Information processing device, information processing method and program

Abstract

To facilitate a further large number of persons to receive services for a further large number of competitions.SOLUTION: An information processing device 10 includes: a group creating unit 111 that creates a plurality of groups each of which corresponds to a competition and at which a privilege is given to a user who participates in the group; and a notifying unit 115 that notifies a first user who is participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among the plurality of competitions of guidance information relating to a participation to a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a group in which a plurality of voters participate, a system is known that discloses the voting content voted by each voter for a competition to other voters participating in the same group (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Voters who participate in a group corresponding to a competition can receive services related to the competition more than other voters who do not participate in the group, so they can enjoy the competition. However, there is a problem that if a voter does not know the existence of a group that can obtain services related to competitions other than the competition corresponding to the group in which the voter participates, the voter cannot participate in the group, and the voter cannot receive services related to other competitions.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to make it easier for more people to receive services related to more competitions.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a group creation unit that creates a plurality of groups that are groups corresponding to competitions and to which privileges are given to users participating in the groups, and a notification unit that notifies a first user participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among the plurality of competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, there is an effect that more people can easily receive services related to more competitions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Overview of Information Processing System 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10 and one or more information terminals 20 (first information terminal 20-1, second information terminal 20-2, third information terminal 20-3). The information processing apparatus 10 and the plurality of information terminals 20 are communicably connected to each other via a network N such as the Internet, an intranet, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), or a mobile communication network.

[0010] The information processing apparatus 10 is, for example, a computer and is composed of one or more physical servers. The information processing apparatus 10 may be configured using virtual servers operating on a hypervisor or may be configured using cloud servers.

[0011] The information processing apparatus 10 is a device that creates a group corresponding to a competition for a plurality of voters (hereinafter referred to as "users") who vote in the competition and notifies the users who use the information terminal 20 of guidance information for prompting them to participate in the group. The competition is, for example, motorcycle racing, auto racing, horse racing, boat racing, or electronic sports, and is a competition in which users can vote for the voting target. The group is composed of a plurality of users who can share information, and the plurality of users belonging to the group can, for example, exchange information regarding the competition corresponding to the group. Information regarding the competition is, for example, the predicted content of the competition result or the content of the vote cast in the competition.

[0012] The information processing apparatus 10 may create a plurality of groups corresponding to one competition. For example, when a plurality of competitions are held at different locations at the same time, or when a plurality of competitions are held at the same location at different times, the information processing apparatus 10 creates one or more groups corresponding to each of the plurality of competitions. By participating in a group, a user is given a privilege by the information processing apparatus 10. An example of a privilege is to enable the user to view the voting targets voted by other users participating in the group in the competition. Details of the privileges given to the user will be described later.

[0013] The voting target is an object on which a user votes a predetermined value, and among a plurality of competition entities (including competitors, competition vehicle bodies, or animals) that are candidates for the voting target, it is determined by a combination of the competition entity that the user expects to win and a betting formula (voting method). The predetermined value is a tangible or intangible object that can be used by the user to obtain an item or service, such as money, electronic currency, or points. In the present embodiment, the magnitude of the predetermined value voted by the user may be referred to as the voting amount.

[0014] The information terminal 20 is a device used by a user who votes in a competition using the information processing system 1, and is a device such as a mobile phone (including a smartphone), a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The information terminal 20 is installed with, for example, a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as "dedicated app") for the user to vote in a competition or participate in a group. The user can vote in a competition or participate in a group corresponding to the competition via the dedicated app.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, an example is illustrated in which users using a plurality of information terminals 20 (first information terminal 20-1, second information terminal 20-2, third information terminal 20-3) participate in a first group corresponding to a first competition created by the information processing apparatus 10 in response to an instruction from the first information terminal 20-1.

[0016] The information processing apparatus 10 notifies proposal information for proposing to create a new group to an information terminal 20 of any one of a plurality of users belonging to the group. For example, the information processing apparatus 10 notifies proposal information for proposing to create a second group to a first information terminal 20-1 used by a user who has instructed the information processing apparatus 10 to create a first group (S1). For example, after a first competition corresponding to the first group in which the first information terminal 20-1 participates ends, the information processing apparatus 10 notifies the first information terminal 20-1 of proposal information for proposing to create a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition.

[0017] The proposal information includes, for example, competition name information indicating the name of the competition corresponding to the second group, and user information indicating a user who is a target to encourage participation in the second group. The user indicated by the user information is a user who is highly likely to want to belong to the same group in other competitions as the user using the first information terminal 20-1, and is, for example, a user participating in the first group.

[0018] The first information terminal 20-1 displays the proposal information acquired from the information processing apparatus 10 on a display included in the first information terminal 20-1. When the first information terminal 20-1 receives an operation for creating a second group based on the proposal information displayed on the display, the first information terminal 20-1 transmits an instruction to create the second group to the information processing apparatus 10 (S2). The first information terminal 20-1 may display a list of users indicated by the user information and receive an operation for selecting a user to be included in the second group from the user of the first information terminal 20-1. In this case, the first information terminal 20-1 transmits information for specifying the selected user to the information processing apparatus 10.

