Program and system

Abstract

To provide a program causing a computer to function as changing means that changes a parameter of a lottery a distributer performs within distribution according to a viewer's response to a question.SOLUTION: A computer may be caused to function as response acquisition means that acquires viewer's response data to at least voting by the viewer or a response to a questionnaire. The response acquisition means may acquire at least one of the following: at least one data of either a reward of a lottery, voting for reward candidates of the lottery, or a response to the questionnaire; at least one data of either the voting for the kind of lottery a distributor should perform or the response to the questionnaire; or at least one data of either voting for the compensation data showing compensation required for the lottery or the response to the questionnaire.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and a system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes that "each user within a predetermined group can share an execution screen of a lottery process and view the state of the lottery process, and can share the anticipation of what will come out as an item given according to the result of the lottery, for example, a game item." (paragraph 0035), and "the probability change unit 504 changes the lottery probability of the lottery process based on a predetermined parameter regarding the users within the group." (paragraph 0063). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-56209

Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that causes a computer to function as a changing means for changing parameters of a lottery conducted by a distributor according to responses of viewers to questions.

[0004] The above program may further cause the computer to function as a response acquisition means for acquiring data of responses of the viewers regarding at least one of votes or answers to questionnaires by the viewers.

[0005] In any of the above programs, the response acquisition means may acquire at least one of data of at least one of votes or answers to questionnaires regarding the reward of the lottery or candidates for the reward of the lottery, data of at least one of votes or answers to questionnaires regarding the type of lottery to be conducted by the distributor, or data of at least one of votes or answers to questionnaires regarding the consideration data indicating the consideration required for the lottery.

[0006] In any of the above programs, the changing means may change the lottery parameters according to the result of taking a majority vote on the voting or the answers to the questionnaire of the plurality of viewers.

[0007] In any of the above programs, the changing means may change the lottery parameters according to the results of the voting or the answers to the questionnaire among the plurality of viewers, where the number of the voting or the answers to the questionnaire is equal to or less than a threshold value.

[0008] Any of the above programs causes the computer to function as a weighting means for weighting the responses of the plurality of viewers by weights determined for each viewer, and the changing means may change the lottery parameters according to the weighted responses of the plurality of viewers.

[0009] Any of the above programs causes the computer to function as a presenting means for performing a process for presenting the response of the at least one viewer to the distributor, and an instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction from the distributor to re-question the at least one viewer, and the changing means may change the lottery parameters according to the response of the at least one viewer to the re-question in response to the acquisition of the instruction to re-question.

[0010] Any of the above programs causes the computer to function as a prediction acquisition means for acquiring a prediction of the response by the distributor, and the changing means may change the lottery parameters according to the degree of coincidence of the prediction with respect to the response.

[0011] Any of the above programs further causes the computer to function as lottery execution means for executing the lottery within the game play distributed by the distributor, and the lottery execution means performs, as a reward of the lottery, a parameter change related to at least one of addition of a character in the game, improvement of a character's ability, recovery of a character, addition of an item, or increase of currency, with respect to game state data associated with the distributor's account.

[0012] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system including change means for changing parameters of a lottery performed by a distributor during distribution, according to responses of viewers to questions.

[0013] Note that the above summary of the invention does not list all features of the present invention. Also, sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be inventions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Also, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the system 10 according to this embodiment. The system 10 includes a server device 20, a plurality of terminal devices 30, and a network 40. The system 10 has a function of distributing video, audio, etc. from one of the plurality of terminal devices 30 (also shown as "distribution terminal device 30") to at least one other terminal device 30 (also shown as "viewing terminal device 30").

[0017] The server device 20 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 30 via a network 40. The server device 20 receives access from one or more terminal devices 30 and provides a distribution environment for video, audio, etc. among the terminal devices 30. The server device 20 may have a function of distributing game distribution, live distribution, video distribution, or any other distribution target content. In the present embodiment, as an example, the server device 20 provides a game environment for a plurality of terminal devices 30 and can provide distribution target content including how a distributor plays a game (screen display, audio, etc.) on the distribution terminal device 30 to the terminal device 30 of a viewer.

[0018] The server device 20 may be a computer such as a PC (personal computer), a workstation, a server computer, a general-purpose computer, a tablet computer, or a smartphone, or may be a computer system to which a plurality of computers are connected. Such a computer system is also a computer in a broad sense. Further, the server device 20 may be implemented by one or more executable virtual computer environments in the computer. Instead of this, the server device 20 may be a dedicated computer designed for the system 10, or may be dedicated hardware realized by a dedicated circuit.

[0019] The terminal device 30 is connected to the server device 20 via the network 40. The terminal device 30 may be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a dedicated game terminal, or other terminal devices capable of data input and output. The plurality of terminal devices 30 include a distribution terminal device 30 used by the distributor for distribution and a viewing terminal device 30 used by the viewer for viewing the distribution. In the present embodiment, the distribution terminal device 30 used by the distributor functions as a game terminal for playing games and also functions as a distribution terminal for distributing distribution target content including the content of game play. Further, the viewing terminal device 30 used by the viewer functions as a viewing terminal for receiving viewing content and outputting it to the viewer. Further, the viewing terminal device 30 may function as a game terminal for the viewer to play games. The terminal device 30 that has been used as a game terminal may be used as a distribution terminal or a viewing terminal according to a user's instruction. Further, the terminal device 30 that has been used as a viewing terminal may be used as a game terminal or a distribution terminal according to a user's instruction.

[0020] The network 40 connects the server device 20 and the plurality of terminal devices 30. The network 40 includes, as an example, various wired or wireless networks such as the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network, a mobile phone network, or a combination thereof.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. The server device 20 includes a database 200, an instruction input unit 210, a game processing unit 220, a lottery processing unit 230, and a display processing unit 240.

[0022] The database 200 stores user information regarding users and content information regarding content to be distributed. In the present embodiment, the user information is data that records, for each user who is a player of a game as an example of the content to be distributed, the progress of the game and the like. In the present embodiment, the content information is a programmed game scenario, image, audio, or other data related to a game as an example of the content to be distributed. The database 200 may be realized by at least a part of the storage area of an external storage device such as a hard disk drive connected to the server device 20, or may be realized by an external storage device of the server device 20 provided by, for example, a cloud storage service or the like.

[0023] The instruction input unit 210 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 30 via the network 40. The instruction input unit 210 receives various instructions from the terminal devices 30, including various operations during the play of the game by the user, various operations by the distributor, various operations by the viewer, and the like. The instruction input unit 210 supplies the received instructions regarding the game to the game processing unit 220. The instruction input unit 210 supplies instructions regarding the lottery conducted in the game to the lottery processing unit 230. The instruction input unit 210 supplies the received instructions regarding the distribution to the display processing unit 240.

[0024] The game processing unit 220 is connected to the database 200, the instruction input unit 210, and the display processing unit 240. The game processing unit 220 performs processing for advancing the game based on the user information and content information stored in the database 200 in response to an instruction regarding the game received from the instruction input unit 210. In the example of this embodiment, the server device 20 provides a role-playing game as the content to be distributed. The game processing unit 220 performs various game processes such as a process of forming a group (also referred to as a "party") including one or more characters (creatures such as virtual humans or animals arranged in the game space) according to the user's instruction in the game space, a process of equipping each character with items such as weapons or armor, a process of purchasing or selling items, a process of moving the party, a process of fighting an enemy encountered by the party, and a process of growing the character according to the combat experience. Note that the server device 20 may provide any type of game other than the role-playing game as the game to be distributed.

[0025] The lottery processing unit 230 is connected to the database 200, the instruction input unit 210, and the display processing unit 240. The lottery processing unit 230 performs processing for advancing the lottery based on the user information and content information stored in the database 200 in response to an instruction regarding the lottery received from the instruction input unit 210.

[0026] The display processing unit 240 is connected to the database 200. The display processing unit 240 is connected to the terminal device 30 via the network 40. The display processing unit 240 performs display processing for displaying various display screens related to the game and the lottery on the terminal device 30 to be the display target in response to instructions from the instruction input unit 210, the game processing unit 220, and the lottery processing unit 230. Further, the display processing unit 240 may function as a "distribution processing unit" that performs processing for distributing and displaying at least a part of the display screens related to the game and the lottery to be displayed on the terminal device 30 of the distributor on the terminal device 30 of the viewer.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure for each user stored in the database 200. The database 200 stores game state data for each of a plurality of users. The game state data includes information regarding "user ID", "in-game currency", "in-game rank", "owned character information", "owned item information", and "friend ID" for each user.

