Information processing method, information processing system, and program

Abstract

To provide a more excellent technique.SOLUTION: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an information processing method to be executed by an information processing system is provided. This information processing method includes: a first acquisition step of causing a management device to acquire first user information associated with a first application and terminal information associated with a user terminal from the user terminal by the execution of the first application in the user terminal; a storing step of causing the management device to store second user information associated with a second application in association with the first user information by the execution of an authentication operation in the user terminal. The second user information is acquired from the second application by the execution of the first application and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing method, an information processing system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing method for linking user information (user ID) between different applications (games).

[0003] In this information processing method, a token is sent from one application to another application via a management server, and the user information of the two applications is linked when the tokens match. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5946932 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there is still room for improvement in the above techniques.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide, for example, a superior technique. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an information processing method executed by an information processing system. The information processing method includes the following steps. In a first acquisition step, first user information associated with the first application and terminal information associated with the user terminal are acquired from the user terminal by execution of a first application in the user terminal, and the management device is caused to acquire. In a storage step, second user information associated with the second application is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device by execution of an authentication operation in the user terminal. The second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a better technique can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a first information processing device 2a according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an activity diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an activity diagram showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an activity diagram showing an example of a flow of processes executed by an information processing system 1 in a second embodiment different from the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an activity diagram showing an example of a flow of processes executed by an information processing system 1 in a second embodiment different from the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second application login screen P1 for logging in to a second application A2 provided by a second information processing device 2b. [Figure 8]13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of an application list screen P2 on which a list of applications provided by the second application A2 is displayed, and an example of an application selection screen P3 for executing an application in the second application A2. [Figure 9] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of a title screen P4 of a first application A1 provided by a third information processing device 2c, and an example of an account linking screen P5 for linking first user information UI1 and second user information UI2. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-administration ID login screen P6 for logging in with an information administration ID at an information providing site. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication information display screen P7 on which authentication information CI1 is displayed. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen P8 for confirming second user information UI2 to be linked with first user information UI1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Various features shown in the following embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0011] Incidentally, a program for realizing the software appearing in one embodiment may be provided as a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, or may be provided so as to be downloadable from an external server, or may be provided so that the program is launched on an external computer and its functions are realized on a client terminal (so-called cloud computing).

[0012] In one embodiment, the term "unit" may include, for example, a combination of hardware resources implemented by a circuit in the broad sense and software information processing that can be specifically realized by these hardware resources. In one embodiment, various information is handled, and this information is represented by, for example, physical values ​​of signal values ​​representing voltage and current, high and low signal values ​​as a binary bit collection consisting of 0 or 1, or quantum superposition (so-called quantum bits), and communication and calculation can be performed on the circuit in the broad sense.

[0013] In addition, a circuit in the broad sense is a circuit realized by at least appropriately combining a circuit, circuitry, a processor, and a memory, etc. In other words, it includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (e.g., a simple programmable logic device (SPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA)), etc.

[0014] 1. Game Description Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment. In the information processing system 1 shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of information processing devices 2 and a plurality of user terminals 3 are communicably connected to each other via a communication network 11, and a game is executed on the user terminals 3. That is, the information processing system 1 is composed of at least one device.

[0015] The game according to one embodiment is an online game executed by the information processing system 1. In this game, a user of a user terminal 3 causes one or more player characters to act in a virtual game space, and causes the player characters to fight against enemy characters that are non-player characters. The characters are an example of objects.

[0016] The above-mentioned games are played using a user terminal 3, which is a home game console such as PlayStation (registered trademark), a portable game console such as Nintendo Switch (registered trademark), or an electronic device such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal.

[0017] 2. Overview of Information Processing System 1 As shown in FIG. 1, an information processing system 1 is composed of a plurality of information processing devices 2 and a plurality of user terminals 3. Of the plurality of information processing devices 2, a first information processing device 2a manages game data (for each account information described below) of the user terminal 3. The information processing device 2 is composed of, for example, a server. Of the plurality of user terminals 3, the first user terminals 3a for playing games in particular have the same configuration as each other. In one embodiment, a system is composed of one or more devices or components. Therefore, for example, even the information processing device 2 or the user terminal 3 described below alone can be an example of the information processing system 1.

[0018] The first user terminal 3a executes a predetermined game based on the user's operation. To this end, the first user terminal 3a receives (specifically, downloads and installs) a game program and game data from the third information processing device 2c via the communication network 11. Each user is assigned account information including identification information and a password in association with the first user terminal 3a. This account information is transmitted from the first user terminal 3a to the information processing device 2 at the time of login, and is used for user authentication in the information processing device 2.

[0019] After user authentication, the information processing device 2 and the first user terminal 3a are able to communicate with each other. After logging in, the first user terminal 3a receives data required for game progress (data related to the game progress status) from the third information processing device 2c, and progresses the game while outputting game images and sounds to the display 4a and speaker 4b based on the user's operation.

[0020] 2.1 Hardware Configuration Hereinafter, each hardware component of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] <Information processing device 2> As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 2 includes a first information processing device 2a (an example of a management device) and a third information processing device 2c that are mainly managed by a person who creates games, and a second information processing device 2b that is managed by a person who provides a comprehensive game-related platform that mainly manages games provided by people who create various games and game machines for executing the games. The first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, and the third information processing device 2c all have approximately the same configuration. Preferably, the second information processing device 2b may be a plurality of second information processing devices 2b, and the third information processing device 2c may be a plurality of third information processing devices 2c. More specifically, the first information processing device 2a is a management server that cross-manages user information related to a plurality of first applications A1. The third information processing device 2c is a game server that provides at least one first application A1, and the second information processing device 2b is a server of a platform that provides a second application A2 different from the first application A1. The second application A2 manages the acquisition status and execution status of the multiple first applications A1 for each platform. When the same first application A1 is provided by different platforms, the second application A2 corresponding to each platform manages the first application A1 corresponding to the platform. In other words, multiple second information processing devices 2b may be configured for each game platform service (second application A2). The information processing device 2 has a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. The communication unit 21 and the storage unit 22 are electrically connected to the control unit 23 via a communication bus 20.

[0022] The communication unit 21 is a so-called network interface that is communicatively connected to each user terminal 3 via a communication network 11 such as the Internet and a LAN. Main information that the third information processing device 2c of the information processing devices 2 receives via the communication unit 21 includes download request information for a game program, a request for a gacha lottery in response to a user's operation, a request for executing a quest, a request for executing / ending autoplay, account information, game data, etc. Main information that the third information processing device 2c transmits via the communication unit 21 includes information for confirming that the user terminal 3 has received the game program, information regarding the game media obtained by the gacha, etc.

[0023] The storage unit 22 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a solid state drive (SSD), etc. The storage unit 22 stores various programs including a part of the game program according to one embodiment, various data related to the game, etc.

