Program, method, and system

Abstract

To provide a program capable of executing a notification of entrance of a specific user in a virtual space to the other user based on a login situation of the other user or the specific user, a method, and a system.SOLUTION: When a specific user enters a virtual space, the other user excluding users entering the virtual space under a predetermined situation is notified of the entrance of the specific user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] There is known a system that provides a virtual space to a user via a network and enables communication with other users in the virtual space (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] In fan activities (so-called oshi activities) to support favorite support targets (so-called oshi) such as people like talents or things, for example, by checking posts from the talent himself / herself who is the support target on SNS or the like, or posts from accounts of agencies where the supported talent belongs, collecting the latest information of the support target has become the mainstream (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2 and Non-Patent Document 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

[0005] If a specific user such as a talent who is the target of fan activities enters a virtual space like Non-Patent Document 1, fans tend to try to enter the same virtual space subsequently. Therefore, if information on the early entry of a specific user can be obtained, fan activities will be more fulfilling.

[0006] By the way, it is assumed that various events are held in the virtual space, and there may be a case where an event hosted by a specific user is being held. If a user has already entered the virtual space to participate in an event held within the virtual space, there is a risk that the user already knows that the specific user is entering, or that the sense of immersion in the event will be reduced due to the notification.

[0007] The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and provides a program, method, and system that enable notification to other users that a specific user has entered a virtual space based on the login status of other users or the specific user. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] (1) A program according to an aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer (for example, distribution server 100, specific user information medium management server 500) to perform processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, and causing the computer to A process that is not performed when a user who does not meet specific conditions (e.g., a general user with a user attribute number of "1" in Fig. 7(A), or a user with a negative evaluation index) enters the virtual space (e.g., enters by logging in or enters a room), and when a specific user who meets the specific conditions (e.g., a talent or famous person with a user attribute number of "2", "3", or "5" in Fig. 7(A), or a user with a positive evaluation index) enters the virtual space, a process (e.g., the entry notification process in Figs. 12 to 15) for notifying other users that the specific user has entered is made executable, functioning as a notification means (e.g., notification management unit 135, data distribution unit 532, entry / exit status acquisition management unit 534, etc.). When the specific user enters the virtual space, the notification means notifies other users except those who are in the virtual space in a certain situation (e.g., participating in a certain content, or during a predetermined period before the event) and in the entry state that the specific user has entered (e.g., steps S104C and S104D of the entry notification process 4 in Fig. 15).

[0009] According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid being notified until the necessity to notify that a specific user has entered due to a user being in the virtual space in a certain situation is low.

[0010] (2) A program according to an aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer (e.g., distribution server 100, specific user information medium management server 500) to perform processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, and causing the computer to Processing that is not performed when a user who does not meet specific conditions (for example, a general user with a user attribute number of "1" in Fig. 7(A), or a user with a negative evaluation index) enters the virtual space (for example, enters by logging in or enters a room), and when a specific user who meets the specific conditions (for example, a talent or famous person with a user attribute number of "2", "3", or "5" in Fig. 7(A), or a user with a positive evaluation index) enters the virtual space, it enables the execution of processing (for example, the entry notification processing in Figs. 12 to 15) for notifying other users that the specific user has entered. It functions as a notification means (for example, notification management unit 135, data distribution unit 532, entry / exit status acquisition management unit 534, etc.). When the specific user enters the virtual space under a predetermined situation (for example, enters for a live event scheduled in advance), the notification means does not perform processing for notifying other users that the specific user has entered (for example, refer to (entry notification processing 4 in the modification example), etc.).

[0011] According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid being notified until the necessity of notifying that a specific user has entered is low due to being in a predetermined situation.

[0012] (3) In the above (1) or (2), an evaluation value (for example, the evaluation index and user attribute number in Fig. 7(A)) that varies according to an external evaluation, which is an evaluation from other than the user, is defined for the user. The specific user includes users who meet the predetermined conditions according to the evaluation value.

[0013] According to such a configuration, since it is possible to notify other users that a specific user who meets the predetermined conditions according to the evaluation value has entered the virtual space, it becomes easy for other users to obtain information about the specific user, and the prosperity of the virtual space can be promoted.

[0014] (4) In the above (3), the predetermined condition includes a condition satisfied by the evaluation value being a predetermined value determined in advance (for example, as illustrated in FIG. 7(A), the user attribute number being "2", "3", "5", etc. such as a talent or a famous person, and the evaluation index being a positive value, etc.).

[0015] According to such a configuration, when a user determined with a predetermined value enters the room, it is possible to notify other users, so that the management of specific users to be notified to other users becomes easy.

[0016] (5) In the above (1) or (2), the specific users include specific users predetermined by the operator who operates the virtual space (for example, talents or famous people such as those with user attribute numbers "2", "3", "5", etc. in FIG. 7(A)).

[0017] According to such a configuration, since it is possible to notify other users that a specific user predetermined by the operator has entered the virtual space, it becomes easy for other users to obtain information about the specific user, and the prosperity of the virtual space can be promoted.

[0018] (6) In the above (1), The state of entering the room under the predetermined situation is a situation where the user is participating in a predetermined event performed in the virtual space (for example, a situation of participating in a predetermined content such as a live event).

[0019] According to such a configuration, since the user is not notified when participating in a predetermined event, it is possible to prevent the immersion in the event from being disturbed.

[0020] (7) In the above (1) or (2), the predetermined situation is a situation where a predetermined event related to the specific user is performed in the virtual space (for example, before or during the holding of a live event scheduled in advance with a talent as the main character, etc.) (for example, refer to (room entry notification process 4 in the modification example), etc.).

[0021] According to such a configuration, in a situation where an event related to a specific user occurs, since other users are not notified, it is possible to avoid notifying users who may know information about the entry of the specific user.

[0022] (8) A method for controlling a computer according to an aspect of the present invention is a method for causing a computer to perform processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, a process that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and includes a step of making it possible to execute a process for notifying other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space. The step of making it possible to execute the process for notifying other users notifies other users except those who are in the entry state under a predetermined situation in the virtual space that the specific user has entered when the specific user enters the virtual space.

[0023] According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid being notified until a situation where there is little need to notify that a specific user has entered because a user is in the virtual space under a predetermined situation.

[0024] (9) A system according to an aspect of the present invention is a system including a computer that performs processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, a process that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and includes a notification means that makes it possible to execute a process for notifying other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space. The notification means notifies other users except those who are in the entry state under a predetermined situation in the virtual space that the specific user has entered when the specific user enters the virtual space.

[0025] According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid being notified until it is less necessary to notify that a specific user has entered the room because the user has entered the room under a predetermined situation.

[0026] (10) A method for controlling a computer according to an aspect of the present invention is a method for causing a computer to perform processing based on a user's entry status into a virtual space, wherein a process that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and a process for notifying other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space is executable when the specific user enters the virtual space, the method comprising steps of the step of making it possible to execute the process for notifying other users does not perform the process for notifying other users that the specific user has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space under a predetermined situation.

[0027] According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid being notified until it is less necessary to notify that a specific user has entered the room because of the predetermined situation.

[0028] (11) A system according to an aspect of the present invention is a system including a computer that performs processing based on a user's entry status into a virtual space, wherein a process that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and a notification means for notifying other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space is executable when the specific user enters the virtual space, the notification means not performing the process for notifying other users that the specific user has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space under a predetermined situation.

[0029] According to such a configuration, it is possible to avoid being notified until it is necessary to notify that a specific user has entered the room when the situation is a predetermined situation and the necessity of notification is low.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0030]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] Hereinafter, the outline of the present invention will be described. The virtual space (metaverse space) in this embodiment is used by a plurality of users. The plurality of users can be roughly classified into specific users (also referred to as special users) and other users. Specific users include, for example, talents and famous people. There may be fans for talents and the like. Therefore, for fans, for example, if they can quickly obtain information that a talent or the like has entered the virtual space and then enter the same virtual space later, their fan activities will become richer. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to notify other users that a specific user has entered the virtual space. As a result, the fan activities of fan users who support specific users will become more fulfilling.

[0032] In addition, when a specific user enters the virtual space, it is conceivable that the number of other users entering the virtual space will increase. Therefore, it is possible that the load on the distribution server that provides the virtual space to the user due to the entry behavior of the specific user will increase. Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to preliminarily vary the resources of the server that provides the virtual space on the condition that the specific user enters the virtual space (including login). Also, on the condition that the specific user enters the virtual space, processing can be performed to reduce (mitigate) the amount of information distributed from the distribution server that provides the virtual space to the user terminal. By the processing of varying the resources of these servers and the processing of reducing the amount of information, the distribution server can withstand the increase in load assumed when the specific user enters the virtual space. In this way, by taking load countermeasures against the distribution server in advance, it becomes possible to smoothly perform the entry process and distribution process of users who attempt to enter the virtual space following the specific user, thus improving user satisfaction.

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments of the communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and is indicated by the claims, and all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included in the present invention. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements in the description of the drawings, and redundant descriptions are not repeated.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of communication system 1. Communication system 1 includes a distribution server 100, an administrator terminal 200, a plurality of user terminals 300a, 300b, 300c..., a plurality of distribution user terminals 400a, 400b, 400c..., and a specific user information medium management server 500. The plurality of user terminals 300a, 300b, 300c... are terminals owned by each of the plurality of users, and hereinafter are also collectively referred to as user terminals 300. Also, the plurality of distribution user terminals 400a, 400b, 400c... are terminals owned by each of the plurality of distribution users who are users capable of mainly distributing content, and hereinafter are also collectively referred to as distribution user terminals 400. Also, since both the user terminals 300 and the distribution user terminals 400 are used by users, hereinafter they are also collectively referred to as user terminals.

[0035] The distribution server 100, the administrator terminal 200, the user terminals 300, the distribution user terminals 400, and the specific user information medium management server 500 can each be communicatively connected via network 2 and can transmit and receive information (data) bidirectionally. Network 2 is, for example, the Internet and is composed of access networks such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a mobile communication network (for example, 5G, a wireless network, etc.), a wired telephone network, an FTTH (Fiber To The Home), and a CATV (Cable Television) network.

[0036] The distribution server 100 is, for example, a computer such as a workstation or a personal computer having a communication function. The distribution server 100 manages a plurality of virtual spaces (also referred to as metaverse spaces), which are virtual worlds constructed on a computer, and provides services (content) using the virtual space selected by the user via network 2.

[0037] In the present embodiment, a user can participate in the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100 in response to an operation on the user terminal, and can perform activities, actions, utterances, etc. through a user character or the like. Further, the users in the present embodiment include consumers who are general consumers, talents, famous people, etc. Talents include, for example, talents belonging to a service providing company (operating company), entertainers, actors / actresses, comedians, multi-talents, emcees, newscasters, singers, musicians, models, and other influencers, i.e., famous people in various genres. Also, famous people include, for example, famous company managers or employees, sports players, e-sports players, famous scholars / cultural figures / cram school teachers, famous students, etc., i.e., famous people in various genres. Also, in some cases, an influencer may be determined and processed according to the number of followers of the follow function in the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100.

[0038] The content provided using the virtual space is managed and set for each type of content. The available content includes, for example, content such as games, live shows, events, programs that can be viewed and experienced, and content that enables communication and interaction using chats and emotes between users, but is not limited thereto. A user can access the distribution server 100 using the user terminal 300 or the distribution user terminal 400, select the desired content, and seamlessly participate (roam) in the content, enabling viewing and experiencing the virtual space corresponding to the content.

[0039] The virtual space includes a three-dimensional space (a space constructed based on three-dimensional data) or a two-dimensional space (a space constructed based on two-dimensional data) generated by CG (Computer Graphics) according to the type of content. In addition, the virtual space has virtual characters (avatar objects), objects indicating backgrounds and virtual objects according to the type of content, menu objects that can be selected by users, etc. arranged therein. The virtual characters arranged in the virtual space include user characters that are preset corresponding to each user participating in the virtual space and can operate according to operations from the users, non-player characters that operate based on programs, and the like.

[0040] As an example of the objects arranged in the virtual space, in the case of game content, on the field objects corresponding to the game field, item objects corresponding to the game, character objects corresponding to the game, the user characters of the users playing the game content (hereinafter also referred to as user avatars), etc. are arranged. In the case of live content, for example, stage objects, auditorium objects, lighting objects, etc. are arranged, and the user characters of the talents performing the live are arranged on the stage objects, and the user characters of the participating users are arranged on the auditorium objects. In the case of content for communication, for example, the user characters of each of the multiple participating users, item objects available for communication, etc. are arranged. In addition, a space imitating a town may be provided, and it is not limited to enabling communication between users. Objects such as signboards and bulletin boards can also be arranged to enable users to obtain and view information inside and outside the virtual space.

[0041] The distribution server 100 stores in the storage unit 120 information for displaying images in a plurality of virtual spaces corresponding to distributable content and sound information for outputting sound. Further, the distribution server 100 provides content (service) to the user by distributing content data including display information for displaying an image in the virtual space of the corresponding content and sound information for outputting sound in response to an access from the user terminal.

[0042] The content data includes, for example, information for specifying information about an object arranged in the virtual space (for example, the type, arrangement position, orientation, posture, mode, etc. of the object), information about each user character participating in the virtual space (for example, the type, arrangement position, orientation, posture, mode, motion data, voice data, etc. of the user character), an object indicating a background / virtual object according to the type of content, and information for specifying a menu object selected by the user. The information about an object or the like and the information about a user character or the like are increased or decreased in the amount of display information by the data distribution unit 132 of the distribution server 100 or by an arbitrary setting operation by the user on the user terminal. The increase or decrease in the amount of display information may include, for example, an increase or decrease in the number of user avatars that can be displayed in the virtual space, an increase or decrease in the number of objects, or an increase or decrease in the image resolution.

[0043] Objects in the virtual space change their postures, positions, expressions, etc. in response to operations from the user terminal or the like, or the states of the objects arranged in response to the passage of time change. For this reason, the content data is distributed every predetermined time (for example, every 0.016 seconds at about 60 fps), so that an image in the virtual space that changes every moment can be displayed on the user terminal. Also, the content data distributed every predetermined time may be distributed in response to the distribution server 100 receiving a signal requesting synchronization transmitted from the user terminal, and the timing every predetermined time may vary according to the load situation of the distribution server 100. For example, as the load increases, the number of synchronization times per second decreases step by step from 6 times to 3 times, 1 time, etc. Note that information (request information) for performing processing for reducing the frequency of transmission of the signal requesting synchronization may be transmitted from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal, and even if there is a request from the user terminal to request content data, as the load increases, the interval of the timing for the distribution server 100 to respond to the request may become longer.

[0044] In addition, the distribution server 100 manages programs and data that enable the user terminal to progress (play) contents such as live events and games. For example, when game content is selected by the user, programs and data for providing a service using the virtual space of the game content are distributed to the user terminal. Note that the distribution timing of the programs and data for progressing the content from the distribution server 100 is not limited to when the content is selected by the user, and may also be when the user logs in to the distribution server 100, when a predetermined achievement condition is satisfied, or the like.

[0045] The administrator terminal 200 is used by operators of service providing companies, etc. The administrator terminal 200 is, for example, a computer having operation input functions and communication functions such as a personal computer. The operator creates, constructs, modifies, updates, etc. the content managed in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100 and the images in the virtual space via the administrator terminal 200. For example, generation and construction of new content and images in the virtual space, and change and modification of the already provided content and images in the virtual space are performed. Further, the operator sets and updates information managed in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100 via the administrator terminal 200. For example, settings and updates of evaluation indices (evaluation values) and attributes (for example, attribute types, attribute numbers) associated with each user of the user information managed in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100 are performed. Note that the administrator terminal 200 may also create, construct, modify, update, etc. the content managed in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500. The operator sets and updates information managed in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500 via the administrator terminal 200.

[0046] The specific user information medium management server 500 is, for example, a computer such as a workstation or a personal computer having a communication function. The specific user information medium is a fan community application regarding a specific user (for example, a talent, etc.) or a WEB site where information regarding the specific user can be browsed. The operator (entity) operating the specific user information medium may be the same as or different from the operator and the operator of the distribution server 100 and the administrator terminal 200. The specific user information medium management server 500 may, for example, manage a plurality of contents that can be provided to users and manage the communities where the contents are provided. The specific user information medium management server 500 provides the content in response to a request from a user via the network 2.

[0047] The content provided by the specific user information media management server 500 is managed and set for each type. The content is to inform viewers of predetermined information and includes the content of information such as videos, audios, and texts. The predetermined information includes information about specific users. The information about specific users managed by the specific user information media management server 500 includes, for example, news and notice articles by operators (administrators), user posts, and posting information such as distribution videos related to specific users provided by external web services obtained by using web APIs, schedule information of distribution videos related to specific users, and trend information of specific users including entry and exit information to and from the virtual space of specific users. The content can be provided to users by being displayed on user terminals via media such as web browsers or dedicated applications such as smartphones.

[0048] The specific user information media management server 500 stores in the storage unit 520 information such as texts and images corresponding to the content that can be provided to users for display on user terminals and sound information for outputting sounds. Also, the distribution server 100 provides content (services) to users by distributing content data including display information for displaying texts and images of corresponding content and sound information for outputting sounds in response to access from user terminals.

[0049] In this embodiment, the distribution server 100, the administrator terminal 200, and the specific user information media management server 500 are each independent computers (devices), but they may also be realized by one computer, or the functions of one of these computers (for example, the distribution server 100, the specific user information media management server 500) may be realized by multiple computers (for example, multiple servers).