[0019] When the information processing apparatus 10 receives an instruction for creating a second group from the first information terminal 20-1, it creates the second group (S3). Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 10 notifies the user indicated by the user information included in the proposed information notified to the first information terminal 20-1 in step S1, who is the user using the first information terminal 20-1 or the user selected by the information processing apparatus 10 based on a predetermined priority, with guidance information for prompting participation in the second group. The predetermined priority is, for example, the magnitude of the probability of hitting a vote, the magnitude of the winning amount, the number of times of sending and receiving messages with other users, or the priority based on evaluations from other users. The information processing apparatus 10 may preferentially and automatically select the users who participated in the first group.

[0020] When the user of the first information terminal 20-1 or the information processing apparatus 10 selects the users of the second information terminal 20-2 and the third information terminal 20-3 as the users to participate in the second group, the information processing apparatus 10 notifies the guidance information to the second information terminal 20-2 and the third information terminal 20-3 used by the users who participated in the first group (S4).

[0021] The second information terminal 20-2 displays the guidance information acquired from the information processing apparatus 10 on the display that the second information terminal 20-2 has. When the second information terminal 20-2 accepts an operation for participating in the second group based on the guidance information displayed on the display, it transmits a participation request to the second group to the information processing apparatus 10 (S5).

[0022] When the information processing apparatus 10 receives a participation request for the second group from the second information terminal 20-2, it allows the user using the second information terminal 20-2 to participate in the second group (S6). The information processing apparatus 10 allows a user to participate in a group by associating and storing user identification information (hereinafter referred to as "user ID") for identifying the user in association with group identification information (hereinafter referred to as "group ID") for identifying the group, for example. On the other hand, since the information processing apparatus 10 has not received a participation request for the second group from the third information terminal 20-3, it does not allow the user using the third information terminal 20-3 to participate in the second group.

[0023] Thereafter, the information processing apparatus 10 grants privileges to the user using the first information terminal 20-1 and the user using the second information terminal 20-2 who are participating in the second group (S7). The privilege is, for example, to be able to view at least one of voting information indicating a voting target voted by other users participating in the second group in the second competition, or a video related to the second competition, to be able to communicate such as sending and receiving messages with other users participating in the second group, to grant a reward corresponding to the winning result to the user who voted in the second competition, or to grant a reward when voting with reference to the voting contents of other users participating in the second group. The reward is, for example, points available in a predetermined service or game.

[0024] Since the information processing apparatus 10 and the information terminal 20 operate in this way, it becomes easier to form a group, so the user using the information terminal 20 can increase the opportunity to participate in the group corresponding to the competition to vote. And the user can increase the opportunity to receive services related to the competition by using the information processing system 1. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the information processing apparatus 10 and the information terminal 20 will be described in detail.

[0025] [Hardware Configuration] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a processor 11, a storage unit 12, a communication IF (Interface) 13, an input device 14, and an output device 15.

[0026] The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), and realizes various functions by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0027] The storage unit 12 includes a storage medium such as a memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the processor 11. Further, the storage unit 12 stores the voting content of the user and the groups the user belongs to in association with the user ID.

[0028] The communication IF 13 includes a communication controller for performing wired communication or wireless communication with the information terminal 20 via the network N. The communication IF 13 notifies the processor 11 of the data received from the information terminal 20. Further, the communication IF 13 transmits the data input from the processor 11 to the information terminal 20.

[0029] The input device 14 receives an input operation from, for example, the administrator of the information processing apparatus 10. The input device 14 is, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, or a microphone. The output device 15 outputs information to, for example, the administrator of the information processing apparatus 10. The output device 15 is, for example, a display or a speaker.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the information terminal 20. The information terminal 20 includes a processor 21, a storage unit 22, a communication IF 23, an input device 24, and an output device 25.

[0031] The processor 21 is, for example, a CPU, and realizes various functions by executing a program stored in the storage unit 22.

[0032] The storage unit 22 has storage media such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 22 stores a program executed by the processor 21.

[0033] The communication IF 23 has a communication controller for performing wired communication or wireless communication with the information processing apparatus 10 via the network N. The communication IF 23 notifies the processor 21 of data received from the information processing apparatus 10. Also, the communication IF 23 transmits data input from the processor 21 to the information processing apparatus 10.

[0034] The input device 24 receives an input operation from, for example, a user. The input device 24 is, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, or a microphone. The output device 25 is, for example, a display unit and an audio output unit that output information to the user. The output device 25 is, for example, a display or a speaker.

[0035] [Example of the display screen of the information terminal 20] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the information terminal 20. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed to propose the creation of a group. The screen shown in FIG. 5 includes a display area 251, a display area 252, a display area 253, an operation image 254, and an operation image 255. In the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 2, the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the first information terminal 20-1 used by a user who has instructed the information processing apparatus 10 to create the first group.

[0036] The display area 251 is an area for displaying the subject line indicating the content displayed on the screen. In Fig. 5, the subject line "Continued Notice" is displayed. The display area 252 is an area for displaying a message prompting the creation of a group. In the display area 252, as an example, a message including the name of the competition that proposes group creation and the time until the start of the competition is shown.

[0037] The display area 253 is an area for displaying the users of the groups that the user has previously participated in when the first information terminal 20-1 acquires proposed information from the information processing apparatus 10. In the display area 253, for example, as information indicating the user, the user's face photo or the user name is displayed. In the display area 253 shown in Fig. 5, as an example, the face photos of the users using each of the plurality of information terminals 20 shown in Fig. 2 are displayed.