[0028] The "user ID" is information for identifying the corresponding user, and may be a number uniquely determined within the system 10. The "in-game currency" indicates the remaining amount of in-game currency held by the corresponding user. The "in-game currency" may be stored separately as the remaining amount of paid in-game currency and the remaining amount of free in-game currency held by the corresponding user. The "in-game rank" indicates the rank of the corresponding user in the game.

[0029] The "owned character information" indicates information on one or more characters owned by the corresponding user. The character information may include the type, attributes, rarity (difficulty of obtaining in the game), HP (hit points), MP (magic points), etc. of the corresponding character. The "owned item information" indicates information on one or more items owned by the corresponding user. The item may include the type and quantity of the corresponding item. The "friend ID" indicates the user ID of another user associated with the corresponding user.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment together with the input device 50 and the display device 60. The input device 50 may be a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch sensor of a touch panel, etc., and inputs a user's instruction to the server device 20 of the system 10 and supplies it to the terminal device 30. The display device 60 may be a display or an image display unit of a touch panel, etc., and displays the display screen output by the server device 20 of the system 10. Note that the input device 50 and the display device 60 may be integrated with the terminal device 30. The terminal device 30 includes a terminal input processing unit 300, a terminal transmission unit 310, a terminal reception unit 320, and a terminal display processing unit 330.

[0031] The terminal input processing unit 300 is connected to the input device 50 and the terminal transmission unit 310. The terminal input processing unit 300 receives the user's instruction from the input device 50 and supplies it to the terminal transmission unit 310.

[0032] The terminal transmission unit 310 is connected to the network 40. The terminal transmission unit 310 supplies the user's instruction received from the terminal input processing unit 300 to the server device 20 via the network 40.

[0033] The terminal reception unit 320 is connected to the network 40 and the terminal display processing unit 330. The terminal reception unit 320 receives various display screens output by the server device 20 to this terminal device 30 via the network 40.

[0034] The terminal display processing unit 330 is connected to the display device 60. The terminal display processing unit 330 performs processing for displaying the display screen received from the terminal reception unit 320 on the display device 60.

[0035] In this embodiment, the terminal device 30 has a configuration in which the user's instruction input to the input device 50 is transmitted to the server device 20, and the display screen output by the server device 20 is supplied to the display device 60 for output, thereby reducing the amount of processing performed on the terminal device 30. Alternatively, the terminal device 30 may include components corresponding to at least a part of at least one of the instruction input unit 210, the game processing unit 220, the lottery processing unit 230, or the display processing unit 240 shown in relation to FIG. 2, and at least a part of these processes may be locally executed within the terminal device 30.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows the processing flow in the server device 20 according to this embodiment. In response to receiving an instruction to start a game from a certain terminal device 30, the server device 20 starts the processing flow in this figure to provide a game to the user of that terminal device 30.

[0037] In S502 (Step 502), the game processing unit 220 and the lottery processing unit 230 refer to the game state stored in the database 200 for the target user, and instruct the display processing unit 240 to generate a display screen according to the game state. The display processing unit 240 performs processing to generate a game screen and display it on the terminal device 30 of the target user according to the instructions from the game processing unit 220 and the lottery processing unit 230. For example, if the party of the target user is moving within the game space, the display processing unit 240 causes the terminal device 30 to display a screen including an image around the party; if an item equipped by a character within the party is being selected, the display processing unit 240 causes the terminal device 30 to display a screen prompting the target user to select an item; if the party of the target user is in combat, the display processing unit 240 causes the terminal device 30 to display a screen prompting the target user to input a combat action for each of one or more characters.

[0038] When the game play on the terminal device 30 of the target user is being distributed as viewing content (Yes in S504), in S506, the display processing unit 240 performs processing to distribute some or all of the game screen output to the terminal device 30 of the target user to other viewing terminal devices 30 registered as viewers.

[0039] In S508, the terminal device 30 of the target user inputs an instruction corresponding to the display screen from the user of the terminal device 30 that has viewed the display screen displayed on the display device 60 through the input device 50 and transmits it to the server device 20. The instruction input unit 210 supplies the instruction from the terminal device 30 to the game processing unit 220, the lottery processing unit 230, or the display processing unit 240 according to the instruction content.

[0040] In response to the input of a viewing instruction at S508 (Yes in S510), in S512, the instruction input unit 210 inputs the viewing instruction to the display processing unit 240. In response to receiving the viewing instruction, the display processing unit 240 performs a process of displaying a distribution list on the display device 60 of the terminal device 30. As an example, the distribution list may be a list of viewing contents (such as a video during a game play) that the server device 20 distributes according to the instructions of other users as distributors. For example, the distribution list may be a list indicating the distributors during distribution.

[0041] In S514, when the terminal device 30 of the target user receives an input of an instruction to select the viewing content to be viewed from the distribution list by the input device 50, it transmits the selection instruction to the server device 20. The instruction input unit 210 inputs the selection instruction from the terminal device 30 to the display processing unit 240. When the viewing content is selected, in S502 that has returned from S514, the display processing unit 240 performs a process of displaying the selected viewing content on the display device 60 of the terminal device 30.

[0042] When the instruction input unit 210 has not received a viewing instruction (No in S510), the server device 20 advances the process to S516. In S516, the game processing unit 220 or the lottery processing unit 230 performs a process according to the instruction input from the instruction input unit 210 at S508. For example, the game processing unit 220 performs a process of moving the target user's party within the game space, a process of determining the items equipped by the characters in the party, a process of attacking the designated enemy by the designated means by the character, etc. Also, when the target user conducts a lottery within the distribution target content, the lottery processing unit 230 performs a process related to the lottery.

[0043] In S518, the game processing unit 220 or the lottery processing unit 230 changes the game state stored in the database 200 according to the processing in S516. For example, when the game processing unit 220 moves the party within the game space, it updates the positions of the characters belonging to the party in the possessed character information shown in FIG. 3 within the game space. When the game processing unit 220 equips an item to a character, it adds the identification information of the equipped item, etc. to the data structure indicating the item list equipped by the character included in the possessed character information. Also, when a character attacks a designated enemy, the game processing unit 220 performs processing such as reducing the index value indicating the soundness of the enemy, such as HP, associated with the designated enemy. Also, when the enemy performs a process of attacking a character, the game processing unit 220 performs processing such as reducing the index value indicating the soundness of the character, such as HP, associated with the character in the possessed character information. The game processing unit 220 may update the game state in various other ways according to the instruction content of the target user and the progress of the game. Also, the lottery processing unit 230 reflects the result of the lottery in the game state by changing the game state stored in the database 200 according to the result of the lottery processing.

[0044] In S502 that has returned from S518, the display processing unit 240 performs processing to display the screen after the game state change on the display device 60 of the terminal device 30.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a first example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. In S502 of FIG. 5, the display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 600 according to the instruction received by the instruction input unit 210 and transmits it to the terminal device 30. The display screen 600 has a game window 602, a start button 604, a profile edit button 606, a character formation button 608, a home button 610, a lottery screen display button 612, a viewing button 614, and a distribution start button 616.

[0046] The game window 602 is an area where the main screen of the game provided by the server device 20 is displayed. As an example, the game window 602 may be an area where at least one of a home screen, a map screen, a preparation screen, a battle screen, a battle result screen, a lottery screen, etc. during the game is displayed.

[0047] The start button 604 is a button for causing the map screen to be displayed on the game window 602. The instruction input unit 210 receives a game start instruction in response to the start button 604 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the game processing unit 220 to that effect. In S516 of FIG. 5, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the home screen from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to generate the home screen to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 transmits the generated home screen to the terminal device 30.

[0048] The profile edit button 606 is a button for displaying an edit window for editing the user's profile. The instruction input unit 210 receives a profile edit screen display instruction in response to the profile edit button 606 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the game processing unit 220 to that effect. In S516 of FIG. 5, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the profile edit screen from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to generate the profile edit screen to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 transmits the generated profile edit screen to the terminal device 30.