[0050] The user terminal 300 is used by a user who views and experiences content, etc. The user terminal 300 may be, for example, a computer having operation input functions and communication functions such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. Note that the user terminal 300 may have a motion capture function for capturing the user's actions, similar to the distribution user terminal 400 described later.

[0051] In response to an operation on the terminal, the user terminal 300 communicates with the distribution server 100 and the specific user information medium management server 500 to receive the content data of the content selected by the user. Based on the content data received from the distribution server 100, the user terminal 300 constructs, within the storage area of the user terminal 300, the virtual space of the content selected by the user among the virtual spaces constructed in the distribution server 100, and displays the image within the virtual space and outputs sound. Thereby, through the user terminal 300, it becomes possible to view and experience the virtual space of the content.

[0052] Also, based on the content data received from the specific user information medium management server 500, the user terminal 300 constructs, within the storage area of the user terminal 300, the information of the content (for example, articles and schedule information) selected by the user among the content managed by the specific user information medium management server 500, and displays the image and text of the content. Thereby, through the user terminal 300, the user can specify and recognize the information of the content (including information related to a specific user).

[0053] In addition, the user terminal 300 receives operations on the displayed virtual space and objects, various icon selection operations, content selection operations, text input operations, etc. The user terminal 300 transmits information corresponding to the operations on the terminal to the distribution server 100, and can move, etc., the user character of the user within the virtual space of the content in which the user is participating. Based on the content data transmitted from the distribution server 100 at predetermined time intervals as described above, the movement, etc., of the user character can also be reflected (synchronized) in the virtual spaces of each user terminal 300 of the users participating in the same content.

[0054] In addition, while enabling the user terminal 300 to view and experience the virtual space of the content, etc., the user terminal 300 can post a comment including an arbitrary message as an example of an action on the virtual space of the content in which the user is participating according to the operations on the terminal. By posting a comment, the comment can be reflected on each user terminal 300 so that the users participating in the content can confirm the comment.

[0055] In addition, when the content is selected by the user, the user terminal 300 stores the program and data distributed from the distribution server 100, and based on the program and data, displays the virtual space corresponding to the selected content and enables the content to be advanced (played). For example, on the title screen, if area Y, which is a space imitating a town, is selected by the user, the user terminal 300 receives and stores the data including the program for displaying the space of area Y, and based on the data, the space of area Y is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 300. Also, within the virtual space of any area (or the area itself may be a space providing game content), if a predetermined game content is selected, the user terminal 300 receives and stores the data including the program for playing the game content, and the game content becomes playable.

[0056] The distribution user terminal 400 is used by a distribution user who can distribute content. In addition to an operation input function and a communication function, the distribution user terminal 400 has a motion capture function for capturing the actions of the distribution user (for example, an HMD (Head-Mounted Device), a device equipped with an imaging device that analyzes the actions of the user from the captured images of the user captured by the imaging device, etc.). Note that, for example, in the case of an HMD, a user wearing the HMD on the head and holding a controller capable of communicating with the HMD can operate the virtual space or virtual character displayed by moving the head or hand, or operating buttons on the controller.

[0057] The distribution user terminal 400 acquires motion information for specifying the movement of the head or hand of the distribution user or operations on the controller, and voice information for specifying the voice of the distribution user, and transmits them to the distribution server 100, so that the movement and voice of the user character of the distribution user in the participating virtual space can be reflected. Thereby, the user character of the distribution user can be operated in the virtual space like a clone of the distribution user. Based on the content data transmitted from the distribution server 100 every predetermined time as described above, it is possible to reflect (synchronize) the movement and voice of the user character of the distribution user in the virtual space on each user terminal of the users (including the distribution user) participating in the virtual space.

[0058] Note that the distributing user may become an ordinary user (mere viewer / participant) who views and experiences the content distributed using a terminal with the same configuration as the distributing user terminal 400 as the user terminal 300, or may become an ordinary user using a separate terminal with a configuration different from that of the distributing user terminal 400 as the user terminal 300. The distributing user terminal 400 and the user terminal 300 may be terminals with the same configuration or different configurations from each other. Also, the distributing user may participate in the virtual space as a distributor who distributes content, or may participate in the virtual space as an ordinary user (mere viewer / participant) rather than as a distributor. Therefore, the distributing user is included in the users. The distributing user can select, change, etc., which position to take at a predetermined timing (for example, when logging in, when starting content distribution, when displaying the user character of the distributing user in the content to be distributed, etc.).

[0059] <Overall image of the virtual space> FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of the overall image of the virtual space provided by the system 1 of the present embodiment. The virtual space ER of the present embodiment includes a plurality of types of space areas ER (space area ER1, space area ER2,...). In each space area ER, it is possible to provide content with different genres and types. The plurality of types of space areas ER are areas selected from the title screen displayed after the user logs in to the virtual space ER, and areas corresponding to various contents such as, for example, an entrance, a live venue, game content, and an exhibition hall are provided. For example, an event venue where live content is held is constructed in the whole of a predetermined space area ER or a part of a predetermined space area ER.

[0060] Each spatial area ER is provided with a plurality of rooms in which the same content is provided. Each room has a determined maximum number of people who can enter the room. For example, it can accommodate up to 200 people. Each room is managed by, for example, a real-time synchronization server. Users who have entered the same room can view each other's user avatars and communicate with each other. For example, they can play games together or have conversations through chat, etc. For example, if the spatial area ER1 is a space that mimics a city, in the rooms ER1a, ER1b... corresponding to the spatial area ER1, a space that mimics the same city is provided to the users, but the avatars that can be displayed in the space are only the user avatars corresponding to the users associated with the same room. For example, the user avatar 1 of the user associated with the room ER1a is not displayed on the user screen of the user associated with the room ER1b. However, exceptionally, for the user avatars of special users (such as talents, etc.), they can be made to be displayed not only in the room where they actually enter but also in other rooms.

[0061] The movement between the respective spatial areas ER may be such that it cannot be moved to other spatial areas ER unless it is through the spatial area ER defined as an area (for example, an entrance) that provides specific content after the user logs in to the virtual space, or it may be possible to move back and forth between them. For example, it may be such that it cannot move from spatial area ER2 to spatial area ER3 without passing through spatial area ER1, or it may be possible to directly move back and forth between spatial area ER2 and spatial area ER3 without passing through spatial area ER1. Also, when moving between spatial areas ER, a switching effect may be performed. For example, when moving to another spatial area ER, the display screen may fade to black (for example, a screen where a message such as "Loading..." is displayed on a black screen) and then switch. Also, regarding the user's access to each spatial area ER, it may be such that the user first enters the entrance area after logging in, or there may be cases where the user can select and enter the preferred spatial area ER without passing through the entrance area, or it may transition to the spatial area ER randomly determined by lottery. For each room as well, it may be such that the user selects and enters the preferred room, or enters the room randomly determined by lottery. Hereinafter, the virtual space ER is also simply referred to as the virtual space.

[0062] The entry into the virtual space in this embodiment includes logging in to the virtual space and entering a room.

[0063] <Configuration of the distribution server> Next, the configuration of the distribution server 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution server 100 includes a communication unit 110 that communicates with other computers, a storage unit 120 that stores various data, and a control unit 130 that controls the entire computer. The communication unit 110, the storage unit 120, and the control unit 130 are interconnected by a bus line. Note that each function may be defined as a server (container) on a virtualized server and executed as if it were a server.

[0064] The communication unit 110 is a communication interface equipped with a NIC (Network Interface Card controller) for performing wired or wireless communication. The communication unit 110 communicates with other computers via the network 2. For example, it functions as an interface for obtaining a part of the information stored in the storage unit 120 on other computers (for example, the entry and exit status of the virtual space for each user, the evaluation index, the attribute number, etc.).

[0065] The storage unit 120 is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. The storage unit 120 stores programs for executing various control processes (for example, programs for managing and providing contents using a virtual space, etc.), various data, etc. The various data stored in the storage unit 120 includes information for specifying an image of the virtual space provided for each type of content, user information 121 regarding the user, etc. As the information for specifying the image of the virtual space, for example, object data 122 is included.

[0066] The control unit 130 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The control unit 130 controls the overall operation of the distribution server 100 and performs various calculations by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 120.

[0067] Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the control unit 130 will be described. The control unit 130 functions at least as a content management unit 131, a data distribution unit 132, a user management unit 133, an entry / exit processing unit 134, a notification management unit 135, and a scale management unit 136. The various functions may be performed by another server, or for example, a plurality of functions may be executed on one server (for example, a virtual server).

[0068] The content management unit 131 stores and updates in the storage unit 120 information for identifying an image in a virtual space according to the content set by the administrator terminal 200 via the communication unit 110. For example, the content management unit 131 stores in the storage unit 120 information for identifying the type of content set by the administrator terminal 200, information for identifying an image in the virtual space for each content, and information for identifying the delivery date and time for content such as a live broadcast or program to be delivered at a predetermined date and time. In addition, the information for identifying an image in the virtual space includes information regarding an object arranged in the virtual space, a user character corresponding to a user participating in the virtual space, and the like. The information for identifying the type of content includes information for specifying an area in the virtual space that can be provided to the user, event information to be held, and the like.

[0069] In addition, the content management unit 131 performs processing for providing and associating content and rooms to the user in response to a request from the user terminal via the communication unit 110. For example, in response to a request for acquisition of content information from the user terminal 300, the content management unit 131 transmits information for identifying content information that can be provided to the user to the user terminal. For example, it is information regarding an area of the virtual space and information related to the room. Based on the content information, in the title screen illustrated in FIG. 9(C) on the display unit of the user terminal 300, it is possible to display areas X to Z and rooms corresponding to each area. The content management unit 131 performs processing for associating and storing the area and room ID selected by the user as user information 121.

[0070] The data distribution unit 132 distributes content data for displaying, etc., images within the virtual space of the content selected on each user terminal and managed by the content management unit 131, to the user terminal of the access source at regular intervals. Also, when a manual operation by an operator from the administrator terminal 200 or a preset condition is satisfied, the data distribution unit 132 performs information volume variation processing such as increasing or decreasing the resolution of the texture of the image displayed on the user terminal, increasing or decreasing the objects that can be displayed, or changing the number of synchronization times with the user terminal. For example, when the computer resource utilization rate exceeds a preset threshold due to an increase in the server load (for example, when exceeding a certain threshold by referring to the current metrics or the metrics for the past several times), or when a condition set assuming an increase in the server load is satisfied (for example, login of a specific user, etc.), a process is performed to reduce (alleviate) the information volume (data volume) for causing the user terminal to display and output the virtual space that can be distributed via the communication unit 110.

[0071] As a process for reducing the amount of information sent from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal, the amount of information itself transmitted from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal is reduced and then distributed, the number of times of synchronization from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal is reduced, or a signal is transmitted from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal to cause the user terminal to reduce the amount of information itself requested from the distribution server 100. For example, assume that when the virtual space becomes congested and the load increases due to an increase in the number of users entering the virtual space, congestion information can be transmitted to the user terminal. When the user terminal receives the congestion information, a setting is made to reduce the amount of information requested from the distribution server 100 (for example, by a program stored in the storage unit of the user terminal), so that the amount of information distributed in response to requests from the user terminal can be reduced. For example, the amount of information itself, such as the image resolution, can be reduced, or the number of times of sending signals requesting synchronization from the user terminal to the distribution server 100 can be reduced, so that the amount of information distributed to the user terminal as a whole can be reduced. Note that the congestion information may be congestion information sent when the entire virtual space is congested, or congestion information sent when the room where the user has entered is congested (reaching the upper limit number of people in the room or reaching a predetermined number of people until the upper limit number of people is reached).

[0072] The user management unit 133 stores and updates user information related to users in the storage unit 120. For example, the user information is stored in a database as user information 121. The user information related to users includes, for example, an ID for identifying the user, a user name, an evaluation index and an attribute number for each user, information on the entry / exit status of the virtual space for each user, etc. The evaluation index, attribute number, etc. may be values determined in advance by the operator, or may be variable depending on the user's behavior, the number of followers in SNS or the virtual space, etc. The information on the entry / exit status of the virtual space for each user includes entry / exit information such as login and logout to / from the virtual space, and entry / exit information for specifying the area and room where the user is present. For example, it can be specified that the user is in room ID001 provided in area X. Also, the behavior history of the user in the virtual space is acquired and stored in the storage unit 120. The behavior history includes, for example, position information in the virtual space, participation content history (participation event history), etc. The user management unit 133 can calculate the degree of relationship with other users (for example, the degree of intimacy, the amount of money thrown to other users, etc.) according to the behavior history, and perform association with other users, etc.

[0073] The entry / exit processing unit 134 performs the processing of entry / exit to / from the user's virtual space in response to access from the user terminal via the communication unit 110. The entry of the user detected by the entry / exit processing unit 134 includes login to the virtual space and entry to a room in the virtual space after login. For example, it includes a function for detecting the user's login by the login authentication API server and a function for managing the entry / exit information of the user's room by the user authentication unit of the real-time synchronization server. Note that the login authentication API server may authenticate that the user has logged in when the distribution server 100 receives information that the user has logged in normally in another authentication system. (For example, a single sign-on system) When the entry / exit processing unit 134 detects the entry of the user into the virtual space (including login), the control unit 130 may perform processing related to changing the server settings and notifying (notifying) other users.

[0074] When the entry / exit management unit 135 detects that a user has entered (logged in) the virtual space by the entry / exit processing unit 134, if the entered user is a specific user who meets the predetermined conditions, it performs notification (notification) via the communication unit 110 so that other users including the operator are notified of the entry. Also, when it is possible to select on the user terminal whether to notify other users etc. of the entry, if a selection is made not to notify other users (a selection to notify other users is not made), even if a specific user who meets the predetermined conditions enters, control is performed so that other users are not notified.

[0075] As the notification mode notified via the communication unit 110, for example, it is notified (notified) to the administrator terminal 200 operated by the operator, or notified to the user terminal via the notification function (push notification etc.) of an app for displaying the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100 or a community app managed by the specific user information medium management server 500, or by making information on the entry status (for example, as information on a specific user) downloadable in response to a request (browsing request) from the user, it is notified to other users. By making information on the entry status downloadable in response to a request (browsing request) from the user, for example, on a WEB page (which may be a predetermined page within the app) capable of displaying a list of the user's entry status, using an API, the entry status of a specific user is acquired by other computers etc., and when there is information that can be acquired, it is displayed, or the entry status of the user can be displayed on a bulletin board object etc. capable of confirming the entry status of the user in the virtual space.

[0076] Note that a viewing request means requesting information from the user terminal to the distribution server 100 or the specific user information medium management server 500 to display a web page (or a predetermined page within an app (such as a community app, etc.)) or a predetermined image within a virtual space (such as information displayed on a bulletin board object, etc.) on the user terminal. For example, when accessing a predetermined web page, selecting a predetermined icon within an app, or selecting an operation on a predetermined object within a virtual space (or moving to a predetermined location, etc.), a viewing request is made (sent) from the user terminal to the server. Also, in response to a request from the user, information regarding the user's entry status may be updated and stored in the storage unit 120 so that it can be downloaded. For example, it is updated as information of a specific user. Note that in the following, regardless of whether there is a viewing request action from the user, the act of notifying the user spontaneously from the server (such as a push notification) may also be referred to as a notification.

[0077] The scale management unit 136 performs an increase / decrease process (scaling) of the resources of the distribution server 100. The increase / decrease process of the resources includes scale-out that horizontally scales the resources to increase the servers (also referred to as increasing the number of resources), scale-up that vertically scales the resources to improve the performance of the server's CPU and memory, scale-in that reduces the servers, and scale-down that reduces the performance of the server. The increase / decrease process of the resources is executed by a manual operation by an operator from the administrator terminal 200 or when a preset condition is satisfied. For example, when the computer resource usage rate exceeds a predetermined threshold due to a heavy server load (for example, when exceeding the threshold by referring to the current metrics or the metrics for the past several times) or when a condition set assuming a heavy server load is satisfied (for example, the login of a specific user, etc.), the increase / decrease process of the resources is executed.

[0078] In addition, in the process of increasing or decreasing resources, when the maximum number of people (the number of users that can be associated with one room) is defined in the room, when the maximum number of people in the room is reached due to a user entering the room (for example, when the maximum number of people is reached, or when a predetermined number of people before reaching the maximum number of people is reached), resources may be increased to increase the number of rooms. For example, if one room is defined for one server, the number of servers can be increased, or multiple rooms can be defined for one server, and the processing performance of one server can be improved to make the resource state capable of handling the increase in rooms. Note that the servers of the distribution server 100 may be configured to perform load balancing processing at any time in combination with scaling.

[0079] The servers scale-managed by the scale management unit 136 include, for example, a login authentication API server that functions as an entry / exit processing unit 134, a lobby API server that functions as a content management unit 131 for obtaining information such as a list of areas and rooms for users, or a server corresponding to a room. Note that there may be one room for one server, or multiple rooms may be defined.

[0080] <Configuration of the administrator terminal> Next, the configuration of the administrator terminal 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the administrator terminal 200 includes a communication unit 210 that communicates with other computers, a storage unit 220 that stores various data, an input unit 230 for inputting operations and the like, an output unit 240 for outputting images, voices, and the like, and a control unit 250 that controls the entire computer. The communication unit 210, the storage unit 220, the input unit 230, the output unit 240, and the control unit 250 are interconnected by a bus line.