[0038] The operation image 254 is an operation image for the user to create a group. By pressing the operation image 254, the user instructs the information processing apparatus 10 to create a group corresponding to the competition shown in the display area 252. In Fig. 5, by pressing the operation image 254 displayed as "Create" by the user using the information terminal 20, the user instructs the information processing apparatus 10 to create a group corresponding to "Kurume 4R" displayed in the display area 252.

[0039] The operation image 255 is an operation image for the user not to create a group. By pressing the operation image 255, the user can switch the content displayed on the screen to other content without instructing the information processing apparatus 10 to create a group. In Fig. 5, by pressing the operation image 255 displayed as "Close" by the user using the information terminal 20, the user can switch the content displayed on the screen to other content without creating the group displayed in the display area 252.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which guidance information regarding participation in a group is displayed. FIG. 6(a) is a screen for notifying the user that the guidance information has been acquired. The screen shown in FIG. 6(a) includes a display area 261, a display area 262, a display area 263, and an operation image 264. FIG. 6(b) is a screen on which the content of the guidance information notified on the screen shown in FIG. 6(a) is displayed. The screen shown in FIG. 6(b) includes a display area 271, a display area 272, a display area 273, an operation image 274, and an operation image 275.

[0041] In the information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 2, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the second information terminal 20-2 and the third information terminal 20-3 that receive the guidance information. In the following description, it will be described as the screen displayed on the second information terminal 20-2.

[0042] The display area 261 is an area for displaying that the second information terminal 20-2 has received the guidance information regarding participation in the group. In the display area 261, the user name of the user who instructed the information processing apparatus 10 to create a group, and the name of the competition corresponding to the group are displayed. In FIG. 5, the user name "Mr. XX" and the competition "Kurume 4R" corresponding to the group are displayed. The user can view the content of the guidance information shown in FIG. 6(b) by pressing the display area 261, for example.

[0043] The display areas 262 and 263 are areas for displaying the content operated by the user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 until the time before the second information terminal 20-2 acquires the guidance information. In FIG. 6(a), the content operated by the user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 to vote for a competition "Kokura 3R" different from the competition "Kurume 4R" corresponding to the group included in the guidance information is displayed.

[0044] In the display area 262, the name of the competition that the user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 considered voting on at the time before the second information terminal 20-2 acquires the guidance information is displayed. In the display area 263, the voting method, the voting target, and the voting amount input by the user of the second information terminal 20-2 for voting on the competition indicated by the competition name displayed in the display area 262 are displayed as the voting content.

[0045] The operation image 264 is an operation image for the user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 to perform an operation for voting on the competition displayed in the display area 262 with the voting content displayed in the display area 263. In FIG. 6, it is displayed as "Purchase". The user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 can vote on the competition displayed in the display area 262 with the content displayed in the display area 263 by pressing the operation image 264. In this way, the user can acquire the guidance information regarding participation in the group while performing the operation of voting on the competition via the dedicated application.

[0046] The display area 271 in FIG. 6(b) is an area for displaying the subject name indicating the content displayed on the screen. In FIG. 6(b), the subject name "Participation Guidance" is displayed. The display area 272 is an area for displaying a message prompting to participate in the group. In the display area 272, as an example, a message including the name of the competition corresponding to the group guiding participation and the time until the start of the competition is shown.

[0047] The display area 273 is an area for displaying the users of the groups that the user has previously participated in at the time when the second information terminal 20-2 receives the guidance information. In the display area 273, for example, as information indicating the user, the face photo of the user or the user name is displayed. In FIG. 6 In the display area 273 shown in (b), as an example, the face photos of the users who use each of the plurality of information terminals 20 shown in FIG. 2 are displayed.

[0048] The operation image 274 is an operation image for the user to join a group. By pressing the operation image 274, the user requests the information processing apparatus 10 to join the group corresponding to the competition shown in the display area 272. In FIG. 6(b), by pressing the operation image 274 on which "Join" is displayed by the user using the information terminal 20, the user requests the information processing apparatus 10 to join the group corresponding to "Kurume 4R" displayed in the display area 272.

[0049] The operation image 275 is an operation image for closing the guidance information when the user does not join the group. By pressing the operation image 275, the user can switch the content displayed on the screen to other content without joining the group. In FIG. 6(b), by pressing the operation image 275 on which "Close" is displayed by the user using the information terminal 20, the user can switch to a voting screen for voting on a competition called "Kokura 3R" shown in FIG. 6(a) without joining the group displayed in the display area 272.

[0050] [Functional Block Configuration] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the functional block configuration of the information processing apparatus 10. The processor 11 includes a group creation unit 111, a selection unit 112, a competition identification unit 113, a vote count identification unit 114, and a notification unit 115. The processor 11 functions as the group creation unit 111, the selection unit 112, the competition identification unit 113, the vote count identification unit 114, and the notification unit 115 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0051] The storage unit 12 stores competition data including a competition name and a start time when the competition starts, in association with competition identification information (hereinafter referred to as "competition ID") for identifying the competition. The storage unit 12 stores group data including a competition ID and a user ID, in association with a group ID.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of competition data and group data stored in the storage unit 12. In the competition data shown in FIG. 8(a), a competition ID, a competition name, a start time, and a reception end time are associated with each other. The start time is the time when the competition starts. The reception end time is the time when the reception of votes for the competition ends.

