Server device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a server device, an information processing method, and a program that allow group activities carried out in a virtual space to proceed smoothly.SOLUTION: In an information processing system that includes a plurality of user terminals and a server device communicatively connected to the plurality of user terminals via a network 30, and that performs group activity management processing, the server device includes a status management unit that manages the status of a user in group activities in a virtual space, a scenario management unit that manages scenario information for the group activities, and an alternative processing unit that, when it is detected that the user has left the group activities, activates alternative processing for the user who has left based on the scenario information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a server device, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] With the evolution of information and communication technology, it has become possible for users to interact with each other in a virtual space or a metaverse via network-connected user terminals. For example, each user can use their own avatar or the like to interact with the avatars of other users in a virtual space or a metaverse.

[0003] In such a virtual space or metaverse, it is possible for a plurality of users to conduct group activities. Conventionally, training and group learning have been implemented by a plurality of participants gathering at a facility or the like and performing role-playing or the like together within the facility. On the other hand, technologies for realizing such training and group learning in a virtual space or a metaverse have also been proposed. In the proposed technologies, each participant can participate in training and group learning via their own user terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in such remote training and group learning, participants may be unable to participate in group activities due to communication failures or the like during the implementation of the training or group learning. When tasks such as role-playing are carried out in training or group learning, the progress of the entire training or group learning may be stopped midway due to the withdrawal of a certain participant.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for smoothly advancing group activities implemented in a virtual space.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a server device including a status management unit that manages the status of a user in a group activity in a virtual space, a scenario management unit that manages scenario information of the group activity, and an alternative processing unit that activates alternative processing for the departed user based on the scenario information when it is detected that the user has departed from the group activity.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technique for smoothly advancing group activities implemented in a virtual space.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In the following embodiments, an information processing system for managing a group activity in which a plurality of participants participate on a virtual space via their respective user terminals is disclosed.

[0012] [Information Processing System] First, an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an information processing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 10 includes user terminals 20_1 to 20_3 (hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as user terminal 20) and a server device 100 communicatively connected to the user terminals 20_1 to 20_3 via a network 30. In the illustrated embodiment, only three user terminals 20_1 to 20_3 are shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any number of two or more user terminals 20_i (i = 1, ···, N) may be included in the information processing system 10.

[0014] The user terminal 20 may be an information processing device in any form such as, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, or a personal computer. For example, the user terminal 20 can exchange data with the server device 100 via a network 30 such as the Internet by a wired connection or a wireless connection. In the following, the user terminal 20 and the user 20 may sometimes be described synonymously with the same reference numeral.

[0015] The server device 100 may be an information processing device in any form such as, for example, a cloud server or a cloud machine. The server device 100 communicates with the user terminal 20 via the network 30 and provides various services described later.

[0016] As described above, the information processing system 10 is a client-server type system, and the server device 100 provides various services to the user terminal 20. However, the information processing system 10 according to the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to a client-server type system in which the server device 100 provides various services. For example, it may be a distributed processing system in which one or more of the user terminals 20 execute some or all of the functions and processes provided by the server device 100 by themselves.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing group activity management processing in the information processing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, three users participate in a group activity operated and managed by the server device 100 using the user terminals 20_1 to 20_3, and the server device 100 operates and manages the group activity. The group activity here is a group activity by role-playing in which each user plays a designated role, and is composed of chapters 1 to 3 divided by appropriate breaks corresponding to the scenario of the role-playing. Breaks are provided between chapters. However, the group activity according to the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to a group activity by role-playing, and may be any other form of group activity provided in a virtual space.

[0018] Server device 100 manages the participation status of users 20_1 to 20_3 in group activities. In the illustrated example, user 20_1 fully participates in the entire Chapters 1 to 3, and server device 100 displays user objects such as an avatar representing user 20_1 across Chapters 1 to 3 on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3.