[0049] The character formation button 608 is a button for switching the game window 602 to the preparation screen. The instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display the profile editing screen in response to the character formation button 608 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the game processing unit 220 to that effect. In S516 of FIG. 5, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the character formation screen from the database 200 and sends an instruction to generate the character formation screen to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 sends the generated character formation screen to the terminal device 30.

[0050] The home button 610 is a button for displaying the home screen on the game window 602. The instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display the home screen in response to the home button 610 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the game processing unit 220 to that effect. In S516 of FIG. 5, the game processing unit 220 reads data related to the home screen from the database 200 and sends an instruction to generate the home screen to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 sends the generated home screen to the terminal device 30.

[0051] The lottery screen display button 612 is a button for displaying the lottery screen on the game window 602. The instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display the lottery screen in response to the lottery screen display button 612 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the lottery processing unit 230 to that effect. In response to the lottery processing unit 230 obtaining the instruction to display the lottery screen, the display processing unit 240 reads data related to the lottery screen from the database 200 in S516 of FIG. 5, generates the lottery screen, and sends it to the terminal device 30.

[0052] The viewing button 614 is a button for displaying the viewing list screen. The instruction input unit 210 receives a viewing instruction in response to the viewing button 614 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30 (S512 in FIG. 5). The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 transmits the generated viewing list screen to the terminal device 30.

[0053] The distribution start button 616 is a button for starting the distribution of the game window 602. The instruction input unit 210 receives a distribution start instruction in response to the distribution start button 616 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 transmits the viewing content including the game window 602 of the terminal device 30 to another terminal device 30.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a second example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. The instruction input unit 210 receives a distribution start instruction in response to the distribution start button 616 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30 on the display screen 600 in FIG. 6. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 transmits the display screen 700 to the terminal device 30. The display screen 700 includes a game window 602, a start button 604, a profile editing button 606, a character formation button 608, a home button 610, a lottery screen display button 612, a viewing button 614, and a distribution in progress button 702.

[0055] The game window 602, start button 604, profile editing button 606, character formation button 608, home button 610, and lottery screen display button 612 are the same as in FIG. 6. The in - delivery button 702 indicates that the viewing content including the game window 602 of the terminal device 30 is being delivered. The in - delivery button 702 may function as a button for ending the delivery of the game window 602. The instruction input unit 210 receives an end - delivery instruction in response to the in - delivery button 702 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 ends the transmission of the viewing content. The display processing unit 240 transmits the display screen 600 of FIG. 6 to the terminal device 30. Alternatively, the display screen 700 may have a button for ending the delivery of the viewing content separately from the in - delivery button 702.

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a third example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. In S512 of FIG. 5, the display processing unit 240 performs a process of displaying the display screen 800 on the display device 60 in response to the viewing instruction received by the instruction input unit 210. The display screen 800 has a home button 610, a lottery screen display button 612, a viewing button 614, a delivery list 802, a scroll bar 804, a search bar 806, and a friend search button 812.

[0057] The home button 610, lottery screen display button 612, and viewing button 614 are the same as in FIG. 6. The delivery list 802 is a list showing the viewing content being delivered. The delivery list 802 may function as a button for selecting the viewing content being delivered. The display processing unit 240 may display the viewing content in the delivery list 802 in order from the one with the most viewers, or may display the viewing content in the delivery list 802 in order from the viewing content by users with a high in - game rank.

[0058] The scroll bar 804 is a bar for displaying distributors that cannot be displayed within the area of the distribution list 802. When there are only as many distributors in the distribution as can be displayed on the display screen 800, the display screen 800 may not have the scroll bar 804.

[0059] The search bar 806 has an input field 808 and a search button 810. The instruction input unit 210 receives a distribution search instruction in response to the search button 810 being clicked when a word or a sentence in the input field 808 has been input by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 searches for and displays distributions related to the input word or the like, and transmits an instruction to the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 generates a distribution list 802 in which only the searched distributions are displayed, and transmits it to the terminal device 30.

[0060] The friend search button 812 is a button for narrowing down viewing content. The instruction input unit 210 receives a distribution narrowing instruction in response to the friend search button 812 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 searches the database 200 for users who are linked to the user of the terminal device 30 and who are distributing viewing content, and performs processing to display the viewing content of the linked users in the distribution list 802. The linked users may be users who have registered as friends.

[0061] FIG. 9 shows a fourth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. The instruction input unit 210 receives a distribution selection instruction in response to a part indicating specific viewing content in the distribution list 802 on the display screen 800 in FIG. 8 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30 (S514 in FIG. 5). The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 transmits a display screen 900 to the terminal device 30. The display screen 900 has a viewing window 902, a chat window 904, and a back button 906.

[0062] The viewing window 902 is an area for displaying viewing content. A game window 602 on the display screen 600 displayed on the display device 60 of the user who is distributing the viewing content may be displayed in the viewing window 902.

[0063] The chat window 904 is an area for displaying character data transmitted among viewers. The return button 906 is a button for ending the viewing of the viewing content and returning to the display screen 700. The instruction input unit 210 receives a distribution end instruction in response to the return button 906 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 transmits the display screen 700 of FIG. 7 to the terminal device 30.

[0064] FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the lottery processing unit 230 according to the present embodiment together with the instruction input unit 210 and the display processing unit 240. Here, "lottery" is a concept including "drawing lots", "lucky draw", or "gacha", etc., and one or a part is selected from a plurality of candidates as a reward (prize, etc.) and provided to the lottery participant. Generally, a lottery participant cannot know which of the plurality of candidates will be provided before the lottery.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the "lottery" is performed virtually or pseudo in the distribution content, that is, for example, in the game space. Therefore, the lottery processing unit 230 performs data processing for awarding a prize in the game space to the data (in-game currency, possessed character information, possessed item information, etc. in FIG. 3) associated with the user ID of the lottery participant as a result of the lottery.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the system 10 provides viewers with questions such as voting or questionnaires about the lottery conducted by the distributor in the distribution content, and changes the lottery parameters according to the responses of the viewers. Thereby, an environment is provided in which the distributor and the viewers can enjoy the distributor's lottery with a sense of solidarity.

[0067] The lottery processing unit 230 includes an acquisition means 1000, a database connection means 1010, a weighting means 1020, a change means 1030, a lottery execution means 1040, and a presentation means 1050. The acquisition means 1000 is connected to the instruction input unit 210 and acquires various instructions related to the lottery from the instruction input unit 210. The acquisition means 1000 includes an instruction acquisition means 1006, a response acquisition means 1002, and a prediction acquisition means 1004.

[0068] The database connection means 1010 is connected to the database 200. The database connection means 1010 processes access to the database 200 from each part within the lottery processing unit 230.

[0069] The instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires instructions related to the lottery, such as an instruction to start the lottery, an instruction to ask questions to the viewers, and an instruction to re-ask questions to the viewers, from the distributor's terminal device 30 via the instruction input unit 210. In response to acquiring an instruction to display the lottery screen, the instruction acquisition means 1006 instructs the display processing unit 240 to generate a display screen for displaying the content of the lottery and transmit it to the distributor's and viewers' terminal devices 30.

[0070] The response acquisition means 1002 acquires data on the viewers' responses to the questions from the terminal devices 30 of one or more viewers via the instruction input unit 210. The prediction acquisition means 1004 acquires the distributor's prediction regarding the responses by one or more viewers from the distributor's terminal device 30 via the instruction input unit 210. Note that in other embodiments, the lottery processing unit 230 may determine the lottery parameters without considering the distributor's prediction of the responses. In this case, the lottery processing unit 230 may not include the prediction acquisition means 1004.

[0071] The prompting means 1050 is connected to the acquisition means 1000. The prompting means 1050 acquires a question instruction and a re-question instruction from the instruction acquisition means 1006 by the distributor, generates a question screen for displaying the question and the re-question, and instructs the display processing unit 240 to transmit it to the viewer's terminal device 30. Further, the prompting means 1050 acquires responses of one or a plurality of viewers to the question from the response acquisition means 1002, generates a response screen for displaying the responses of these viewers or a summary thereof, and instructs the display processing unit 240 to transmit it to the distributor's and the viewer's terminal device 30.

