Server device, virtual space control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technology for guiding a user to a destination in a virtual space.SOLUTION: A server device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information, a destination determination unit that determines a destination for a user in a virtual space on the basis of the user information, and a virtual space control unit that controls a virtual object to move to the destination in the vicinity of the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a server device, a virtual space control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Advances in information and communication technology have made it possible for users to interact with each other in virtual spaces and metaverse spaces (hereafter, virtual spaces and metaverse spaces will be collectively referred to as "virtual spaces") via network-connected user terminals. For example, each user can use their own avatar to interact with other users in the virtual space and view information presented in the virtual space.

[0003] For example, a user may conduct a real-world transaction after viewing a sign or advertisement in the virtual space. Specifically, a hyperlink to an external site is set in the information display area of a sign or advertisement in the virtual space, and the user can click or perform other operations in the information display area to transition to an electronic commerce (EC) site in the real world.

[0004] Each user who logs into the virtual space has their own attributes and interests, and by delivering appropriate advertisements (targeted advertising) based on the user's attributes and interests or by redirecting them to appropriate external sites, it is possible to promote purchasing behavior (improving conversions). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-187859 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-8638 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In a virtual space, a user can stroll through a street or the like where virtual stores and virtual signs of various genres are installed in the virtual space, find a virtual store that interests them, and purchase products or experience services in that virtual store. Installers of each virtual store or virtual signboard may want many users to visit their virtual store or the location where the virtual signboard is installed. Therefore, a technology for guiding users to such virtual stores and virtual signs in a virtual space may be desirable.

[0007] In view of the above problems, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology for guiding a user to a destination in a virtual space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a server device having a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information, a destination determination unit that determines a destination for a user in a virtual space based on the user information, and a virtual space control unit that controls a virtual object to move to the destination in the vicinity of the user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technique for guiding a user to a destination in a virtual space. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a guidance process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a guidance process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a server device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating correspondence information between interest categories and destinations according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a node list and a link list, respectively, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a movement route of a virtual object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a movement route of a virtual object and link information, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a movement route of a virtual object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a movement route of a virtual object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a movement route of a virtual object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining a movement route of a virtual object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing various guidance forms and mob character types according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a virtual object control process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] In the following embodiment, an information processing system for operating and managing a virtual space used by users is disclosed.

[0013] [Information Processing Systems] 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.

[0014] 1, the information processing system 10 includes user terminals 20_1 to 20_3 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as user terminals 20) and a server device 100 that is 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 user terminals 20_i (i=1, . . . , N) may be included in the information processing system 10.

[0015] The user terminal 20 may be any type of information processing device, such as a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, etc. For example, the user terminal 20 may exchange data with the server device 100 via a network 30 such as the Internet via a wired or wireless connection.

[0016] A user can log in to a virtual space operated and managed by the server device 100, move around within the virtual space, and interact with other virtual objects through chat. For example, a user can view notices (e.g., advertisements, videos, etc.) in the virtual space and enjoy shopping in virtual stores.

[0017] The server device 100 may be realized by one or more information processing devices in any form, such as a cloud server, a cloud machine, etc. The server device 100 is connected to and communicates with the user terminal 20 via a network 30, and provides various services in a virtual space, which will be described later.

[0018] The information processing system 10 is a client-server type system in which the server device 100 provides various services in a virtual space to the user terminals 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 in a virtual space, and may be, for example, a distributed processing system in which one or more of the user terminals 20 themselves execute some or all of the functions and processes provided by the server device 100.

[0019] In the embodiment described below, in order to guide the user to a predetermined target location in the virtual space, a virtual object is made to appear near the user in the virtual space and the virtual object is moved to the destination. By visually recognizing the virtual object moving to the destination in the virtual space, it is possible to draw the user's attention to the direction in which the virtual object is moving, and it is possible to encourage the user to move voluntarily toward the destination.

[0020] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when a user wants to be guided to a specific store, a virtual object such as a mob character or NPC (Non-Player Character) resembling a passerby appears near a user avatar representing the user in a virtual space, and the virtual object moves to the destination store. For example, as shown in the figure, when the user avatar is walking down a street lined with virtual stores, a mob character may appear near the user avatar, or an existing mob character may move near the user avatar and move to the destination store as a stream of people at appropriate intervals. Then, when the user arrives at the destination store, the mob character may disappear, or the guidance may be repeated, or the mob character may move randomly.

[0021] According to this embodiment, when a user sees a mob character appearing nearby moving, the user's attention can be drawn to the direction of the mob character's movement, and the user can be encouraged to move spontaneously to the virtual store where the mob character is moving. This allows each user to be naturally guided to a virtual store or a display location related to the user's interest category.