[0024] Specifically, for example, the storage unit 22 of the third information processing device 2c stores a user DB, a lottery list, and the like. In the user DB, for each identification number (account information) of a user who plays a game, information such as a user name, a user rank, information on the status of a player character operated by the user, the amount of consumable media usable in the virtual game space, information on parameters, and the like are stored in association with each other. The lottery list is used for a lottery process generally called gacha, and includes a plurality of pieces of information on game media to be selected. In the lottery list, information on the game media (such as name, ability parameters, rarity, and level) is associated with a selection ratio by lottery. In addition, the ability parameters include, for example, fighting power, HP, attack power, defense power, intelligence, speed, and the like when the game media is a player character.

[0025] The control unit 23 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU and a semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the information processing device 2, which is the device itself. In particular, the control unit 23 realizes various functions related to the information processing device 2, which is the device itself, by reading out a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 22. That is, information processing by software stored in the storage unit 22 is specifically realized by the control unit 23, which is an example of hardware, and each functional unit described below can be executed. Note that the control unit 23 is not limited to being single, and may be implemented to have multiple control units 23 for each function. Also, a combination of these may be used. In other words, the information processing system 1 includes at least one processor that executes a program so that each step of the information processing method is performed.

[0026] Examples of information processing executed by the control unit 23 include a charge settlement process, a user account authentication process, and a gacha lottery selection process. The charge settlement process is executed, for example, based on a request for a charge required to restore a predetermined amount of parameters during the game. The user account authentication process is executed, for example, using user identification information received from the user terminal 3. The gacha lottery selection process is a process in which, in response to a gacha lottery request, one or more game media are selected by lottery from a lottery list based on the selection probability for each game medium. According to the gacha lottery selection process, information on the selected game media and identification information of the user who performed the operation that is the source of the lottery request are associated in the user DB, and the user is thereby granted the game media that he or she won as a result of drawing the gacha.

[0027] Here, to further supplement the above, the "game medium" is electronic data representing elements related to the game, including the name of the character used as the player character, items (weapons, armor, tools) used by the player character in the virtual game space, etc. The user can obtain the game medium by a lottery method called gacha, in addition to direct purchase by charging or clearing a quest. The obtained game medium is stored and managed in the user DB in association with the identification information of the user who has come to own the game medium. Furthermore, "gacha" is a method in which the information processing device 2 selects an arbitrary game medium from a lottery list based on a predetermined selection ratio by lottery. The arbitrary selected game medium is given to the user terminal 3 (stored in association with the account information). "Giving the game medium selected by gacha to the user / the user owns it" is synonymous with "associating / being associated with the game medium selected by the lottery process with the identification information indicating the user."

[0028] <User terminal 3> As shown in FIG. 1, the user terminal 3 includes a first user terminal 3a where the user mainly plays games, and a second user terminal 3b used as an auxiliary terminal mainly for linking user information. The first user terminal 3a and the second user terminal 3b have substantially the same configuration. Preferably, the first user terminal 3a may be a home game console or a portable game console, and the second user terminal 3b may be a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The user terminal 3 has a display 4a, a speaker 4b, and an input device 4c externally connected or built-in. The user terminal 3 also has a communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, a control unit 33, a graphic processing unit 34a, an audio processing unit 34b, and an input unit 34c. The communication unit 31, the storage unit 32, the graphic processing unit 34a, the audio processing unit 34b, and the input unit 34c are electrically connected to the control unit 33 via a communication bus 30.

[0029] The communication unit 31 is a so-called network interface that is communicatively connected to the communication network 11 in order to transmit and receive various data between the user terminal 3 and the information processing device 2. Main information that the user terminal 3 receives via the communication unit 31 includes account information, download request information for new game data, a gacha execution request, a quest execution request, etc. Main information that the user terminal 3 transmits via the communication unit 31 includes new game data sent from the information processing device 2 in response to download request information, information on the game medium selected by lottery processing, etc.

[0030] The storage unit 32 is composed of an HDD, an SSD, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The storage unit 32 stores game data downloaded from the third information processing device 2c, various programs including a part of the game program, account information of the first user terminal 3a, which is the user's own device, user information other than the account information, and the like. The user information is at least a part of the information in the user DB stored in the storage unit 22 of the first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, or the third information processing device 2c. The user DB manages the master data of the user information, and the storage unit 32 of the first user terminal 3a stores at least a part of the information in the master data distributed from the first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, or the third information processing device 2c.

[0031] The control unit 33 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU and a semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the user terminal 3, which is the device itself. In particular, the control unit 33 realizes various functions related to the user terminal 3, which is the device itself, by reading out a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 32. That is, information processing by the software stored in the storage unit 32 is specifically realized by the control unit 33, which is an example of hardware, so that each functional unit described below can be executed. Note that the control unit 33 is not limited to being single, and may be implemented with multiple control units 33 for each function. Also, a combination of these may be used.

[0032] In particular, the control unit 33 is configured to execute the game according to the operation of the input device 4c by the user of the first user terminal 3a, which is the user's own device. Specifically, the control unit 33 reads out data such as virtual game space objects and textures included in the game data from the storage unit 32, or generates two-dimensional or three-dimensional game image information using data received from the third information processing device 2c. The game image information is processed by the graphics processing unit 34a, and the processed game images are sequentially displayed on the display 4a. In other words, the control unit 33 is configured to perform display control of the display 4a and audio output control of the speaker 4b according to the operation of the user of the first user terminal 3a, which is the user's own device, when executing the game.

[0033] The graphics processing unit 34a renders game images including characters and various objects related to the virtual game space in a moving image format according to game image information output from the control unit 33. The graphics processing unit 34a is connected to the display 4a, which is, for example, a liquid crystal type, and the game images rendered in a moving image format are displayed on the display 4a as a game screen. The audio processing unit 34b is connected to the speaker 4b, and reproduces and synthesizes game sounds according to instructions from the control unit 33, and outputs the sounds from the speaker 4b. The input unit 34c is connected to the input device 4c, and transmits and receives data related to operation inputs to and from the input device 4c. The user inputs operation signals to the user terminal 3 by operating the input device 4c. The input device 4c is a general term for a touch panel integrated with the display 4a, an external game pad, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like.

[0034] 2.2 Functional Configuration Next, the functional configuration of the first information processing device 2a of the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a first information processing device 2a according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 23 (processor) executes various programs stored in the storage unit 22 to function as a reception unit 231, an acquisition unit 232, a calculation unit 233, a presentation unit 234, and a display control unit 235. That is, information processing by software stored in the storage unit 22 is specifically realized by the control unit 23, which is an example of hardware, and can be executed as each functional unit included in the control unit 23.

[0036] The reception unit 231 is configured to receive various information as a reception step. For example, the reception unit 231 receives account information such as first user information UI1, second user information UI2, and third user information UI3, game data, and input from a user from the storage unit 22, the user terminal 3, or another external device. Details will be described later.