[0053] In the group data shown in FIG. 8(b), a group ID, a competition ID, a host user ID, and a guest user ID are associated with each other. The host user ID is the user ID corresponding to the user (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "host user") who gives an instruction to create a group in the information processing apparatus 10. The guest user ID is the user ID corresponding to the user (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "guest user") who participates in the group by requesting to participate in the group corresponding to the group ID.

[0054] The group creation unit 111 creates a plurality of groups that are groups corresponding to a competition and to which privileges are given to users who participate in the group. The group creation unit 111 receives an instruction from a user using the information terminal 20 to create a group corresponding to the competition selected by the user. The group creation unit 111 creates a group, for example, by receiving an instruction to create a group transmitted by the information terminal 20 in response to the user pressing the operation image 254 on the screen shown in FIG. 5. The privileges given to the user will be described later.

[0055] The group creation unit 111 allows the user to participate in the group when it receives a request from the user using the information terminal 20, who has obtained guidance information regarding participation in the group, to participate in the group. The group creation unit 111 allows the user using the information terminal 20 to participate in the group, for example, by receiving a request to participate in the group transmitted by the information terminal 20 in response to the user pressing the operation image 274 on the screen shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0056] The selection unit 112 selects a user who notifies guidance information regarding participation in the group created by the group creation unit 111. For example, the selection unit 112 selects one or more first users from among a plurality of first users who are participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among a plurality of competitions, based on a predetermined priority. The predetermined priority is, for example, the ranking of the winning amount in the voting target in which the first user voted in past competitions, or the ranking of the probability of hitting the vote in past competitions by the first user. The predetermined priority may be the ranking of the number of times of message exchange with other users belonging to the first group, or the ranking of evaluations from other users.

[0057] For example, the selection unit 112 selects one or more first users among the plurality of first users whose winning amount is greater than a threshold value, or one or more first users whose probability of hitting is greater than a threshold value. The selection unit 112 may select a predetermined number of first users from among the plurality of first users, starting from the one with the larger winning amount or probability of hitting at least either one. The selection unit 112 may select a predetermined number of first users from the one with the larger number of times of message exchange in the first group. The selection unit 112 may select a predetermined number of first users from the one with higher evaluations from other users in the first group.

[0058] When the selection unit 112 selects a first user based on the winning amount or the probability of hitting, for example, it acquires a voting history indicating the voting content that the first user voted in the past from the storage unit 12. The voting history includes, for example, at least one of the competition in which the first user voted in the past, the voting target voted for in the competition, the hitting result indicating whether the voting target hit, or the winning amount. For example, the selection unit 112 specifies the total winning amount of each of the plurality of first users or the probability of hitting the vote based on the acquired voting history.

[0059] The selection unit 112 may select one or more first users based on the results of a vote cast by each of a plurality of first users participating in the first group in the first competition. The result of the vote cast in the first competition is determined based on the relationship between the content of the vote and the result of the competition, such as whether the target of the vote cast by the first user in the first competition hit or the winning amount. The selection unit 112 selects, for example, from among the plurality of first users, the first user whose target of the vote cast in the first competition hit, based on the vote result obtained from the storage unit 12

[0060] The selection unit 112 may obtain from the storage unit 12 the winning amount corresponding to the target of the vote cast by the first user in the first competition as the vote result for the first competition. The selection unit 112 selects, for example, from among the plurality of first users, one or more first users whose winning amount corresponding to the target of the vote cast in the first competition is greater than the threshold value, based on the winning amount obtained from the storage unit 12. The selection unit 112 may select a predetermined number of first users from among the plurality of first users, starting from the one with the larger of at least either the voting amount or the winning amount.

[0061] By the selection unit 112 selecting one or more first users based on such a predetermined priority in this way, the information processing apparatus 10 can notify the guidance information to users with a high probability of hitting the vote in the competition, users who are active in voting in the competition, or users who have relatively more interaction with other users in the group. As a result, by users who are active in voting in the competition, users with a high probability of hitting the vote in the competition, or users who have relatively more interaction with other users in the group participating in a new group, the users participating in the group can enjoy the competition more.

[0062] Note that the selection unit 112 may exclude from the selection target users who have already participated in other groups for the competition corresponding to the group created by the group creation unit 111 so that one user can participate in only one group for one competition. That is, the selection unit 112 may preferentially select first users who have not participated in other groups for the competition corresponding to the group created by the group creation unit 111. By operating in this way, even when the number of groups created by the group creation unit 111 is limited, it becomes easier for many people to participate in the groups.

[0063] The competition identification unit 113 identifies one or more competitions among a plurality of competitions other than the first competition in which the number of first users participating in the group corresponding to the competition is smaller than that of other competitions. The competition identification unit 113 refers to, for example, the competition ID and user ID included in the group data shown in FIG. 8(b) to identify, for each of a plurality of competitions other than the first competition, the number of first users who had participated in the first group corresponding to the first competition and had also participated in the group corresponding to the competition other than the first competition. The competition identification unit 113 identifies one or more competitions in which the identified number of first users is smaller than that of other competitions.