[0072] The weighting means 1020 is connected to the response acquisition means 1002 and the database connection means 1010. The weighting means 1020 weights the input responses of each viewer by weights determined for each viewer. The weighting means 1020 may acquire the weights determined for each viewer from the database 200. The weighting means 1020 inputs the weighted responses to the changing means 1030. In other embodiments, the lottery processing unit 230 may determine lottery parameters without weighting the responses of each viewer. In this case, the lottery processing unit 230 may not include the weighting means 1020.

[0073] The changing means 1030 is connected to the acquisition means 1000 and the database connection means 1010. The changing means 1030 changes the parameters of the lottery performed by the distributor in the distribution based on at least one of the responses of the viewers to the question or the prediction of the responses by the distributor. The changing means 1030 acquires the reference lottery parameters from the database 200 and changes them according to at least one of the responses of the viewers to the question or the prediction of the responses by the distributor.

[0074] The lottery execution means 1040 is connected to the database connection means 1010, the acquisition means 1000, and the change means 1030. The lottery execution means 1040 executes a lottery based on the lottery parameters changed by the change means 1030 in response to a lottery instruction from the distributor input by the instruction acquisition means 1006. The lottery execution means 1040 determines a reward according to the lottery result and grants the reward to the distributor. Specifically, the lottery execution means 1040 may update the game state data stored in the database 200 associated with the distributor's account according to the reward. The lottery execution means 1040 generates a display screen for displaying the lottery result and instructs the display processing unit 240 to transmit it to the terminal devices 30 of the distributor and the viewers.

[0075] FIG. 11 shows a lottery processing flow for the distributor's terminal device 30 in the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. When a user of a certain terminal device 30 instructs the start of a lottery, the terminal device 30 starts the processing flow of FIG. 11.

[0076] In S1102, the terminal transmission unit 310 of the distributor's terminal device 30 transmits a question instruction input by the distributor to the input device 50 to the server device 20. Alternatively, the database 200 of the server device 20 may store, for each type of lottery, questions to be asked to the viewers when the lottery is distributed, and the lottery processing unit 230 of the server device 20 may acquire questions pre-associated with the lottery conducted by the distributor.

[0077] The question may be a binary one answered with "yes" or "no", may be one that allows at least one selection from multiple candidates, or may be one that allows viewers to answer freely. The question may prompt the viewer to make at least one of a vote or an answer to a questionnaire. The question may be at least one of those related to the prize of a lottery, those related to the candidates for the prize of a lottery, those related to the type of lottery to be conducted by the distributor, or those related to the consideration data indicating the consideration required for the lottery. As an example, the question may be one that asks for a prediction of the lottery prize, for example, "(Among prizes A, B, and C as candidates for the lottery,) which prize do you predict will be selected by the lottery?" As an example, the question may be one that asks for candidates for the lottery prize, for example, "What should be the item (or character) as a candidate for the prize?" As an example, the question may be one that asks for the type of lottery to be conducted by the distributor, for example, "Among the multiple lotteries that can be currently conducted, which lottery should the distributor conduct?" As an example, the question may be one that asks for the consideration data indicating the consideration required for the lottery, for example, "To what value should the amount of consideration required for the lottery be changed?" Instead of these, the question may seem to be unrelated to the content of the lottery.

[0078] When the terminal device 30 transmits the prediction of the response to the server device 20 (Yes in S1104), in S1106, the terminal transmission unit 310 acquires the prediction of the response input by the distributor from the input device 50 via the terminal input processing unit 300 and transmits it to the server device 20. The prediction of the response may be one that predicts the response answered by the most viewers. As an example, the prediction of the response may be one that predicts the most frequent answer among the viewers' votes or answers to the questionnaire.

[0079] In S1108, the terminal reception unit 320 receives from the server device 20 a response screen that displays the responses of one or more viewers. The terminal reception unit 320 may receive from the server device 20 a response screen that displays the aggregation result or statistics of the collected responses.

[0080] In S1110, the terminal display processing unit 330 performs a process of displaying the response screen received by the terminal reception unit 320 on the display device 60.

[0081] When the terminal device 30 transmits a re-question instruction from the distributor to the server device 20 (Yes in S1112), in S1102 that has returned from S1112, the terminal transmission unit 310 acquires the re-question instruction input by the distributor from the input device 50 via the terminal input processing unit 300 and transmits it to the server device 20. The re-question may be a binary choice answered with "yes" or "no", may be one that allows at least one to be selected from a plurality of candidates, or may be one that allows the viewer to freely answer. The content of the re-question may be the same as the previous question or may be different. As an example, the candidates for the voting destination in the re-question may be those obtained by adding new candidates to the candidates for the voting destination in the previous question, or may be those obtained by removing one or more candidates from the candidates for the voting destination in the previous question.

[0082] When the terminal device 30 does not transmit the re-question instruction from the distributor to the server device 20 (No in S1112), the terminal device 30 advances the process to S1114. In S1114, the terminal transmission unit 310 acquires the lottery instruction input by the distributor from the input device 50 via the terminal input processing unit 300 and transmits it to the server device 20.

[0083] In S1116, the terminal reception unit 320 receives a display screen for displaying the lottery result from the server device 20.

[0084] In S1118, the terminal display processing unit 330 performs a process of displaying on the display device 60 a display screen indicating the lottery result received by the terminal reception unit 320.

[0085] FIG. 12 shows a lottery processing flow in the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. When the instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to start the lottery from the terminal device 30 of the distributor, the server device 20 starts the lottery processing flow in FIG. 12.

[0086] In S1202, the lottery processing unit 230 in the server device 20 receives a question instruction from the terminal device 30 of the distributor via the instruction input unit 210. The instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires the question instruction from the instruction input unit 210. As shown in relation to S1102 in FIG. 11, the lottery processing unit 230 may acquire a question associated in advance with the lottery conducted by the distributor from the database 200.

[0087] In S1204, the server device 20 transfers the question. The presentation means 1050 acquires the question instruction from the distributor from the instruction acquisition means 1006 and instructs the display processing unit 240 to generate a question screen for displaying the question. The display processing unit 240 generates a question screen for displaying the question in response to the instruction from the presentation means 1050 and transmits it to the terminal device 30 of the viewer.

[0088] When the server device 20 receives a prediction of the response from the distributor (Yes in S1206), in S1208, the instruction input unit 210 acquires the prediction of the response from the distributor from the terminal device 30 of the distributor. The prediction acquisition means 1004 acquires the prediction of the response from the distributor from the instruction input unit 210 and inputs it to the change means 1030.

[0089] In S1210, the instruction input unit 210 receives responses from one or more terminal devices 30 of viewers.

[0090] In S1212, the response acquisition means 1002 acquires the response of the viewer from the instruction input unit 210. The response acquisition means 1002 may acquire data on the response of the viewer for at least one of the voting by the viewer or the answer to the questionnaire. The response acquisition means 1002 may acquire at least one of the data of the voting or the answer to the questionnaire regarding the lottery prize or the candidate for the lottery prize, at least one of the data of the voting or the answer to the questionnaire regarding the type of lottery that the distributor should conduct, or at least one of the data of the voting or the answer to the questionnaire regarding the consideration data indicating the consideration required for the lottery. When the response acquisition means 1002 receives the responses of a plurality of viewers, it may perform the aggregation of the responses. The response acquisition means 1002 may end the acquisition of the responses when it receives a predetermined number of responses or when a predetermined time has elapsed. The response acquisition means 1002 inputs the aggregated responses to the weighting means 1020, the changing means 1030, and the presenting means 1050.

[0091] The weighting means 1020 weights the responses of a plurality of viewers with the weights determined for each viewer. The weighting means 1020 may acquire the weights determined for each viewer from the database 200. For example, the weighting means 1020 may perform a greater weighting on the response by a viewer with a longer viewing time of the viewing content. The weighting means 1020 may perform a greater weighting on the response by a viewer linked to the distributor's account than on the response by other viewers. The weighting means 1020 may use a viewer with a friend registration or a viewer following the distributor as the linked viewer. The weighting means 1020 may perform a greater weighting on the response by a viewer linked to the distributor's account for a longer period. The weighting means 1020 may perform a greater weighting on the response by a viewer linked to more accounts. The weighting means 1020 may perform a greater weighting on the response by a viewer with a higher in-game rank. The weighting means 1020 inputs the weighted responses to the changing means 1030.