[0037] The acquisition unit 232 is configured to acquire various pieces of information as an acquisition step. Preferably, the acquisition unit 232 is configured to execute a first acquisition step and a second acquisition step. Details will be described later.

[0038] The calculation unit 233 is configured to execute calculations or processes related to various information processes. Specifically, the calculation unit 233 may output the first user information UI1, the second user information UI2, the third user information UI3, etc. so that the user can refer to them as an output step, and may execute a predetermined function of the first application A1 as an execution step. Preferably, the calculation unit 233 is configured to execute a storage step, a code issuing step, an authentication step, and an information confirmation step. Details will be described later.

[0039] The presentation unit 234 is configured to present various information to the user as a presentation step. In one embodiment, the presentation may adopt a display form using visual information, or may adopt a form of information related to the five senses other than visual information, such as auditory information, tactile information, or a combination of information related to all of the five senses (so-called multimodal information).

[0040] The display control unit 235 is configured to execute a process for displaying, as a display step, various pieces of information stored in the storage unit 32 or screens including the information on the display 4a of the user terminal 3 in a visible manner. As an example, the display control unit 235 may generate visual information itself generated in a human-visible manner, such as a screen, an image (e.g., a still image or a video), an icon, text, etc., or may generate rendering information for displaying the visual information on the display 4a, for example, and transmit the information.

[0041] 3. Overview of Information Processing The flow of the process executed by the information processing system 1 will be described below.

[0042] 3.1 First embodiment 3 and 4 are activity diagrams showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in the first embodiment. Below, the flow of information processing will be outlined with reference to this activity diagram.

[0043] Incidentally, an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment includes at least one device. The first information processing device 2a is a management server, the second information processing device 2b is a platform server, and the third information processing device 2c is a game server. A user has a first application user ID associated with a first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c. The first application A1 is typically a game application. An individual first application user ID (an example of the third user information UI3) is set for each first application A1, and different first application user IDs are set for different first applications A1 even for the same user. The first application user ID includes at least account information of the user in each first application A1.

[0044] On the other hand, in this embodiment, a cross-management ID (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "game ID") for managing multiple first apps A1 provided by the same provider across the board is associated with the first app user ID of each first app A1 and the second user information UI2, which is an ID given to the user on each platform. In this way, even if the same app is provided on different platforms and multiple apps provided by the provider are provided and executed on different platforms, it is possible to cross-manage the execution history of the app by the user across the board. In this embodiment, the cross-management ID is an example of the first user information UI1. Therefore, the first user information UI1 is associated with at least one first app A1.

[0045] The user has a plurality of pieces of second user information UI2 associated with the second app A2 provided by the second information processing device 2b. The second app A2 is typically a platform app for games, and a plurality of second apps A2 exist according to a plurality of different companies, for example, a company providing game hardware. The second user information UI2 includes at least account information (ID) of the user in the second app A2. Since the second app A2 is a platform app, it becomes easier to obtain the user information from the second app A2 while suppressing the diffusion of the user information outside the environment in which the second app A2 is executed.

[0046] The first user information UI1 associated with at least one first application A1 can be linked to various second applications A2. In the following description, it is assumed that the user links the second user information UI2 to the first user information UI1 when the first application A1 is executed.

[0047] In the first user terminal 3a, the first application A1 is executed by executing the second application A2. That is, in order to execute the first application A1, the second application A2 needs to be executed in advance. This prevents the second user information UI2 from being acquired from the first application A1 in an environment in which the second application A2 is not executed, thereby improving security for the second user information UI2.

[0048] For the above reasons, the user first executes the second application A2 (platform application) provided by the second information processing device 2b on the first user terminal 3a via the communication unit 31 and the communication network 11 (activity A101). The second application A2 may be executed automatically when the first user terminal 3a is started up. As a result, the user visually recognizes a screen of the second application A2 (for example, a second application login screen P1 described later) via the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. That is, the user is requested by the second information processing device 2b to log in to the service of the second application A2.

[0049] In order to log in to a service provided by the second app A2 in the second app A2 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs second user information UI2 associated with the second app A2 and a password corresponding to the second user information UI2 (activity A102).

[0050] The second user information UI2 is transmitted to the second information processing device 2b together with the password when the user inputs a predetermined information on the screen of the second application A2. The second information processing device 2b receives the second user information UI2 from the first user terminal 3a, and the control unit 23 authenticates the received second user information UI2 (activity A103). Specifically, the control unit 23 performs a comparison process between the information input to the first user terminal 3a and a database that manages a combination of the second user information UI2 and a password stored in the storage unit 22 of the second information processing device 2b. In the activity A103, if the combination of the input second user information UI2 and the password is authenticated, the user can log in to the service of the second application A2 using the second user information UI2. That is, the screen displayed on the display 4a transitions to a screen after logging in to the second application A2 (for example, an application list screen P2 described later). Note that, if the user has already logged in to the service of the second application A2, the activities A102 and A103 are omitted. If the user has not created an account for the second application A2, the account is created (second user information UI2 is registered), and then activity A102 and activity A103 are performed.

[0051] After logging in to the second application A2, the user executes the first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c on the first user terminal 3a via the communication unit 31 and the communication network 11 (activity A104). The first application A1 is executed, for example, by the user selecting it from a list of purchased applications displayed on the first user terminal 3a by the second application A2. As a result, the user visually recognizes an execution screen (for example, a title screen P4 described later) of the first application A1 on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. That is, the user is requested by the third information processing device 2c to log in to the service of the first application A1. In the first application A1 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs a first application user ID associated with the first application A1 and a password corresponding to the first application user ID in order to log in to the service provided by the first application A1 (activity A105).

[0052] The first application user ID is sent to the third information processing device 2c together with the password when the user inputs a predetermined information on the screen of the first application A1. The third information processing device 2c receives the first application user ID from the first user terminal 3a, and the control unit 23 authenticates the received first application user ID (activity A106). Specifically, the control unit 23 performs a process of checking the information input to the first user terminal 3a against a database that manages combinations of first application user IDs and passwords stored in the storage unit 22 of the third information processing device 2c. If the combination of the input first application user ID and password is authenticated in activity A106, the user can log in to the service of the first application A1 using the first application user ID. Note that if the user has already logged in to the service of the first application A1, activities A105 and A106 are omitted. If the user has not created an account for the first application A1, an account is created (the first application user ID is registered), and then activities A105 and A106 are performed.

[0053] When a user logs in to a service of the first application A1, the first user terminal 3a acquires, via the first application A1, second user information UI2 from the second application A2 to which the user is logged in. That is, the second user information UI2 is acquired from the second application A2 by executing the first application A1, and is associated with the first user information UI1 in the first information processing device 2a after an authentication operation described later.