[0064] By operating in this way, the information processing apparatus 10 can notify the user of guidance information regarding participation in the group corresponding to the competition in which the number of first users participating in the group is relatively small. As a result, it becomes easier for users to vote for competitions with a small number of participants in the group.

[0065] The vote count specifying unit 114 specifies the number of votes cast by a plurality of first users participating in a plurality of first groups corresponding to the first competition in each of a plurality of other competitions different from the first competition. The vote count specifying unit 114 acquires, for example, a vote history indicating the vote content voted by the first user from the storage unit 12. The vote count specifying unit 114 specifies the number of votes cast by the first user in other competitions different from the first competition based on the number of votes associated with the competition indicated by the vote history.

[0066] By specifying the number of votes by the vote number specifying unit 114, the information processing apparatus 10 can specify, for example, a competition in which the number of votes cast by a user is smaller than those of other competitions. Therefore, by operating in this way, the vote number specifying unit 114 enables the information processing apparatus 10 to specify a competition in which the number of votes cast by the user is smaller than those of other competitions, and notify the user of guidance information regarding participation in a group corresponding to the specified competition. As a result, it becomes easier for the user to vote for a competition with a relatively small number of votes.

[0067] Also, by specifying the number of votes by the vote number specifying unit 114, the information processing apparatus 10 can specify, for example, a competition in which the number of votes cast by a user is larger than those of other competitions. Therefore, by operating in this way, the vote number specifying unit 114 enables the information processing apparatus 10 to specify a competition in which the number of votes cast by the user is larger than those of other competitions, and notify the user of guidance information regarding participation in a group corresponding to the specified competition. As a result, it becomes easier for the user to vote for a competition with a relatively large number of votes.

[0068] The notification unit 115 notifies a user who uses the information terminal 20 of guidance information regarding participation in a group corresponding to a competition. The notification unit 115 notifies a first user who is participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among a plurality of competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition. When "Kurume 1R" shown in FIG. 8(a) is the first competition, the group corresponding to the group ID "G001" shown in FIG. 8(b) is an example of the first group.

[0069] In the example shown in FIG. 8(b), the user corresponding to the user ID "U001" is a first user (host user) who instructed the information processing apparatus 10 to create a group corresponding to the group ID "G001". The users corresponding to the user IDs "U002" and "U003" are first users (guest users) who participate in the group by requesting participation in the group based on the guidance information regarding participation in the group corresponding to the group ID "G001".

[0070] The notification unit 115 notifies, for example, users corresponding to user IDs "U002" and "U003", who are the first users, of guidance information regarding participation in a second group (a group corresponding to group ID "G002" shown in FIG. 8(b)) corresponding to a second competition, namely "Kurume 2R". By operating in this manner, the notification unit 115 can encourage the first users to participate in a group corresponding to a competition different from the first competition. As a result, the first users who belonged to the first group corresponding to the first competition can obtain opportunities to vote in more competitions and can obtain more benefits obtained by participating in groups corresponding to other competitions (for example, the second group corresponding to the second competition).

[0071] As a privilege, for example, the notification unit 115 notifies other users participating in the group of voting information indicating the content of the vote when the user votes in the competition. For example, the notification unit 115 notifies users corresponding to user IDs "U001" and "U002", who are other first users participating in the first group, of the voting information indicating the content of the vote when the user corresponding to the user ID "U003", who is the first user, votes in the first competition. By operating in this manner, the users participating in the group can vote with reference to the voting content of other users participating in the group.

[0072] As a privilege, the notification unit 115 may provide the user with at least one of a function to watch a video related to the competition corresponding to the group at the same time as other users participating in the group, a function to communicate such as sending and receiving messages with other users participating in the group, or points available for voting in a predetermined service, game, or competition, which are given when the user's vote in the competition is successful or when the user votes with reference to the voting content of other users participating in the group. By providing a plurality of privileges to the users participating in the group in this manner, the notification unit 115 can motivate the users to participate in the group.

[0073] In response to the host user instructing the information processing apparatus 10 to recruit guest users, the notification unit 115 may notify other users different from the host user of the guidance information regarding participation in the group instructed by the host user to create. In order to facilitate the host user to perform processing for creating other groups, the notification unit 115 transmits proposal information for proposing to notify the guidance information to other first users to the information terminal 20 of the host user.

[0074] The notification unit 115 notifies, for example, the first user (host user) who has transmitted a request to create the first group to the information processing apparatus 10, with proposal information for proposing to notify a user (guest user) who is not a member of the second group of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The notification unit 115 notifies one or more other first users (guest users) of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group in response to an instruction based on the proposal information received from the first user (host user) who has been notified of the proposal information.

[0075] The notification unit 115 notifies the first user who has instructed the information processing apparatus 10 to create, for example, the second group, of the proposal information for proposing to notify other first users of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. Specifically, the notification unit 115 notifies the first user corresponding to the user ID "U001" shown in FIG. 8(b) of the proposal information for proposing to notify the other first users corresponding to the user IDs "U002" and "U003" of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the group ID "G002".

[0076] Subsequently, in response to the notification unit 115 instructing the information processing apparatus 10 to notify one or more other first users of the guidance information regarding the participation of the first user who has acquired the proposal information in the second group, the notification unit 115 notifies the one or more other first users of the guidance information. Subsequently, when the group creation unit 111 receives a participation request from another first user who has acquired the guidance information to the second group, the group creation unit 111 allows the other first user to participate in the second group. Since the number of groups increases as the notification unit 115 and the group creation unit 111 operate in this manner, the number of users enjoying the competition and the number of votes increase.