[0092] In S1214, the changing means 1030 changes the parameters of the lottery conducted by the distributor during the distribution according to the responses of the viewers to the questions. Alternatively, the changing means 1030 may change the parameters of the lottery conducted by the distributor during the distribution according to the number of viewers watching the distribution. The changing means 1030 may read out the changed lottery parameters corresponding to the responses of the viewers or the number of viewers from the database 200. The changing means 1030 may change at least one of the candidates for the lottery rewards, the probability of winning the lottery rewards, the consideration required for the lottery, the viewer rewards for one or more of the plurality of viewers, or the notification method for notifying the rewards obtained as a result of the lottery according to the responses of the viewers.

[0093] The changing means 1030 may change the lottery parameters according to the result of taking a majority vote on the votes or answers to the questionnaires of the plurality of viewers. As an example, the changing means 1030 may change the probability that the reward most selected by the viewers in the votes or answers to the questionnaires regarding the lottery rewards wins. As an example, the changing means 1030 may increase the probability that the reward most selected by the viewers in the votes or answers to the questionnaires regarding the lottery rewards wins. Alternatively, the changing means 1030 may decrease the probability that the reward most selected by the viewers in the votes or answers to the questionnaires regarding the lottery rewards wins, and the probability that the reward most selected by the viewers wins may be set to 0%. Alternatively, the changing means 1030 may change the notification method for notifying the rewards obtained as a result of the lottery when the reward most selected by the viewers is selected in the lottery. When changing the lottery parameters according to the result of taking a majority vote on the votes or answers to the questionnaires, responses that the distributor does not want may be able to be excluded in advance.

[0094] The changing means 1030 may change the lottery parameters according to the results of votes or responses to questionnaires from a number of viewers that is equal to or less than a threshold value. As an example, the changing means 1030 may change the probability that the reward selected by the fewest viewers among the votes or responses to questionnaires regarding the lottery reward will win. Alternatively, the changing means 1030 may change the notification method for notifying the reward obtained as a result of the lottery when the reward selected by the fewest viewers is selected in the lottery. When changing the lottery parameters according to the results of votes or responses to questionnaires from a number of viewers that is equal to or less than a threshold value, responses that the distributor does not want may be specified for exclusion in advance.

[0095] When the weighting by the weighting means 1020 is performed in S1212, the changing means 1030 may change the lottery parameters according to the weighted responses of a plurality of viewers. When the prediction of the response is obtained in S1208, the changing means 1030 may change the lottery parameters according to the degree of coincidence of the prediction with respect to the response. As an example, when the prediction acquisition means 1004 acquires the prediction of the response to the most frequent response among the votes or responses to questionnaires regarding the lottery reward candidates, and the response acquisition means 1002 acquires the response data indicating that the response predicted by the distributor is selected by the largest number of viewers, the changing means 1030 may change the probability that the predicted lottery reward candidate will win.

[0096] In S1216, the presenting means 1050 performs processing for presenting the responses of one or more viewers to the distributor. The presenting means 1050 generates a display screen for displaying the responses of at least one viewer and instructs the display processing unit 240 to transmit it to the terminal device 30. The presenting means 1050 may instruct the display processing unit 240 to generate a response screen for displaying the result of aggregating the responses of a plurality of viewers. As an example, the presenting means 1050 may instruct the display processing unit 240 to generate a response screen for displaying a graph (bar graph, pie chart, etc.) obtained by aggregating the responses of a plurality of viewers, or may instruct the display processing unit 240 to generate a response screen for displaying only the answer that was the most numerous as a result of the aggregation. The display processing unit 240 may transmit the display screen only to the distributor's terminal device 30, or may also transmit the display screen to the terminal devices 30 of both the distributor and the viewers.

[0097] When the server device 20 receives a re-question instruction (Yes in S1218), in S1202 that has returned from S1218, the instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires, from the instruction input unit 210, an instruction from the distributor to re-question one or more viewers. In S1214 that has returned from S1218, the changing means 1030 changes the lottery parameters according to the responses of one or more viewers to the re-question, in response to the acquisition of the instruction to re-question. The changing means 1030 may change the lottery parameters according to the responses of the viewers to the re-question in the same manner as when the lottery parameters were changed according to the responses of the viewers to the question (in the first S1214).

[0098] When the server device 20 does not receive a re-question instruction (No in S1218), the server device 20 advances the processing to S1220. In S1220, the instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires a lottery instruction from the distributor from the instruction input unit 210 and inputs it to the lottery execution means 1040.

[0099] In S1222, the lottery execution means 1040 executes a lottery within the game play distributed by the distributor. The lottery execution means 1040 consumes the consideration for the lottery and executes the lottery. As an example, the lottery execution means 1040 may perform a process of decreasing in-game currency as the consideration for the lottery on the game state data associated with the distributor's account. Alternatively or in addition to this, the lottery execution means 1040 may perform a process of decreasing in-game currency as at least a part of the consideration for the lottery on the game state data associated with the viewer's account.

[0100] The lottery execution means 1040 executes the lottery based on the changed lottery parameters acquired from the change means 1030. The lottery execution means 1040 determines one reward by lottery from among a plurality of reward candidates. The method for determining the reward in the lottery will be described with reference to FIG. 14. The lottery execution means 1040 may perform a parameter change related to at least one of addition of in-game characters, improvement of character abilities, recovery of characters, addition of items, or increase of currency as the lottery reward on the game state data associated with the distributor's account. The lottery execution means 1040 may perform a parameter change as the response reward on the game state data associated with the account of the viewer who made the response. The lottery execution means 1040 may perform the same parameter change as that performed on the game state data associated with the distributor's account on the game state data associated with the account of the viewer who made the response, or may perform different parameter changes. The lottery execution means 1040 may perform a parameter change only on one randomly selected viewer among the viewers who made the response, or may perform a parameter change on all the viewers who made the response.

[0101] In S1224, the lottery execution means 1040 instructs the display processing unit 240 to generate a display screen for displaying the lottery result. The display processing unit 240 transmits the display screen for displaying the generated lottery result to the terminal devices 30 of the distributor and the viewers.

[0102] FIG. 13 shows a lottery process flow for the viewer's terminal device 30 in the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. When the viewer's terminal device 30 receives an instruction to respond to a question from the server device 20, the viewer's terminal device 30 starts the lottery process flow of FIG. 13.

[0103] In S1302, the terminal receiving unit 320 receives a question screen for displaying a question from the server device 20. In S1304, the terminal display processing unit 330 performs a process of displaying the question screen received by the terminal receiving unit 320 on the display device 60.

[0104] In S1306, the terminal transmitting unit 310 acquires a response input by the viewer from the input device 50 via the terminal input processing unit 300 and transmits it to the server device 20.

[0105] In S1308, the terminal receiving unit 320 receives a response screen for displaying the responses of one or more viewers from the server device 20. In S1304, the terminal display processing unit 330 performs a process of displaying the response screen received by the terminal receiving unit 320 on the display device 60.

[0106] When the viewer's terminal device 30 receives an instruction to respond to a re-question from the server device 20 (Yes in S1312), in S1302 that has returned from S1312, the terminal receiving unit 320 receives a question screen for displaying the re-question from the server device 20.

[0107] When the viewer's terminal device 30 does not receive an instruction to respond to a re-question from the server device 20 (No in S1312), the viewer's terminal device 30 advances the process to S1314. In S1314, the terminal receiving unit 320 receives a display screen for displaying the lottery result from the server device 20. In S1316, the terminal display processing unit 330 performs a process of displaying the display screen for displaying the lottery result on the display device 60.

[0108] According to the server device 20 shown above, since the parameters of the lottery conducted by the distributor in the distribution can be changed according to the responses of the viewers to the questions, the distributor and the viewers can enjoy the lottery with a sense of solidarity compared to the case where the distributor does not ask questions to the viewers.