[0054] After authenticating the first application user ID (i.e., after executing the first application A1), the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a issues, as a code issuing step, a code for causing the first information processing device 2a to acquire the terminal information TI, the first user information UI1, and the second user information UI2 of the first user terminal 3a to the first user terminal 3a executing the first application A1 (activity A107). With this configuration, the terminal information TI and the two pieces of user information can be simultaneously transmitted from the first user terminal 3a to the first information processing device 2a, so that the number of communications and the number of data processings can be reduced. The terminal information TI is information associated with the first user terminal 3a, and is, for example, information such as an ID individually assigned to the first user terminal 3a in order to identify the first user terminal 3a.

[0055] Specifically, in activity A107, the first information processing device 2a transmits an instruction to issue a code via the first application A1 to the first user terminal 3a. The first user terminal 3a receives the instruction from the first information processing device 2a and displays a code including information on the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the second user information UI2 held by the first application A1 on the display 4a (activity A108). This allows the user to visually confirm a display screen of the code (for example, an account link screen P5 described later) via the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. The code includes access information to a website (hereinafter referred to as an "information acquisition site") for causing the first information processing device 2a to acquire the terminal information TI, the first user information UI1, and the second user information UI2. This configuration saves the work required for the user to access a specific website (information acquisition site). The information processing site is a site managed by the first information processing device 2a.

[0056] The code displayed on the second user terminal 3b includes the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the URL of an information acquisition site corresponding to the second user information UI2. The code is typically an identification code (e.g., a two-dimensional code) whose information can be read by the camera (an example of the input device 4c) of the first user terminal 3a.

[0057] The user reads the code displayed on the first user terminal 3a with the camera of the second user terminal 3b (activity A109). By reading the code, the second user terminal 3b accesses the information acquisition site via the communication unit 31 and the communication network 11 (activity A110). The information acquisition site is a site that is individually prepared for a combination of the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the second user information UI2 (that is, a URL is individually set). The first information processing device 2a receives an access to the information acquisition site from the second user terminal 3b and acquires the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the second user information UI2 associated with the information acquisition site from the accessed information acquisition site (activity A111). That is, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a acquires the second user information UI2 as a second acquisition step before an authentication operation described later is performed. With this configuration, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 can be linked without delay after the authentication operation is performed.

[0058] The information acquisition site requests the user to input the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password. That is, the user visually checks an input screen for the first user information UI1 (for example, a cross-management ID login screen P6) via the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b. The user inputs the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password from the second user terminal 3b (activity A112). The first user information UI1 is transmitted to the first information processing device 2a together with the password, triggered by a predetermined input by the user to the information acquisition site.

[0059] The first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 from the second user terminal 3b, and authenticates the received first user information UI1 by the control unit 23. When the combination of the input first user information UI1 and password is authenticated, the first information processing device 2a acquires the first user information UI1 (activity A113). Next, the first information processing device 2a associates the first application user ID acquired from the information acquisition site with the first user information UI1. As a result, the first application A1 corresponding to the associated first application user ID is added to the group of first applications A1 played by the user, and the first application user IDs of the multiple first applications A1 are associated with each other and managed. Furthermore, if the first user information UI1 is associated with the second user information UI2 of each platform (second application A2), even if the user executes each first application A1 on a different platform, it becomes possible to acquire play history and the like from each platform and manage and analyze the play history and the like across the platforms.

[0060] In this way, as a first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a acquires the first user information UI1 associated with the first application A1 and the terminal information TI associated with the first user terminal 3a via the first application user ID from the first user terminal 3a by executing the first application A1 in the first user terminal 3a. Also, in the first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 input at the information acquisition site and acquires the first user information UI1. With this configuration, it is possible to easily and reliably transmit the first user information UI1 to the management device.

[0061] After acquiring the first user information UI1 in the activity A113, the first information processing device 2a transmits authentication information CI1 for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 to the second user terminal 3b that has accessed the information acquisition site (activity A114). The authentication information CI1 is a one-time password for authenticating a user who has accessed the information acquisition site, and is associated with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The authentication information CI1 is composed of a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, etc. that the user can input in the first user terminal 3a, and is typically composed of a number of multiple digits. The second user terminal 3b receives the authentication information CI1 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A115). As a result, the user visually recognizes a display screen of the authentication information CI1 (for example, an authentication information display screen P7 described later) via the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b.

[0062] Next, the user inputs the authentication information CI1 displayed on the second user terminal 3b to the second application A2 on the first user terminal 3a (activity A116). The authentication information CI1 input on the first user terminal 3a is transmitted to the first information processing device 2a together with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The first information processing device 2a checks whether the authentication information CI1 transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the authentication information CI1 transmitted to the second user terminal 3b and whether the terminal information TI transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the terminal information TI acquired from the information acquisition site (activity A117). That is, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a provides the authentication information CI1 associated with the terminal information TI to the second user terminal 3b as an authentication step, and the authentication information CI1 is input in the first application A1 of the first user terminal 3a, thereby executing the authentication operation. With this configuration, the authentication operation by the user for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 is facilitated.

[0063] After checking the authentication information CI1, the first information processing device 2a transmits confirmation information CI2 to the first user terminal 3a (activity A118). The confirmation information CI2 is information for confirming the second user information UI2 used to log in to the second application A2 executed on the first user terminal 3a (i.e., the account logged in to the second application A2). That is, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a outputs, as an information confirmation step, confirmation information CI2 that can recognize the second user information UI2 to the first user terminal 3a after performing the authentication operation and before storing the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a in association with the first user information UI1. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from associating the wrong second user information UI2 with the first user information UI1. In particular, from the perspective of discouraging account buying and selling, when unlinking linked user information, there may be restrictions on the number of times or the amount of time it can be done, or procedures such as identity verification may be required. Therefore, by having the user confirm the second user information UI2 with the confirmation information CI2, the effort required for the user to unlink the information can be reduced.

[0064] The first user terminal 3a receives the confirmation information CI2 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A119). As a result, the user visually confirms a display screen of the confirmation information CI2 (for example, a confirmation screen P8 described later) through the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. The user performs a selection operation on the first user terminal 3a as to whether or not to change the second user information UI2 displayed as the confirmation information CI2 (activity A120). That is, if there is no problem with the second user information UI2 to be linked to the first user information UI1, the user performs an input on the first user terminal 3a to proceed with the linking of the second user information UI2. On the other hand, if the user wants to change the second user information UI2 to be linked to the first user information UI1 to another second user information UI2, the user performs an input on the first user terminal 3a to change the second user information UI2 to be linked to the first user information UI1.