[0081] The communication unit 210 is a communication interface equipped with a NIC for performing wired or wireless communication. The communication unit 210 communicates mainly with the distribution server 100 and the specific user information media management server 500 via the network 2. The storage unit 220 is composed of a RAM, a ROM, etc. The storage unit 220 stores programs for executing various control processes (for example, a program for managing content using a virtual space, etc.), various data, and the like.

[0082] The input unit 230 includes an input device (for example, a pointing device such as a touch panel, a touch pad, a mouse, etc., a keyboard, etc.) for receiving an input operation from the administrator. The output unit 240 includes an output device (a display, a speaker, etc.) for presenting information to the administrator.

[0083] The control unit 250 is composed of a CPU, etc. The control unit 250 controls the overall operation of the administrator terminal 200 by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 220.

[0084] Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the control unit 250 will be described. The control unit 250 functions at least as a content setting unit 251, a user setting unit 252, and a distribution server management unit 253.

[0085] The content setting unit 251 stores and updates information regarding the content virtual space managed by the content management unit 131 of the distribution server 100 in response to an operation on the administrator terminal 200. Thereby, for example, information for specifying content, information for specifying an image in the virtual space for each content, information for specifying the distribution date and time, and the like can be stored and updated in the storage unit 120. Also, the information that the content setting unit 251 can store and update in the storage unit 120 can be set for each area / room.

[0086] In addition, the content setting unit 251 stores and updates information regarding the content managed by the content management unit 531 of the specific user information medium management server 500 in response to an operation on the administrator terminal 200. As a result, for example, information for setting and specifying information for specifying content (for example, articles regarding a specific user, trend information, etc.) can be stored and updated in the storage unit 520.

[0087] The user setting unit 252 sets user information regarding users managed by the user management unit 134 of the distribution server 100 or the user management unit 533 of the specific user information medium management server 500 in response to an operation on the administrator terminal 200. The setting of user information includes, for example, setting an evaluation index for each user. The setting of the evaluation index includes setting the evaluation index for each user shown in FIG. 7 described later, setting the calculation criteria for the evaluation index, setting the attribute number and type for each user, etc. For example, an operator operating the administrator terminal 200 can assign and change an attribute number to a specific user in advance so that a general user and a specific user different from the general user can be identified. Specific users are, for example, celebrities or famous people. For example, in a fan community app, a talent to be supported is set as a specific user, and a fan user who supports the specific user in the community is set as a general user.

[0088] The distribution server management unit 253 performs processing for making settings regarding the scaling of the distribution server 100 and settings regarding the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal. For example, a program for performing resource increase and decrease processing (scaling) in the scale management unit 136, a program for information amount change processing for increasing and decreasing the resolution and the number of objects for displaying the virtual space distributed by the data distribution unit 132 of the distribution server 100, etc. are stored and updated in the storage unit 120. Also, the conditions of specific users included in the conditions for changing the information amount change processing and the settings regarding the scale of the distribution server 100 are stored and updated in the storage unit 120.

[0089] <Configuration of the Specific User Information Medium Management Server> Next, the configuration of the specific user information medium management server 500 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the specific user information medium management server 500 includes a communication unit 510 that communicates with other computers, a storage unit 520 that stores various data, and a control unit 530 that controls the entire computer. The communication unit 510, the storage unit 520, and the control unit 530 are interconnected by a bus line. Note that each function may be defined as a server (container) on a virtualized server and executed as if it were a server.

[0090] The communication unit 510 is a communication interface including a NIC (Network Interface Card controller) for performing wired or wireless communication. The communication unit 510 communicates with other computers via the network 2.

[0091] The storage unit 520 is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. The storage unit 520 stores programs for executing various control processes (for example, programs for managing and providing content, etc.), various data, etc. The various data stored in the storage unit 520 includes post information and trend information provided for each type of content, user information about the user, etc. Information about the user includes the user ID in the specific user information medium, the attribute number for each user, the evaluation index, information for identifying a specific user preselected (also referred to as selected as a favorite) by the user for each user, the user ID of the user information 122 stored in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100, etc. For example, based on the information about the user stored in the storage unit 520, the user ID in the distribution server 100 and the user ID in the specific user information medium management server 500 for the same user can be associated. Note that the same ID may be used for the user ID in the distribution server 100 and the user ID in the specific user information medium management server 500.

[0092] The control unit 530 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like. By executing the program stored in the storage unit 520, the control unit 530 controls the overall operation of the specific user information medium management server 500.

[0093] Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the control unit 530 will be described. The control unit 530 functions as at least a content management unit 531, a data transmission / reception unit 532, a user management unit 533, and an entry / exit status acquisition management unit 534.

[0094] The content management unit 531 stores and updates in the storage unit 520 information for identifying texts, images, etc. corresponding to the content posted by the administrator terminal 200 or the user terminal via the communication unit 510. The content management unit 531 stores, for example, information regarding attributes (such as the group to which a specific user belongs or the specific user itself) that can be associated with the content provided to the user in the storage unit 520. The content management unit 531 stores and updates in the storage unit 520 information for identifying information such as the category, the poster, and the attributes associated with each content of the content posted by the administrator terminal 200 or the user terminal.

[0095] The data transmission / reception unit 532 receives various types of information transmitted from the user terminal and transmits (distributes) various types of information to the user terminal via the communication unit 510. The data transmission / reception unit 532 performs distribution to the user terminal by referring to various management tables stored in the storage unit 520. Alternatively, as a result of calling an API via the communication unit 510 by the entry / exit status acquisition unit 534 or the like, data stored in another computer is distributed so that it can be viewed on the user terminal. The various types of information for which the data transmission / reception unit 532 performs transmission / reception include, for example, information regarding the content managed by the content management unit 531, various notification information, information based on the user information 122 stored in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100, and the like. The transmission of various types of information includes, for example, push notifications (including desktop notifications), in-app notifications, or, in response to a request from the user terminal, distributing entry / exit information to the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100 for a specific user as information regarding the specific user. Push notifications and the like may be notified when the user terminal has previously given permission (set to ON).

[0096] The entry / exit status acquisition and management unit 534 acquires information on users who have entered the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100 via the communication unit 510, so that the entry / exit information of a specific user to the virtual space is distributed to the user terminal by the data transmission / reception unit 532. It may receive user information from the distribution server 100 and store it in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500, or it may acquire the result of calling the API for the user entry / exit status of the distribution server 100. Also, based on the user information acquired by the entry / exit status acquisition and management unit 534 and the user information (including information for determining a specific user) stored in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500, if a specific user has entered the virtual space, the data transmission / reception unit 532 can notify the user terminal of the information that the specific user has entered the virtual space.

[0097] <Configuration of User Terminal> Next, the configuration of the user terminals (user terminal 300 and distribution user terminal 400) will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 6, the user terminal includes a communication unit 310 that communicates with other computers including the distribution server 100, a storage unit 320 that stores various data, an input unit 330 for inputting operations and the like, an output unit 340 for outputting images and the like, and a control unit 350 that controls the entire computer. The communication unit 310, the storage unit 320, the input unit 330, the output unit 340, and the control unit 350 are interconnected by a bus line.

[0098] The communication unit 310 is a communication interface including a NIC for performing wired or wireless communication. The communication unit 310 communicates with other computers including the distribution server 100 and the specific user information medium management server 500 via the network 2. The storage unit 320 is composed of a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The storage unit 320 stores programs for executing various control processes (for example, a program for viewing content using a virtual space, a program for distributing content using a virtual space in the distribution user terminal via the distribution server 100, etc.), various data, and the like.

[0099] The input unit 330 includes an input device (for example, a pointing device such as a touch panel, a touch pad, a mouse, etc., a keyboard, a microphone, etc.) for receiving input operations and voices from the user. The distribution user terminal 400 is equipped with an input device such as an HMD having a motion capture function, and includes an operation input unit that acquires the user's motion as motion information as the input unit 330. In this way, the distribution user terminal 400 used by the distribution user for content distribution has different hardware and functions from the user terminal 300 used for participating as a general user. The user operation in this embodiment refers to an operation from the user on these input units 330. For example, it includes a touch operation, a slide operation, a flick operation on the touch panel, or a button operation, a drag (swipe) operation, an operation on an icon displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 300, an operation on a pointing device, a keyboard, and a voice input to the microphone.

[0100] The output unit 340 includes an output device (a display unit such as a display, a speaker, etc.) for presenting and outputting information (text, image, voice, etc.) to the user. The control unit 350 is composed of a CPU or the like. The control unit 350 controls the overall operation of the user terminal 300 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 320.

[0101] Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the control unit 350 will be described. The control unit 350 functions as an information acquisition unit 351, a virtual camera control unit 352, a display control unit 353, a voice output control unit 354, and an input information transmission unit 355.

[0102] The information acquisition unit 351 acquires content data, comment information, etc. from the distribution server 100 via the communication unit 310, stores in the storage unit 320 information for displaying an image in a virtual space in which various objects are arranged based on the content data, and stores in the storage unit 320 information for displaying comments posted based on the comment information. Further, it acquires content data, etc. from the specific user information medium management server 500, and stores in the storage unit 320 information for displaying text, images (posting information, trend information, etc.) related to the content based on the content data.

[0103] The virtual camera control unit 352 controls a virtual camera that is arranged in the virtual space stored in the storage unit 320 and specifies a region (field of view region) to be displayed on the user terminal 300 among the images in the virtual space. The virtual camera control unit 352 controls the position, orientation, tilt, etc. of the virtual camera in response to an operation on the input unit 330.

[0104] The display control unit 353 causes the display unit (such as a display) to display an image corresponding to the field of view region, which is the field of view from the virtual camera, among the virtual spaces stored in the storage unit 320 based on the content data acquired by the information acquisition unit 351. That is, the user can change the position, orientation, tilt, etc. of the virtual camera arranged in the virtual space in response to an operation on the input unit 330, and display and visually recognize the image within the field of view region of the virtual camera among the images in the virtual space on the user terminal 300. Further, the image data displayed by the display control unit 353 can be changed in terms of resolution setting and the amount of object data displayed according to an arbitrary setting by the user on the input unit 330. Also, content information (for example, the title of the content article) related to the content stored in the storage unit 320 based on the content data acquired by the information acquisition unit 351 from the specific user information medium management server 500 is displayed so that the user can identify it. For example, by displaying the title of the distribution schedule of a specific user such as a talent on the user terminal 300, the user can recognize that it is content related to the distribution schedule of the talent.

[0105] In this embodiment, information for displaying an image in a virtual space based on content data is stored in the storage unit 320, a virtual camera is placed in the virtual space stored in the storage unit 320, and the viewing area to be displayed on the user terminal 300 is changed by controlling the virtual camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the virtual camera of the user may be placed in the virtual space stored in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100, the virtual camera may be controlled by the virtual camera control unit 352 to change the viewing area of the virtual camera, and data for specifying an image within the viewing area may be received and displayed on the user terminal 300.

[0106] Further, the display control unit 353 causes the display unit (such as a display) to display the posted comment history stored in the storage unit 320 based on the comment information acquired by the information acquisition unit 351. The voice output control unit 354 causes the voice output unit (such as a speaker) to output voice based on the content data acquired by the information acquisition unit 351.

[0107] Further, the display control unit 353 displays a UI (User Interface) image (including, for example, a menu image that the user can select and an operation image that accepts operations) in a mode corresponding to the content being distributed based on the program stored in the storage unit 320. In this embodiment, different UI images may be displayed on the user terminal 300 used for participating as a general user and the distribution user terminal 400 used by the distribution user for content distribution. For example, the UI image for posting a comment may be displayed on the user terminal 300 (when the program is executed during viewing / experience), while not being displayed on the distribution user terminal 400 (when the program is executed during content distribution) that mainly communicates by voice. Also, since the necessary menu items are different between viewing / experience and content distribution, the UI image for selecting a menu may be different between the user terminal 300 (when the program is executed during viewing / experience) and the distribution user terminal 400 (when the program is executed during content distribution).

[0108] The input information transmission unit 355 transmits the voice information acquired by the input unit 330, operation input information, etc. to the distribution server 100. The operation input information includes various types of information such as the entry / exit information of the user in the virtual space, operation information for specifying an object in the displayed virtual space or an operation on the user character arranged in the virtual space (for example, including motion information acquired by the motion input unit 260 (such as an HMD)). The entry / exit information of the user in the virtual space includes the user's login information (login request to the virtual space), logout information, area of each virtual space, information such as movement of rooms, etc.

[0109] <Overview of the relationship between a specific user and server processing> In this embodiment, when a specific user enters the virtual space, the distribution server 100 performs an entry notification process for notifying other users that the specific user has entered the virtual space. Also, when a specific user enters the virtual space, the distribution server 100 performs a setting change process for changing the setting of the resources of the distribution server 100 (also referred to as a virtual space providing unit) and the amount of information for providing the virtual space distributed to the user terminal.

[0110] <Regarding the types of users in the virtual space> (Example of a data table related to users) With reference to FIG. 7, the users to whom the virtual space in this embodiment is provided and specific users who can affect the actions of other users will be described. FIG. 7(A) is an example of a data table related to users stored in the user information 121 of the distribution server 100. For each user, a "user ID" (such as u1, u2, u3 ···), "user attribute number", "evaluation index", and "entry status" are associated. The distribution server 100 in this embodiment determines whether a user is a specific user according to the "user attribute number" or "evaluation index" of the user, and performs the setting change process of the distribution server 100 and the process for notifying other users of the entry information.

[0111] The "room entry status" is associated with the entry status of each user into the virtual space. For example, if logged in to the virtual space, "entering" is associated, and if logged out, "exiting" is associated. Additionally, it may also be associated with which room the user is currently in (such as area, room ID, etc.).

[0112] Figure 7(B) is a diagram for explaining an example of the types of "user attribute numbers". The "user attribute" is an identification ID for classifying users according to attribute types. For example, a user who is a general user is assigned the user attribute number "1". When the user is a talent, it can be further classified by the group to which the talent belongs. Talents belonging to Group A are assigned the user attribute number "2", and talents belonging to Group B are assigned the user attribute number "3". An operator who manages and operates the virtual space is assigned the user attribute number "4". As for other well-known figures, such as those considered to have influence in the virtual space, the user attribute number "5" is assigned. These items of attribute types are managed, for example, on the administrator terminal 200, and can be appropriately added, changed, etc. by the operator operating the administrator terminal 200. Depending on the user's attribute type, special permissions can be granted within the virtual space.

[0113] The specific user in this embodiment is a user whose user attribute type is a talent or a well-known figure. A user who is a talent or a well-known figure is assigned the user attribute numbers "2", "3", or "5". Therefore, when a user associated with the user attribute numbers "2", "3", or "5" enters the virtual space, it is regarded as the specific user entering the virtual space.

[0114] For example, the user IDs "u1", "u5", and "u6" in Fig. 7(A) have attribute number "1", and since the attribute type is a general user, they are not regarded as specific users. The user ID "u4" has attribute number "4", and since the attribute type is an operator, it is not regarded as a specific user. On the other hand, the user IDs "u2" and "u7" have attribute number "2", and since the attribute type is a talent of Group A, they are regarded as specific users. The user IDs "u3" and "u8" have attribute number "3", and since the attribute type is a talent of Group B, they are regarded as specific users. The user ID "u10" has attribute number "5", and since the attribute type is a famous person, it is regarded as a specific user.

[0115] Fig. 7(C) is an example of the numerical values used for setting the "evaluation index". The evaluation index is a value that varies according to the external evaluation, which is the evaluation from outside the user himself / herself. For example, the numerical values may be set in advance by the operator, or may be values according to the number of followers on an SNS different from the virtual space, or may be values according to the number of mutual followers within the virtual space (metaverse space) in this embodiment. For example, when game content is provided within the virtual space, a follow function for the game content may be provided, and it may be used as the number of game followers within the virtual space. Note that as the number of followers, a value that serves as an indicator of popularity, such as the number registered as a favorite, can be used. Users with a number of followers equal to or more than a predetermined number are processed as specific users (such as influencers) who have influence on other users. For example, different processes may be performed according to the number of followers itself.

[0116] Alternatively, for the "evaluation index", a value calculated using a predetermined formula for a value that serves as an indicator of a predetermined popularity such as the number of followers can also be used. For example, an evaluation index can be determined using a predetermined calculation formula based on the number of followers, and users with positive values obtained using the calculation formula may be regarded as specific users. The predetermined calculation formula can be, for example, "[number of followers - 1000000] ÷ specified value = evaluation index (the first decimal place may be rounded up)", but it is not limited to this.

[0117] The evaluation index in FIG. 7(A) is an example when the evaluation index is determined using a predetermined calculation formula for a value that is an indicator of popularity. User IDs "u1", "u4", and "u5" are not regarded as specific users because the evaluation index is negative. User IDs "u2", "u3", etc. are regarded as specific users because the evaluation index is a positive value. Here, even if a user is not regarded as a specific user either by the above-mentioned user attribute number or the evaluation index, if the user is regarded as a specific user by either of them, the distribution server 100 performs processing considering the user as a specific user. For example, user ID "u6" is a general user with user attribute number "1", but since it has high popularity in the game within the metaverse, the evaluation index becomes a positive value, and processing is performed considering it as a specific user.