[0109] Also, according to the server device 20, when it has a function of changing the lottery parameters according to the weighted responses determined for each viewer, the responses from viewers with a deeper connection to the distributor have a greater impact on the lottery parameters than the responses from viewers who are not, which can give the distributor a sense of security, or can lead to incentives for viewers to register as friends or watch the distribution to increase the influence of their own responses. According to the server device 20, when the parameters of the lottery conducted by the distributor in the distribution can be changed according to the responses of the viewers to the re-questions by the distributor, the intention of the distributor regarding the lottery can be more reflected compared to the case where no re-question is conducted. According to the server device 20, when it has a function for the distributor to predict responses, the distributor can be more deeply involved in the lottery parameters compared to the case where no prediction is made.

[0110] FIG. 14 shows a second example of the data structure related to the lottery stored in the database 200. The database 200 stores the lottery parameters for each of one or more lotteries. The database 200 may store the lottery parameters in a "one-shot lottery" where the lottery is executed only once, and the lottery parameters in a "continuous lottery" where the lottery is continuously executed multiple times. The lottery parameters in the "one-shot lottery" and the lottery parameters in the "continuous lottery" may be the same or different. The lottery parameters include information regarding "lottery candidates", "base probability", "answer results", and "applied probability".

[0111] "Lottery candidate" indicates a candidate for the reward determined by the corresponding lottery, and may indicate the type of character in the game, the amount of change in the character's ability value, the type of item, or the amount of change in currency. "Base probability" indicates the probability that the corresponding "lottery candidate" is determined in the corresponding lottery when there is no response from the viewer to the question. Therefore, when there is no response from the viewer to the question, the lottery execution means 1040 determines a certain "lottery candidate" as the reward with the probability of the corresponding "base probability". In the case of this figure, the lottery execution means 1040 determines "Item 1" as the reward with the probability of "X%", "Item 2" with the probability of "Y%", and "Item 3" with the probability of "Z%". The sum of the "base probabilities" may be 100% or may be less than 100%. When the sum of the "base probabilities" is less than 100%, the lottery execution means 1040 may not determine any "lottery candidate" as the reward. That is, the user who has executed the lottery may not be able to obtain any reward.

[0112] "Answer result" and "application probability" respectively indicate the response of the viewer to the question and the probability that the corresponding "lottery candidate" is determined in the corresponding lottery in that case. As an example, the "answer result" may indicate the rank of the corresponding "lottery candidate" in the response of the viewer to the question. The change means 1030 changes the lottery parameters so that when the response of the viewer to a certain "lottery candidate" corresponds to the "answer result", the "lottery candidate" is determined with the "application probability" corresponding to the "lottery candidate" and the "answer result". The lottery execution means 1040 determines a certain "lottery candidate" as the reward with the probability of the corresponding "application probability".

[0113] As an example, assume that the "reference probabilities" of "Item 1", "Item 2", and "Item 3" are "X%", "Y%", and "Z%", respectively, and as a result of a questionnaire for viewers, "Item 1" ranked first (answered by P% of the viewers), "Item 2" ranked third (answered by Q% of the viewers), and "Item 3" ranked second (answered by R% of the viewers). In this case, since the "response result" of "Item 1" was "first place", the change means 1030 changes the lottery parameters so that it is determined as a reward with a probability of "X + α%", which is the "application probability" when "Item 1" is in the "first place". The value of "α" may be a predetermined fixed value or a value determined based on the responses of the viewers. As an example, the change means 1030 may set a larger value of "α" as the value of "P", which indicates the proportion of viewers who selected "Item 1", is larger, and may set the value of "α" so that "X + α" does not exceed 100. When the "application probability" when the "response result" of "Item 2" is "third place" is "Y - β%", the change means 1030 changes the lottery parameters so that "Item 2" is determined as a reward with a probability of "Y - β%". The value of "β" may be a predetermined fixed value or a value determined based on the responses of the viewers. As an example, the change means 1030 may determine "β" based on the value of "P", which indicates the proportion of viewers who selected "Item 1" that ranked first, and the value of "Q", which indicates the proportion of viewers who selected "Item 2". The change means 1030 may determine a larger value of "β" as the difference between "P" and "Q" is larger.

[0114] FIG. 15 shows a fifth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. The instruction input unit 210 receives an instruction to display a lottery screen in response to the lottery screen display button 612 being clicked by the distributor on the display screen 700 of FIG. 7. The instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires the lottery screen display instruction from the instruction input unit 210. In response to the instruction acquisition means 1006 acquiring the lottery screen display instruction, the display processing unit 240 reads data related to the lottery screen from the database 200, generates the display screen 1500, and transmits it to the distributor's terminal device 30, and generates the display screen 1550 and transmits it to the viewer's terminal device 30.

[0115] The display screen 1500 includes a home button 610, a lottery screen display button 612, a viewing button 614, a live delivery button 702, a lottery window 1502, a lottery execution button 1506, a provided information button 1512, a lottery switching button 1514, and a response reception button 1516. The home button 610, the lottery screen display button 612, and the viewing button 614 are the same as those in FIG. 6. The live delivery button 702 is the same as that in FIG. 7.

[0116] The lottery window 1502 is an area for displaying information related to the lottery. As an example, a lottery device 1504 may be displayed in the lottery window 1502. As an example, the lottery device 1504 may be an object imitating a capsule toy. Instead of or in addition to this, the reward of the lottery may be displayed in the lottery window 1502. As an example, an image of a game character as the reward of the lottery may be displayed in the lottery window 1502.

[0117] The lottery execution button 1506 is a button for executing the lottery. The lottery execution button 1506 may include a single - draw execution button 1508 and a continuous - draw execution button 1510. The instruction input unit 210 receives a lottery instruction in response to the lottery execution button 1506 being clicked by the user (the distributor) of the terminal device 30. The instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires the lottery instruction from the instruction input unit 210. The lottery execution means 1040 executes the lottery in response to the instruction acquisition means 1006 acquiring the lottery instruction. When the single - draw execution button 1508 is clicked by the user on the terminal device 30, the lottery execution means 1040 reads out the lottery parameters in the "single - draw lottery" from the database 200 and executes the single - draw lottery. When the continuous - draw execution button 1510 is clicked by the user of the terminal device 30, the lottery execution means 1040 reads out the lottery parameters in the "continuous - draw lottery" from the database 200 and executes the continuous - draw lottery. As an example, when the continuous - draw execution button 1510 is clicked by the user of the terminal device 30, the lottery execution means 1040 may execute the lottery 10 times continuously.

[0118] The offering information button 1512 is a button for displaying an offering ratio window. As an example, the offering ratio window may include types of rewards and information indicating the winning probabilities of respective rewards. The instruction input unit 210 receives an offering ratio window display instruction in response to the offering information button 1512 being clicked by a user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the lottery processing unit 230 to that effect. The lottery processing unit 230 reads data regarding the offering information in the lottery from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to generate an offering ratio window to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 transmits the generated offering ratio window to the terminal device 30.

[0119] The switching button 1514 is a button for switching the type of lottery. The instruction input unit 210 receives a lottery switching instruction in response to the switching button 1514 being clicked by a user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the lottery processing unit 230 to that effect. The lottery processing unit 230 reads data regarding a lottery different from the currently displayed lottery from the database 200 and transmits an instruction to generate a display screen 1500 corresponding to the different lottery to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 transmits the generated display screen 1500 to the terminal device 30.

[0120] The response reception button 1516 is a button for transmitting a question to a viewer and receiving a response from the viewer. The instruction input unit 210 receives a question instruction in response to a question or the like being transmitted from the terminal device 30 of the distributor. As an example, the instruction input unit 210 may receive a question input screen display instruction in response to the response reception button 1516 being clicked. The instruction input unit 210 may transmit to the display processing unit 240 to that effect. The display processing unit 240 may generate a screen for inputting or selecting a question and answer candidates and transmitting them to the server device 20, and transmit it to the terminal device 30 of the distributor.

[0121] The display screen 1550 has a chat window 904, a back button 906, and a lottery viewing window 1552. The chat window 904 and the back button 906 are the same as those in FIG. 9.

[0122] The lottery viewing window 1552 is an area for displaying viewing content. In the lottery viewing window 1552, the lottery window 1502 in the display screen 1500 displayed on the display device 60 of the user who is distributing the viewing content may be displayed. As an example, a lottery device 1504 may be displayed in the lottery viewing window 1552.