[0022] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, a single mob character moves to the destination store at regular intervals, but in other embodiments, as shown in Figure 3, multiple mob characters may appear at regular intervals, or multiple existing mob characters may be moved near the user avatar, and each group of mob characters may move to the destination store as a stream of people. In this way, when the user sees the group of mob characters moving all at once to the destination store, it is possible to draw the user's attention even more to the direction in which the group of mob characters is moving, and it may be possible to encourage the user to move spontaneously to the destination virtual store.

[0023] This allows each user to be guided in a natural way to a virtual store or a posting location related to the user's interest category. Users can easily stop by content that interests them (e.g., a virtual store, a virtual bulletin board, etc.) in the virtual space without feeling abrupt, which can increase the frequency of purchases at the virtual store and increase revenue. It can also increase the frequency and duration of posting views, as well as transitions to related sites via hyperlinks.

[0024] Here, the server device 100 may have, for example, a hardware configuration as shown in Fig. 4. That is, the server device 100 has a storage device 101, a memory device 102, a processor 103, and a communication device 104, which are interconnected via a bus B.

[0025] The programs and / or data that realize the various functions and processes in the server device 100 are downloaded to the storage device 101 or memory device 102 from an external device and / or a network via the communication device 104.

[0026] The storage device 101 is realized by a nonvolatile memory or the like, and stores installed or downloaded programs or data (for example, files, etc.).

[0027] The memory device 102 is realized by a random access memory, a static memory, or the like, and when a program or instruction is activated, reads and stores the program, instruction, data, or the like 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.

[0028] The processor 103 may be realized by one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), processing circuitry, etc., which may be composed of one or more processor cores, and performs various functions and processes of the server device 100 in accordance with programs, instructions, data such as parameters required to execute the programs or instructions, etc. stored in the memory device 102.

[0029] The communication device 104 is realized by various communication circuits that execute wired and / or wireless communication processing with external devices, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a cellular network, or other communication networks.

[0030] 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.

[0031] [Server device] Next, a server device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the server device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 5, the server device 100 includes a user information acquisition unit 110, a guide destination determination unit 120, and a virtual space control unit 130. The functional units of the user information acquisition unit 110, the guide destination determination unit 120, and the virtual space control unit 130 can be realized by the processor 103 of the server device 100 executing a program stored in the memory device 102.

[0032] The user information acquisition unit 110 acquires user information. For example, the user information may include attribute information of a user who has logged in to the virtual space (e.g., address, gender, age, occupation, job type, hobbies, family structure, etc.). Alternatively, the user information may include interest categories (e.g., affinity categories by Google, etc.). Examples of affinity categories by Google include "sports and fitness," "technology," "news and politics," "food and dining," "media and entertainment," "lifestyle and hobbies," "vehicles and transportation," "home and gardening," "travel," "beauty and health," "shopping enthusiasts," and "banking and finance."

[0033] Furthermore, the user information acquiring unit 110 may estimate the interest category based on the user's attribute information. For example, if the occupation registered in the attribute information is IT-related, the user information acquiring unit 110 may add "technology" to the user's interest category. Furthermore, if the hobby registered in the attribute information is traveling, the user information acquiring unit 110 may add "travel" and "vehicles and transportation" to the user's interest category. Such association of registered information of the attribute information with the interest category may be performed based on correspondence information, which is prepared in advance, indicating the association between each registered information of the attribute information and the interest category.

[0034] Alternatively, the user information may include the user's behavior history in the virtual space (e.g., entry into a virtual store, purchases made at the virtual store, visits to virtual facilities, and conversations in chats, etc.). The user information acquisition unit 110 may also estimate the user's interest category based on the user's behavior history in the virtual space. For example, the user information acquisition unit 110 may estimate the user's interest category based on the user's behavior in the virtual space, such as chat, voice chat, and emotes. Specifically, if the user chats about baseball in the virtual space, the user information acquisition unit 110 may add "sports, fitness" to the user's interest category. The user information acquisition unit 110 may also identify content, such as posters and signs, viewed by the user from the behavior history regarding the movement and orientation of the user avatar in the virtual space, and estimate the user's interest category based on the viewed content. For example, if the user views a signboard related to fashion, the user information acquisition unit 110 may add "lifestyle, hobbies" and "shopping lover" to the user's interest category.

[0035] After acquiring the user information in this manner, the user information acquiring unit 110 provides the acquired user information to the guide destination determining unit 120. Note that the above-described user information is merely an example, and the user information according to the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may include any other information related to the user.

[0036] The guide destination determination unit 120 determines a guide destination for the user in the virtual space based on the user information. For example, when correspondence information between interest categories and guide destinations is prepared, the guide destination determination unit 120 refers to the correspondence information to identify a guide destination corresponding to an interest category indicated in the user information or an interest category estimated from the user information, and determines the identified guide destination for the user. Here, the number of guide destinations corresponding to an interest category is not necessarily limited to one, and multiple guide destination candidates may be associated. Furthermore, multiple interest categories may be associated with the same guide destination candidate.