[0077] The notification unit 115 may select a user to notify the guidance information regarding the participation in the second group based on whether the first user is participating in the second group. For example, among the plurality of first users participating in the first group, the notification unit 115 does not notify the first user who is also participating in the second group of the guidance information regarding the participation in the second group. On the other hand, the notification unit 115 notifies the first user who is not participating in the second group among the plurality of first users participating in the first group of the guidance information regarding the participation in the second group.

[0078] By operating in this manner, the notification unit 115 can notify the guidance information to the first user who is not participating in the second group, so that the guidance information can be notified efficiently. Further, for example, when it is determined that a user cannot participate in two or more of the plurality of groups corresponding to one competition, the notification unit 115 can notify the guidance information to the user who can participate in the second group corresponding to the second competition. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from receiving the guidance information regarding the second group in which the user cannot participate.

[0079] The notification unit 115 may notify guidance information to some of the first users among the plurality of first users participating in the first group. For example, the notification unit 115 notifies guidance information regarding participation in the second group to one or more first users selected by the selection unit 112. One or more first users selected by the selection unit 112 are, for example, users with a large winning amount in the target of the vote for the past competition or the first competition, users who have won the vote in the first competition, or users with a high probability of winning the vote in the past competition.

[0080] By operating in this way, the notification unit 115 can notify guidance information to appropriate users in the group. And when the users selected by the selection unit 112 participate in the group, other users participating in the group can increase the possibility of winning the vote for the second competition by referring to the voting content of the users selected by the selection unit 112 in the second competition.

[0081] The notification unit 115 may notify guidance information regarding participation in other second groups to the first users among the one or more first users selected by the selection unit 112 who are participating in the second group corresponding to the second competition. For example, when the first user selected by the selection unit 112 is participating in the second group, the notification unit 115 notifies the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in other second groups. By operating in this way, the notification unit 115 can motivate the first users participating in the second group to vote more actively.

[0082] The notification unit 115 may notify the users selected based on whether they have voted for the first competition among the users participating in the first group of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the second competition. For example, among the users participating in the first group, the notification unit 115 may notify the users who have voted for the first competition of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group, and may not notify the users who have not voted for the first competition of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. By operating in this way, the notification unit 115 can form a group with users who are likely to vote in the competition.

[0083] The notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group in response to the first user having voted for the first competition. For example, the notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group in response to obtaining voting information indicating that the first user has voted for the first competition from the information terminal 20 used by the first user. By operating in this way, it becomes easier for the users who have voted for the first competition to vote for other competitions as well.

[0084] The notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group in response to the distribution of the video regarding the first competition voted by the first user being completed. The video regarding the first competition is, for example, a video that captures from the start to the end of the first competition. The first user can cause the information terminal 20 to display the video regarding the first competition on the display of the information terminal 20 by operating the information terminal 20.

[0085] After the first user finishes viewing the video regarding the first competition, the first user may decide whether to end the voting for the competition or vote for other competitions. In contrast, by the notification unit 115 notifying the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group, the first user is motivated to vote further.

[0086] Upon determining that the result of the first competition in which the first user voted has been finalized, the notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. By operating in this manner, it becomes easier for the first user, who is attempting to decide whether to vote in the second competition after the result of the first competition has been finalized, to vote in the second competition.

[0087] Upon obtaining the voting result information indicating the result of the vote cast by the first user in the first competition, the notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. For example, the notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group upon obtaining, from the information terminal 20 used by the first user, the acquisition information indicating that the first user has obtained the voting result information.

[0088] After confirming whether their own vote was successful, the user may further decide whether to vote in other competitions. In contrast, by the notification unit 115 notifying the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group at the timing when the first user obtains the voting result information, the user can view the guidance information at the timing of confirming whether their own vote was successful.

[0089] Upon the first user voting in the second competition, the notification unit 115 may notify the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. For example, the notification unit 115 obtains, from the information terminal 20 used by the first user, the voting information indicating that the first user has voted in the second competition. The notification unit 115 notifies the first user of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group upon obtaining the voting information. By operating in this manner, the user can know the second group corresponding to the second competition and be motivated to participate in the second group.

[0090] The notification unit 115 notifies the user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the second competition for which voting is being accepted among the plurality of second groups corresponding to the plurality of second competitions. The notification unit 115 notifies the user, for example, of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the second competition whose acceptance end time shown in FIG. 8(a) is a time after the current time. By operating in this way, the notification unit 115 can notify the user of guidance information regarding the group corresponding to the competition for which voting is possible.

[0091] The notification unit 115 may notify the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the group corresponding to one or more competitions specified by the competition specifying unit 113. The one or more competitions specified by the competition specifying unit 113 are, for example, competitions in which the number of first users participating in the group is relatively small. By operating in this way, the notification unit 115 can increase the number of votes for the competition in which the number of votes may decrease.