[0065] When the second user information UI2 is not changed in the activity A120, the first information processing device 2a links the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A113 with the second user information UI2 acquired in the activity A111, and stores the linking result in a database managed by the first information processing device 2a (activity A121). That is, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a associates the second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 with the first user information UI1 by performing an authentication operation in the first user terminal 3a, and stores the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a as a storage step. With this configuration, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 can be associated with each other by performing the first application A1 and the authentication operation. Therefore, user information can be linked between different applications by a simple operation.

[0066] On the other hand, if there is a change in the second user information UI2 in the activity A120, the process returns to the activity A102, and the user is prompted to input another second user information UI2 in the second app A2 (log in to the second app A2) in the first user terminal 3a. That is, in the information confirmation step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a transitions the app being executed in the first user terminal 3a from the first app A1 to the second app A2 in response to a selection operation on the confirmation information CI2. With this configuration, a screen for changing the second user information UI2 (an input screen in the second app A2) can be automatically displayed, making it easy for the user to change the second user information UI2.

[0067] When the user selects the activity A120 and returns to the activity A102, the activities A104 and after may be executed in the same manner as the first time, or some of the activities may be omitted. For example, if the first application A1 is still being executed when returning from the activity A120 to the activity A102 (when transitioning to the second application A2), after authenticating the second user information UI2 of the activity A103, the activities A104 and A105 may be omitted and the code may be issued in the activity A107.

[0068] 3.2 Second embodiment 5 and 6 are activity diagrams showing an example of the flow of processing executed by the information processing system 1 in a second embodiment different from the first embodiment. Below, the flow of information processing will be outlined with reference to this activity diagram.

[0069] In the second embodiment, the roles of the first information processing device 2a, the second information processing device 2b, the third information processing device 2c, the first user terminal 3a, and the second user terminal 3b are respectively the same as those in the first embodiment. Also, in the second embodiment, the first application A1, the second application A2, the first user information UI1, the second user information UI2, and the first application user ID are respectively the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0070] As in the first embodiment, the user first executes the second application A2 provided by the second information processing device 2b on the first user terminal 3a (activity A201). In the second application A2 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 and a password corresponding to the second user information UI2 to log in to a service provided by the second application A2 (activity A202).

[0071] As in the first embodiment, the second information processing device 2b receives the second user information UI2 from the first user terminal 3a, and authenticates the received second user information UI2 by the control unit 23 (activity A203). If the combination of the input second user information UI2 and password is authenticated in the activity A203, the user can log in to the service of the second application A2 using the second user information UI2.

[0072] As in the first embodiment, after logging in to the second application A2, the user executes the first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c on the first user terminal 3a (activity A204). In the first application A1 executed on the first user terminal 3a, the user inputs the first application user ID associated with the first application A1 and the password corresponding to the first application user ID in order to log in to the service provided by the first application A1 (activity A205).

[0073] As in the first embodiment, the third information processing device 2c receives the first application user ID from the first user terminal 3a, and authenticates the received first application user ID via the control unit 23 (activity A206). If the combination of the input first application user ID and password is authenticated in activity A206, the user can log in to the service of the first application A1 using the first application user ID.

[0074] When a user logs in to a service of the first application A1, the first user terminal 3a acquires, via the first application A1, second user information UI2 from the second application A2 to which the user is logged in. In the second embodiment, the second user information UI2 is acquired from the second application A2 by execution of the first application A1, and is associated with terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a or the first user information UI1 by the time an authentication operation described later is completed.

[0075] After authenticating the first application user ID, the first information processing device 2a determines whether an authentication operation for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 has been executed (activity A207). The authentication operation in the second embodiment will be described later.

[0076] In activity A207, if the authentication operation has not been performed, that is, if the authentication operation has never been performed, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a issues, as a code issuance step, a code to the first user terminal 3a executing the first application A1, for causing the first information processing device 2a to acquire the terminal information TI and the first user information UI1 of the first user terminal 3a after execution of the first application A1 (activity A208).

[0077] In activity A208, the first information processing device 2a transmits an instruction to issue a code to the first user terminal 3a executing the first application A1. The first user terminal 3a receives the instruction from the first information processing device 2a and displays a code including information related to the terminal information TI, the first application user ID, and the second user information UI2 held by the first application A1 on the display 4a (activity A209). The code includes access information to a website (information acquisition site) for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information TI and the first user information UI1. The form of the code displayed on the second user terminal 3b in the second embodiment is similar to the form of the code in the first embodiment.

[0078] The user reads the code displayed on the first user terminal 3a with the camera of the second user terminal 3b (activity A210). By reading the code, the second user terminal 3b accesses the information acquisition site (activity A211). The information acquisition site in the second embodiment is a site that is individually prepared for a combination of terminal information TI and a first application user ID. In response to the access to the information acquisition site from the second user terminal 3b, the first information processing device 2a acquires the terminal information TI and the first application user ID corresponding to the information acquisition site (activity A212).

[0079] The information acquisition site requests the user to input the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password. The user inputs the first user information UI1 and the corresponding password from the second user terminal 3b (activity A213). The first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 from the second user terminal 3b, and authenticates the received first user information UI1 by the control unit 23. When the combination of the input first user information UI1 and the password is authenticated, the first information processing device 2a acquires the first user information UI1 (activity A214). Next, the first information processing device 2a associates the first user information UI1 with the first application user ID acquired from the information acquisition site. The first information processing device 2a may also transmit the acquired first user information UI1 to the first user terminal 3a to use it as linkage confirmation information, which will be described later.

[0080] That is, in a first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a acquires, from the first user terminal 3a, first user information UI1 associated with the first application A1 via the first application user ID and terminal information TI associated with the first user terminal 3a by executing the first application A1 in the first user terminal 3a. Also, in the first acquisition step, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a receives the first user information UI1 at the information acquisition site and acquires the first user information UI1.

[0081] After acquiring the first user information UI1 in activity A214, the first information processing device 2a transmits authentication information CI1 for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 to the second user terminal 3b that accessed the information acquisition site (activity A215). The authentication information CI1 is a one-time password for authenticating the user who accessed the information acquisition site, and is associated with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The form of the authentication information CI1 in the second embodiment is similar to the form of the authentication information CI1 in the first embodiment. The second user terminal 3b receives the authentication information CI1 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A216).

[0082] Next, the user inputs the authentication information CI1 displayed on the second user terminal 3b to the second application A2 on the first user terminal 3a (activity A217). The authentication information CI1 input on the first user terminal 3a is transmitted to the first information processing device 2a together with the terminal information TI of the first user terminal 3a. The first information processing device 2a checks whether the authentication information CI1 transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the authentication information CI1 transmitted to the second user terminal 3b and whether the terminal information TI transmitted from the first user terminal 3a matches the terminal information TI acquired from the information acquisition site (activity A218). That is, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a provides the authentication information CI1 associated with the terminal information TI to the second user terminal 3b as an authentication step, and the authentication information CI1 is input in the first application A1 of the first user terminal 3a, thereby executing the authentication operation.