[0037] For example, the correspondence information between interest categories and destinations can be described in a table format as shown in Fig. 6. According to the correspondence information shown in Fig. 6, the interest category of "sports and fitness" is associated with "sporting goods stores" as a destination, and the interest category of "technology" is associated with "computer stores" as a destination.

[0038] Here, the guide destination candidates are not limited to virtual stores in the virtual space, but may be any other virtual locations such as the installation location of a bulletin board panel that displays still images, text, videos, etc., or a virtual facility where an event is held. Alternatively, the guide destination candidates may be the location of an NPC with a specific role (for example, an NPC that is integrated with an advertisement in the shape of a sandwich man, or an NPC that demonstrates products or performs street performances). Furthermore, the guide destination candidates may be a stage or area where an event is held.

[0039] Here, the guide destination determination unit 120 may randomly determine one of the multiple guide destination candidates. Alternatively, the guide destination determination unit 120 may determine one of the multiple guide destination candidates according to a selection probability. That is, a selection probability may be assigned to each guide destination candidate, and the guide destination determination unit 120 may select one of the multiple guide destination candidates according to the assigned selection probability. Here, the selection probability may be set higher for an exhibitor who pays a high price based on a contract with the exhibitor of the virtual store, etc. Furthermore, the selection probability may be set based on, for example, the rarity of each interest category. This is based on the assumption that there is a high desire to purchase products that are more rare.

[0040] After determining the guide destination in this manner, the guide destination determination unit 120 notifies the virtual space control unit 130 of the determined guide destination.

[0041] The virtual space control unit 130 controls the virtual object to move to a destination in the vicinity of the user. For example, the virtual object moving to the destination may move at a faster speed than a virtual object moving randomly in the virtual space to attract the user's attention. Furthermore, the virtual object moving to the destination may be given special effects such as waving its hand or slightly wobbly to attract the user's attention.

[0042] In the virtual space, movement paths along which virtual objects such as user avatars and mob characters can move are set in advance, and these movement paths are described by a graph structure represented by nodes and links. That is, each node is assigned a position coordinate in the virtual space, and each link connects two nodes and can be described by the identifiers of the nodes at both ends and the length and / or shape of the link. The shape of a link can be described, for example, by a sequence of points obtained by dividing the link into n equal parts.

[0043] For example, nodes in a virtual space can be managed by a node list as shown in FIG. 7A. In the node list shown, a node with node ID “N1” has coordinates (x n1 ,y n1 ), and the node with node ID “N2” is located at coordinates (x n2 ,y n2 ) and so on. Links in the virtual space can be managed by a link list as shown in FIG. 7B. In the illustrated link list, a link with link ID "L1" connects the start node N1 to the end node N2, and a link with link ID "L2" connects the start node N1 to the end node N3. Links may be unidirectional or bidirectional. A unidirectional link means that a virtual object can move from the start node to the end node, and a bidirectional link means that a virtual object can move from the start node to the end node and also from the end node to the start node.

[0044] A graph structure defined by such a node list and link list may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 8. Here, the shapes of the illustrated links L6 and L7 are curved. A more detailed view of link L7 shows that it is connected by installing P1, P2, . . . , P6 between N3 and N6, as shown in FIG. 9A. Such P1, P2, . . . , P6 are called control points, and curves are drawn using such control points. For example, curved links can be drawn as parametric curves such as Bézier curves using control points.

[0045] For each link, link information such as that shown in Fig. 9B is set, and the link information may be composed of a start node, an end node, a link length, the number of control points, and the position coordinates of each control point. Links in the virtual space may be defined using such link information.

[0046] When notified of the guide destination by the guide destination determination unit 120, the virtual space control unit 130 first identifies the node closest to the current location of the user avatar and the node closest to the location of the guide destination. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, the virtual space control unit 130 identifies node N1 as the node closest to the current location of the user avatar and node N6 as the node closest to the location of the guide destination store.

[0047] Then, the virtual space control unit 130 determines the shortest route connecting the start node closest to the current position of the user avatar and the end node closest to the destination position, and sets the movement route of the virtual object that will guide the user avatar along the shortest route.

[0048] For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the virtual space control unit 130 determines the route N1 → L2 → N3 → L7 → N6 as the shortest path from node N1 to node N6, and sets the movement route of the mob character for guiding the user avatar to the route N1 → L2 → N3 → L7 → N6.

[0049] Once the movement route of the virtual object guiding the user avatar has been determined in this manner, the virtual space control unit 130 moves the virtual object along the determined movement route. That is, the virtual space control unit 130 moves a mob character for guiding the user avatar along the movement route N1 → L2 → N3 → L7 → N6. For example, when the mob character arrives at the end node N6, the virtual space control unit 130 may cause the mob character to disappear at the end node N6.

