Advertisement reproduction control system and advertisement reproduction method of advertisement reproduction control system

Abstract

To provide an advertisement reproduction control system that controls the reproduction state of advertisement content so as to reproduce the advertisement content only when the movement of an avatar moving in a metaverse is captured and signage placed on the digital signage is viewed.SOLUTION: There is provided an advertisement reproduction control system in which a server apparatus that provides a virtual game space via a metaverse platform and data terminals 2-1 to 2-N and 5-1 to 5-N that display an avatar representing a user in the virtual game space and digital signage that reproduces advertisement content can communicate with each other. The data terminal includes, in RAM that loads and executes a control program, a determination unit 303-3 that determines whether the digital signage is captured within a field of view of a virtual camera that images the inside of the virtual game space, and a control unit 303-4 that controls the reproduction state of advertisement content on the digital signage placed in the virtual game space on the basis of a determination result of the determination unit 303-3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an advertisement playback control system and an advertisement playback method for the advertisement playback control system, which enable communication between a server device that provides a virtual game space using a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar, advertising content, and game content representing the server device in the virtual game space via a specified communication medium. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, systems have been put into practical use that involve placing a large number of digital signage displays in places such as underground train stations to deliver large-scale video advertising information.

[0003] The basic hardware configuration of a digital signage system is a display, which comes in a variety of sizes depending on the application, from small to large, and from standard LCD displays to LEDs and touch panels.

[0004] In particular, network-based digital signage allows for instant updates of information because it is connected to a network.

[0005] On the other hand, the Metaverse uses virtual reality (VR) technology to provide a highly immersive three-dimensional virtual space, allowing users to move freely within the virtual space using their own avatars and communicate with other people's avatars.

[0006] On the other hand, the following Patent Document 1 discloses that "in order to provide an advertising system, advertising method, and advertising program in which advertising targets are represented as avatars in a metaverse space and advertising is conducted without resistance, in an advertising system in a metaverse space MV, a server device 10 is provided with an advertising display unit 151 that displays various advertisements including general advertisements on various screens related to the metaverse space MV, an automatic advertisement switching unit 152 that provides equal advertisement display volume among multiple advertisements, and an avatar advertising unit 153 that targets at least one of companies, organizations, products, and services, advertises itself while using general advertisements, and generates an avatar that operates with the intention of automatically communicating with a separately created user avatar." Thus, the technology for distributing advertisements in the metaverse is publicly known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7389513 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, it has been pointed out that advertisers are unable to fully understand the effectiveness of their advertising when using digital signage in the metaverse, as it is not possible to know for sure whether avatars are looking directly at the advertisements displayed on digital signage in the metaverse, reading, understanding, or showing interest in the advertisements, and the standards regarding payment of advertising fees between advertisers and ad distributors are vague, making it difficult to set appropriate advertising fees.

[0009] In particular, in the gaming market that uses the metaverse, game developers want to create an environment where they can collect advertising fees for their games, but it has been pointed out that if players are forced to view advertisements, they will not be able to concentrate on the game, which will result in low ratings, limiting their use of the game and making it difficult to secure revenue.

[0010] It has also been pointed out that incorporating specifications for delivering advertisements into a game system would require the creation of coding work separate from the game itself, making it difficult to easily post advertisements as videos without coding.

[0011] In addition, it has been pointed out that advertisers want to deliver appropriate advertisements to users who play games on smartphones, but that an effective advertising delivery environment has not been established in the metaverse space, making it impossible to simultaneously satisfy both gameplay and advertising delivery requirements.

[0012] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an advertisement playback control system in an advertisement viewing management system that is capable of communicating, via a specified communication medium, between a server device that provides a virtual game space using a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar, advertising content, and game content that represents the server device in the virtual game space, and that can notify the server device of the viewing time of the advertising content that the avatar has been viewing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The advertising playback control system of the present invention is an advertising playback control system that allows communication between a server device that provides a virtual game space using a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar representing the server device in the virtual game space and digital signage that plays advertising content via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the data terminal is characterized by having a judgment means for judging whether the digital signage is within the field of view of a virtual camera that captures images within the virtual game space, and a control means for controlling the playback state of the advertising content on the digital signage placed in the virtual game space based on the judgment result of whether the judgment means captures the avatar and the advertising content within the field of view of the virtual camera. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the movement of an avatar moving on the metaverse can be captured, and the playback state of advertising content can be controlled so that the advertising content is played only when the avatar is viewing signage placed on the metaverse. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] The drawings illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention, including essential features of the invention as well as alternative and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an advertisement playback control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the server device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 2A is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a data terminal connected to the server device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a program loaded in the RAM shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the field of view of a virtual camera on the metaverse displayed on the display device shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the field of view of a virtual camera on the metaverse displayed on the display device shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the field of view of a virtual camera on the metaverse displayed on the display device shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual space display screen displayed on a display device connected to the data terminal shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual space display screen displayed on a display device connected to the data terminal shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual space display screen displayed on a display device connected to the data terminal shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 10] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual space display screen displayed on a display device connected to the data terminal shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 11]1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an advertisement video playback process between a digital signage and a server device in the advertisement playback control system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the advertisement playback control system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the advertisement playback control system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] <System configuration description> [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an advertisement playback control system according to the present embodiment. The following embodiments relate to the advertisement playback control system shown in Figs. 1 to 13, and include not only essential configurations of the invention but also optional and preferred embodiments.