[0083] After checking the authentication information CI1, the first information processing device 2a transmits confirmation information CI2 to the first user terminal 3a (activity A219). The confirmation information CI2 of the second embodiment is similar to the confirmation information CI2 of the first embodiment. That is, as an information confirmation step, after performing an authentication operation, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a causes the first user terminal 3a to output confirmation information CI2 capable of recognizing the second user information UI2 before storing the second user information UI2 in the first information processing device 2a in association with the first user information UI1.

[0084] As in the first embodiment, the first user terminal 3a receives confirmation information CI2 from the first information processing device 2a and displays it on the display 4a (activity A220). The user selects whether or not to change the second user information UI2 displayed as the confirmation information CI2 on the first user terminal 3a (activity A221).

[0085] In the case where the second user information UI2 is not changed in the activity A221, the first user terminal 3a transmits the second user information UI2 to the first information processing device 2a together with information associated with the second user information UI2 from among the terminal information TI and the first user information UI1 (hereinafter referred to as "information for cooperation confirmation") (activity A222). The first information processing device 2a receives the second user information UI2 and the information for cooperation confirmation (either the terminal information TI or the first user information UI1) from the first user terminal 3a (activity A223). That is, the acquisition unit 232 of the first information processing device 2a acquires the second user information UI2 after the authentication operation is performed as the second acquisition step. According to such a configuration, the second user information UI2 is not transmitted to the management device before the authentication operation is performed, so that when the authentication operation is not performed, the first information processing device 2a does not need to perform a process such as discarding the second user information UI2.

[0086] The first information processing device 2a refers to the linkage confirmation information, links the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A214 and the second user information UI2 acquired in the activity A223, and stores the linkage result in a database managed by the first information processing device 2a (activity A224). That is, as a storage step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a associates the second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 with the first user information UI1 by executing the authentication operation in the first user terminal 3a, and stores it in the first information processing device 2a.

[0087] Specifically, in the activity A224, when the first information processing device 2a receives the second user information UI2 and the terminal information TI in the activity A223, the first information processing device 2a collates the terminal information TI with the terminal information TI acquired in the activity A212, and when the two match, links the second user information UI2 to the first user information UI1. On the other hand, when the first information processing device 2a receives the second user information UI2 and the first user information UI1 in the activity A223, the first information processing device 2a collates the first user information UI1 with the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A214, and when the two match, links the second user information UI2 to the first user information UI1.

[0088] On the other hand, if there is a change in the second user information UI2 in the activity A221, the process returns to the activity A202, and the user is prompted to input another second user information UI2 in the second app A2 in the first user terminal 3a. That is, in the information confirmation step, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a transitions the app being executed in the first user terminal 3a from the first app A1 to the second app A2 in response to the selection operation on the confirmation information CI2.

[0089] When the user's selection operation in activity A221 returns to activity A202, activities A207 to A218 are omitted. In other words, if the authentication operation has already been performed, when authentication of the first application user ID (login to the first application A1) is completed in activity A206, confirmation information CI2 of the changed second user information UI2 is immediately transmitted in activity A219 without the user being prompted to perform an authentication operation for user information linkage. After the confirmation information CI2 is displayed in activity A220, if there is no change in the second user information UI2 in activity A221, the changed second user information UI2 is linked to the first user information UI1 for which acquisition and authentication operation has already been completed.

[0090] That is, in the storage step, when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the calculation unit 233 of the first information processing device 2a stores the second user information UI2 acquired in the activity A223 in the management device in association with the first user information UI1 acquired in the activity A214 without performing the authentication operation again. With this configuration, when the second user information UI2 is changed after the authentication operation, it is possible to save the user the trouble of having to perform the authentication operation again.

[0091] As in the first embodiment, when the user selects activity A221 to return to activity A202, activities A204 to A206 may be executed in the same manner as the first time, or some of the activities may be omitted.

[0092] In summary, the information processing method according to the embodiment includes the following steps. In the first acquisition step, the first user information UI1 associated with the first application A1 and the terminal information TI associated with the first user terminal 3a are acquired from the first user terminal 3a to the first information processing device 2a by executing the first application A1 in the first user terminal 3a. In the storage step, the second user information UI2 associated with the second application A2 is associated with the first user information UI1 and stored in the first information processing device 2a by executing an authentication operation in the first user terminal 3a. The second user information UI2 is acquired from the second application A2 by executing the first application A1, and is associated with the terminal information TI or the first user information UI1. In addition, a program for executing each of the above steps may be provided to at least one computer. According to such an embodiment, user information can be linked between different applications by a simple operation.

[0093] 4. Details of data processing In this section, the details of the information processing outlined in the previous section will be explained using additional diagrams, etc. In the following explanation, a "button" is an object configured to receive input from a user when pressed. Furthermore, "pressing" includes clicking, tapping, etc. Furthermore, in the following screen example, the cross-site management ID is expressed as a "game ID."

[0094] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a second application login screen P1 for logging in to the second application A2 provided by the second information processing device 2b. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an application list screen P2 on which applications provided by the second application A2 are displayed in a list, and an example of an application selection screen P3 for executing an application in the second application A2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a title screen P4 of the first application A1 provided by the third information processing device 2c, and an example of an account link screen P5 for linking the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a cross-management ID login screen P6 for logging in to an information providing site with an information management ID. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication information display screen P7 on which authentication information CI1 is displayed. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen P8 for confirming the second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 7, the second application login screen P1 includes a first input field F11, a second input field F12, a login button B11, and an account creation button B12. The second application login screen P1 is displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a when the second application A2 is started by starting the first user terminal 3a. The first input field F11 is a field where the user inputs the second user information UI2 (sign-in ID of the second application A2) as text. The second input field F12 is a field where the user inputs the password of the second user information UI2 as text. When the login button B11 is pressed with the second user information UI2 and the password inputted in the first input field F11 and the second input field F12, respectively, the second user information UI2 and the password are transmitted from the first user terminal 3a to the second information processing device 2b. This allows the user to log in (sign in) to the second application A2. If the user does not have the second user information UI2 (an account for the second application A2), pressing the account creation button B12 transitions the display screen on the first user terminal 3a from the second application login screen P1 to a screen for creating an account.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 8A, the application list screen P2 includes titles T21 of a plurality of applications (games) registered in the second application A2 (provided by the second application A2 as a platform), and a first button B21 and a second button B22 corresponding to these applications. The titles T21 of the plurality of applications include applications from different creators or providers. The application list screen P2 is displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a when the user logs in to the second application A2. On the application list screen P2, the first button B21 is arranged on a title that the user has already acquired (purchased), and the second button B22 is arranged on a title that the user has not yet acquired (purchased). By pressing the first button B21, the display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions, for example, from the application list screen P2 to the application selection screen P3 shown in FIG. 8B. Also, by pressing the second button B22, the display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions from the application list screen P2 to a screen for purchasing the application.