[0050] Alternatively, instead of creating a new mob character, the virtual space control unit 130 may move a mob character already present in the virtual space to the nearest node and then move the mob character from that node along a movement route. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the virtual space control unit 130 moves the existing mob character to node N2 closest to the current location of the existing mob character, and then moves the mob character from node N2 to the start node N1 of the movement route. The virtual space control unit 130 then moves the mob character to guide the user avatar along the movement route N1 → L2 → N3 → L7 → N6. That is, the virtual space control unit 130 moves the mob character along N2 → L1 → N1 → L2 → N3 → L7 → N6. When the mob character arrives at the end node N6, the virtual space control unit 130 may randomly walk the mob character in the virtual space without erasing it.

[0051] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, when the mob character arrives at the end node N6, the virtual space control unit 130 may return the mob character to node N2 and move it along the path N2 → L1 → N1 → L2 → N3 → L7 → N6. Here, the virtual space control unit 130 may determine whether to return the mob character that arrived at the end node N6 to node N2 and repeatedly guide it, or to end guidance and have the mob character walk randomly. For example, if the user avatar is moving toward the guidance destination, the virtual space control unit 130 may repeatedly guide the mob character. On the other hand, if the user avatar is not moving toward the guidance destination, the virtual space control unit 130 may end guidance by the mob character.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, one guide destination is determined and multiple mob characters move to the guide destination, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and multiple guide destinations may be determined and multiple mob characters may move to each of the multiple guide destinations. For example, when multiple guide destinations are notified from the guide destination determination unit 120, the virtual space control unit 130 may execute the above-described mob character guidance process for a first guide destination, and after guiding the user avatar to the first guide destination, or after executing the guidance process to the first guide destination for a certain period of time, may sequentially execute the guidance process for second or subsequent guide destinations.

[0053] In addition, although the above-described embodiments focus on specific guidance forms and / or mob character types, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various other guidance forms and / or mob character types may be used. For example, various guidance forms and / or mob character types as shown in FIG. 14 may be used.

[0054] [Virtual object control processing] Next, a virtual object control process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The virtual object control process can be realized by the server device 100, more specifically, by the processor 103 of the server device 100 executing a program stored in the memory device 102.

[0055] 15, in step S101, the server device 100 acquires user information. For example, the user information may be attribute information, interest categories, behavior history, etc. of a user who has logged in to the virtual space. The interest categories may also be estimated from the attribute information and / or behavior history.

[0056] In step S102, the server device 100 determines a destination in the virtual space to which the user is to be guided based on the user information. For example, correspondence information indicating an association between interest categories and virtual stores to which the user is to be guided may be prepared in advance, and the server device 100 may refer to this correspondence information to determine a virtual store that corresponds to the user's interest category as the destination to which the user is to be guided.

[0057] In step S103, the server device 100 controls the virtual objects to move from the vicinity of the user to the guide destination. For example, the server device 100 may move a group of virtual objects from the vicinity of the user to the guide destination along a movement route of the virtual objects from the user's current position to the guide destination in the virtual space. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the server device 100 may move the group of virtual objects at regular intervals from the vicinity of the user avatar to the guide destination virtual store. In this case, the group of virtual objects may move at a speed faster than mob characters or NPCs that move randomly in the virtual space.

[0058] According to the above-described server device 100, when a user sees a mob character appearing nearby moving, the user's attention can be drawn to the direction of the mob character's movement, and the user can be encouraged to move spontaneously to the destination virtual store. This allows each user to be naturally guided to a virtual store or a display location related to the user's interest category.

[0059] Although the examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 Information Processing Systems 20 User terminal 30 Network 100 Server device 110 User information acquisition unit 120 Guidance destination determination unit 130 Virtual Space Control Unit

Claims

1. a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information; a guide destination determination unit that determines a guide destination for the user in the virtual space based on the user information; a virtual space control unit that controls a virtual object in the vicinity of the user to move to the guide destination; A server device having the above configuration.

2. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the user information includes one or both of attribute information and interest categories of the user.

3. The server device according to claim 2 , wherein the user information acquisition unit estimates the interest category based on a behavior history of the user in the virtual space.

4. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual space control unit determines a movement route of the virtual object from a current position of the user in the virtual space to the guide destination.

5. The server device according to claim 4 , wherein the virtual space control unit moves a group of virtual objects from a vicinity of the user to the guide destination along the movement route.

6. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide destination determination unit determines the guide destination from a plurality of guide destination candidates according to a selection probability.

7. Obtaining user information; determining a destination for the user in the virtual space based on the user information; controlling a virtual object in the vicinity of the user to move to the guide destination; A virtual space control method executed by a computer.

8. Obtaining user information; determining a destination for the user in the virtual space based on the user information; controlling a virtual object in the vicinity of the user to move to the guide destination; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

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