[0019] On the other hand, user 20_2 left the group activity in the middle of Chapter 1 and returned to the group activity before the start of Chapter 2. For example, the departure may be due to a communication failure or the like, or it may be due to user 20_2 voluntarily leaving temporarily, or for some other reason. Server device 100 may display a user object such as an avatar representing user 20_2 on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3 during the group activity participation, and display an alternative object indicating that user 20_2 is away on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3 during the group activity departure. Also, server device 100 may replace the role of user 20_2 in the role-playing of Chapter 1 during the departure of user 20_2. Then, when user 20_2 returns, server device 100 replaces the alternative object with the user object of user 20_2 and displays it on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3.

[0020] Also, user 20_3 left the group activity in the middle of Chapter 1 and rejoined the group activity before the start of Chapter 3. That is, user 20_3 did not participate in the group activity in Chapter 2. For example, the departure may be due to a communication failure or the like, or it may be due to user 20_3 voluntarily leaving temporarily, or it may be due to some other reason. The server device 100 may display a user object such as an avatar representing user 20_3 on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3 during the group activity, and display an alternative object indicating that user 20_3 is away on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3 during the group activity departure. Further, the server device 100 may substitute the role of user 20_3 in the role-playing of Chapters 1 and 2 during the departure of user 20_3. Then, when user 20_3 returns, the server device 100 replaces the alternative object with the user object of user 20_3 and displays it on each user terminal 20_1 to 20_3.

[0021] In this way, the server device 100 grasps the participation status of each user 20 in the group activity. When detecting a user 20 who is away, the server device 100 changes the user object of the user 20 to an alternative object and displays it on each user terminal 20, and substitutes the role of the user 20 who is away in the group activity. Then, when detecting that the user 20 who has left has rejoined the group activity, the server device 100 replaces the alternative object displayed during the departure with the user object of the user 20, enabling the returning user 20 to smoothly rejoin the group activity.

[0022] Here, the server device 100 may have a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, the server device 100 includes a storage device 101, a memory device 102, a processor 103, and a communication device 104 that are interconnected via a bus B.

[0023] Programs and / or data for realizing various functions and processes in the server device 100 are downloaded from an external device and / or network via the communication device 104 to the storage device 101 or the memory device 102.

[0024] The storage device 101 is realized by a non-volatile memory or the like, and stores installed or downloaded programs or data (for example, files, etc.).

[0025] The memory device 102 is realized by a random access memory, a static memory, etc. When a program or an instruction is activated, it reads and stores programs, instructions, data, etc. from the storage device 101. The storage device 101, the memory device 102, and the removable storage medium may be collectively referred to as a non-transitory storage medium.

[0026] The processor 103 may be realized by one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), processing circuits, etc. that may be composed of one or more processor cores, and executes various functions and processes of the server device 100 according to programs, instructions, data such as parameters necessary for executing the program or instruction, etc. stored in the memory device 102.

[0027] The communication device 104 is realized by various communication circuits that execute wired and / or wireless communication processing with communication networks such as external devices, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), cellular networks, etc.

[0028] However, the above-described hardware configuration is merely an example, and the server device 100 according to the present disclosure may be realized by any other appropriate hardware configuration.

[0029] [Server Device] Next, the server device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the server device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the server device 100 includes a status management unit 110, a scenario management unit 120, and an alternative processing unit 130. Each functional unit of the status management unit 110, the scenario management unit 120, and the alternative processing unit 130 can be realized by the processor 103 of the server device 100 executing a program stored in the memory device 102.

[0030] The status management unit 110 manages the status of users in group activities in the virtual space. Specifically, the status management unit 110 monitors the participation status of each user 20 participating in the group activity performed in the virtual space and grasps the participation status of each user 20.

[0031] For example, when the user 20 accesses the server device 100 to participate in a group activity, the status management unit 110 determines that the user 20 has participated in the group activity. Then, when the user 20 participating in the group activity leaves the group activity, the status management unit 110 determines that the status of the user 20 is "leaving". The departure from the group activity may be, for example, detecting the disconnection of the communication between the user terminal 20 and the server device 100, receiving a departure notice from the user terminal 20, not being able to detect an action by the user terminal 20 for a certain period of time or more in the ongoing group activity, or not being able to detect the user 20 for a certain period of time or more from the user image captured by the user terminal 20 in the group activity.