[0018] In this embodiment, an example is an advertising playback control system in which a server device that provides a virtual game space using a metaverse platform, an avatar that represents the user in the virtual game space, and a data terminal that displays digital signage that plays advertising content can communicate via a specified communication medium.

[0019] The metaverse environment is not limited to a game space, but may also be a virtual e-commerce site space in which an e-commerce site is operated.

[0020] In Figure 1, data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N are equipped with hardware resources and software resources described below, and as described below, perform control to obtain game videos using the metaverse from server device 1 on display device 311.

[0021] The server device 1 is capable of operating game sites provided by a plurality of developers on the game metaverse via the metaverse platform 1A.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the server device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals.

[0023] In FIG. 2, 11 denotes a communication unit that connects data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N connected to a network 21 as a communication medium, and controls communication.

[0024] Reference numeral 13 denotes a CPU, which starts an operating system (OS) stored in external memory 18 connected to internal bus 12 and launches various applications installed via API. It also executes the processing of various programs deployed on RAM 16. Reference numeral 14 denotes a database, which updatable stores drawing information necessary for a service that provides a game space on the metaverse on display devices 311 of data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N via metaverse platform 1A.

[0025] 15 is a keyboard, which is used to input numbers, text, and icon commands for running applications.

[0026] Reference numeral 16 denotes an expandable RAM, which expands and stores the basic program of the metaverse platform 1A installed in the external memory 18. Reference numeral 17 denotes a display, which displays the program's running status via various UI screens (not shown).

[0027] A provision unit 16-1 executes a process of providing advertising videos as advertising contents to the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N.

[0028] A calculation unit 16-2 executes a process of calculating an advertisement fee based on the reproduction time of the advertisement content notified from the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N.

[0029] The provision unit 16-1, which functions as a basic program in this embodiment, deploys a service that provides a game space on the metaverse on the display devices 311 of data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N via the metaverse platform 1A.

[0030] As a result, in the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N operated by the users, the display device 311 that displays the virtual space is composed of a personal computer display, a smartphone display, or a tablet display, but it may also be composed of 3D goggles.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N connected to server device 1 shown in Fig. 1. Note that data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N are assumed to be pad devices, PC devices, smartphones, etc.

[0032] 3(a), reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, which executes various applications by loading an OS and control programs stored in a ROM 302 into a RAM 303 and executing them. Various information is input and icons displayed on a user interface screen (UI screen) are clicked directly on a display device 311. Reference numeral 304 denotes a communication unit, which controls communication for connecting to a server device 1 connected to a network 21.

[0033] In the RAM 303 shown in FIG. 3B, a virtual ray projection unit 303-1 executes a process of projecting a virtual ray onto the display device 311.

[0034] 303-2 is a digital signage rendering unit that plays advertising videos on digital signage arranged in the metaverse space rendered on the display devices 311 of the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N.

[0035] 303-3 is a determination unit that executes a process of determining whether the digital signage is captured within the field of view of a virtual camera VC that captures images within the virtual game space.

[0036] A control unit 303-4 controls the playback state of the advertising content on the digital signage placed in the virtual game space based on the determination result of the determination unit 303-3.

[0037] The virtual camera VC has the function of capturing the field of view of the avatar while dynamically updating the field of view according to the spatial movement instruction state of the avatar.

[0038] The CPU 301 manages account information (user ID, password) registered by a user in the metaverse platform 1A that the server device 1 makes public on the web, using an external storage device such as an SSD (not shown).

[0039] Each user of the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N is configured to be able to operate the keyboard 310 to input various types of text information.

[0040] 4 to 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating the field of view of the virtual camera VC on the metaverse displayed on the display device 311 shown in FIG.

[0041] In Figure 4, 400 is an avatar, and a predetermined visual range 401 is set. Of the digital signages 402 to 403 placed in the metaverse space, visual range 401 shows a state in which only digital signages 402 and 403 can currently be captured.

