to the user group Gp, or the staff user Ps who is the administrator may be able to withdraw from the group, and the administrator authority may be transferred to another user.
[0093] The use of the virtual space providing system 100 is not limited to customer service in a store that handles products. For example, when the virtual space providing system 100 is used for customer service, the facilities included in the virtual space VS are not limited to stores, but may be event venues such as exhibitions, or model rooms. Customer service includes, for example, sales and explanations of products, explanations of exhibits and facilities, tourist information, and the like. Furthermore, products are not limited to physical objects, but also include financial products, and the like.
[0094] The virtual space providing system 100 may also be used for medical services such as counseling, educational services, administrative services, etc. In short, a first user who is a user of a service in the virtual space VS and a second user who is a person who interacts with the first user in the virtual space VS may enter the virtual space VS as avatars. In other words, the second user is a provider of the service.
[0095] The facilities included in the virtual space VS may be structures or buildings established for a specific purpose, such as commercial facilities, financial facilities, public facilities, medical facilities, welfare facilities, tourist facilities, factories, etc. Furthermore, in cases where the virtual space providing system 100 is used for tourist guidance, etc., the virtual space VS may not include facilities, but may be a space in which natural objects such as trees and rocks are arranged.
[0096] The virtual space providing system 100 may perform multilingual translation or simultaneous interpretation of text and voice input / output to the visitor terminal 20 and the staff terminal 30. With this configuration, global support is possible for visitor users Pg, staff users Ps, products handled, etc.
[0097] The functions of the virtual space generation server 10 may be realized by a plurality of information processing devices. One information processing device is a single computer device. In other words, the virtual space generation device may be configured from one or a plurality of information processing devices. [Explanation of symbols]
[0098] Pg…Visitor user Ps…Staff user VS…Virtual space 10…Virtual space generation server 20… Visitor terminal 30…Staff terminal 100...Virtual space provision system
Claims
1. a virtual space generation unit that places, in the virtual space, an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in the virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space; a group management unit that receives a request from a terminal operated by the second user and sets a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and receives intra-group conversation information from the intra-group terminal, the intra-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, the intra-group conversation information is transmitted only to each intra-group terminal of the group; and a communication unit that, when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal and outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmits the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; All information indicating a message input to the terminal within the group is treated as the conversation information within the group, and information indicating a message from the terminal within the group is not transmitted to the terminal outside the group. Virtual space generation device.
2. a virtual space generation unit that places, in the virtual space, an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in the virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space; a group management unit that receives a request from a terminal operated by the second user and sets a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and receives intra-group conversation information from the intra-group terminal, the intra-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, the intra-group conversation information is transmitted only to each intra-group terminal of the group; and a communication unit that, when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal and outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmits the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; After a target terminal, which is a terminal operated by the first user or the second user, is switched from a terminal outside the group to a terminal within the group due to the group settings, information transmitted to the target terminal is controlled so that messages from the terminal outside the group are not displayed on the target terminal currently participating in the group. Virtual space generation device.
3. a virtual space generation unit that places, in the virtual space, an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in the virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space; a group management unit that receives a request from a terminal operated by the second user and sets a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and receives intra-group conversation information from the intra-group terminal, the intra-group conversation information being information indicating a message input to the terminal, the intra-group conversation information is transmitted only to each intra-group terminal of the group; and a communication unit that, when a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal and outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmits the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; the communication unit transmits, to a terminal operated by the second user, data for displaying a list of the first users who have entered the virtual space as the avatars, the list indicating selectable users who can be invited to the group; and The list identifiably indicates the first users who are participating in other groups and cannot be invited; The group management unit sets the group based on the designation of the first user in the list by the second user. Virtual space generation device.
4. The message is composed of text, audio, or video. The virtual space generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. The virtual space includes a facility, and the service is provided in the facility. The virtual space generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
6. The communication unit transmits the intra-group conversation information to the intra-group terminal in a state where an avatar of the first user who belongs to the group is located in the same space in the facility as an avatar of the first user who does not belong to the group. The virtual space generating device according to claim 5 .