[0118] (Relationship between Evaluation Index and Server Enhancement) In this embodiment, regarding the setting change process of the distribution server 100, different processes can be executed for each specific user. FIG. 8 is an example showing the number of servers to be increased according to each evaluation index when scale-out is performed to increase the number of servers in response to a specific user entering the virtual space as the setting change process of the distribution server 100. As shown in FIG. 8, there are multiple types of servers with different processing capabilities in the server. There are a normal server, a high-spec server with higher performance than the normal server, and a top-spec server with even higher performance than the high-spec server. The number of these servers to be increased is predetermined according to the evaluation index. For example, if user ID "u2" in FIG. 7(A) logs in, since the evaluation index is 5, 1 normal server and 1 high-spec server are increased. If user ID "u7" logs in, since the evaluation index is 20, 5 high-spec servers and 4 top-spec servers are increased. In addition, when performing scale-up as the setting change process, the stages of scale-up for increasing the performance (values of CPU and memory specs) of resources may be different according to the evaluation index of each user.

[0119] Also, for each attribute number, a resource amount (the number of servers, or values of CPU and memory) may be defined. In this case, setting variation processing is performed according to the predefined resource amount for each attribute number. For example, if the user's attribute number is "2", the number of servers may be increased by 5, and if it is "5", the number of servers may be increased by 3. Also, even for the same attribute type, a plurality of attribute numbers may be provided according to the resource amount to be varied. For example, even if the type illustrated in FIG. 7(B) is the same "talent of Group A", attribute numbers such as "2", "6", and "7" are provided according to the number of servers to be increased. If a talent of Group A with an attribute number of "2" enters the room, the number of servers is increased by 3, if a talent of Group A with an attribute number of "6" enters the room, the number of servers is increased by 5, and if a talent of Group A with an attribute number of "7" enters the room, the number of servers may be increased by 10.

[0120] <Example of a display screen on the user terminal> With reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, an example of the display screen of the user terminal in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is an example of a screen when entering a virtual space displayed on the user terminal. FIG. 9(A) is a login screen after starting an application or the like for displaying the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100. Examples of the application or the like for displaying the virtual space include a web application operating on a web browser, a desktop application, and a smartphone application. Hereinafter, these may also be referred to as an application or various applications. When the START icon 21 in FIG. 9(A) is selected, login request information is transmitted from the user terminal to the distribution server 100. If the user who transmitted the login request information is a specific user, at the distribution server 100, based on the login request information, it is determined that the user who requested login is a specific user, and processing for displaying the screen in FIG. 9(B) is performed.

[0121] FIG. 9(B) is a screen where a user can select whether to notify other users of their login. For example, by selecting the "Yes" icon 22Y or the "No" icon 22N displayed together with a message such as "Do you want to notify others of your login?", the notification availability information is sent to the distribution server 100. For example, when the "Yes" icon 22Y is selected, the notification management unit 135 performs a process to notify other users of the login based on the notification availability information. When the "No" icon 22N is selected, even if the user logs in to the virtual space, the notification management unit 135 ensures that other users are not notified of the login based on the notification availability information.

[0122] FIG. 9(C) is an example of a title screen displayed after the login authentication process to the virtual space. On the screen of the user terminal of the user who has undergone the login authentication process to the virtual space by the entry / exit processing unit 134, an area list corresponding to each content that can be provided by the content management unit 131 is displayed. On the title screen, an area bar 23, a room icon display area 24, a room list display icon 25, an update icon 26, a room ID input area 27, etc. are displayed.

[0123] The area bar 23 is displayed by the content management unit 131 to indicate the areas (contents) that are currently available to the user. In FIG. 9(C), the area bars 23a to 23c indicate that areas X to Z are each available.

[0124] The room icon display area 24 is an area for displaying icons of rooms for entering various available areas displayed by the area bar 23. When a user selects and operates a room icon displayed in the various room icon display areas 24, the user can enter the room, and each area will be provided within the room. In Fig. 9(C), the room icon display area 24a of the room where area X is provided, the room icon display area 24b of the room where area Y is provided, and the room icon display area 24c of the room where area Z is provided are displayed. In this way, the user can enter each room by selecting and operating the room icon of any room.

[0125] In addition, a room ID is displayed on each room icon displayed in the room icon display area 24, and a display in a manner that allows recognition of situations such as "comfortable", "crowded", or "full" may be made according to the congestion situation of the user (for example, the number of users already in the room, etc.). The entry status (presence or absence of entry) of specific users, followed users, and friend users may also be displayed. For example, the user may be able to recognize the congestion situation through changes such as character information, Facebook icons (smiling face for comfortable, sad face for crowded, etc.), and color patterns. Also, the entry status of specific users, followed users, friend users, etc. may be displayed in a manner that allows the user to identify someone. Alternatively or in addition to this, an icon indicating that a friend or the like has entered may be displayed without being displayed until someone can be identified.

[0126] In Fig. 9(C), in the room icon display area 24a where the rooms in area X are displayed, the room with room ID 001, the room with room ID 002, and the room with room ID 003 are displayed. It is shown that the congestion situation of room ID 001 is "comfortable", while the congestion situation of room ID 002 is "congested". "Comfortable" means that there is a margin up to the upper limit number of people in the room, "congested" means that there is little margin until reaching the upper limit number of people in the room (for example, there are 10 people left until reaching the upper limit number), and "full" means that the upper limit number of people has been reached and new users cannot enter the room.

[0127] Note that by performing a selection operation on the room icon, a confirmation pop-up screen before entering the room may be displayed, and for example, selections such as "Do you want to enter the room?" and the ability to enter or cancel may be available. For example, only the room ID may be displayed in the room icon display area 24, and other information such as congestion information may be displayed on the pop-up screen.

[0128] The room list display icon 25 is an icon for displaying all the icons for the rooms to enter the various available areas displayed by the area bar 23 when a selection operation is performed. Even if there are rooms not displayed in the room icon display area 24, all of them can be displayed. For example, if there are 6 rooms provided in area X, but the number of rooms displayed on one screen is reduced due to the layout of the display screen (such as reducing the number of rooms to be displayed and increasing the number of areas displayed on one screen), or if the display priority of full rooms or congested rooms that cannot be entered is lowered and rooms with a comfortable congestion situation are prioritized and displayed in the room icon display area 24, all the rooms can be displayed. In Fig. 9(C), room list display icons 25a to 25c are displayed corresponding to area bars 23a to 23c.

[0129] The update icon 26 is an icon for sending a request to re-acquire the list data of the areas and rooms that can be entered into the distribution server 100 when a selection operation is performed, and updating (reloading) the title screen. As a result, for example, the rooms displayed in the room icon display area 24 are updated.

[0130] The room ID input area 27 is a search area for displaying a room by directly inputting and specifying the room ID. For example, when the user knows the ID of a room where a friend user is located, the user can directly specify the room and attempt to enter by directly inputting the room ID in the room ID input area 27. For example, by inputting the room ID, it may be possible to display the confirmation pop-up screen before entering that is displayed when a room icon is selected.

[0131] FIG. 10 is an example of the display screen of the user terminal, and is an example of the display screen of a push notification by an application downloaded to the user terminal or a predetermined page in the application. Note that, although an example of the screen of a smartphone is illustrated, the screen of other computer devices may also be used. The application downloaded to the user terminal is an application for enabling the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100 to be provided on the user terminal (an application that can enter the virtual space by opening the application), or an application managed by the specific user information medium management server 500. Hereinafter, an example in the case where the talent BBB is the talent corresponding to the user ID "u2" in FIG. 7(A) will be described.

[0132] Figure 10(A) is an example of a screen when a push notification is sent to notify that a specific user has entered the user terminal. On the push notification screen 30, a message such as "BBB-chan has logged in to the metaverse!" is displayed, notifying that the talent BBB-chan has logged in to the virtual space. In addition, in the push notification screen, the area where the specific user has entered and the room ID (for example, "BBB-chan has entered room ID 0001!") may also be notified. Also, the push notification may be configurable for on / off settings on the user side. Therefore, if the user sets the push notification to off (in a state where permission is not given), the push notification screen will not be displayed on the user terminal.

[0133] Figure 10(B) is an example of a display screen of a talent fan community app provided to the user by the specific user information medium management server 500, where the talent BBB is included in the talents to be supported. Figure 10(B) is a page where information about a specific user can be viewed. For example, it is a page where the schedule of the talent can be viewed, and it is a page where the past (such as the most recent), current, future distributions and trends of the talent's video distribution can be viewed. On the page where the schedule of the talent can be viewed, a period selection area 41, a group selection area 42, a date and time display 43, a content heading 40, an account 48, related talents 44, a favorite filter 45, etc. are displayed. Also, at the bottom of the screen, a schedule icon 18, a notification icon 15, etc. are displayed. In the community app, a talent schedule screen may be displayed when the schedule icon 18 is selected or the like. Also, by selecting the notification icon 15, a list of notifications push-notified in Figure 10(A) may be confirmed.

[0134] The favorite filter 45 is an icon that, in the fan community, when a user has previously selected and stored their favorite talent (for example, in the storage unit 520 or the storage unit 320), can extract and display only the information of the previously selected and stored favorite talent (favorite) when a selection operation is performed.

[0135] In the period selection area 41, icons for periods such as "Past", "Present", and "Future Plans" are displayed. By selecting the "Past" icon, for example, the most recent video distribution history of the talent and the entry history into the virtual space (history of logged-out users) are displayed. When the "Present" icon is selected, information such as the currently streaming video and the entry status into the current virtual space is displayed. When the "Future Plans" is selected, future distributions and entry plans into the virtual space are displayed. Note that the schedule of events (such as live events) within the virtual space related to a specific user may be displayed, or the area and room ID entered by the specific user may be displayed. For example, if the "Present" icon is selected, information on live events featuring the talent currently performing in the virtual space is displayed.

[0136] The group selection area 42 displays an icon that, when selected, shows information for each affiliated group, for example, if the talent can be segmented by the affiliated group. The content heading 40 divides the display area for each piece of content (such as distribution or information for entering a virtual space). Icons such as a video distribution channel account or a user account in the virtual space are displayed in the account 48 shown within the content heading 40. The related talent 44 shown within the content heading 40 displays the talent related to the content shown within each content heading 40, associated with the content heading 40. For example, icons of the talent who appears in the distributed video (such as a collaboration partner) or the talent who entered the virtual space are displayed. In this way, since related talent is associated with each piece of content, by selecting the push filter 45, it is possible to extract and display only the content in which the pre-selected talent is associated as related talent. Note that the related talent is automatically associated, for example, at the time of content posting, at the time of creating the content heading 40, based on the operation of the poster, or based on information obtained by an API.

[0137] Also, in the push notification illustrated in FIG. 10(A), only the entry information of the favorite talent pre-selected and memorized by the user may be push-notified. Note that the information for identifying the specific user (talent) pre-selected and memorized by the user is stored in the storage unit 520 etc. of the specific user information medium management server 500. The specific user information medium management server 500 distributes for each user the information for identifying the user pre-selected by the user (information for identifying whether the user has selected or not) together with the information including the information of other specific users. In the user terminal, by receiving the information distributed from the specific user information medium management server 500 and performing the process of extracting the pre-selected specific user, it becomes possible to display the information regarding the pre-selected user (such as the information of the favorite talent extracted with the push filter 45 on).

[0138] In FIG. 10(B), in the period selection area 41, the “current” icon is selected, in the group selection area 42, group A is selected, and the favorite filter 45 is on. Therefore, information regarding the current group A, in which the talents preselected and memorized by the user are associated as related talents, is extracted and displayed. For example, since FIG. 10(B) is an example of the screen of a user who has preselected and memorized talent BBB as a favorite talent, a content heading 40a that displays the content of the distribution video associated with talent BBB and a content heading 40b that is the entry information to the virtual space of talent BBB are displayed. For example, each content heading 40 may be configured to be able to transition to another screen by selecting an operation on the image portion. For example, when the image of the content heading 40a is selected, it may be configured to transition to the distributed video (such as video distribution on an external web service), and when the image of the content heading 40b is selected, it may be configured to transition to the virtual space. For example, the app for the virtual space may be launched and a login screen may appear, or it may be configured to be able to transition to the room where the talent has entered. When the talent logs out, information indicating the logout may be displayed together with the past distribution history in the history information displayed by the past icon through which past information can be viewed instead of the current tab. Alternatively, the display itself may be deleted from the list. That is, the content heading 40 itself may be deleted.

[0139] Figure 11 is an example of an image of a virtual space provided by the distribution server 100 that is displayed on the user terminal. For example, it is an example of a screen displayed by launching a desktop app, a smartphone app, a web browser, etc. Figure 11 is a display image within a room corresponding to the space area ER1 where the entrance space (entrance content) is provided. In the said entrance, a bulletin board object O that can view information within the virtual space (metaverse) is displayed. Based on the information stored in the storage unit 120, information regarding a specific user, event information, various other news, breaking news, etc. are displayed on the said bulletin board object O. As an example of information regarding a specific user, the name of the specific user who entered (logged in, etc.) the virtual space, the time, information on the area entered, etc. are displayed.

[0140] Breaking news and current event information are displayed on the bulletin board object O in Figure 11. In the breaking news, at 10 o'clock, a message saying "BBB-chan has logged in to the metaverse!" and at 10:01, a message saying "BBB-chan has entered area Y!" are displayed. As a result, information on the fact that the talent BBB-chan, who is a specific user, has logged in to the virtual space and which area of the virtual space they have entered is displayed. In addition, as an example of information on a special action of a user within the virtual space, at 8:15 in the breaking news, "P-san has climbed onto the platform in area Y!" is displayed, and as current event information, "There is a mini live in area Z right now!" is displayed.

[0141] A user who enters the room is displayed as a user avatar U, and by operating the user avatar U, the user can move within the virtual space, change the viewpoint, etc. The image of the virtual space may be an image looking down on the user avatar U as illustrated in FIG. 11, or may be an image seen from the viewpoint of the user avatar U without displaying the user avatar U that the user himself / herself operates. Further, for the bulletin board object O, by approaching the bulletin board object O and performing a selection operation, the image in the bulletin board may be greatly pop-up displayed on the screen of the user terminal, or may be displayed on the entire screen.

[0142] Thereby, when the user wants to acquire information about a specific user, for example, the user can move to a place where there is a bulletin board in the virtual space and acquire the display information of the bulletin board from the distribution server 100, so that the information about the specific user can be browsed. That is, the information of the specific user can be acquired according to the request of the user. Note that even for a page that displays information (such as a schedule) about a talent who is the object of support of a fan community app such as FIG. 10(B), if the user satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, a famous person such as FIG. 7(B)), information about the entry of a non-talent user into the room or actions performed in the virtual space may be displayed.

[0143] Further, the information about the specific user is not limited to being displayed as an image in the virtual space, and may be something that performs notification (notification) within the app, such as the in-app notification bar 50 in FIG. 11. A message "BBB-chan has logged in to the metaverse!" is displayed as a notice in the in-app notification bar 50. The information that BBB-chan has logged in in the in-app notification bar 50 and in the bulletin board object O can be displayed by the login authentication process of BBB-chan (for example, a specific user of the user "u2") by the entry / exit processing unit 134 and the distribution process by the notification management unit 135.

[0144] <Regarding the entry notification process> Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15 and the like, a notification process for notifying other users that a specific user has logged in to the virtual space provided to the user by the distribution server 100 will be described. In this embodiment, as a mode in which information about a specific user (for example, a talent or the like) is notified, receiving a push notification about the information about the specific user, or, in response to a browsing request from the user terminal (a request signal (request) being transmitted), making the information about the specific user viewable to the user, the user terminal receives and displays the response information distributed (transmitted) to the user terminal based on the browsing request (request signal transmitted from the user terminal) from the user terminal. Servers that make the information about the specific user viewable to the user include, for example, a server that manages a smartphone application related to the specific user, a server that manages a website that displays information about the specific user (specific user information medium management server 500), or the distribution server 100 that provides the virtual space in which the specific user has logged in. The specific user information medium management server 500 (a server that manages a smartphone application, a server that manages a website, etc.) acquires information on whether or not the specific user has logged in to the virtual space through an entry status API that enables it to acquire the entry status of the user (for example, the user information data table in FIG. 7(A)) stored in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100 via the communication unit 110.

[0145] (Entry Notification Process 1) The entry notification process 1 is a process for notifying other users of the information that a specific user has entered the virtual space (logged in) (for example, push notification, or displaying the entered information on the user terminal in response to a viewing request from the user). Hereinafter, the entry notification process 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12. The entry notification process 1 is repeatedly executed by the control unit 130 in the distribution server 100 at predetermined time intervals when a user logs in to the virtual space. The distribution server 100 performs various processes including the entry notification process 1 based on the program stored in the storage unit 120. Note that an example of determining whether a user is a specific user will be described based on the user attribute number in FIG. 7(A).

[0146] First, in step S101, it is determined whether there is a user login to the virtual space. When it is determined that there is no user login, the process proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a user login, the process proceeds to step S102, and it is determined whether the logged-in user is a specific user. For example, when the entry / exit processing unit 134 (for example, the login authentication device 101 described later with reference to FIG. 16) performs a login authentication process based on a user's login request, it determines whether the logged-in user is a specific user. The user's login request is transmitted to the distribution server 100, for example, when the START icon 21 in FIG. 9(A) is selected and operated. For example, if the logged-in user is the user ID "u1" in FIG. 7(A), since the user attribute number is 1 for a general user, it is not determined as a specific user. On the other hand, if the logged-in user is, for example, the user ID "u2", since the user attribute number is 2 for a talent in group A, it is determined as a specific user. When it is not determined as a specific user in step S102, the process proceeds to step S107.