[0032] Then, when the user 20 who is leaving returns to the group activity, the status management unit 110 determines that the status of the user 20 has become "participating". The return to the group activity may be detected, for example, by detecting the resumption of communication between the user terminal 20 and the server device 100, receiving a return notification from the user terminal 20, detecting an action by the user terminal 20 that is leaving during the ongoing group activity, detecting the user 20 from a user image captured by the user terminal 20 that is leaving during the group activity, and so on.

[0033] The scenario management unit 120 manages the scenario information of the group activity. For example, the group activity is divided into a plurality of chapters 1, 2, ···, and scenarios to be performed by each user 20 in each chapter are prepared. For example, starting from chapter 1, chapter 2 is then executed, and thereafter, each chapter is sequentially executed, whereby the group activity progresses. The scenario management unit 120 manages the scenarios to be performed by each user 20 in each chapter, and as the group activity progresses, grasps the roles that each user should play in each chapter based on the scenarios of each chapter.

[0034] When it is detected that the user 20 has left the group activity, the alternative processing unit 130 activates alternative processing for the user 20 who has left based on the scenario information. Specifically, the alternative processing unit 130 may replace a user object such as an avatar indicating the user 20 participating in the group activity with an alternative object. The alternative object may be, for example, a non-player character (NPC). That is, the alternative processing unit 130 may display the user 20 who has left with an alternative object in the virtual space as alternative processing.

[0035] Further, the alternative processing unit 130 may substitute the role of the user 20 who has left the group activity based on the scenario information. Specifically, when it is detected that the user 20 has left the group activity in a certain chapter, the alternative processing unit 130 refers to the scenario information managed by the scenario management unit 120 and determines whether the role to be performed by the user 20 who has left in the chapter remains. If the role of the user 20 who has left remains in the chapter, the alternative processing unit 130 substitutes the role of the user 20 who has left based on the scenario information. On the other hand, if the role of the user 20 who has left does not remain in the chapter, the alternative processing unit 130 may only perform replacement with an alternative object.

[0036] When it is detected that the user 20 who has left the group activity has returned, the alternative processing unit 130 may end the alternative processing. For example, the alternative processing unit 130 may return the alternative object displayed during the departure of the user 20 to the user object of the user 20. Further, the alternative processing unit 130 may stop substituting the role of the user 20 during the departure and cause the returned user 20 to perform an action in the group activity.

[0037] Next, a specific example of the group activity management process realized by the server device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In this example, three users, an older brother 20_1, an older sister 20_2, and a younger brother 20_3, participate in the group activity, and a task of "cooking curry rice that makes mom happy" is given as the group goal.

[0038] The status management unit 110 monitors the participation status of the group activities of the elder brother 20_1, elder sister 20_2, and younger brother 20_3, and identifies the status of the elder brother 20_1, elder sister 20_2, and younger brother 20_3 as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the status management unit 110 determines that the elder brother 20_1 continues to participate without leaving over Chapters 1 and 2. Also, the status management unit 110 determines that the elder sister 20_2 temporarily leaves in Chapter 1, returns in Chapter 1, and then continues to participate. Furthermore, the status management unit 110 determines that the younger brother 20_3 leaves in the middle of Chapter 1 and returns in Chapter 2.

[0039] When detecting the participation status of each such user 20, the alternative management unit 130 displays the user object of the user 20 on each user terminal 20 while the user 20 is participating in the group activity, and displays the user 20 by an alternative object while the user 20 is away from the group activity. Also, while the user 20 is away from the group activity, the alternative management unit 130 substitutes the role of the user 20 in the chapter in which the user has left.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the scenario management unit 120 displays the group goal "Make curry rice that mom will like" together with the situation description "You are siblings. You have decided to make curry for mom's birthday. The elder brother is in charge of shopping, the elder sister is in charge of making curry, and the younger brother is in charge of cooking rice." on each of the user terminals 20_1 to 20_3. First, the scenario management unit 120 sets a scenario of "Prepare for making curry" as Chapter 1 of the group activity for each of the users 20_1 to 20_3.