[0123] FIG. 16 shows a sixth example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. The instruction input unit 210 receives a question instruction in response to the responder clicking the response reception button 1516 on the display screen 1500 in FIG. 15. The instruction acquisition means 1006 acquires the question instruction from the distributor from the instruction input unit 210. The presentation means 1050 instructs the display processing unit 240 to generate a display screen indicating that it is waiting for a response and a display screen for displaying a question in response to the instruction acquisition means 1006 acquiring the question instruction from the distributor. The display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 1600 indicating that it is waiting for a response and transmits it to the distributor's terminal device 30, and generates a display screen 1650 for displaying a question and transmits it to the viewer's terminal device 30.

[0124] The display screen 1600 has a home button 610, a lottery screen display button 612, a viewing button 614, a live broadcast button 702, a response waiting window 1602, and a response reception interruption button 1606. The home button 610, the lottery screen display button 612, and the viewing button 614 are the same as those in FIG. 6. The live broadcast button 702 is the same as that in FIG. 7.

[0125] The response waiting window 1602 is an area indicating that it is waiting for a response from the viewer. As an example, the response waiting window 1602 may show the progress of the response from the viewer. The response waiting window 1602 may show the real-time progress, or the progress at regular intervals. As an example, the response waiting window 1602 may include a remaining time display 1604. The remaining time display 1604 may start from a predetermined remaining time and the remaining time may decrease as time passes.

[0126] The response reception interruption button 1606 is a button for interrupting the reception of a response from the viewer. The instruction input unit 210 receives a response reception interruption instruction in response to the response reception interruption button 1606 being clicked by the user of the terminal device 30. The instruction input unit 210 notifies the lottery processing unit 230 to that effect. The lottery processing unit 230 transmits an instruction to generate a display screen indicating interruption to the display processing unit 240. The display processing unit 240 transmits a display screen indicating interruption to the viewer's terminal device 30.

[0127] The display screen 1650 has a chat window 904, a back button 906, and a question-and-answer window 1652. The chat window 904 and the back button 906 are the same as those in FIG. 9.

[0128] The question-and-answer window 1652 is an area where questions from the distributor are displayed and a display for transmitting responses to the questions is presented. As an example, the question-and-answer window 1652 includes a checkbox 1654, a response transmission button 1656, and a remaining time display 1658. The checkbox 1654 may include candidates for responses to questions from the distributor. As an example, the checkbox 1654 may include candidates for votes or questionnaire answers. The checkbox 1654 may allow only one candidate to be selected, or multiple candidates may be selectable. The instruction input unit 210 receives the viewer's response in response to the response transmission button 1656 being clicked while the checkbox 1654 is selected by the user (viewer) of the terminal device 30. The question-and-answer window 1652 may include an input field where the viewer can freely enter text instead of the checkbox 1654. The remaining time display 1658 may be the same as the remaining time display 1604 on the display screen 1600.

[0129] Figure 17 shows a seventh example of the display of the terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment. In S1216 of FIG. 12, the display processing unit 240 generates a display screen 1700 showing the responses of one or more viewers and transmits it to the distributor's terminal device 30, and generates a display screen 1750 showing the responses of one or more viewers and transmits it to the viewer's terminal device 30. The display screen 1700 has a home button 610, a lottery screen display button 612, a viewing button 614, a live delivery button 702, a lottery execution button 1506, a provided information button 1512, a response display window 1702, and a re-question reception button 1704. The home button 610, the lottery screen display button 612, and the viewing button 614 are the same as those in FIG. 6. The live delivery button 702 is the same as that in FIG. 7. The lottery execution button 1506 and the provided information button 1512 are the same as those in FIG. 17. The provided information button 1512 may display provided information based on the lottery parameters changed in S1214 of FIG. 12.

[0130] The response display window 1702 is an area that shows the responses of one or more viewers. The response display window 1702 may include at least one of a text, a graph, and a table representing the voting results of the viewers. As an example, the response display window 1702 may include a bar graph representing the voting results of the viewers and a text indicating the selected option that came first.

[0131] The re-question reception button 1704 is a button for sending a question to the viewer again and receiving a response from the viewer. As an example, when the re-question reception button 1704 is clicked, a screen for inputting or selecting a question and answer candidates and sending them to the server device 20 may be displayed. The instruction input unit 210 receives a re-question instruction in response to a question or the like being sent from the terminal device 30 of the distributor. The display processing unit 240 generates a display screen indicating that it is waiting for a response to the re-question in response to the instruction input unit receiving the re-question instruction, and transmits it to the terminal device 30 of the distributor, and generates a question screen indicating the content of the re-question and transmits it to the terminal device 30 of the viewer. The display screen indicating that it is waiting for a response to the re-question may be the same as the display screen 1600 in FIG. 16, and the question screen indicating the content of the re-question may be the same as the display screen 1650 in FIG. 16.

[0132] The display screen 1750 has a chat window 904, a back button 906, and a response viewing window 1752. The chat window 904 and the back button 906 are the same as those in FIG. 9.

[0133] The response viewing window 1752 is an area for displaying viewing content. In the response viewing window 1752, the response display window 1702 in the display screen 1700 displayed on the display device 60 of the user who is distributing the viewing content may be displayed.

[0134] Various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to flowcharts and block diagrams, where blocks (each block in the flowchart, each block shown as a "means" or "section", etc.) may represent (1) a stage of a process in which an operation is performed or (2) a section of an apparatus having a role of performing an operation. Specific stages and sections may be implemented by a dedicated circuit, a programmable circuit supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, and / or a processor supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The dedicated circuit may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include an integrated circuit (IC) and / or discrete circuits. The programmable circuit may include a reconfigurable hardware circuit including memory elements such as logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, flip-flops, registers, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array (PLA), etc.

[0135] A computer-readable medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions executable by an appropriate device, and as a result, a computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein will comprise a product including instructions executable to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy (registered trademark) disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0136] Computer-readable instructions may include any combination of one or more programming languages, including assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source code or object code written in an object-oriented programming language such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, and a conventional procedural programming language such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages.

[0137] Computer-readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a programmable data processing apparatus such as a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other computer, either locally or via a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc., and may be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0138] FIG. 18 shows an example of a computer 2200 in which multiple aspects of the present invention may be embodied, in whole or in part. Programs installed on the computer 2200 can cause the computer 2200 to function as an operation associated with the apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention or as one or more sections of the apparatus, or can cause the operation or the one or more sections to be executed, and / or can cause the computer 2200 to execute a process according to an embodiment of the present invention or a stage of the process. Such programs may be executed by the CPU 2212 to cause the computer 2200 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0139] The computer 2200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2212, a RAM 2214, a graphic controller 2216, and a display device 2218, which are interconnected by a host controller 2210. The computer 2200 also includes an input / output unit such as a communication interface 2222, a hard disk drive 2224, a DVD-ROM drive 2226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 2210 via an input / output controller 2220. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 2230 and a keyboard 2242, which are connected to the input / output controller 2220 via an input / output chip 2240.

[0140] The CPU 2212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2230 and the RAM 2214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphic controller 2216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 2212 in a frame buffer provided in the RAM 2214 or the like or in itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 2218.

[0141] The communication interface 2222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 2224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2212 in the computer 2200. The DVD-ROM drive 2226 reads a program or data from the DVD-ROM 2201 and provides the program or data to the hard disk drive 2224 via the RAM 2214. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to the IC card.

[0142] ROM 2230 stores therein a boot program or the like executed by computer 2200 upon activation, and / or a program dependent on the hardware of computer 2200. Input / output chip 2240 may also be connected to input / output controller 2220 via various input / output units through a parallel port, serial port, keyboard port, mouse port, etc.

[0143] The program is provided by a computer-readable medium such as DVD-ROM 2201 or an IC card. The program is read from the computer-readable medium, installed in hard disk drive 2224, RAM 2214, or ROM 2230, which is also an example of a computer-readable medium, and executed by CPU 2212. The information processing described in these programs is read by computer 2200, resulting in cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. The apparatus or method may be configured by realizing the operation or processing of information in accordance with the use of computer 2200.