[0147] On the one hand, when it is determined in step S102 that the user is a specific user, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, display information for displaying a selection screen for selecting whether to notify other users of the login is distributed (sent) to the user terminal of the specific user who has logged in. At this time, the distribution server 100 performs a process for displaying the title screen after login illustrated in FIG. 9(C) on the user terminal of the logged-in user. For example, if the logged-in user has a user ID "u2" which is a specific user, the control unit 130 transmits display information for displaying the selection screen in FIG. 9(B) on the user terminal of "u2" to the user terminal of the specific user who has logged in. As a result, the specific user "u2" can select the "Yes" icon 22Y or the "No" icon 22N in FIG. 9(B) to select whether to notify other users of the login. When either the "Yes" icon 22Y or the "No" icon 22N is selected, the notification permission information is transmitted to the distribution server 100.

[0148] In step S104, it is determined based on the notification permission information transmitted from the user terminal of the specific user whether the specific user who was determined to have logged in in steps S101 and S102 permits the notification of the login. When it is not determined that permission has been given, the process proceeds to step S107. For example, when the specific user selects the "No" icon 22N and logs in on the screen illustrated in FIG. 9(B), the notification management unit 135 (for example, the notification device 104 described later with reference to FIG. 16) restricts the process for notifying other users of the login of the specific user based on the received notification permission information.

[0149] On the other hand, when it is determined that permission has been given in step S104, the process proceeds to step S105, and notification information for notifying the user terminal that the specific user has logged in is distributed. The destinations to which the notification information is distributed from the distribution server 100 are the user terminal and the specific user information medium management server 500. For example, in the screen of FIG. 9(B), when the "Yes" icon 22Y is selected for the login operation, it is determined that permission has been given to notify other users based on the notification permission information received by the notification management unit 135. When the notification information is distributed from the distribution server 100, on the user terminal, based on the information received from the distribution server 100, for example, a push notification as illustrated in FIG. 10(A) or an in-app notification as illustrated in the in-app notification 50 of FIG. 11 is made.

[0150] Note that the administrator terminal 200 may also be notified. Even if the specific user has not permitted to be notified to other users, the administrator terminal 200 may be notified. For example, even if the "No" icon 22N is selected in the screen of FIG. 9(B), it may not be notified to other user terminals, but it may be notified to the administrator terminal 200 operated by the operator.

[0151] In step S106, the information indicating that the specific user determined to be permitted to be notified in step S104 has logged in is updated in the user entry status information so as to be viewable as information about the specific user in response to a request (viewing request) from the user. For example, the entry status of the user is updated by the notification management unit 135 and stored in the storage unit 120 (which may be the user information 121). As a result, another server (for example, the specific user information medium management server 500) that acquires the entry status of the user through the user entry / exit status API can acquire the information that the specific user has logged in in steps S101 to S104, and the fact that the specific user including the specific user in steps S101 to S104 has logged in is displayed on the application in FIG. 10(B) or a web browser that displays information about the specific user. Further, by updating the entry status, it becomes possible to display information about the specific user in the virtual space, and the fact that the specific user has logged in can be displayed in the bulletin board object O illustrated in FIG. 11. Note that after receiving the notification permission information, the distribution server 100 performs processing for displaying the post-login title screen illustrated in FIG. 9(C) on the user terminal of the logged-in user.

[0152] In step S107, it is determined whether there is a request to view information about a specific user (a request from the user). When there is no viewing request, the process ends. When it is determined in step S107 that there is a viewing request, the process proceeds to step S108, where information about the specific user including information indicating that the specific user has logged in is distributed to the user terminal and the process ends. For example, as a viewing request, from the user terminal, a request to display the bulletin board object O in the virtual space illustrated in FIG. 11 (for example, a request to obtain information for displaying the space where the bulletin board object O is arranged, or a request to obtain information about the bulletin board object O when the bulletin board object O is selected) causes a message indicating that the specific user has logged in to be displayed on the user screen of the user terminal. For example, it may be displayed for the most recent predetermined period (for example, the past 3 hours).

[0153] (Room entry notification process 2) The room entry notification process 2 is a process executed in the specific user information medium management server 500. Based on the information received from the distribution server 100 in the room entry notification process 1 described with reference to FIG. 12, it is a process for notifying the user terminal of information that a specific user has entered the virtual space (for example, push notification, or displaying the entered information on the user terminal in response to a viewing request from the user). Hereinafter, the room entry notification process 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13. The room entry notification process 2 is repeatedly executed by the control unit 530 of the specific user information medium management server 500 at predetermined time intervals. The specific user information medium management server 500 performs various processes including the room entry notification process 2 based on the program stored in the storage unit 520.

[0154] First, in step S201, it is determined whether notification information for notifying the user terminal that a specific user has logged in is received. When it is determined that the notification information has not been received, the process proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S201 that the notification information has been received, in step S202, based on the received notification information, a process of notifying (informing) the user terminal of the information that the specific user has logged in is performed. For example, when Talent BBB-chan logs in, in step S105 of FIG. 12, notification information is transmitted from the distribution server 100, and when the specific user information medium management server 500 receives the notification information, a push notification indicating that Talent BBB-chan illustrated in FIG. 10(A) has logged in to the virtual space is sent to the user terminal.

[0155] In step S203, the user entry status is acquired from the distribution server 100. For example, using the user entry status API of the distribution server 100, a list of user entry statuses stored in the storage unit 120 updated in step S106 of FIG. 12 is acquired. The acquired information on the user entry status may be stored in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500.

[0156] In step S204, it is determined whether there is a request to view information about a specific user (a request from the user) from the user terminal. When it is determined that there is no request to view information about the specific user, the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a request to view information about the specific user, in step S205, the information about the specific user including the login information of the specific user acquired in step S203 is distributed to the user terminal and the process ends. For example, when a display request for a screen showing the schedule of the specific user in FIG. 10(B) is made as a viewing request, content headings 40a which are the video distribution information of the specific user and content headings 40b which are the login information of the specific user to the virtual space are displayed on the user screen.

[0157] (Entry Notification Process 3) The room entry notification process 3 is a process of distributing notification information for notifying (informing) the user terminals of users who have not entered the virtual space that a specific user has entered (logged in). The user terminals to which the notification information is distributed are different from those in the room entry notification process 1 described with reference to FIG. 12. In the room entry notification process 1, regardless of whether the user has entered the virtual space (the user terminals of the users whose entry status in FIG. 7(A) is "entering" are also included in the notification target), the user is notified. In contrast, in the room entry notification process 3, the user who has not entered is notified. Hereinafter, the room entry notification process 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14. The room entry notification process 3 differs from the room entry notification process 1 in steps S105A and S105B surrounded by a dotted line. Hereinafter, the description of the processes overlapping with the room entry notification process 1 will be omitted. The room entry notification process 3 is repeatedly executed by the control unit 130 of the distribution server 100 at predetermined time intervals. The distribution server 100 performs various processes including the room entry notification process 3 based on the programs stored in the storage unit 120.

[0158] In step S104, when it is determined that the specific user has permitted the notification to other users that the specific user has logged in, the process proceeds to step S105A to extract the users who have not entered the virtual space. In step S105B, the notification information for notifying the user terminal that the specific user has logged in is distributed to the user terminals of the users who have not entered the virtual space. For example, the notification management unit 135 refers to the user information 122 and extracts the users who are not currently entering the virtual space and are in the logged-out state. In step S105B, the notification information is distributed (push notification, etc.) to the user terminals of the users extracted in step S105A. For example, it is distributed to the user IDs "u3", "u5", "u7", etc. whose entry status in FIG. 7(A) is "exiting". Note that, for example, push notifications may be sent only to the terminals of general users.

[0159] As a result, in step S105 of FIG. 12, a notification is sent regardless of whether the user of the notification destination has entered the virtual space. In the entry notification process 3 of FIG. 14, however, it is possible to extract users who have not entered the virtual space and are likely not to know that a specific user has entered, and send a notification to them. Also, it is possible to prevent a notification from being sent to users who have already entered the virtual space and know that a specific user has entered the virtual space.

[0160] (Entry Notification Process 4) The entry notification process 4 is a process of distributing notification information for notifying (informing) the user terminals of users other than those who have entered the virtual space under a predetermined situation that a specific user has entered (logged in). The entry notification process 1 described with reference to FIG. 12 differs in the user terminals to which the notification information is distributed. In the entry notification process 1, the user is notified regardless of the entry status in the virtual space (for example, whether the user is participating in an event or entering the virtual space in a situation where the user has a prior plan to participate in the event). In the entry notification process 4, on the other hand, the notification is sent to users other than those who have entered the virtual space under a predetermined situation (including users who have not entered the virtual space). Hereinafter, the entry notification process 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15. The entry notification process 4 differs from the entry notification process 1 in step S105C surrounded by a dotted line and step S105D. Hereinafter, the description of the processes overlapping with the entry notification process 1 will be omitted. The entry notification process 4 is repeatedly executed by the control unit 130 of the distribution server 100 at predetermined time intervals. The distribution server 100 performs various processes including the entry notification process 4 based on the program stored in the storage unit 120.

[0161] In step S104, when it is determined that the specific user has permitted the fact that the login of the specific user is notified to other users, the process proceeds to step S105C to extract users other than those who have entered the virtual space under a predetermined situation. In step S105D, the notification information for notifying the user terminal that the user in step S104 has logged in is distributed to the user terminals of users other than those who have entered the virtual space under a predetermined situation.

[0162] The predetermined situation is, for example, a situation where a user is participating in predetermined content in a virtual space, such as when participating in a live event held in the virtual space, a fan meeting, or a game. It includes cases where the user is participating in highly immersive content. For example, in games that require immediate operation such as during a battle game, no notification is given, but in games where urgent operation is relatively less required such as during a building game, notification may be given. Thus, in cases where being distracted by a notification would be disadvantageous to the user or in situations where there is a risk of reducing the sense of immersion, notification can be suppressed.

[0163] In addition, the predetermined situation may also include a predetermined period before the start of an event that the user has previously planned to participate in, or a predetermined period before the start of an event that is scheduled to be held in the virtual space in advance (for example, one hour before the start time of the event). This is because in some cases, information about a specific user entering the virtual space may already be known when a predetermined event is held.

[0164] As described above, information about a specific user entering the virtual space can be notified to the user terminal. Therefore, for example, it becomes possible to feel the specific user closer and earlier, enriching fan activities, enjoying various contents (activities) etc. through the virtual space with the specific user, anticipating the possibility of an event being held when the specific user enters the virtual space (for example, the holding of a guerrilla live by a talent etc.), and improving the interest of the user experience through the virtual space.

[0165] <Regarding setting change processing> With reference to FIGS. 16 to 19, a setting change process for the continuous provision state of the distribution server 100 that can vary according to the actions of the user including entry into the virtual space will be described. In the control unit 130 of the distribution server 100 in this embodiment, when a manual operation by an operator from the administrator terminal 200 or a preset condition is satisfied, the distribution server 100 can perform a setting change process for the distribution server 100 to be in a continuous provision state in order to continuously provide the virtual space to the user. The state in which continuous provision is not possible (a state that is not the continuous provision state) means that when the distribution server 100 provides the virtual space to the user, due to processing waiting times or failures caused by the processing capacity (such as the number of activated servers and specifications) of the distribution server 100, it is difficult to smoothly continue providing the virtual space or there is a risk of temporary interruption. In contrast, the continuous provision state is a state in which such a risk does not exist or is extremely low.

[0166] The following are examples of modes of user actions that are assumed to make it difficult for the distribution server 100 to continuously and smoothly provide the virtual space to the user (maintenance of the continuous provision state) or to cause a temporary interruption. (1) A situation where the load on the distribution server 100 increases due to a large number of login (entry) requests to the virtual space from a large number of users in a short period (intensively) (such as a situation where the CPU usage rate of the distribution server 100 remains at a high usage rate for a predetermined time). (2) A situation where a waiting time occurs to start a new room due to an entry request from a number of users exceeding the upper limit of the allowable number of people (for example, the upper limit of the number of users that can be associated with one server) that can be associated (entered) with a predetermined room. (3) A situation where the load on the distribution server 100 increases due to an increase in the operation actions of users already logged into the virtual space. The operation action is, for example, an action that is considered to increase the communication volume between the user terminal and the distribution server 100, such as the movement of the user in the virtual space, the use of items, and chatting. For example, since the amount and frequency of information to be synchronized with other user terminals, such as the synchronization of the position information of the user avatar and the synchronization of production information by using items, increase, the processing load on the distribution server 100 increases.

[0167] In the conventional system, due to certain user actions that are assumed to make it difficult to maintain the above continuous provision state, when the load on the distribution server 100 increases or the number of allowed users is exceeded, as a setting change process for keeping the distribution server 100 in the continuous provision state, a process of increasing the resources of the server of the distribution server 100 (server enhancement process) or a process of reducing (mitigating) the information distributed to the user terminal has been performed. However, if the process is carried out after the load increases, it will take time for the processing of the distribution server 100 for the increased load, and waiting time will occur for the user compared to when the load has not increased. That is, when the load on the distribution server 100 increases, the processing of the distribution server 100 becomes slower than normal, and it takes time for the user to enter the virtual space or for data to be distributed to the user terminal. In particular, in this embodiment, when a specific user enters the virtual space, it affects the actions of other users, and the load on the distribution server 100 may increase. Furthermore, since it is considered that when it is notified to other users that a specific user has entered the virtual space, it will further affect the actions of other users, there is a possibility that the waiting time for processing will become longer and that the server will be prone to failures. Therefore, in this embodiment, a process is performed to reduce in advance the load on the distribution server 100 triggered by the entry of a specific user into the virtual space. Thereby, even if there are user actions that are assumed to make it difficult to maintain the above continuous provision state, it becomes possible to maintain the continuous provision state.

[0168] The process of increasing the resources of the distribution server 100 (raising the processing ability of the server) in this embodiment includes the following aspects. (1) Process for increasing the number of servers for providing a virtual space (scale - out). (2) Process for improving the performance of servers for providing a virtual space (scale - up).

[0169] Also, the process for reducing (mitigating) the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal in this embodiment includes the following aspects. (1) Reduction of the overall amount of information by decreasing the number of synchronization times between the distribution server 100 and the user terminal. (2) Decrease in the amount of information itself when distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal. These processes may be realized by sending a signal to the user terminal from the distribution server 100 to decrease the number of synchronization requests from the user terminal or to decrease the amount of information requested by the user terminal. Alternatively, the number of times of synchronization from the distribution user 100 side to the user terminal and the amount of information to be transmitted may be suppressed. For example, the distribution server 100 periodically distributes a signal regarding the server congestion information to the user, and by sending a signal of the server congestion information generated when the server load increases to the user terminal, the user terminal that receives the signal of the congestion information performs a process of decreasing the number of times of sending a signal for requesting synchronization and decreasing the amount of information requested by the user terminal. The amount of information requested is, for example, rendering information, including the display amount of objects (including user avatars) in the virtual space and the image resolution, etc. Thereby, the processing burden caused by frequently repeating data input / output and reading heavy data in the distribution server 100 for reading the information distributed to the user terminal is reduced.

[0170] (Examples of system configuration and process) FIG. 16 shows an example of the system configuration and processing process of the distribution server 100. As an example of the configuration, the distribution server 100 includes a login authentication device 101, a lobby management device 102, a real-time synchronization device 103, a notification management device 104, and a server management device 105. Each device may be composed of one or a plurality of servers (communication infrastructure). For example, the login authentication device 101 may be an API server for performing login authentication, and the lobby management device 102 may be a lobby API server for providing information about areas and rooms in the virtual space to the user terminal. For example, the login authentication device 101 is composed of a plurality of servers such as server 101a, server 101b, etc., and the lobby management device 102 is composed of a plurality of servers such as server 102a, server 102b, etc.

[0171] The login authentication device 101 is a computer having a function of performing a process for authenticating a user's login, which is executed by an entrance / exit processing unit 134 or the like. The login authentication device 101 receives login information from the user terminal, determines whether login is possible, and when the authentication is completed, transitions the user to the logged-in state. For example, authentication is performed by referring to the user information included in the login information and the user data table stored in the user information 121.

[0172] When the user who has performed the login authentication process in the login authentication device 101 is a specific user, predetermined information is transmitted from the login authentication device 101 to the notification device 104 and the server management device 105. To the notification device 104, information specifying that the specific user has logged in is transmitted. To the server management device 105, a request for a process of increasing the server resources is transmitted.

[0173] The notification management device 104 is a computer that performs processing for notifying (informing) a user terminal or the like that a specific user has logged in, which is executed by a notification management unit 135 or the like. For example, when the notification management device 104 receives information that a specific user has logged in from a login authentication device 101 (the information may include room entry notification permission information), it performs processing to send a push notification to a user terminal or an administrator terminal 200. The information that a specific user has logged in may include room entry notification permission information sent from the user terminal of the specific user. Alternatively, the notification management device 104 may be a room entry status API server that obtains the room entry status of a user into a virtual space in response to a request from another server. Note that the login authentication device 101 may perform processing to notify (inform) the administrator terminal 200 itself or the user terminal itself of information that a specific user has logged in.

[0174] The server management device 105 is a computer that performs processing for changing the settings of server resources, which is executed by a scale management unit 136 or the like. The login authentication device 101 and the lobby management device 102 are examples of servers for which the server management device 105 increases resources. When the server management device 105 performs processing to increase resources by increasing the number of servers, as illustrated in FIG. 17, as servers of the login authentication device 101, servers 101c and 101d increase, and as servers of the lobby management device 102, servers 102c and 102d increase.