[0092] The notification unit 115 may notify the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the second competition selected based on the number of votes specified by the vote number specifying unit 114. The number of votes specified by the vote number specifying unit 114 is the number of votes cast by the first user for a competition different from the first competition. The notification unit 115 notifies the user, for example, of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the competition with a relatively small number of votes. By operating in this way, the number of votes for the competition with a small number of votes increases.

[0093] The notification unit 115 may notify the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the competition with a relatively large number of votes. The competition with a relatively large number of votes is considered to be a competition with high voting value or a competition with high user interest. Therefore, by operating in this way, the user can create or participate in the second group corresponding to the competition with high voting value or high user interest to obtain information regarding the competition.

[0094] Furthermore, the notification unit 115 may notify the first user of user information indicating the users who voted for the second competition, in association with the guidance information. By operating in this manner, the first user can vote for the second competition, for example, by referring to the voting content voted by the users corresponding to the user information.

[0095] [Processing Sequence in Information Processing System 1] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence in the information processing system 1. FIG. 9 shows a part of the data transmitted and received among the information processing apparatus 10, the first information terminal 20-1, the second information terminal 20-2, and the third information terminal 20-3. The first information terminal 20-1 is the information terminal 20 of the host user who instructed the information processing apparatus 10 to create the first group corresponding to the first competition. The second information terminal 20-2 and the third information terminal 20-3 are the information terminals 20 of the guest users who have participated in the first group according to the guidance information notified by the information processing apparatus 10.

[0096] The processing sequence shown in FIG. 9 starts from the point in time when the information processing apparatus 10 determines the second competition for which the second group is to be created (S11). The information processing apparatus 10 notifies the first information terminal 20-1 of proposal information for proposing to create the second group corresponding to the second competition. The host user using the first information terminal 20-1 operates the first information terminal 20-1 to give an instruction to create the second group according to the proposal information (S12). The first information terminal 20-1 notifies the information processing apparatus 10 of instruction information indicating an instruction to create the second group based on the operation of the host user.

[0097] The information processing apparatus 10 creates the second group according to the instruction corresponding to the instruction information acquired from the first information terminal 20-1 (S13). The information processing apparatus 10 notifies the second information terminal 20-2 and the third information terminal 20-3 used by the guest users of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group.

[0098] The guest user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 operates the second information terminal 20-2 to request participation in the second group according to the guidance information acquired from the information processing apparatus 10. (S14). The second information terminal 20-2 notifies the information processing apparatus 10 of participation request information for requesting participation in the second group based on the operation of the guest user who uses the second information terminal 20-2. The information processing apparatus 10 allows the guest user who uses the second information terminal 20-2 to participate in the second group based on the participation request information acquired from the second information terminal 20-2 (S15).

[0099] The guest user who uses the third information terminal 20-3 operates the third information terminal 20-3 so as not to request participation in the second group according to the guidance information acquired from the information processing apparatus 10 (S16). The third information terminal 20-3 ends the process related to participation in the second group based on the operation of the guest user who uses the third information terminal 20-3.

[0100] [Flow of Operations in the Information Processing Apparatus 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations in the information processing apparatus 10. The notification unit 115 determines whether or not the first competition has ended (S21). When the first competition has ended (YES in S21), the notification unit 115 determines the second competition targeted for the second group (S22). When the first competition has not ended (NO in S21), the notification unit 115 continues the process of specifying whether or not the first competition has ended (S21).

[0101] The notification unit 115 notifies the information terminal 20 used by the first user with the proposal information for proposing to create a second group corresponding to the determined second competition (S23). When the group creation unit 111 receives an instruction for creating a second group from the information terminal 20 that has been notified of the proposal information (YES in S24), the group creation unit 111 creates a second group (S25). When the group creation unit 111 does not receive an instruction for creating a second group from the information terminal 20 that has been notified of the proposal information (NO in S24), the group creation unit 111 does not create a second group. Then, the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether an operation to end the process has been performed (S30).

[0102] The notification unit 115 notifies the information terminal 20 used by another first user different from the first user who has given an instruction to create a second group to the information processing apparatus 10 of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group (S26). When the group creation unit 111 receives a participation request from the first user to the second group (YES in S27), the group creation unit 111 allows the first user to participate in the second group (S28). When the group creation unit 111 has not received a participation request from the first user to the second group (NO in S27), or when the first user has been allowed to participate in the second group (S28), the group creation unit 111 determines whether the time for accepting participation has ended (S29).

[0103] When the time for accepting participation has not ended (NO in S29), the group creation unit 111 returns to S27 and determines whether a participation request to the second group has been received. When the time for accepting participation has ended (YES in S29), the information processing apparatus 10 determines whether an operation to end the process has been performed (S30).

[0104] When an operation to end the process has not been performed (NO in S30), the information processing apparatus 10 repeats the processes from S21 to S29. When an operation to end the process has been performed (YES in S30), the information processing apparatus 10 ends the process.

[0105] [Modification Example] In the above description, the operation in which the information processing apparatus 10 acquires from the storage unit 12 a voting history including a voting result indicating the result of a user's vote in a competition has been exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information processing apparatus 10 may acquire, for example, a user's voting history via the network N from another information processing apparatus different from the information processing apparatus 10.

[0106] [Effect by Information Processing Apparatus 10] As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a group creation unit 111 that creates a plurality of groups corresponding to competitions, where a privilege is given to users who participate in the groups. Then, the notification unit 115 notifies a first user who participates in a first group corresponding to a first competition among a plurality of competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition.