[0041] Also, the scenario management unit 110 presents an instruction from mom to the elder brother 20_1, "Buy the ingredients that are lacking at the supermarket", along with a question, "What will you buy and come back with?" Furthermore, the price of each ingredient is displayed as reference information.

[0042] In addition, the scenario management unit 110 presents the question "What kind of curry will you make?" to sister 20_2 along with the instruction from mother "Don't buy the same things as those at home. Give the wallet with 2,000 yen to your older brother." Furthermore, the materials required for various curries and the materials available at home are displayed as reference information.

[0043] Also, the scenario management unit 110 presents the question "Which rice will you cook?" to brother 20_3 along with the instruction from mother "I want to eat curry made with carrots or beef." Furthermore, the rice required for various curries and the rice available at home are displayed as reference information.

[0044] For example, the status management unit 110 displays a screen for Chapter 1 as shown in FIG. 7. The screen transition diagram shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the user terminal 20_1 of the older brother, and similar screens are respectively displayed on the user terminals 20_2 and 20_3 of the sister and the brother. At the start of Chapter 1, the remaining time "15:00" of Chapter 1 and the user objects of the sister and the brother are displayed. Note that each user 20_1 to 20_3 has not answered the questions in Chapter 1, and "Before answering" is displayed.

[0045] After that, as shown in FIG. 5, when the status management unit 110 detects that sister 20_2 has left the group activity (#1), the alternative processing unit 130, as shown in FIG. 7, notifies that the sister has become "absent" and replaces the user object of sister 20_2 with an alternative object NPC.

[0046] When the brother 20_1 wants to know the information from the sister 20_2 to answer the question, he can select the alternative object NPC of the sister 20_2 and obtain the information from the sister 20_2. When the alternative object NPC of the sister 20_2 is selected, the alternative processing unit 130 replaces the sister 20_2 and provides the information from the sister 20_2 by the alternative object NPC. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the alternative object of the sister 20_2 provides the information: "There is a message from mom. 'Don't buy the same thing as what's at home. Give the brother a wallet with 2000 yen in it.' Also, I found potatoes and pork in the kitchen. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

[0047] After that, when the sister 20_2 returns to the group activity, the status management unit 110 returns the alternative object NPC of the sister 20_2 to the user object of the sister 20_2. After that, as shown in FIG. 5, when the brother 20_1 answers the question, the status management unit 110 changes the status of the brother 20_1 from "before answering" to "answered" as shown in FIG. 8.

[0048] After that, as shown in FIG. 5, after the younger brother 20_3 answers the question and then leaves the group activity (#2), the status management unit 110 replaces the user object of the younger brother 20_3 with the alternative object NPC as shown in FIG. 8.

[0049] Then, the scenario management unit 120 displays the result for the answer of the brother 20_1 as shown in FIG. 8. When all the participants in the group activity have completed answering, the status management unit 110 ends Chapter 1.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, at the start of Chapter 2, the younger brother 20_3 has not returned to the group activity. At the start of Chapter 2, the status management unit 110 displays the participating sister 20_2 by the user object and the leaving younger brother 20_3 by the alternative object NPC as shown in FIG. 9.

[0051] After that, when the younger brother 20_3 returns to Chapter 2 (#3), the status management unit 110 replaces the substitute object NPC of the younger brother 20_3 with the user object and displays the status in Chapter 2 as "before answering".

[0052] In this way, the server device 100 can operate and manage the group activity so that the group activity does not stop due to the user's departure.