[0175] By increasing the servers of the login authentication device 101, the login authentication device 101 can withstand the load caused by a large number of login requests (accesses) from users in a short period of time, so that the possibility of a waiting time occurring for the user can be suppressed, and the virtual space can be continuously provided to the user. Also, by increasing the servers of the lobby management device 102, the lobby management device 102 can withstand the load caused by requests for information about the virtual space, such as information about areas and rooms, from a large number of users in a short period of time, so that the possibility of a waiting time occurring for the user can be suppressed, and the virtual space can be continuously provided to the user.

[0176] The lobby management device 102 is a computer having a function for providing information about areas in the virtual space and a list of accessible rooms related to the area to the user, which is executed by the content management unit 131. The user terminal of the user who has logged in by the login authentication device 101 requests information about the area and the room from the lobby management device 102, and based on the information obtained in response to the request, for example, a screen on which information about the accessible virtual space area and various rooms illustrated in FIG. 9(C) is displayed is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal.

[0177] The real-time synchronization device 103 is a computer that performs real-time synchronization communication within and between rooms, which is executed by the content management unit 131 and the scale management unit 136. Also, it is possible to set an upper limit on the number of users who can be associated with (enter) each room (for example, an upper limit of 200 people, etc.). The real-time synchronization device 103 is composed of, for example, a room management device 1031, room servers 103a, 103b, ···. The room management device 1031 performs communication control related to the room. As the communication control, room allocation is performed in response to a communication request from the user terminal. For example, in response to a request to enter any room to the real-time synchronization device 103 based on the information obtained by the lobby management device 105 from the user terminal, connection information to the room is obtained from the room management device 1031, and it becomes possible to enter the room.

[0178] In addition, the room management device 1031 can vary the resources of the room server according to the load on the room server or the number of people entering the room. For example, it can be scale - out or scale - up of the room server. When the user entering the room is a specific user, the room management device 1031 may be able to increase the number of rooms where content (for example, a predetermined area, specific content within the area, etc.) corresponding to the room entered by the specific user is provided. For example, for a plurality of rooms corresponding to each area, only the user avatars of the users in the same room are normally displayed. However, for the user avatar of a specific user, even if the specific user is not in the same room, it can be mirrored and reflected in the rooms where the same content is provided in the same type of rooms. Therefore, it is possible to provide other room users with an experience as if they were in the same room as the specific user. Therefore, since it is conceivable that the number of users trying to enter the same type of rooms where the same content is provided will increase, a process of increasing the number of rooms in advance is performed.

[0179] Also, in this embodiment, the room management device 1031 may be able to vary the amount of information in the virtual space provided to the user by the room server. For example, reduce the amount of drawing information in the room where the content corresponding to the room entered by the specific user is provided. Note that the server management device 105 may perform a process of reducing the amount of drawing information in the room.

[0180] Note that when the room management device 1031 authenticates the login of a specific user by the login authentication device 101, it may change the resources of the room server, change the amount of information provided to the user, etc. For example, when the login authentication of a specific user is performed, multiple rooms may be started and waiting. After the specific user enters the room, the content corresponding to the content entered by the specific user is provided by the waiting room server. Also, only the room entered by the specific user may have its information amount decreased. Note that this is not limited to this, and the change of the resources of the room server may be performed regardless of the area (content) where the specific user enters the room.

[0181] (Virtual Space Provision Server Enhancement Process) FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining a virtual space provision server enhancement process for changing the resources of a server among the setting change processes of the distribution server 100 executed in the distribution server 100. The virtual space provision server enhancement process is repeatedly executed by the control unit 130 of the distribution server 100 at predetermined time intervals. The distribution server 100 performs various processes including the virtual space provision server enhancement process based on the program stored in the storage unit 120. Note that an example of determining whether a user is a specific user is described based on the evaluation index in FIG. 7(A). In the virtual space provision server enhancement process, when the server load becomes heavy or immediately before the server load becomes heavy, it is referred to as a predetermined situation.

[0182] First, in step S301, it is determined whether a predetermined situation has occurred. When it is determined in step S301 that a predetermined situation has occurred, the process proceeds to step S302, and an increase process of the server resources is performed according to the predetermined situation, and the server is kept in a continuous provision state, and the process ends. For example, if a predetermined situation such as an increase in the server load occurs due to factors including user actions (for example, login to enter the room, enter the room, operation action), the scale management unit 136 performs a process of increasing the number of servers as a process of increasing the resources of the server.

[0183] On the other hand, when it is determined in step S301 that the predetermined situation has not occurred, in step S303, it is determined whether or not there has been a login by a specific user. When it is determined that the specific user has not logged in, the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the specific user has logged in, the process proceeds to step S304. For example, when the entrance / exit processing unit 134 (e.g., the login authentication device 101) performs login authentication processing based on the user's login request, it determines whether or not the logged-in user is the specific user. For example, if the logged-in user is the user ID "u1" in FIG. 7(A), since the evaluation index is negative, it is determined that the specific user has not logged in, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the logged-in user is the user ID "u2", since the evaluation index is a positive value, it is determined that the specific user has logged in.

[0184] In step S304, resource increase processing for the server is performed according to the specific user who has logged in, and the process ends with the server in a continuous provision state. For example, when the type and number of servers to be increased according to the evaluation index are determined, if the logged-in user is the user ID "u2", since the evaluation index is 5, the scale management unit 136 (e.g., the server management device 105) executes the process of increasing one normal server and one high-spec server each. If the logged-in user is the user ID "u3", since the evaluation index is 18, the scale management unit 136 executes the process of increasing four high-spec servers and three top-spec servers. Thereby, since the server is increased according to the influence of each specific user, the processing ability of the distribution server 100 is improved.

[0185] Thereby, even in a situation where the predetermined situation has not occurred and the server load has not increased, etc., before the predetermined situation occurs, the server can be enhanced in advance triggered by the fact that a specific user has logged in.

[0186] Note that the process of increasing the resources of the server may be a scale-up that improves the performance of the server. Also, a predetermined situation may include when the upper limit number of people in a room is exceeded (when it is full or when a predetermined number of people before becoming full is reached). When the upper limit number of people in a room is exceeded, the number of servers may be increased to increase the number of rooms, or the performance of the server may be improved to increase the number of multiple rooms provided within one server.

[0187] (Distribution information amount variation process) FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a distribution information amount variation process for varying the amount of information distributed from a distribution server 100 to a user terminal among the setting variation processes of the distribution server 100 executed in the distribution server 100. The distribution information amount variation process is repeatedly executed by a control unit 130 of the distribution server 100 at predetermined time intervals. The distribution server 100 performs various processes including the distribution information amount variation process based on a program stored in a storage unit 120. Note that an example of determining whether a user is a specific user is described based on the evaluation index in FIG. 7(A). In the distribution information amount variation process, a situation where the server load becomes heavy or immediately before (prior to) the server load becoming heavy is referred to as a predetermined situation.

[0188] First, in step S401, it is determined whether a predetermined situation has occurred. When it is determined in step S401 that a predetermined situation has occurred, the process proceeds to step S402, and information for reducing the number of synchronous signal transmissions according to the predetermined situation (load situation) is transmitted to the user terminal to keep the server in a continuous provision state. For example, if a predetermined situation such as the server load becoming heavy due to factors including user actions (e.g., logging in to enter, entering a room, operation actions) occurs, the data distribution unit 132 transmits information that the server is in a congested state to the user terminal to reduce the number of synchronous times from the user terminal, thereby reducing the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal.

[0189] In step S403, the amount of information (the amount of information itself) distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal is decreased according to a predetermined situation, and the process ends with the server in a continuous provision state. For example, a process of changing the setting so that the drawing information (drawing load amount) of the virtual space distributed from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal is decreased and then distributed to the user terminal is performed. For example, when a predetermined situation such as a heavy server load occurs due to factors including the user's actions, a process for reducing the amount of drawing information such as the display amount of objects (including the user avatar) distributed from the server and the image resolution is performed.

[0190] On the other hand, when it is not determined in step S401 that a predetermined situation has occurred, in step S404, it is determined whether or not a specific user has logged in. When it is determined that the specific user has not logged in, the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the specific user has logged in, the process proceeds to step S405. For example, when the entry / exit processing unit 134 (for example, the login authentication device 101) performs login authentication processing based on the user's login request, it determines whether or not the logged-in user is the specific user. For example, if the user who logged in to the room has the user ID "u1" in FIG. 7(A), since the evaluation index is negative, it is not determined that the specific user has logged in and the process ends. On the other hand, if the logged-in user has the user ID "u2", since the evaluation index is a positive value, it is determined that the specific user has logged in.

[0191] In step S405, the server is set to a continuous provision state by transmitting information for reducing the number of synchronization signal transmissions to the user terminal according to the specific user. For example, by transmitting information that the server is in a congested state from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal and reducing the number of synchronizations from the user terminal, the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal is reduced. For example, the number of synchronizations is changed according to the evaluation index. In the case of users with an evaluation index of 1 to 5, they are usually synchronized 6 times per second, but it is controlled to be 3 times, and in the case of users with an evaluation index of 6 or more, the number of synchronizations is set to 1 time per second.

[0192] In step S406, the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal is decreased according to the specific user, and the process ends with the server in a continuous provision state. For example, a process is performed to change the setting so that the drawing information (drawing load amount) of the virtual space distributed from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal is decreased before being distributed to the user terminal. Also, different processes may be performed according to the specific user. For example, the amount of information may be decreased so that the number of objects displayed in the virtual space decreases when a user with an evaluation index of 11 or more enters the room than when a user with an evaluation index of 1 to 10 enters the room.

[0193] Thus, even in a situation where the predetermined situation has not occurred and the server load has not increased, etc., before the predetermined situation occurs, it is possible to perform a process of reducing the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal in advance triggered by the specific user logging in.

[0194] Note that the processes in step S402 and step S405 are not limited to transmitting information for reducing the number of synchronization signal transmissions to the user terminal, but may perform a setting change (synchronization count reduction setting) to reduce the number of times of synchronization from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal, and the server may be in a continuous provision state by a process of reducing the number of synchronization times between the distribution server 100 and the user terminal. Also, the processes in step S403 and step S406 may make the server in a continuous provision state by, for example, transmitting information that the server is in a congested state from the data distribution unit 132 to the user terminal, so that the amount of drawing information of the virtual space requested from the user terminal decreases.

[0195] In addition, a predetermined situation may include when the upper limit number of people in a room is exceeded (when the room is full or when a predetermined number of people before reaching full capacity is reached). When the upper limit number of people in the room is exceeded, a process of reducing the amount of information to be distributed to the distribution server 100 and the user terminal may be performed. This is because as the number of people in the room increases, for example, the user's action actions increase and the amount of information increases when updating (synchronizing) the information in the virtual space, which may increase the server load. Therefore, a process of keeping the server in a continuous provision state can be performed in advance.

[0196] <Examples of specific configurations and effects>

[0197] (1-1) In the above-described embodiment, when a load on the distribution server 100 exceeds a threshold value or a predetermined situation such as when the upper limit number of people associated with the room is reached according to factors including a plurality of types of actions from the user (for example, entering the room by logging in, entering the room, action actions in the virtual space, etc.), a server enhancement process of steps S301 to S302 in FIG. 18 or a distribution information amount fluctuation process of steps S401 to S403 in FIG. 19 is executed to make the virtual space continuously provided to the user. However, even in a situation that is not a predetermined situation such as a situation where the load on the distribution server 100 does not exceed the threshold value or a situation where the upper limit number of people associated with the room is not reached, when a specific user such as a talent, a famous person, or an evaluation index with a positive value whose user attribute number in FIG. 7(A) is "2", "3", or "5" enters the virtual space, a server enhancement process of steps S303 to S304 in FIG. 18 or a distribution information amount fluctuation process of steps S404 to S406 in FIG. 19 is executed to perform a process for setting the distribution server 100 to a continuous provision state. As a result, when a specific user enters the virtual space, the setting of the virtual space providing unit can be preliminarily changed to the setting of the continuous provision state. Thus, countermeasures against the load that may occur due to the entry of a specific user can be taken in advance.

[0198] (1-2) In the above-described embodiment, as a process for setting the virtual space providing unit to the continuous provision state, the server enhancement process (a process of increasing resources) of the distribution server 100 in steps S302 and S304 of FIG. 18 is performed. As the server enhancement process, the scale-out (increase in the number of servers) of the distribution server 100 such as the process in which the server management device 105 in FIGS. 16 and 17 increases the servers 101c and 101d of the login authentication device 101, or the scale-up of the distribution server (upgrade of the CPU and memory specifications of the server) is performed. As a result, since the resources functioning as the distribution server 100 increase, the processing ability of the distribution server 100 is improved and it can withstand the load, so that the virtual space can be continuously provided to the user.

[0199] (1-3) In the above-described embodiment, as a process for setting the distribution server 100 to the continuous provision state, the distribution information amount variation process for reducing the total amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal, such as steps S402, S403, S405, and S406 in FIG. 19, is performed. As the distribution information amount variation process, the process of transmitting information for reducing the number of times of transmitting the synchronization signal from the user terminal, such as steps S402 and S405 in FIG. 19, and the process of transmitting information for reducing the required drawing information amount are performed, thereby reducing the number of synchronization times between the distribution server 100 and the user terminal, or the process of reducing the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal, such as steps S403 and S406 in FIG. 19, and the process of reducing the number of synchronization times from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal are performed to reduce the amount of information itself when distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal. As a result, since the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal is reduced, the processing load on the distribution server 100 is reduced and it can withstand the load, so that the virtual space can be continuously provided to the user.

[0200] (1-4) In the above-described embodiments, in order to continue providing the settings of the distribution server 100 in a continuous provision state in case a predetermined situation occurs or a specific user enters the virtual space and may cause a predetermined situation, setting change processing is performed. The predetermined situation includes a situation where the load on the distribution server 100 exceeds a predetermined threshold due to actions such as a user entering the virtual space, a user moving within the virtual space, or using an item, or a situation where a waiting time occurs due to an entry request from a number of users exceeding the number of users who can enter the room. By performing the setting change processing in the present embodiment, even if there is a risk that the virtual space cannot be continuously provided to the user because the load on the distribution server 100 exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is possible to change the settings of the distribution server 100 to the continuous provision state. Thereby, the virtual space can be continuously provided to the user.

[0201] (1-5) In the above-described embodiments, in response to a specific user such as a talent or a famous person with the user attribute type of "2", "3", or "5" in FIG. 7 or a user with a positive evaluation index entering the virtual space, the setting change processing of the distribution server 100 in FIGS. 18 and 19 is executed so as to be processing according to the evaluation index of the specific user. Thereby, in response to a user who is considered to have an influence on the actions of other users entering the virtual space, it is possible to change the settings of the distribution server 100 to the continuous provision state in the case of a predetermined situation in advance.

[0202] (1-6) In the above-described embodiments, entering the virtual space includes logging in to the virtual space, and setting change processing of the distribution server 100 is performed according to the login of a specific user. Further, in step S304 of the server enhancement processing in FIG. 18, it is possible to increase the resources of a server corresponding to a login authentication API server for performing authentication (processing) as to whether the user's login is successful, the login authentication device 101 in FIG. 16, the entry / exit processing unit 134, etc. Thereby, even if a situation occurs in which a load is applied to the server that performs the login authentication process when another user logs in after a specific user logs in, it is possible to make the situation tolerable to the load.

[0203] (2-1) In the above-described embodiments, when a specific user with a positive evaluation index that varies according to an external evaluation, which is an evaluation from outside the user, in FIG. 7(A), or a specific user such as a talent or a famous person with a user attribute number of "2", "3", or "5" enters the virtual space, an entry notification process for notifying (informing) other users that the specific user has entered is executed as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15. Thereby, since it is possible to notify other users that a specific user has entered the virtual space, it becomes easy for other users to obtain information about the specific user, and the prosperity of the virtual space can be promoted.

[0204] (2-2) In the above-described embodiments, the users of the user terminals to which the notification information is to be distributed in step S105 of FIG. 12 include the users whose entry status in FIG. 7 is "entering". Thereby, since the fact that a specific user has entered is notified even if the user has entered the virtual space, it is possible to avoid the situation where the user remains unaware that a specific user has entered even though the user has entered the virtual space.

[0205] (2-3) In the above-described embodiment, in steps S105A and S105B of the entry notification process 3 in FIG. 14, the users of the user terminals to which the entry of a specific user is to be notified (informed) do not include the users whose entry status in FIG. 7 is "entering", and include the users who have not entered the virtual space whose entry status in FIG. 7 is "exiting". Thus, since the entry of a specific user is not notified to the users who have entered the virtual space, it is possible to suppress the risk of disturbing the sense of immersion in the virtual space due to the notification.

[0206] (2-4) In the above-described embodiment, the push notification in FIG. 10(A), the page for displaying information about a specific user in FIG. 10(B), and the content of the bulletin board object O in FIG. 11 can include information about the area (e.g., "Entered area X!") or room (e.g., "Entered room ID0001") where a specific user has entered. Thereby, other users who have received the push notification or have viewed the information of the bulletin board object O and the like can identify the virtual space where the specific user has entered. Therefore, it becomes easy for other users to enter the same space (e.g., the same area or the same room) subsequently, and the prosperity of the virtual space can be promoted.