[0107] Since the information processing apparatus 10 is configured in this way, a user who votes in a competition can participate in other groups different from the group in which the user participates, and thus can receive more privileges regarding competitions. Then, by prompting the user to participate in more groups, more users can receive services regarding more competitions and enjoy voting in the competitions.

[0108] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist thereof. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit. Also, new embodiments resulting from any combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

[0109] In addition to the above embodiments, the following is further appended. (Supplementary Note 1) A group creation unit that creates a plurality of groups corresponding to competitions and grants privileges to users who participate in the group. A notification unit that notifies a first user who is participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among a plurality of the competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition. An information processing apparatus having the above. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to encourage participation in groups in a plurality of competitions. (Appendix 2) As the privilege, the notification unit notifies other users participating in the group of voting information indicating the content of the vote when the user votes in the competition. The information processing apparatus according to Appendix 1. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, a user can vote with reference to the voting content of other users registered in the group. (Appendix 3) The notification unit notifies one or more other first users of guidance information regarding participation in the second group in response to an instruction based on proposal information for proposing to notify other first users of the guidance information received from the first user. When the group creation unit receives a participation request for the second group from another first user who has acquired the guidance information, the group creation unit allows the other first user to participate in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to Appendix 1 or 2. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to motivate users to actively participate in the group. (Appendix 4) The notification unit does not notify a first user who is also participating in the second group among a plurality of the first users participating in the first group of guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, guidance information can be efficiently notified. (Appendix 5) The apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects one or more of the first users from among the plurality of first users participating in the first group based on a predetermined priority. The notification unit notifies the one or more first users selected by the selection unit of guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, guidance information can be notified to appropriate users in the group. (Appendix 6) The selection unit selects the one or more first users based on the results of voting on the first competition by each of the plurality of first users participating in the first group. The information processing apparatus according to Appendix 5. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, a user can form a group with other users who are likely to win. (Appendix 7) The notification unit notifies the first user who has transmitted a request to create the first group to the information processing apparatus of proposal information for proposing to notify users who are not participating in the second group of guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 6. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, a user can be motivated to create a group again. (Appendix 8) The notification unit notifies the first users who are not participating in the second group among the plurality of first users participating in the first group of guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 7. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to encourage an increase in the number of users who vote. (Appendix 9) In response to obtaining voting result information indicating the result of the first user's vote in the first competition, the notification unit notifies the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 8. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to notify the guidance information at an appropriate timing. (Appendix 10) In response to the first user voting in the first competition, the notification unit notifies the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 9. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to prompt the user to vote further. (Appendix 11) The notification unit notifies the user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the second competition for which voting is being accepted among the plurality of second groups corresponding to the plurality of second competitions. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 10. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to notify the guidance information to the group corresponding to the appropriate competition. (Appendix 12) The information processing apparatus further includes a competition specifying unit that specifies one or more competitions among the plurality of competitions other than the first competition, in which the number of first users participating in the group corresponding to the competition is smaller than that of the other competitions. The notification unit notifies the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the group corresponding to the one or more competitions specified by the competition specifying unit. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 11. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to prompt the user to vote for the competition for which an increase in the number of votes is desired. (Appendix 13) A vote count specifying unit that specifies the number of votes cast by a plurality of the first users participating in the plurality of the first groups corresponding to the first competition in each of a plurality of other competitions different from the first competition; The notification unit notifies the first user of guidance information regarding participation in the second group corresponding to the second competition selected based on the number of votes specified by the vote count specifying unit. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 12. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to prompt users to vote for the competition for which an increase in the number of votes is desired. (Appendix 14) The notification unit notifies the users participating in the first group who have voted in the first competition of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group, and does not notify the users who have not voted in the first competition of the guidance information regarding participation in the second group. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Appendices 1 to 13. With the information processing apparatus configured in this way, it is possible to form a group with users who are highly likely to vote in the competition. (Appendix 15) Performed by a computer, A step of creating a plurality of groups corresponding to competitions, where privileges are granted to users participating in the groups; A step of notifying a first user participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among a plurality of the competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition; An information processing method comprising: With the information processing method configured in this way, it is possible to encourage participation in groups in a plurality of competitions. (Appendix 16) On a computer, A step of creating a plurality of groups corresponding to competitions, where privileges are granted to users participating in the groups; A step of notifying a first user who is participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among the plurality of competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition; A program for causing the execution. Since the program is configured in this way, it is possible to encourage participation in groups in a plurality of competitions.

Explanation of Signs

[0110] 1 Information processing system 10 Information processing device 11 Processor 12 Storage unit 13 Communication IF 14 Input device 15 Output device 20 Information terminal 21 Processor 22 Storage unit 23 Communication IF 24 Input device 25 Output device 111 Group creation unit 112 Selection unit 113 Competition identification unit 114 Vote count identification unit 115 Notification unit

Claims

【Claim 1】 A group creation unit that creates a plurality of groups corresponding to competitions, where privileges are granted to users participating in the groups; A notification unit that notifies a first user participating in a first group corresponding to a first competition among the plurality of competitions of guidance information regarding participation in a second group corresponding to a second competition different from the first competition; An information processing apparatus having the above.

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