[0042] As a result, based on the determination result by determination unit 303-3, control unit 303-4 controls the playback of advertising videos only on digital signage 402, 403 that is within the field of view of the avatar in visual area 401 shown in FIG.

[0043] Furthermore, if the avatar 400 moves from the above state to a field of view that rotates 90 degrees to the right, the control unit 303-4 controls the playback of advertising videos only on the digital signage 403, 404 that has moved into the avatar's field of view as the visual range 401 shown in Figure 4 has moved, based on the judgment result by the judgment unit 303-3.

[0044] Figures 7 to 10 are figures showing an example of a virtual space display screen displayed on the display device 311 connected to the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N shown in Figure 1, and in this embodiment, correspond to an example in which digital signage is displayed on a virtual 3D game screen.

[0045] In Fig. 7, 41 indicates a digital signage screen, which corresponds to a state in which an advertising video 43 is being broadcast. An avatar 42 is displayed when a user of one of data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, or 5-1 to 5-N is viewing digital signage screen 41 in a situation where there are no obstacles. In this case, it is assumed that the display time of the advertising video is being measured on the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, or 5-1 to 5-N side. 44 is a virtual camera.

[0046] 8 corresponds to a state in which a desk monitor in the virtual space functions as digital signage and an advertising video 52 is being played on a digital signage screen 51. Reference numeral 53 denotes the virtual camera line of sight.

[0047] In this example, the virtual camera VC is not shown, but is assumed to be placed in one of the directions within the virtual space.

[0048] In the virtual space shown in FIG. 9, 61, 63, and 65 indicate digital signage screens, and 62, 64, and 66 indicate advertising videos as advertising content.

[0049] In FIG. 10, 71 is an avatar, and digital signage screens 74 and 72 are arranged, with advertising video 75 being played on digital signage screen 74 and advertising video 73 being played on digital signage screen 72.

[0050] Similarly, 76 is a UFO catcher that allows the avatar 71 to move in the virtual space by manipulating it. 77 is a digital signage screen that corresponds to the state in which an advertising video 78 is being played.

[0051] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an advertisement video playback process between the digital signage and the server device 1 in the advertisement playback control system according to this embodiment.

[0052] In Figure 11, when a user of any of data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N logs in to the metaverse platform 1A via network 21 to play a game (1), it determines whether the digital signage screen is captured within the visual angle of the virtual camera VC in the virtual space based on whether a virtual ray is displayed, and controls the playback state of the advertising video obtained from the server device 1 on the digital signage screen displayed on the display device 311 (2).

[0053] In response to this, the server device 1 returns a response indicating where to obtain an appropriate advertising action on the digital signage screen (3).

[0054] Next, the digital signage screen notifies the server device 1 of a request to acquire the advertising video from the server device 1 via the metaverse platform 1A (4).

[0055] Then, when the digital signage screen is captured within the viewing angle range of the virtual camera VC in the virtual space, the advertising video delivered from the server device 1 starts to be played on the digital signage screen (5). At this time, the advertising video playback time measured on the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N side is notified to the server device 1 (6). As a result, the server device 1 executes a billing process based on the viewing time (playback time) notified from the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N (7).

[0056] [Example of advertisement visibility determination processing in virtual space] 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing an example of a data processing procedure in the advertisement playback control system according to the present embodiment. Note that (1) to (12) indicate steps, which are realized by the CPU 13 executing a program loaded in the RAM 16.

[0057] First, when CPU 301 of any of data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N acquires advertising video information from server device 1 (1), CPU 301 activates virtual ray projection unit 303-1 and executes a process of generating a virtual ray (2). Next, CPU 301 activates virtual ray projection unit 303-1 and projects a virtual ray in the line of sight of the avatar on the metaverse (3).

[0058] Next, CPU 301 activates judgment unit 303-3 to determine whether a virtual ray is reflected on the digital signage (4), and if it determines that a virtual ray is not reflected, it determines that the avatar is not looking at the digital signage (5) and returns to step (3).

[0059] On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that a virtual ray is displayed on the digital signage, the CPU 301 activates the digital signage drawing unit 303-2 and controls the digital signage to play the advertising video obtained from the server device 1 on the digital signage (6).

[0060] Next, the CPU 301 activates the control unit 303-4, measures the playback time of the advertisement video played in step (6) (7), and proceeds to step (10).

[0061] On the other hand, if the CPU 13 of the server device 1 determines in step (8) that a valid advertising video request has not been received from the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N, it ends the process. Also, in step (8), if the CPU 13 of the server device 1 determines that it has received a formal advertising video request from the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N, the CPU 13 of the server device 1 activates the providing unit 16-1, transmits the advertising video to the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N (9), and transitions the processing to step (2) on the data terminal 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, and 5-1 to 5-N side.