[0097] As shown in Fig. 8B, the application selection screen P3 includes an application execution button B31. Note that, although only the application execution button B31 for one application (first game) is displayed in Fig. 8B, if the user has acquired multiple applications, the application execution buttons B31 for multiple applications are displayed. By pressing the application execution button B31, the corresponding first application A1 is executed in the first user terminal 3a, and, for example, the title screen P4 shown in Fig. 9A is displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a.

[0098] After the title screen P4 is displayed, the first application A1 displays the account linking screen P5 shown in FIG. 9B on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. The account linking screen P5 includes a code CD, an authentication information input field F51, and a register button B51. The code CD is a two-dimensional barcode including access information to an information acquisition site. The authentication information input field F51 is a field for inputting authentication information CI1 (numbers) as text, which is displayed on the second user terminal 3b after the code CD is read. When the authentication information CI1 is input in the authentication information input field F51, the register button B51 is pressed to execute an authentication operation for account linking.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 10, the cross-site management ID login screen P6 includes a first input field F61, a second input field F62, and a login button B61. The cross-site management ID login screen P6 is displayed on the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b when the second user terminal 3b reads the code CD on the account link screen P5 and accesses the information acquisition site. The first input field F61 is a field where the user inputs the first user information UI1 (cross-site management ID) as text. The second input field F62 is a field where the user inputs the password for the first user information UI1 as text. When the login button B61 is pressed with the first user information UI1 and the password inputted in the first input field F61 and the second input field F62, respectively, the first user information UI1 and the password are transmitted from the second user terminal 3b to the first information processing device 2a. 11. Furthermore, the display screen on the second user terminal 3b transitions from the cross-site management ID login screen P6 to an authentication information display screen P7 shown in FIG.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 11, the authentication information display screen P7 includes authentication information CI1. In Fig. 11, the authentication information CI1 is displayed as a number. The user inputs the authentication information CI1 displayed on the display 4a of the second user terminal 3b into the authentication information input field F51 of the account linking screen P5 (see Fig. 9B) displayed on the display 4a of the first user terminal 3a. When the user presses the register button B51 with the authentication information CI1 input into the authentication information input field F51, an authentication operation for account linking is performed as described above, and the display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions from the account linking screen P5 to a confirmation screen P8 shown in Fig. 12.

[0101] 12, the confirmation screen P8 includes confirmation information CI2, a first button B81, and a second button B82. The confirmation information CI2 is the name of the account with which the user is currently logged in to the second application A2 (i.e., the second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1). If the user does not need to change the account to be linked, he or she presses the first button B81, and if the user needs to change the account to be linked, he or she presses the second button B82.

[0102] When the first button B81 is pressed on the confirmation screen P8, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 are linked and stored in the first information processing device 2a. Also, the display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions from the confirmation screen P8 to an execution screen (game play screen) of the first application A1. Meanwhile, when the second button B82 is pressed, the display screen on the first user terminal 3a transitions from the confirmation screen P8 to the second application login screen P1 (see FIG. 7). In the transitioned second application login screen P1, the user again inputs the second user information UI2 to be linked with the first user information UI1.

[0103] [others] The information processing system 1 according to the above embodiment may be configured as follows.

[0104] In the first and second embodiments, after the authentication operation is performed, the first user terminal 3a is caused to output confirmation information CI2 that allows the second user information UI2 to be recognized, but the output of the confirmation information CI2 may be omitted. For example, after the authentication operation is performed, the first information processing device 2a may store the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 in association with each other without providing the confirmation information CI2 to the first user terminal 3a.

[0105] In the second embodiment, when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the second user information UI2 is associated with the first user information UI1 and stored in the first information processing device 2a without executing the authentication operation again, but when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the authentication operation may be executed again. That is, when the second user information UI2 is changed in the second application A2 for the confirmation information CI2, the second user information UI2 may be associated with the first user information UI1 and stored in the first information processing device 2a after executing the authentication operation again.

[0106] In the first and second embodiments, the first user terminal 3a issues a code including access information to an information acquisition site, but the code does not necessarily have to include access information to the information acquisition site. For example, the code may include an instruction to the second user terminal 3b to transmit terminal information TI, etc. to the first information processing device 2a without going through a website.

[0107] In the first and second embodiments, the second user terminal 3b accesses the information acquisition site, but for example, when the first user terminal 3a is an electronic device capable of multitasking such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal, the first user terminal 3a itself may access the information acquisition site. That is, the first user information UI1 and the second user information UI2 may be linked by the user operating only the first user terminal 3a without using the second user terminal 3b as an auxiliary terminal. In this case, a code including access information to the information acquisition site is displayed on the first user terminal 3a as, for example, a link to the information acquisition site. The user accesses the information acquisition site on the first user terminal 3a from the code (link) displayed on the first user terminal 3a, and performs an authentication operation by inputting the authentication information CI1 displayed on the browser or the like executed on the first user terminal 3a into the first application A1 executed on the first user terminal 3a.

[0108] As described above, the information processing system 1 includes at least one device (e.g., the first information processing device 2a, etc.), and at least one of these devices may be installed outside Japan. For example, the first information processing device 2a may be installed in Japan, and the second information processing device 2b may be installed outside Japan. Similarly, a user may access various information processing devices 2 from outside Japan using his / her own user terminal 3. According to such an embodiment, a more interesting experience can be provided to the user through various management forms.

[0109] In one embodiment, the reception unit 231, the acquisition unit 232, the calculation unit 233, the presentation unit 234, and the display control unit 235 are described as functional units realized by the control unit 23 of the first information processing device 2a, but at least a part of them may be implemented as functional units realized by the control unit 23 of the second information processing device 2b. Alternatively, they may be implemented as functional units realized by the control unit 33 of the user terminal 3. Furthermore, the various information described in the above example may be stored in a distributed manner not only in the storage unit 22 of the first information processing device 2a but also in other external devices. Moreover, the first information processing device 2a and the third information processing device 2c may be configured as one integrated server.

[0110] Furthermore, it may be provided in the following aspects:

[0111] (1) An information processing method executed by an information processing system, the information processing method including the following steps: in a first acquisition step, by executing a first app on a user terminal, first user information associated with the first app and terminal information associated with the user terminal are acquired from the user terminal to a management device; in a storage step, by executing an authentication operation on the user terminal, second user information associated with a second app is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device; the second user information is acquired from the second app by executing the first app and associated with the terminal information or the first user information.

[0112] According to this configuration, the first user information and the second user information can be associated with each other by executing the first application and the authentication operation, and therefore, user information can be linked between different applications with a simple operation.

[0113] (2) The information processing method according to (1) above, further comprising, in a second acquisition step, causing the management device to acquire the second user information before the authentication operation is performed.