[0207] (2-5) In the above-described embodiment, in a fan community app or the like as illustrated in FIG. 10(B), among specific users such as talents, a user can pre-select and store a favorite user as a promoted talent or the like. Also, when a pre-selected talent or the like (specific user) enters the virtual space, it can be made to be push-notified as shown in FIG. 10(A) that the talent has entered the virtual space. Further, when a push filter 45 is selected and operated on a predetermined page or the like within the app for displaying information about the specific user in FIG. 10(B), information indicating that the pre-selected talent has entered the virtual space can be extracted and displayed. Thereby, since the information of the specific user to be notified can be made a favorite user, the satisfaction with the notified information can be improved.

[0208] (3-1) In the above-described embodiment, for the schedule information of the talents of the community application such as Fig. 10(B) that allows the user to view the information regarding the specific user, or for the bulletin board object O arranged in the virtual space such as Fig. 11, when the specific user enters the virtual space, information indicating that the specific user has entered can be displayed in response to a viewing request from the user according to steps S105 to S107 in Fig. 12, steps S203 to S205 in Fig. 13, etc. Thereby, since the fact that the specific user has entered the virtual space can be made viewable to other users as information regarding the specific user, the convenience for the user who seeks information regarding the specific user can be improved.

[0209] (3-2) In the above-described embodiment, information regarding the specific user can be displayed in a specific area within the virtual space such as the bulletin board object O in Fig. 11. Thereby, even when the user is in a situation of having entered the virtual space, the user can view the information regarding the specific user, and the convenience for the user who seeks information regarding the specific user is increased.

[0210] (4-1) In the above-described embodiment, according to steps S102 and S103 in Fig. 12, when the specific user logs in, a screen can be displayed on the screen of the user terminal of the specific user that enables selection of whether to notify other users as shown in Fig. 9(B) that the specific user has logged in. When the "Yes" icon 22Y in Fig. 9(B) is selected or the like, when in a setting state that permits notifying other users that the specific user has entered, steps S105 and S106 can be used to notify other users that the specific user has entered. Thereby, since it is possible to set whether to notify other users when the specific user enters, taking into account the preferences and situation of the specific user, etc., the convenience of the specific user can be improved.

[0211] (4-2) In the above-described embodiment, when a specific user enters the virtual space, on the screen that enables the selection of whether to notify other users logged in in Fig. 9(B) that they have logged in, when there is a selection such as permitting the "Yes" icon 22Y to be selected, it becomes possible to notify other users that the user has entered through steps S105 and S106 in Fig. 12. As a result, when a specific user enters the virtual space, since the specific user can perform a selection operation to notify other users that they have entered, the specific user can effectively notify according to the situation at the time of entry.

[0212] (5-1) In the above-described embodiment, in steps S105C and S105D of the entry notification process 4 in Fig. 15, for the user terminals of users other than those who are entering the virtual space under a predetermined situation, such as when participating in a predetermined content such as a live event, it is notified (informed) that a specific user has entered. As a result, it is possible to avoid being notified until it is unnecessary to inform that a specific user has entered when a user is entering under a predetermined situation. Also, since it is not notified when the user is participating in a predetermined event, it is possible to prevent the sense of immersion in the event from being disturbed.

[0213] <Modification Example> Examples of modifications to the above-described embodiments are listed below.

[0214] <Other Examples Regarding Specific Users and Setting Change Processing> (Regarding Attribute Numbers and Server Enhancement Processing) In the above-described embodiment, when executing the server enhancement process described with reference to Fig. 18, an example was described in which if a user with a positive evaluation index logs in at step S303, it is determined that a specific user has logged in. However, it is not limited to this, and if a user who is a talent or a famous person with an attribute number of "2", "3", "5", etc. logs in, it may be determined that a specific user has logged in, and the resources may be increased according to the attribute number.

[0215] (Relationship between Evaluation Index, Attribute Number, and Amount of Distributed Information) In the above-described embodiment, with reference to FIG. 8, an example was described in which the resources of the server (the number of units and the values of the CPU and memory specifications) that are varied for each evaluation index are determined, and the resources of the server are varied according to the evaluation index of a specific user. Similarly, with regard to the amount of distributed information, according to the evaluation index, the number of synchronization times between the distribution server 100 and the user terminal may be changed, or the amount of information to be reduced and distributed from the distribution server 100 may be adjusted. For example, when a user with an evaluation index of 1 to 5 enters the room, the number of synchronization times may be set to 3, and when a user with an evaluation index of 6 or more enters the room, the number of synchronization times may be set to 1. In addition, the number of objects displayed in the virtual space may be reduced when a user with an evaluation index of 11 or more enters the room compared to when a user with an evaluation index of 1 to 10 enters the room.

[0216] Note that the amount of distributed information may be adjusted for each attribute number. For example, when a specific user associated with the attribute number "2" in FIG. 7(B) enters the room, the number of synchronization times per second may be set to 1, and when a specific user associated with the attribute number "5" enters the room, the number of synchronization times per second may be set to 3.

[0217] (Regarding Evaluation Index and Entry Notification Processing) In the above-described embodiment, the determination as to whether a user is a specific user in step S102 of FIG. 12 was described by way of example as being determined according to the attribute number associated with the user, but the determination as to whether a user is a specific user may be made according to the evaluation index. For example, if a user has a positive evaluation index value, the user is determined to be a specific user, and thus, processing for notifying other users that the user has entered the virtual space is executed. If a user has a negative evaluation index, the user is not determined to be a specific user, and thus, processing for notifying other users that the user has entered the virtual space may not be executed.

[0218] (Regarding User Attribute Number and Evaluation Index) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a user attribute number and a user evaluation index are associated with each user with reference to FIG. 7 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only one of the "user attribute number" and the "evaluation index" may be defined.

[0219] Also, the default attribute number at the time of creating a user account (creating a user ID) may be set in advance to "1" for a general user. Further, the operator may arbitrarily change and store the attribute number of an already created user account. Alternatively, the operator may assign an attribute number in advance and then add a user to the data table of the user information 121. Also, the attribute number is not limited to being given by default or at the discretion of the operator, and may vary depending on other factors. For example, depending on the "evaluation index", for a user whose "evaluation index" exceeds a predetermined value, the user attribute number "5" may be assigned as a famous person.

[0220] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the degree of change (such as the amount of resources and the amount of distribution) of the setting change process of the distribution server 100 is determined in advance for each evaluation index or attribute number with reference to FIG. 8 and the like has been described. In addition to this, a predetermined number of servers may be associated with each user ID. For example, if the user ID is "u2", it can be set to 3 servers, and if the user ID is "u7", it can be set to 10 servers, etc. When "u2" logs in, 3 servers are increased, and when "u7" logs in, 10 servers are increased.

[0221] Alternatively, for each user, the operator may predetermine an evaluation index corresponding to the desired number of servers or the like so that the desired number of servers or the like is obtained. For example, when the user ID "u2" enters the room and it is desired to increase one normal server and one high-spec server, the operator may predetermine the evaluation index of the user ID "u2" to be "5" in advance.

[0222] (Other examples of determination of specific users (special users)) In the above-described embodiments, an example of determining whether a user is a specific user based on an attribute number or an evaluation index has been described. However, also, as exemplified by the user ID "u6" in FIG. 7(A), in the case where both the attribute number and the evaluation index are defined, an example has been described in which if either one identifies the user as a specific user, the process may be determined as a specific user and processed. However, not limited to this, in the case where both the attribute number and the evaluation index are defined, if neither the user attribute number nor the evaluation index is regarded as a specific user, the process as a specific user may not be performed. For example, regardless of whether it is the attribute number of a specific user (e.g., 2, 3, 5 in FIG. 7(B)), if the evaluation index is not a positive value, it may not be determined as a specific user.

[0223] Alternatively, in the case where both the attribute number and the evaluation index are defined, regarding the criteria to be referred to when determining a specific user according to the processing content such as entrance notification processing or setting change processing of the distribution server 100, it may be predetermined whether to use the attribute number or the evaluation index, and the criteria to be referred to when determining a specific user may differ according to the processing content. For example, when performing entrance notification processing for notifying other users of entering the virtual space, the notification process is executed when it is determined as a specific user by referring to the attribute number of the user who entered, and for the setting change processing of the distribution server 100, the evaluation index of the user who entered is referred to, and the process may be performed according to whether it is determined as a specific user.

[0224] <Regarding the entrance notification process> (Regarding the selection of whether to notify other users) In the above-described embodiment, in step S104 of FIG. 12, for example, when the "No" icon 22N in FIG. 9(B) is selected and it is not permitted to notify other users when a specific user logs in, an example in which the fact that the specific user has logged in is not notified has been described. The method of permitting notification is not limited to the case where the screen of FIG. 9(B) is displayed each time of login. Instead of or in addition to the case where the screen of FIG. 9(B) is displayed, the on / off of notification may be selectable on a preset screen. Alternatively, either notification on or notification off may be defined by default, and the user may be able to select on or off each time of login. Also, the content of the information to be notified, such as whether to notify of entering a room or whether to notify the room ID, may be selectable by the specific user.

[0225] In the above-described embodiment, in step S101 of FIG. 12, after transmitting a login request to the distribution server 100 in FIG. 9(A), when it is determined in step S102 that the user is a specific user, an example in which a screen for selecting whether to notify other users in FIG. 9(B) is displayed has been described. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the user terminal may be a dedicated terminal for a specific user, and the selection screen in FIG. 9(B) may be displayed before a login request is transmitted to the distribution server 100. In FIG. 9(B), when the "Yes" icon 22Y or the "No" icon 22N is selected, a login request may be transmitted to the distribution server 100 together with information permitting notification to other users or notification permission information indicating non-permission.

[0226] (Regarding push notifications) In the above-described embodiments, as a mode of notifying (informing) other users that a specific user has entered the room, a push notification was exemplified with reference to FIG. 10(A) and the like. The push notification may be configured such that a selection operation on the push notification displayed on the user terminal enables transition to the virtual space where the specific user has entered. For example, a login screen to the virtual space may be launched by an operation on the push notification. Alternatively, it may be possible to enter the room where the specific user is present, or the room corresponding to the area provided for the room where the specific user is present.

[0227] Further, the push notification may be notified including privilege information for granting a privilege. For example, a serial code may be displayed in the message of the push notification together with the login information of the specific user, and a privilege may be granted to the user by inputting the serial code when entering the virtual space. Thereby, the entry of the user into the virtual space can be further promoted via the push notification. Also, an expiration date may be set for the serial code, and the privilege may not be granted unless the serial code is input within a predetermined period (for example, within 3 hours) after the serial code is notified. Further, the input of the serial code is not limited to the timing of entering the virtual space, and may be input in a predetermined area within the virtual space, an item shop, or the like.

[0228] (Examples of places to display information about specific users) In the above-described embodiment, with reference to FIG. 10(B), the display in the fan community application of a page that can view information about a specific user provided by the specific user information medium management server 500 has been exemplified and described. Not limited to this, information about a specific user that can be displayed on the display screen of the user terminal may be notified to the screen of a website that can be viewed by the user via a WEB browser. For example, if the specific user is a talent, video distribution information of the talent on the video distribution site, the entry status into the virtual space, etc. may be displayed. The information page of the website uses an API to obtain, for example, the distribution by the talent's account on the video distribution site, the handle in the profile column, etc., and display appearance information, etc. Also, using the entry status API of the users in the virtual space, when the account of the talent, which is the specific user, is included in the users who have entered the virtual space, for example, as exemplified in FIG. 10(B), the entry information is displayed on the WEB page together with the icon of the talent. When the talent logs out, the entry information may be deleted or changed to a display indicating that the user has left the room. When there is an access from the user terminal to the website, the website page is displayed on the WEB browser of the user terminal so that information about the talent can be obtained. Also, it may be possible to transition to the virtual space from the entry information.

[0229] (Regarding other examples of users who are the target to be notified to other users) In the above-described embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 10(B), for example, in a fan community application, when the favorite filter icon 45 is selected, it is possible to extract and display (or push notification) information such as a talent that the user has previously selected as a favorite. Therefore, an example has been described in which it is possible to notify information that a specific user selected in advance by the user among specific users has entered the virtual space. In the entry notification process, not only when the user has previously selected a favorite in the fan community application, but also for any specific user selected in advance by the user, only the information that the previously selected user has entered among the information that the specific user has entered may be notified. For example, it may be performed for a user previously selected in the virtual space, or only the information that a specific user entered, whom the user has followed in the virtual space or whom the user has previously selected from a specific user list (for example, a talent list, etc.), may be notified. These can be achieved by storing the user previously selected by the user in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100 or in the 320 of the user terminal. If it is detected that a specific user has logged in, the user terminal of the user who had previously selected the specific user can be notified.

[0230] Also, in the above-described embodiment, information for identifying a user pre-selected by the user (information for identifying whether the user has selected it or not), which is stored in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500, is transmitted from the specific user information medium management server 500 for each user together with information including information of other specific users, and a process of extracting the pre-selected specific user is performed on the user terminal that has received the transmitted information. However, the same process may be performed in the distribution server 100. For example, information for identifying a user pre-selected by the user (information for identifying whether the user has selected it or not), which is stored in the storage unit 120 of the distribution server 100, is transmitted from the distribution server 100 for each user together with information of other specific users, and a process of extracting the pre-selected specific user may be performed on the user terminal. Alternatively, based on the information stored in the storage units 120 and 520 of the distribution server 100 or the specific user information medium management server 500, after extracting the specific user pre-selected by the user, only the information on the entry of the extracted specific user may be distributed to the user terminal.

[0231] Also, it is possible to calculate an involvement index among users based on the behavior history of users in the virtual space, and notify users whose involvement index with a specific user who has entered the virtual space is equal to or greater than a predetermined value that the specific user has entered. The involvement index is calculated by the control unit 130 according to, for example, the number of times of participating in an event related to a specific user, the amount of charges related to a specific user (for example, donations, goods purchases, etc.), or the number of times of being in the same room (or the same area) as a specific user, etc. Also, the calculation of the involvement index may not be limited to a specific period, or may be calculated based on the amount of charges, etc. during a predetermined period.

[0232] In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the information to be notified to other users is information regarding the entry of a specific user into the room has been described. However, in addition to this, if there is a user who has performed a predetermined action in the virtual space, even if the user is not a specific user, the existence of the user who has performed the predetermined action may be notified to other users. For example, it includes the case where it is detected that the user has moved to a position corresponding to a predetermined area in the virtual space. The predetermined area is, for example, on a podium for holding an event, and it is an area where the start of the event is suggested by the presence of a user who has moved to the predetermined area. When a user who has climbed onto the podium is detected, as exemplified in the bulletin board object O in FIG. 11, "User P has climbed onto the podium in Area Y!" or the like is notified.

[0233] (Regarding information about a specific user) In the above-described embodiment, as exemplified with reference to FIGS. 10(B) and 11, an example has been given of a case where the information regarding a specific user that can be viewed in response to a viewing request from a user includes information other than the information regarding the entry of the specific user into the virtual space (for example, video distribution information, event information in the virtual space, etc.). However, it is not limited to this, and it may be a page within the application where only the information regarding the entry of the specific user into the virtual space can be viewed, an object within the virtual space, or the like.

[0234] (Regarding entry notification processing) In the above-described embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, an example in which entry notification processing is performed in response to a specific user logging in to the virtual space has been described. However, instead of this, or in addition to this, for example, in step S101 of FIG. 12, it may be determined whether a specific user has entered a room in the virtual space, and when the user has entered any room, it may be notified to other users. Also, in addition to which room the user has entered, it may be notified to other users. For example, in response to a specific user entering Area Y, a push notification or the like may be sent together with the information of the area where the user has entered.

[0235] Alternatively, as illustrated in the bulletin board object O of FIG. 11, the timing when a specific user logs in and the fact that the specific user has entered a predetermined area may be notified step by step. Also, instead of or in addition to the area information, the room ID of the room into which the specific user has entered may be notified.

[0236] Also, when the specific user moves to a room different from the room in which the user was present, a process for notifying that the specific user has moved may be performed each time the user moves.

[0237] Also, even if a specific user enters the virtual space, if a predetermined time has not elapsed since the previous entry, the user may not be notified. For example, if the predetermined time is 10 minutes and the specific user logs in, if 10 minutes have not elapsed since the previous login, the subsequent (current) login will not be notified. Also, when the specific user enters the same room again within a predetermined time from the previous entry into a specific room, etc., the user may not be notified in the same way. This can suppress the occurrence of multiple push notifications, etc., due to the specific user accidentally logging out.

[0238] (Regarding the entry notification process 2) In the above-described embodiment, in step S201 of FIG. 13, an example was described in which when the specific user information medium management server 500 receives the notification information distributed from the distribution server 100 in step S105 of FIG. 12, information that the specific user has logged in is notified to the user terminal. That is, an example was described in which the identification of the specific user who newly logs in and is to be notified to other users is performed by the distribution server 100. However, not limited to this, based on the user entry status acquired in step S203, the specific user information medium management server 500 may identify the specific user who newly logs in. A determination may be made as to whether the specific user who newly logs in is included in the user entry status acquired in step S203. When the specific user who newly logs in is included, a push notification or the like may be sent from the specific user information medium management server 500 to the user terminal spontaneously.

[0239] In the above-described embodiment, in step S203 of FIG. 13, an example was described in which the entry status is acquired using the user entry status API of the distribution server 100. However, not limited to this, when the specific user logs in, the distribution server 100 may distribute (transmit) the latest information regarding the user entry status to the specific user information medium management server 500.