[0144] For example, when communication is executed between computer 2200 and an external device, CPU 2212 may execute a communication program loaded in RAM 2214 and instruct communication interface 2222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Communication interface 2222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as RAM 2214, hard disk drive 2224, DVD-ROM 2201, or an IC card under the control of CPU 2212, transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes the received data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0145] Also, the CPU 2212 may cause all or necessary parts of files or databases stored in external recording media such as a hard disk drive 2224, a DVD-ROM drive 2226 (DVD-ROM 2201), and an IC card to be read into the RAM 2214, and execute various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2214. The CPU 2212 then writes back the processed data to the external recording media.

[0146] Various types of information such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases may be stored in the recording media and may undergo information processing. The CPU 2212 may execute various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 2214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgments, conditional branches, unconditional branches, information search / replacement, etc., described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, and write back the results to the RAM 2214. Also, the CPU 2212 may search for information in files, databases, etc. within the recording media. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording media, the CPU 2212 searches for an entry that matches the condition where the attribute value of the first attribute is specified from among the plurality of entries, reads the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby may obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0147] As described above, the present invention has been described using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that forms with such changes or improvements may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0148] In the claims, the specification, and the drawings, the execution order of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown is not explicitly stated as "before" or "preceding" etc. in particular, and it should be noted that it can be realized in any order as long as the output of the previous process is not used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flows in the claims, the specification, and the drawings, even if explanations are given using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to implement in this order.

[0149] "Supplementary Note" According to the specification and drawings of the present application, each feature shown as a supplementary note below is also disclosed. "Problem" It aims to improve the interestingness. "Solution Means" (Supplementary Note 1) When executed by a computer, the computer is functioned as a changing means for changing the parameters of the lottery conducted by the distributor according to the response of the viewer to the question. A program. (Supplementary Note 2) The program according to Supplementary Note 1, which further functions the computer as a response acquisition means for acquiring data of the response of the viewer regarding at least one of the voting or questionnaire answers by the viewer. (Supplementary Note 3) The response acquisition means acquires at least one of the data of at least one of the voting or questionnaire answers regarding the reward of the lottery or the candidate for the reward of the lottery, at least one of the data of at least one of the voting or questionnaire answers regarding the type of the lottery that the distributor should conduct, or at least one of the data of at least one of the voting or questionnaire answers regarding the consideration data indicating the consideration required for the lottery. The program according to Supplementary Note 2, which acquires at least one of them. (Supplementary Note 4) The changing means, in response to the response of the viewer, candidates for the reward of the lottery, the probability of winning the reward of the lottery, the consideration required for the lottery, a viewer reward for at least one of the plurality of viewers, or the notification method for notifying the reward obtained as a result of the lottery of at least one of them, the program described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 5) The changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to the result of taking a majority vote on the voting or the answers to the questionnaire of the plurality of viewers The program described in Appendix 2. (Appendix 6) The changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to the results of the voting or the answers to the questionnaire of the plurality of viewers that are below a threshold value The program described in Appendix 2. (Appendix 7) The computer functions as a weighting means for weighting the responses of the plurality of viewers by weights determined for each viewer, and the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to the weighted responses of the plurality of viewers The program described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 8) The computer, functions as a presenting means for performing a process for presenting the response of the at least one viewer to the distributor, and an instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction from the distributor to re-question the at least one viewer and functions as such, and the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to the response of the at least one viewer to the re-questioning in response to the acquisition of the instruction to re-question The program described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 9) Cause the computer to function as prediction acquisition means for acquiring a prediction of the response by the distributor. The changing means is the program according to Supplementary Note 1 that changes the parameters of the lottery according to the degree of coincidence of the prediction with respect to the response. (Supplementary Note 10) Cause the computer to further function as lottery execution means for executing the lottery within the game play distributed by the distributor. The lottery execution means performs a parameter change related to at least one of addition of a character in the game, improvement of the character's ability, recovery of the character, addition of an item, or increase of currency as the reward of the lottery for the game state data associated with the distributor's account. The program according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 9.

[0150] Note that the solution means configured by the above program may be appropriately diverted to the fields of devices, systems, methods, and media.

Explanation of Signs

[0151] 10 System 20 Server Device 30 Terminal Device 40 Network 50 Input Device 60 Display Device 200 Database 210 Instruction Input Section 220 Game Processing Section 230 Lottery Processing Section 240 Display Processing Section 300 Terminal Input Processing Section 310 Terminal Transmission Section 320 Terminal Reception Section 330 Terminal Display Processing Section 600 Display Screen 602 Game Window 604 Start Button 606 Profile Edit Button 608 Character Formation Button 610 Home Button 612 Lottery Screen Display Button 614 Play Button 616 Distribution Start Button 700 Display Screen 702 Distribution In-Progress Button 800 Display Screen 802 Distribution List 804 Scroll Bar 806 Search Bar 808 Input Field 810 Search Button 812 Friend Search Button 900 Display Screen 902 Play Window 904 Chat Window 906 Back Button 1000 Acquisition Means 1002 Response Acquisition Means 1004 Prediction Acquisition Means 1006 Instruction Acquisition Means 1010 Database Connection Means 1020 Weighting Means 1030 Modification Means 1040 Lottery Execution Means 1050 Presentation Means 1500 Display Screen 1502 Lottery Window 1504 Lottery Machine 1506 Lottery Execution Button 1508 Single-Draw Execution Button 1510 Continuous-Draw Execution Button 1512 Information Provision Button 1514 Switching Button 1516 Response Reception Button 1550 Display Screen 1552 Lottery Play Window 1600 Display Screen 1602 Response Waiting Window 1604 Remaining Time Display 1606 Response Reception Interruption Button 1650 Display Screen 1652 Question-and-Answer Window 1654 Check box 1656 Response transmission button 1658 Remaining time display 1700 Display screen 1702 Response display window 1704 Re-question reception button 1750 Display screen 1752 Response viewing window 2200 Computer 2201 DVD-ROM 2210 Host controller 2212 CPU 2214 RAM 2216 Graphics controller 2218 Display device 2220 Input / output controller 2222 Communication interface 2224 Hard disk drive 2226 DVD-ROM drive 2230 ROM 2240 Input / output chip 2242 Keyboard

Claims

1. A program that causes a computer to function as a changing means for changing parameters of a lottery conducted by a distributor according to responses of viewers to questions.

2. The program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to function as a response acquisition means for acquiring data of responses of the viewers with respect to at least one of voting or answering a questionnaire by the viewers.

3. The response acquisition means acquires at least one of data of at least one of voting or answering a questionnaire regarding a reward of the lottery or a candidate for the reward of the lottery, at least one of data of at least one of voting or answering a questionnaire regarding a type of the lottery to be conducted by the distributor, or at least one of data of at least one of voting or answering a questionnaire regarding consideration data indicating a consideration required for the lottery. The program according to claim 2.

4. The program according to claim 2, wherein the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to a result of a majority vote of responses of a plurality of the viewers to the voting or the questionnaire.

5. The program according to claim 2, wherein the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to results of responses of a number of the voting or the questionnaire that is equal to or less than a threshold value among responses of a plurality of the viewers to the voting or the questionnaire.

6. The program according to claim 1, causing the computer to function as a weighting means for weighting responses of a plurality of the viewers by weights determined for each of the viewers, wherein the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to the weighted responses of a plurality of the viewers.

7. The program according to claim 1, causing the computer to function as a presenting means for performing a process for presenting responses of the at least one viewer to the distributor, and an instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction from the distributor to re-question the at least one viewer, wherein the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to responses of the at least one viewer to the re-question in response to acquisition of the instruction to re-question. The program according to claim 1.

8. The program according to claim 1, causing the computer to function as a prediction acquisition means for acquiring a prediction of the response by the distributor. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The program according to claim 1, wherein the changing means changes the parameters of the lottery according to the degree of coincidence of the prediction with respect to the response.

9. The computer is further caused to function as a lottery execution means for executing the lottery within the game play distributed by the distributor, The lottery execution means performs a parameter change related to at least one of addition of a character in the game, improvement of character ability, recovery of character, addition of an item, or increase of currency as a reward of the lottery for the game state data associated with the account of the distributor. The program according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A changing means for changing parameters of a lottery conducted by a distributor in a distribution according to a response of a viewer to a question A system comprising.

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