[0114] According to this configuration, after the authentication operation is performed, the first user information and the second user information can be linked without delay.

[0115] (3) In the information processing method described in (2) above, a code issuance step further comprises having the user terminal issue a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information after the first application is executed.

[0116] According to this configuration, the terminal information and the two pieces of user information can be transmitted simultaneously, so that the number of communications and the number of data processes can be reduced.

[0117] (4) In the information processing method described in (3) above, the code includes access information to a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information.

[0118] This configuration reduces the amount of work required for a user to access a specific website.

[0119] (5) The information processing method according to (4) above, wherein the first acquisition step receives input of the first user information on the website and causes the management device to acquire the first user information.

[0120] According to this configuration, the first user information can be easily and reliably transmitted to the management device.

[0121] (6) In the information processing method according to any one of (1) to (5) above, the first app is executed by executing the second app, and in an authentication step, authentication information associated with the terminal information is provided to the user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information in the first app of the user terminal.

[0122] According to such a configuration, authentication operation by the user becomes easy.

[0123] (7) In the information processing method described in (1) above, a code issuance step further includes a step of causing the user terminal to issue a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information after the first app is executed, wherein the code includes access information for a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information, wherein the first acquisition step further includes a step of causing the management device to acquire the first user information upon input of the first user information on the website, wherein the authentication step further includes a step of providing authentication information associated with the terminal information to the user terminal, and wherein the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information in the first app of the user terminal, and wherein the second acquisition step further includes a step of causing the management device to acquire the second user information after the authentication operation is executed.

[0124] According to this configuration, the second user information is not transmitted to the management device before the authentication operation is performed, so that if the authentication operation is not performed, processing such as discarding the second user information on the management device side is not required.

[0125] (8) In the information processing method according to any one of (1) to (7) above, in the information confirmation step, after the authentication operation is performed, confirmation information capable of recognizing the second user information is output to the user terminal before the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device.

[0126] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from associating erroneous second user information with the first user information.

[0127] (9) In the information processing method described above in (8), in the information confirmation step, an application being executed in the user terminal is transitioned from the first application to the second application in response to a selection operation on the confirmation information.

[0128] According to this configuration, the user can easily change the second user information.

[0129] (10) In the information processing method described in (9) above, further, in a second acquisition step, after the authentication operation is executed, the second user information is acquired by the management device, and in the storage step, if the second user information is changed in the second app in response to the confirmation information, the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device without executing the authentication operation again.

[0130] According to this configuration, when the second user information is changed after an authentication operation, it is possible to save the user the trouble of having to perform the authentication operation again.

[0131] (11) An information processing system comprising at least one device, the information processing system comprising at least one processor that executes a program so as to perform each step of the information processing method described in any one of (1) to (10) above.

[0132] According to this configuration, user information can be linked between different applications with a simple operation.

[0133] (12) A program causing at least one computer to execute each step of the information processing method according to any one of (1) to (10) above.

[0134] According to this configuration, user information can be linked between different applications with a simple operation. Of course, this is not the case.

[0135] Finally, various embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described, but these are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the disclosure. The embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the disclosure, and are included in the disclosure and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 1: Information processing system 2: Information processing equipment 2a: First information processing device 2b: second information processing device 2c: Third information processing device 3: User terminal 3a: First user terminal 3b: Second user terminal 4a: Display 4b: Speaker 4c: Input device 11: Communication Networks 20: Communication bus 21: Communications Department 22: Storage section 23: Control section 30: Communication bus 31: Communications Department 32: Storage section 33: Control section 34a: Graphics processing unit 34b: Audio processing section 34c: Input section 231: Reception 232: Acquisition Department 233: Arithmetic section 234:Presentation part 235: Display control unit A1: First app A2: Second app B11: Login button B12: Create account button B21: First button B22: Second button B31: App execution button B51: Registration button B61: Login button B81: First button B82: Second button CD: Code CI1 : Credentials CI2 : Confirmation information F11: First input field F12 : Second input field F51: Authentication information input field F61: First input field F62 :Second input field P1: 2nd app login screen P2: App list screen P3: App selection screen P4: Title screen P5: Account linking screen P6: Cross-management ID login screen P7: Authentication information display screen P8: Confirmation screen T21: Title TI: Terminal information UI1: First user information UI2: Second user information UI3: Third user information

Claims

1. An information processing method executed by an information processing system, comprising: It includes the following steps: In the first acquisition step, first user information associated with the first application and terminal information associated with the user terminal are acquired from the user terminal by a management device through execution of a first application in the user terminal; In the storing step, second user information associated with the second application is stored in the management device in association with the first user information by performing an authentication operation in the user terminal; The second user information is acquired from the second application by execution of the first application, and is associated with the terminal information or the first user information.

2. 2. The information processing method according to claim 1, Furthermore, in the second obtaining step, the second user information is obtained by the management device before the authentication operation is performed.

3. 3. The information processing method according to claim 2, Further, in the code issuing step, after the first application is executed, the user terminal is caused to issue a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information.

4. 4. The information processing method according to claim 3, The information processing method, wherein the code includes access information to a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information, the first user information, and the second user information.

5. 5. The information processing method according to claim 4, In the first acquisition step, the management device acquires the first user information upon receiving an input of the first user information on the website.

6. 2. The information processing method according to claim 1, The first application is executed by executing the second application, Further, in the authentication step, authentication information associated with the terminal information is provided to the user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information in the first application of the user terminal.

7. 2. The information processing method according to claim 1, Furthermore, in the code issuing step, after the execution of the first application, a code for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information is issued to the user terminal, wherein the code includes access information to a website for causing the management device to acquire the terminal information and the first user information; In the first acquisition step, the first user information is input to the website, and the management device is caused to acquire the first user information; Furthermore, in the authentication step, authentication information associated with the terminal information is provided to the user terminal, and the authentication operation is executed by inputting the authentication information into the first application of the user terminal; Furthermore, in the second obtaining step, after the authentication operation is performed, the second user information is obtained by the management device.

8. 2. The information processing method according to claim 1, Further, in an information confirmation step, after the authentication operation is executed, confirmation information capable of recognizing the second user information is output to the user terminal before the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device.

9. 9. The information processing method according to claim 8, In the information confirmation step, an application being executed in the user terminal is transitioned from the first application to the second application in response to a selection operation on the confirmation information.

10. 10. The information processing method according to claim 9, Furthermore, in the second acquisition step, after the authentication operation is performed, the management device acquires the second user information; In the storage step, when the second user information is changed in the second app in response to the confirmation information, the second user information is associated with the first user information and stored in the management device without performing the authentication operation again.

11. An information processing system comprising at least one device, The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising at least one processor that executes a program to perform each step of the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Information processing system.

12. A program, A program causing at least one computer to execute each step of the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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