7. The communication unit does not transmit the outside-group conversation information to the inside-group terminal. The virtual space generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
8. the terminal operated by the first user is a first terminal, the terminal operated by the second user is a second terminal, The group management unit receives a request for setting the group only from the second terminal out of the first terminal and the second terminal. The virtual space generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
9. The group management unit accepts a request to add a user to the group and to disband the group only from the second terminal that has requested the establishment of the group among the terminals in the group, and accepts a request to remove the first user from the group from the first terminal. The virtual space generating device according to claim 8.
10. On one or more computers, Placing an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in a virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space in the virtual space; receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, and setting a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and intra-group conversation information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the intra-group terminal, transmitting the intra-group conversation information only to each intra-group terminal of the group; a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal, and when outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmitting the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; and setting all information indicating a message input to the in-group terminal as the in-group conversation information, and not transmitting information indicating a message from the in-group terminal to the out-group terminal. Virtual space generation program.
11. On one or more computers, Placing an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in a virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space in the virtual space; receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, and setting a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and intra-group conversation information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the intra-group terminal, transmitting the intra-group conversation information only to each intra-group terminal of the group; a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal, and when outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmitting the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; and after switching a target terminal, which is a terminal operated by the first user or the second user, from the outside-group terminal to the inside-group terminal by setting the group, controlling information to be transmitted to the target terminal so that a message from the outside-group terminal is not displayed on the target terminal currently participating in the group. Virtual space generation program.
12. On one or more computers, Placing an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in a virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space in the virtual space; receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, and setting a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and intra-group conversation information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the intra-group terminal, transmitting the intra-group conversation information only to each intra-group terminal of the group; a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal, and when outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmitting the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; a program for executing a program to transmit data for displaying a list of the first users who have entered the virtual space as the avatars, the list including selectable users who can be invited to the group, to a terminal operated by the second user; The list identifiably indicates the first user who is participating in another of the groups and cannot be invited, and setting the group includes setting the group based on the second user's designation of the first user in the list. Virtual space generation program.
13. One or more computers Placing an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in a virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space in the virtual space; receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, and setting a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and intra-group conversation information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the intra-group terminal, transmitting the intra-group conversation information only to each intra-group terminal of the group; a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal, and when outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmitting the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; and (b) treating all information indicating a message input to the in-group terminal as the in-group conversation information and not transmitting information indicating a message from the in-group terminal to the out-group terminal. A method for generating virtual space.
14. One or more computers Placing an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in a virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space in the virtual space; receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, and setting a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and intra-group conversation information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the intra-group terminal, transmitting the intra-group conversation information only to each intra-group terminal of the group; a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal, and when outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmitting the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; After switching a target terminal, which is a terminal operated by the first user or the second user, from the outside-group terminal to the inside-group terminal by setting the group, controlling information to be sent to the target terminal so that a message from the outside-group terminal is not displayed on the target terminal currently participating in the group. A method for generating virtual space.
15. One or more computers Placing an avatar of a first user who will be a user of a service in a virtual space and an avatar of a second user who will be a contact person for the first user in the virtual space in the virtual space; receiving a request from a terminal operated by the second user, and setting a group including the second user and the first user designated by the second user; When a terminal operated by the first user or the second user belonging to the group is an intra-group terminal and intra-group conversation information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the intra-group terminal, transmitting the intra-group conversation information only to each intra-group terminal of the group; a terminal operated by the first user or the second user that does not belong to any of the groups is an outside-group terminal, and when outside-group conversation information that is information indicating a message input to the terminal is received from the outside-group terminal, transmitting the outside-group conversation information to each outside-group terminal; transmitting data for displaying a list of the first users who have entered the virtual space as the avatars, the list indicating selectable users who can be invited to the group, to a terminal operated by the second user, The list identifiably indicates the first user who is participating in another of the groups and cannot be invited, and setting the group includes setting the group based on the second user's designation of the first user in the list. A method for generating virtual space.