[0062] On the other hand, when the process shifts from step (6) to the processing on the server device 1 side, the CPU 13 of the server device 1 determines whether or not the official advertisement viewing data has been received from any of the data terminals 2-1 to 2-N, 3-1 to 3-N, 4-1 to 4-N, 5-1 to 5-N (2-1 to 2-N to 5-1 to 5-N) (10), and the CPU 13 of the server device 1 stores the received advertisement viewing data in the external memory 18 (11).

[0063] Next, the CPU 13 of the server device 1 executes an advertisement billing process (details of which are not shown) (12), and ends this process.

[0064] This makes it possible to develop an advertising distribution service at an appropriate price by capturing the gaze of an avatar and measuring the appropriate viewing time for video advertisements obtained from the server device 1 in an environment where games are primarily provided on the metaverse.

[0065] Furthermore, there is no need to incorporate a function program for playing advertising videos into the game program provided by the server device 1, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the burden of coding the program.

[0066] [Effects of the first embodiment] According to this embodiment, the movement of an avatar moving on the metaverse can be captured, and the playback state of the advertising content can be controlled so that the advertising content is played only when the signage displayed on the digital signage is being viewed.

[0067] Second Embodiment In the above embodiment, a case was described in which a user participating in a game provided on the metaverse plays an advertising video displayed on a digital signage, but the present invention can also be applied to a system in which multiple users simultaneously play advertising videos displayed on multiple digital signs on the same metaverse.

[0068] [Effects of the second embodiment] According to this embodiment, in a game in which multiple users compete against each other on multiple digital signage in the same metaverse, by providing a stage for playing advertisements, it is possible to provide highly profitable game content by playing a variety of advertising content. [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes an example of providing a game space on the metaverse, the present invention can also be applied to a system in which a user operating any data terminal can view advertising videos obtained from the server device 1 on a metaverse other than the game space.

[0070] The disclosure of the present invention described above can be summarized at least as follows.

[0071] (1) An advertising playback control system capable of communicating via a predetermined communication medium between a server device that provides a virtual game space through a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar representing the server device in the virtual game space and digital signage that plays advertising content, wherein the data terminal is characterized by having a judgment means for judging whether the digital signage is within the field of view of a virtual camera that captures images within the virtual game space, and a control means for controlling the playback status of the advertising content on the digital signage placed in the virtual game space based on the judgment result of the judgment means.

[0072] (2) When a plurality of digital signages are present in the field of view, the control means is characterized by individually controlling the playback state of the advertising content on the plurality of digital signages.

[0073] (3) The method is characterized by including a notification means for notifying the server device of the time during which the advertising content is being played back.

[0074] (4) The field of view is characterized by dynamically shifting in accordance with the movement of the field of view of the avatar.

[0075] (5) An advertisement playback method for an advertisement playback control system that allows communication between a server device that provides a virtual game space through a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar representing the server device in the virtual game space and digital signage that plays advertising content via a predetermined communication medium, wherein the data terminal includes a judgment step of determining whether the digital signage is within the field of view of a virtual camera that captures images within the virtual game space, and a control step of controlling the playback state of the advertising content on the digital signage placed in the virtual game space based on the judgment result of the judgment step. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1. Server device 1A Metaverse Platform 21 Network 2-1~2-N Data Terminal 3-1~3-N Data terminal 4-1~4-N Data terminal 5-1~5-N Data terminal

Claims

1. An advertisement playback control system in which a server device that provides a virtual game space using a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar representing the user in the virtual game space and a digital signage that plays advertising content can communicate with each other via a predetermined communication medium, The data terminal a determination means for determining whether the digital signage is captured within a field of view of a virtual camera capturing an image of the virtual game space; a control means for controlling a playback state of the advertising content on a digital signage placed in the virtual game space based on a determination result by the determination means; An advertisement playback control system comprising:

2. The advertising playback control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means individually controls the playback state of the advertising content on the multiple digital signages when multiple digital signages are present in the field of view.

3. a notification means for notifying the server device of a time during which the advertising content is being played; 2. The advertisement playback control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. 2. The advertisement playback control system according to claim 1, wherein the field of view dynamically changes in accordance with the movement of the field of view of the avatar.

5. An advertisement playback method for an advertisement playback control system that allows communication between a server device that provides a virtual game space using a metaverse platform and a data terminal that displays an avatar representing the user in the virtual game space and a digital signage that plays advertising content, via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: The data terminal a determination step of determining whether the digital signage is captured within a field of view of a virtual camera capturing an image of the virtual game space; a control step of controlling a playback state of the advertising content on a digital signage placed in the virtual game space based on a determination result of the determination step; 1. An advertisement playback method for an advertisement playback control system, comprising:

Images