[0240] (Regarding the entry notification process 3) In the above-described embodiment, in the distribution server 100, an example has been described in which, in steps S105A and S105B of FIG. 14, users who have not entered (logged in) the virtual space are notified (informed) that a specific user has entered (logged in) the virtual space. However, similar processing may also be performed in the specific user information medium management server 500. For example, in the storage unit 520 of the specific user information medium management server 500, the user ID in the specific user information medium management server is associated in advance with the user ID in the virtual space provided by the distribution server 100, or the same ID is used for any user ID. Thereby, in FIG. 13, notification may be made to the user terminals of users who are not included in the user entry status acquired in step S203.

[0241] In the above-described embodiment, in steps S105A and S105B of FIG. 14, an example has been described in which users who have not entered (logged in) the virtual space are notified (informed) that a specific user has entered (logged in) the virtual space. However, even if a user is logged in to the virtual space, users who have not entered a room in the same area as the area where the specific user has entered (or the same room as the specific user) may be notified.

[0242] Note that in the entry notification process 3, the information distributed to users who have not logged in to the virtual space and extracted in step S105A may include information indicating that the specific user has logged in among the information about the specific user distributed in step S108, and the information distributed to users who are logged in to the virtual space may not include information indicating that the specific user has logged in.

[0243] (Regarding the entry notification process 4) In the above-described embodiment, in the distribution server 100, an example was described in which, in steps S105C and S105D of FIG. 15, users other than those who have entered the virtual space under a predetermined situation are notified (informed) that a specific user has entered (logged in) the virtual space. However, similar to the description in the above (regarding the entry notification process 3), similar processing may also be performed in the specific user information medium management server 500. For example, the information on the content in which each user is participating may be included in the user entry status obtained in step S203 of FIG. 12, and based on the obtained user entry status, notification may not be sent to the user terminals of the users who have entered the virtual space under a predetermined situation.

[0244] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which notification (informing) that a specific user has entered (logged in) may not be sent to the users who have entered under a predetermined situation. However, it is not limited to this, and when a specific user enters under a predetermined situation, notification that the specific user has entered may not be sent. For example, it may include cases such as entering to hold and execute a pre-scheduled event in the virtual space under a predetermined situation. If the specific user is a talent and enters for a pre-scheduled live event in which the talent is the main character, notification that the other user has entered may not be sent. In this case, in the distribution server 100, when it is determined that a specific user has logged in and is during a predetermined specific event period, the process of notifying other users may not be performed.

[0245] Also, when the login of a specific user is a login under a predetermined situation, information regarding the specific user that is distributed in response to a browsing request from the user in step S107 of FIG. 12 and step S204 of FIG. 13 may not include information on the login of the specific user who logged in under the predetermined situation. For example, it can be made not to notify when it is possible to predict in advance that a specific user will log in as a user, the login time, etc., or when the user knows in advance that a specific user will enter the room. For example, by notifying in advance scheduled entry information or event information as information regarding the specific user illustrated in FIGS. 10(B) and 11, the user can acquire information that a specific user may enter the room in advance. Also, when a large-scale event is scheduled and it is expected that a large number of specific users will participate, it is possible to suppress the amount of information to be notified from becoming too large. In this way, depending on whether the entry of a specific user is a pre-scheduled entry, in the case of a pre-scheduled entry, it is possible not to notify other users.

[0246] Note that in the entry notification process 4, for users other than the user who has entered the virtual space extracted in step S105C under a predetermined situation, information indicating that the specific user has logged in is included in the information regarding the specific user distributed in step S108, and information indicating that the specific user has logged in may not be included in the information distributed to the user who has logged in to the virtual space under a predetermined situation.

[0247] <Regarding the setting change process of the distribution server 100> (Regarding entry into the virtual space) In the above-described embodiments, an example in which it is determined whether or not a specific user has logged in has been described in step S303 of FIG. 18 and step S404 of FIG. 19. However, not limited to this, it may be determined whether or not a specific user has entered the virtual space at the timing of entering the room, rather than entering by logging in to the virtual space, and processing may be performed. For example, in step S303 of FIG. 18 and step S404 of FIG. 19, if it is determined that a specific user has entered a predetermined room in the virtual space, resource increase processing of the server may be performed in step S304, or processing for reducing the amount of information in steps S405 and S406 may be performed. Note that the server whose resources fluctuate may be a server corresponding to the entry / exit processing unit 134 that performs login authentication (for example, a login authentication API server), a server having a function for providing information regarding an area of the virtual space to the user, a list of rooms that can be entered related to the area, etc., or a server corresponding to the room. Further, the processing in steps S405 and S406 of FIG. 19 may be performed for the user terminals of all users who have entered the virtual space, or may be executed for the user terminals of some users. The part includes, for example, users who have entered a room in the same area as the area where the specific user has entered, users who have entered the same room as the room where the specific user has entered, and the like.

[0248] (Example in the case of not changing) In the above-described embodiments, an example in which setting change processing is performed if the user who has entered is a specific user has been described in step S303 of FIG. 18 and step S404 of FIG. 19. However, if the degree of the desired resources and the degree of the amount of information already meet the requirements, the processing may not be performed even if a specific user enters. For example, in FIG. 8, the increased operating number of the server was determined, but the maximum operating number may be determined, and if the number of servers already reaches the maximum operating number even if a specific user logs in, it may not be increased.

[0249] (Regarding the degree of setting change in the setting change processing) In the above-described embodiments, as exemplified in step S304 of FIGS. 8 and 18, step S405 of FIG. 19, and step S406, etc., as an example of setting a degree of variation determined in advance according to a specific user, an example of varying the degree of resources (such as the number of servers) or the degree of amount of information (such as the number of synchronization times) has been described. However, not limited to this, the degree of variation of the settings performed when a specific user enters the room may be made uniform. That is, for any specific user, regardless of the associated evaluation index or attribute number, a certain process may be performed. For example, even when the user ID "u2" in FIG. 7(A) logs in or when the user ID "u7" logs in, the number of servers to be increased may be three. Alternatively, regardless of whether "u2" or "u7" logs in, the number of synchronization times may be set to three.

[0250] Alternatively, each time a specific user enters the room, the degree of variation of the settings according to the specific user may be calculated. For example, the degree of variation may be calculated each time using a predetermined formula that defines the evaluation index of the specific user at the time of entry and variables such as the current resource utilization rate.

[0251] (Regarding the case where multiple specific users log in) The setting change process in the above-described embodiment may calculate the degree of change in resources and information volume based on the degree of setting change by a specific user who has already entered the room and the degree of setting change by a specific user who enters later when a plurality of specific users enter the room, and the control unit 130 may perform processing according to the calculation result in response to the entry of the specific user. For example, assuming that the user ID "u2" in FIG. 7 has entered the virtual space and then the user ID "u8" enters, the degree of change may be calculated using a criterion that combines the respective evaluation indices "5" and "3". For example, it may be set such that the degree of resources and the degree of information volume correspond to the evaluation index obtained by adding the evaluation indices, or the degree of resources and the degree of information volume may correspond to the higher evaluation index. For example, when a user with an evaluation index of "3" has already entered the room and then a user with an evaluation index of "5" enters, the setting change process has already been performed according to the evaluation index "3", but the setting change process according to the evaluation index "5" (for example, increasing the number of servers from the maximum number of operating servers corresponding to the evaluation index "3" to the maximum number of operating servers corresponding to the evaluation index "5") may be executed. Also, for example, when a user with an evaluation index of "5" has already entered the room and then a user with an evaluation index of "3" (lower than "5") enters, since the setting change process has already been performed according to the evaluation index "5", it may be set not to change the settings newly. Alternatively, it may be set such that the degree of resources and the degree of information volume correspond to the evaluation index obtained by adding half of the lower evaluation index to the higher evaluation index, or the degree of change may be calculated by using each evaluation index as a variable in a predetermined calculation formula.

[0252] (Regarding the setting change process according to the content load) The setting change process in the above-described embodiment may be performed according to the load for each content provided by the distribution server 100. For example, when a specific user enters a room where chat-exclusive content with a relatively light load is provided, the degree of increase in resources and the degree of decrease in the distribution amount may be greater when the user enters a room where game content, which is considered to have a greater load, is provided.

[0253] In addition, in the virtual space, the settings may be changed according to the movement of the specific user's room. For example, in the case of server enhancement processing, when a specific user moves from a room where chat-exclusive content is provided (the resources of the server may already have been increased according to the room where the chat-exclusive content is provided) to a room where game content is provided, the process may be performed so that the resources of the server corresponding to the game content are increased. Also, the resources of the server in the room where the chat-exclusive content that the user entered before moving may be reduced. Alternatively, when moving from a room where game content is provided to a room where chat-exclusive content is provided, the resources of the server in the room where the game content that the user entered before moving may be reduced. Note that the room includes a room corresponding to an area, a room that can be transitioned by selecting content or the like within the area, a room that can be transitioned through a portal within the area, a room provided regardless of the area, and the like.

[0254] In addition, in the case of distribution information amount change processing, for example, when a specific user moves from a room where chat-exclusive content is provided to a room with a heavy load where game content is provided, processing for reducing the amount of information distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal may be performed. For example, in a room where chat-exclusive content is provided, since the processing load is relatively light, no setting change process may be performed, and if the user moves to a room with heavy-load content, a setting change process may be performed.

[0255] (Regarding the relationship between areas and rooms) Regarding the relationship between areas and rooms in the virtual space in the above-described embodiment, it is not limited to the case where one type of room is defined for an area, and a plurality of different types of rooms may be defined according to the content provided in the area. For example, in an area imitating a town, it may be possible to transition from a room imitating the town to a room where different content is provided via a portal provided in the room or by an operation such as selecting game content.

[0256] In the above-described embodiment, with reference to FIG. 18, an example was described in which the number of servers may be increased in step S302 and step S304 to increase the number of rooms. For example, when a user enters a room, the rooms to which the user is automatically assigned by a load balancing function may be associated with each room (for example, on the screen of FIG. 9(C), if the user only selects an area, the room to enter is automatically determined), and the entry process may be performed so that the number of people in each room is evenly distributed without being biased to one room. In addition, when the number of people in a room exceeds the upper limit number (when the room is full or when a predetermined number of people before becoming full is reached), the number of servers may be increased to increase the number of rooms. Even if rooms are automatically assigned, if a room ID is entered in the room ID input area 27, it may be possible to enter the room with the entered room ID.

[0257] (Regarding examples of servers) The server in the above-described embodiment may be any device having the function of a server, and includes, for example, a physical server, a server configured by virtualization technology, etc. Examples of a server configured by virtualization technology include host OS virtualization, hypervisor virtualization, container virtualization, etc. Also, all or some of various servers may be configured on a cloud service (on a cloud system), which is an infrastructure configured by virtualization technology. For example, different servers may be defined for each function or content.

[0258] For example, in the case of a container-type virtualization server, one container or a plurality of containers are defined as one server, and control is performed to increase the number of servers to be executed. For example, if the login authentication device 101 detects that a talent, who is a specific user, has logged in, the server management device 105 is sent a command to increase the containers executed by the login authentication device 101. As a result, the number of containers (servers) functioning as the login authentication device 101 increases (the amount of allocation of CPU and memory, which are computer resources), and the processing performance of the server improves.

[0259] (Regarding the distribution information amount fluctuation process) In the above-described embodiment, an example of reducing the drawing information in the virtual space has been described with regard to the decrease in the amount of information itself when being distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal, as described in steps S403 and S404 of FIG. 19. The drawing information to be reduced includes, for example, reducing the number of user avatars. For example, in a room, user avatars located at a predetermined distance from the operating user avatar are displayed, but user avatars located farther than the predetermined distance are not displayed. However, for specific users such as talents and user avatars of friends (for example, users being followed), they may be displayed even if they are located farther than the predetermined distance.

[0260] Note that a list of users in the same room including user-specific information (information specifying whether or not selected) for specifying the users the user has pre-selected and followed and stored in the distribution server 100 and information for specifying specific users is sent from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal. At the user terminal, the IDs of the followed users and specific users are extracted, and the distribution server 100 may be requested from the user terminal to display only the avatars of the extracted users as other user avatars. Thereby, the processing load on both the distribution server 100 and the user terminal is reduced.

[0261] Also, the distribution information amount variation process may be either the process for reducing the information requested from the user terminal (such as the process of transmitting information for reducing the number of times of synchronizing signal transmission in steps S402 and S405 in FIG. 19) or the process of reducing the amount of information itself distributed to the user terminal (such as steps S403 and S406 in FIG. 19), and either may be executed first or they may be executed simultaneously. Also, it is not limited to being executed in either case, and it may be executed step by step according to the load situation or a specific user. For example, in a state where the load is heavy, in a relatively light stage, or for a login of a user with a relatively low evaluation index among specific users, a process of reducing the number of synchronizations is executed. In a state where the load is heavy and in a heavy stage exceeding a predetermined threshold, or for a login of a user with a high evaluation index among specific users, in addition to the process of reducing the number of synchronizations, the amount of information itself distributed from the distribution server 100 to the user terminal may be further reduced.

[0262] <Regarding the user terminal> The user terminal operated by the specific user in the above-described embodiment may be the user terminal 300 or the distribution user terminal 400. Also, for the specific user, it may be such that they enter the virtual space from a dedicated application different from the application installed on the user terminals of other users.

[0263] <Regarding the room to enter> In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which after the user logs in to the virtual space from the screens of FIGS. 9(A) and (B) for example, the user can enter the room by selecting the room corresponding to each area from the screen of FIG. 9(C). However, it is not limited to this, and a room may be automatically assigned (associated) as long as the user logs in to the virtual space. Alternatively, in FIG. 9(C), a room may be automatically assigned by the load distribution function when an area is selected.

[0264] <Example of Execution Order of Entrance Notification Processing and Setting Change Processing> In the above-described embodiments, the entrance notification processing such as FIG. 12 and the setting change processing of the distribution server 100 in FIGS. 18 and 19 may be performed either first or simultaneously. For example, when the login authentication device 101 illustrated in FIG. 16 performs the login authentication processing for a specific user, after first sending an execution command of the processing to the server management device 105 from the login authentication device 101, information for notifying the notification management device 104 that the specific user has logged in may be sent.

[0265] Also, either only the virtual space providing server enhancement processing or the distribution information amount variation processing, which are setting change processes, may be executed, or both may be executed according to the load situation and the specific user who has entered. Alternatively, either one may be preferentially executed, and both may be executed according to the load situation and the specific user who has entered. For example, when a specific user logs in, the setting change processing of the distribution server 100 may be executed, and when the specific user enters any room, the entrance notification processing may be performed.

[0266] 〔Example of Realization by Software〕 In the above-described embodiments, the various control blocks of the control unit included in computers such as servers and terminals may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). When realized by software using a CPU, a computer equipped with a control unit includes a CPU that executes instructions of a program, which is software for realizing each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a storage device (collectively referred to as a "recording medium") in which the above program and various data are recordable in a readable manner by the computer (or CPU), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the above program, and the like. Then, when the computer (or CPU) reads and executes the above program from the above recording medium, the object of the present invention is achieved. As the above recording medium, a "non-transitory tangible medium", for example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. Further, the above program may be supplied to the above computer via any transmission medium (such as a communication network or a broadcast wave) capable of transmitting the program. It should be noted that one aspect of the present invention can also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the above program is embodied by electronic transmission.

[0267] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of this invention is shown not by the above description but by the scope of claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims are included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0268] 1 Communication system, 2 Network, 100 Distribution server, 200 Administrator terminal, 300 User terminal, 400 Distribution user terminal, 500 Specific user information medium management server

Claims

1. A program for causing a computer to perform processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, wherein the computer is made to function as notification means capable of executing processing that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and that notifies other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space, and the notification means notifies other users, excluding users who are in an entry state under a predetermined condition in the virtual space, that the specific user has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space.

2. A program for causing a computer to perform processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, wherein the computer is made to function as notification means capable of executing processing that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and that notifies other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space, and the notification means does not perform processing for notifying other users that the specific user has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space under a predetermined condition.

3. A method for causing a computer to perform processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, the method comprising: performing a step of executing processing that is not performed when a user who does not satisfy a specific condition enters the virtual space, and that is capable of executing processing for notifying other users that the specific user who satisfies the specific condition has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space, wherein the step of executing processing for notifying other users notifies other users, excluding users who are in an entry state under a predetermined condition in the virtual space, that the specific user has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space.

4. A system comprising a computer that performs processing based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, ​ ​ ​ A process that is not performed when a user who does not meet specific conditions enters the virtual space, and includes notification means capable of executing a process for notifying other users that the specific user who meets the specific conditions has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space. The notification means is a system that, when the specific user enters the virtual space, notifies other users except those who are in the virtual space in an entry state under a predetermined situation that the specific user has entered.

5. A method for causing a computer to perform a process based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, including a step of performing a process that is not performed when a user who does not meet specific conditions enters the virtual space, and capable of executing a process for notifying other users that the specific user who meets the specific conditions has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space. The step of being capable of executing the process for notifying other users is a method in which, when the specific user enters the virtual space under a predetermined situation, the process for notifying other users that the specific user has entered is not performed.

6. A system including a computer that performs a process based on the entry status of a user into a virtual space, including notification means capable of performing a process that is not performed when a user who does not meet specific conditions enters the virtual space, and capable of executing a process for notifying other users that the specific user who meets the specific conditions has entered the virtual space when the specific user enters the virtual space. The notification means is a system that, when the specific user enters the virtual space under a predetermined situation, does not perform the process for notifying other users that the specific user has entered.

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