[0053] [Group Activity Management Process] Next, the group activity management process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The group activity management process can be realized by the server device 100, and more specifically, by the processor 103 of the server device 100 executing a program stored in the memory device 102.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10, in step S101, the server device 100 manages the status of the user in the group activity. For example, in the specific examples of the group activity shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the server device 100 manages the status of each user 20 as "before answering", "answered", "absent", etc.

[0055] In step S102, the server device 100 determines whether the group activity has ended. For example, when all the chapters of the group activity have ended (S102: YES), the server device 100 may determine that the group activity has ended and end the group activity management process. On the other hand, when not all the chapters of the group activity have ended (S102: NO), the server device 100 proceeds to step S103.

[0056] In step S103, the server device 100 determines whether the user has left the group activity. The departure from the group activity may be, for example, detecting the disconnection of communication between the user terminal 20 and the server device 100, receiving a departure notice from the user terminal 20, not being able to detect an action by the user terminal 20 for a certain period of time or longer in the ongoing group activity, not being able to detect the user 20 from the user image captured by the user terminal 20 in the group activity for a certain period of time or longer, and so on. If the user has not left the group activity (S103: NO), the server device 100 returns to step S101 to manage the status of each user. On the other hand, if the user has left the group activity (S103: YES), the server device 100 proceeds to step S104.

[0057] In step S104, the server device 100 activates alternative processing for the user who has left based on the scenario information. For example, the server device 100 may replace the user object of the user who has left with an alternative object or replace the role of the user who has left in the group activity.

[0058] In step S105, the server device 100 determines whether the user who is away has returned. The return to the group activity may be, for example, detecting the resumption of communication between the user terminal 20 and the server device 100, receiving a return notice from the user terminal 20, detecting an action by the user terminal 20 of the user who is away in the ongoing group activity, detecting the user 20 from the user image captured by the user terminal 20 of the user who is away in the group activity, and so on. If the user who is away has returned (S105: YES), the server device 100 proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if the user who is away has not returned (S105: NO), the server device 100 continues to monitor the return of the user.

[0059] In step S106, the server device 100 terminates the alternative process for the returned user. Specifically, the server device 100 replaces the alternative object of the user with the user object, or causes the returned user to execute the answer to the question or the request for information provision from other users. After that, the server device 100 returns to step S101 and executes each of the above-described steps.

[0060] According to the above-described group activity management process, the group activity can be operated and managed so that the group activity does not stop due to the departure of the user.

[0061] Note that the group activity according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be applied to, for example, various trainings, drills, educations, experiential learnings, etc. Specifically, the present disclosure can be applied to group trainings inside and outside the company such as cyber security drills, project progress drills, SDGs and LGBT educations, in-company trainings for management levels, experiential learnings that require group activities such as information collection and puzzle-solving in the education field, etc.

[0062] As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure described in the claims.

Explanation of Signs

[0063] 10 Information processing system 20 User terminal 30 Network 100 Server device 110 Status management unit 120 Scenario management unit 130 Alternative processing unit

Claims

1. A status management unit that manages the status of a user in a group activity in a virtual space, A scenario management unit that manages the scenario information of the group activity, An alternative processing unit that, when it is detected that the user has left the group activity, activates alternative processing for the left user based on the scenario information, A server device having the above.

2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the alternative processing unit displays the left user by an alternative object on the virtual space.

3. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the alternative processing unit substitutes the role of the left user in the group activity based on the scenario information.

4. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the status management unit detects the departure and return of a user in the group activity.

5. The server device according to claim 1, wherein when it is detected that the left user has returned to the group activity, the alternative processing unit ends the alternative processing.

6. Managing the status of a user in a group activity in a virtual space, Managing the scenario information of the group activity, When it is detected that the user has left the group activity, activating alternative processing for the left user based on the scenario information, An information processing method executed by a computer.

7. Managing the status of a user in a group activity in a virtual space, Managing the scenario information of the group activity, When it is detected that the user has left the group activity, activating alternative processing for the left user based on the scenario information, A program that causes a computer to execute the above.

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